[Reader-list] Fw: [SASIALIT] Fwd: On Bombing - views by Noam Chomsky

[Gayatri Chatterjee]

> >Subject:      [SASIALIT] Fwd: On Bombing - views by Noam Chomsky
> >To: SASIALIT at listserv.rice.edu
> >
> >FYI.
> >
>
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> >
> >>From: Sudhir Gandotra <sudhir at netshooter
> >>Reply-To: activist@
> >>Subject: [activist] On Bombing - views by Noam Chomsky
> >>Date: Fri, 14 Sep 2001 11:17:32 +0530
> >>
> >>Noam Chomsky is a Professor of Linguistics at MIT and is a known critic
> >>of US policies. Here are his views on the Bombing :
> >>
> >>****************
> >>
> >>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.
> >>--
> >>With best wishes of Peace, Force & Joy!
> >>Sudhir Gandotra, Internet Consultants: http://openlx.com
> >>Transform lives: http://humanistmovement.org
> >
> >
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