On the Bombings by 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.