Chomsky

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   Assunto: [Ummah_News] On the Bombings  
 Data: Thu, 13 Sep 2001 22:17:52 +0300  Status: High  
 De: "Islamic Chat" <islamic_chat@yahoo.com.br>    



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

 

http://www.zmag.org/chomnote.htm