Here are a couple of opinions, while still denouncing the violence and the
horrible loss of life , offering responses beyond and/or above revenge.
Statement on September 11 Attack
By David McReynolds and the War Resisters League
As we write, Manhattan feels under siege, with all bridges, tunnels, and
subways closed, and tens of thousands of people walking slowly north from
Lower Manhattan. As we sit in our offices here at War Resisters League, our
most immediate thoughts are of the hundreds if not thousands of New Yorkers
who have lost their lives in the collapse of the World Trade Center. The day
is clear, the sky is blue, but vast clouds billow over the ruins where so
many have died, including a great many rescue workers who were there when
the final collapse occurred.
Of course we know that our friends and co-workers in Washington, D.C. have
similar thoughts about the ordinary people who have been trapped in the
parts of the Pentagon which were also struck by a jet. And we think of the
innocent passengers on the hi-jacked jets who were carried to their doom on
this day.
We do not know at this time from what source the attack came. We do know
that Yasser Arafat has condemned the bombing. We hesitate to make an
extended analysis until more information is available but some things are
clear. For the Bush Administration to talk of spending hundreds of billions
on Star Wars is clearly the sham it was from the beginning, when terrorism
can so easily strike through more routine means.
We urge Congress and George Bush that whatever response or policy the U.S.
develops it will be clear that this nation will no longer target civilians,
or accept any policy by any nation which targets civilians. This would mean
an end to the sanctions against Iraq, which have caused the deaths of
hundreds of thousands of civilians. It would mean not only a condemnation of
terrorism by Palestinians but also the policy of assassination against the
Palestinian leadership by Israel, and the ruthless repression of the
Palestinian population and the continuing occupation by Israel of the West
Bank and Gaza.
The policies of militarism pursued by the United States have resulted in
millions of deaths, from the historic tragedy of the Indochina war, through
the funding of death squads in Central America and Colombia, to the
sanctions and air strikes against Iraq. This nation is the largest supplier
of "conventional weapons" in the world and those weapons fuel the starkest
kind of terrorism from Indonesia to Africa. The early policy support for
armed resistance in Afghanistan resulted in the victory of the Talibanand
and the creation of Osama Bin Laden.
Other nations have also engaged in these policies. We have, in years past,
condemned the actions of the Russian government in areas such as Chechnya,
the violence on both sides in the Middle East, and in the Balkans. But our
nation must take responsibility for its own actions. Up until now we have
felt safe within our borders. To wake on a clear day to find our largest
city under siege reminds us that in a violent world, none are safe.
Let us seek an end of the militarism that has characterized this nation for
decades. Let us seek a world in which security is gained through
disarmament, international cooperation, and social justice not through
escalation and retaliation. We condemn without reservation attacks such as
those which occurred today, which strike at thousands of civilians. May
these profound tragedies remind us of the impact U.S. policies have had on
other civilians in other lands. We also condemn reflexive hostility against
people of Arab descent living in this country and urge that Americans recall
the part of our heritage that opposes bigotry in all forms.
We are one world. We shall live in a state of fear and terror or we shall
move toward a future in which we seek peaceful alternatives to violence, and
a more just distribution of the world's resources. As we mourn the many
lives lost, our hearts call out for reconciliation, not revenge.
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
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