Noam on WTC Collapse
Eric Cordian
emc at artifact.psychedelic.net
Sat Sep 15 15:53:13 PDT 2001
On the Bombings
Noam Chomsky
The terrorist attacks were major atrocities. In scale they may 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 killing unknown numbers 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 the project of
"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 today's events will, very likely, be
exploited 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.
Noam Chomsky
--
Eric Michael Cordian 0+
O:.T:.O:. Mathematical Munitions Division
"Do What Thou Wilt Shall Be The Whole Of The Law"
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