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September
12, 2001
A Quick Reaction
By Noam Chomsky
The September 11 attacks were major
atrocities. In terms of number of victims they do not reach the
level of many others, for example, Clinton's bombing of the Sudan
with no credible pretext, destroying half its pharmaceutical
supplies and probably killing tens of thousands of people (no
one knows, because the US blocked an inquiry at the UN and no
one cares to pursue it). Not to speak of much worse cases, which
easily come to mind. But that this was a horrendous crime is
not in doubt.
The primary victims, as usual,
were working people: janitors, secretaries, firemen, etc. It
is likely to prove to be a crushing blow to Palestinians and
other poor and oppressed people. It is also likely to lead to
harsh security controls, with many possible ramifications for
undermining civil liberties and internal freedom.
The events reveal, dramatically,
the foolishness of ideas about "missile defense." As
has been obvious all along, and pointed out repeatedly by strategic
analysts, if anyone wants to cause immense damage in the US,
including weapons of mass destruction, they are highly unlikely
to launch a missile attack, thus guaranteeing their immediate
destruction. There are innumerable easier ways that are basically
unstoppable. But these events will, nonetheless, be used to increase
the pressure to
develop these systems and put them into place. "Defense"
is a thin cover for plans for militarization of space, and with
good PR, even the flimsiest arguments will carry some weight
among a frightened public.
In short, the crime is a gift to the hard jingoist right, those
who hope to use force to control their domains. That is even
putting aside the likely US actions, and what they will trigger
-- possibly more attacks like this one, or worse. The prospects
ahead are even more ominous than
they appeared to be before the latest atrocities.
As to how to react, we have
a choice. We can express justified horror; we can seek to understand
what may have led to the crimes, which means making an effort
to enter the minds of the likely perpetrators. If we choose the
latter course, we can do no better, I think, than to listen to
the words of Robert Fisk, whose direct knowledge and insight
into affairs of the region is unmatched after many years of distinguished
reporting. Describing "The wickedness and awesome cruelty
of a crushed and humiliated people," he writes that "this
is not the war of democracy versus terror that the world will
be asked to believe in the coming days. It is also about American
missiles smashing into Palestinian homes
and US helicopters firing missiles into a Lebanese ambulance
in 1996 and American shells crashing into a village called Qana
and about a Lebanese militia - paid and uniformed by America's
Israeli ally - hacking and raping and murdering their way through
refugee camps." And much more.
Again, we have a choice: we
may try to understand, or refuse to do so, contributing to the
likelihood that much worse lies ahead. CP
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