IP: A Quick Reaction By Noam Chomsky

[David Farber <dave () farber net>]

> Date: Thu, 13 Sep 2001 10:17:02 -0700
> To: farber () cis upenn edu (Dave Farber), Declan McCullagh <declan () well com>
> From: Jim Warren <jwarren () well com>
> Subject: Re: A Quick Reaction By Noam Chomsky
>
> > <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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