FWD: Chomsky about the bombings

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For documentary reasons:
url:
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756%240a1.118031%40amsnews02.chello.com




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.



Kurt-Werner Pörtner