On the Bombings

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.