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Title: A Quick Reaction Author: Noam Chomsky Date: September 12, 2001 Language: en Topics: 9/11 Source: Retrieved on 23rd June 2021 from https://chomsky.info/20010912/ Notes: Published in CounterPunch.
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.
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.