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.
Noam Chomsky