Date: Sat, 15 Sep 2001 12:38:02 -0700 (PDT)
From: for a new world <satellitecrash-AT-yahoo.com>
Subject: AUT: Chomsky's Reaction


> 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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