Date: Thu, 13 Sep 2001 12:30:37 -0400
To: Matthew Gaylor <freematt@coil.com>
From: Matthew Gaylor <freematt@coil.com>
Subject: A Quick Reaction By Noam Chomsky
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" ; format="flowed"

<http://www.counterpunch.org/chomskybomb.html>

September 12, 2001

A Quick Reaction

By Noam Chomsky

The September 11 attacks were major atrocities. In terms of number of
victims they do 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 probably killing tens of thousands 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 ideas about "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 these events
will, nonetheless, be used 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.


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