Received: by alpheratz.cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk id LAA08927 (8.6.9/5.3[ref pg@gmsl.co.uk] for cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk from fmb-bounces@mmu.ac.uk); Thu, 20 Sep 2001 11:54:39 +0100 Message-ID: <2D1C159B783DD211808A006008062D3102A6D005@inchna.stir.ac.uk> From: Vincent Campbell <v.p.campbell@stir.ac.uk> To: "'memetics@mmu.ac.uk'" <memetics@mmu.ac.uk> Subject: RE: On the Bombings - Noam Chomsky Date: Thu, 20 Sep 2001 11:37:57 +0100 X-Mailer: Internet Mail Service (5.5.2650.21) Content-Type: text/plain X-Filter-Info: UoS MailScan 0.1 [D 1] Sender: fmb-bounces@mmu.ac.uk Precedence: bulk Reply-To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk
Thanks Wade.
Again, interesting comments I'd have to concur with.
Vincent
> ----------
> From: Wade T.Smith
> Reply To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk
> Sent: Wednesday, September 19, 2001 1:53 pm
> To: memetics list
> Subject: Fwd: On the Bombings - Noam Chomsky
>
> Hi Robin-
>
> If this is the Chomsky piece you mentioned, it should come through as it
> is not that long.
>
> - Wade
>
> ***********
>
> 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.
>
> Noam Chomsky
>
> ===============================================================
> This was distributed via the memetics list associated with the
> Journal of Memetics - Evolutionary Models of Information Transmission
> For information about the journal and the list (e.g. unsubscribing)
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>
>
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