| As should have been expected, after spreading so | | | | - Mahatma GandhiThe US did of course get its |
| much methodical bloodshed all over the world, | | | | vengeance, but the primary victims were the people |
| bloodshed returned to the United States mainland on | | | | of Afghanistan who had nothing to do with the |
| September 11, 2001. The death toll was about 3,000, | | | | Taliban and were victims of it. An estimated 3,767 |
| only 0.1% of the 3,000,000 Vietnamese killed by US | | | | civilians were killed in the first 9 weeks alone. (The |
| aggression. The number of casualties from the | | | | Progressive, February 2002) On October 16, 2001, US |
| attacks on September 11th was also much lower | | | | Navy planes bombed six food-filled Red Cross |
| than the over 30,000 children who died from | | | | warehouses in Afghanistan. In one attack that took |
| starvation and easily curable diseases on that exact | | | | place on November 30 and December 1, 2001, the US |
| same day. For those who only value American lives, | | | | bombed 3 villages 25 miles south of Jalalabad (a |
| keep in mind that over 7,500 Americans suffered | | | | territory controlled by allies and anti-Taliban forces). |
| cigarette-related deaths that same week. (Yet Philip | | | | On December 30, 2001, the US struck the village of |
| Morris has never been the target of US bombing | | | | Niazi Kala, killing about a hundred civilians, mostly |
| raids.)This is not to devalue the American lives lost on | | | | women and children. According to the UN, "unarmed |
| September 11th. It was a horrible incident. All human | | | | women and children" were "chased and killed by |
| lives are equally precious, but it is important not to | | | | American helicopters," "as they fled to shelter" or "as |
| single out September 11th, when so much death and | | | | they tried to rescue survivors." Another publicly |
| destruction exist in this world, often brought upon by | | | | known incident occurred on July 1, 2002 when the US |
| the United States. It is important not to use the loss | | | | bombed a wedding party, killing 48 and injuring over |
| of innocent lives on September 11th to justify the | | | | 100.In addition to the thousands of civilians who were |
| taking of many more innocent lives!Some very angry | | | | bombed in their villages, millions were affected by the |
| people backed the retaliation on September 11th. Just | | | | embargo on food (which lasted 3 weeks) and the |
| read any interview with Osama Bin Laden that took | | | | imposed restrictions on food and supplies that |
| place before the attack. They were angry at the | | | | followed. The "New York Times" reported that 7.5 |
| United States for its support of authoritarian and | | | | million people in Afghanistan were in great need of a |
| brutal regimes. They were angry at America's | | | | loaf of bread during the winter of 2001-2002. As if |
| continuous intervention to block any movement | | | | the hunger wasn't bad enough, many got to |
| towards democracy and economic development, | | | | experience freezing temperatures without proper |
| especially in Third World countries. They were angry | | | | clothing or shelter.An interesting obsession that |
| at America for supporting Saddam Hussein (enemy | | | | developed shortly after the "War on Terror" began |
| of Bin Laden and the Wahabs) through the worst of | | | | was the anthrax scare. It was on the cover of |
| his atrocities, including gassing the Kurds (something | | | | magazines everywhere, and Americans were freaking |
| Bin Laden brought up constantly). They were very | | | | out over the whole affair. The amazing thing is that |
| angry at the US for its continued genocide on Iraqi | | | | there were only a few anthrax related deaths during |
| people through bombing and sanctions. They were | | | | the period, yet so many Americans were scared as |
| angry at the US for its relentless economic, | | | | hell. Over 1,000 Americans die everyday from |
| diplomatic, and military support for Israel and its | | | | cigarette-related causes and over 80 are killed |
| invasion and occupation of Palestine.The people who | | | | everyday by guns. If Americans are going to freak |
| organized the attack on September 11, were | | | | out about anything, shouldn't it be over cigarettes |
| completely counterproductive in their goals. America is | | | | and guns? Cigarettes killed more Americans in 10 |
| now even more paranoid, intrusive, and violent than | | | | minutes than anthrax did during the one month |
| before. The US was given a reason to destroy | | | | scare.On December 11, 2001 after seeing the |
| Afghanistan that the people would cheer for (unlike | | | | Taliban's fall and the eventual capture on the horizon, |
| its previous Afghan interests of heroin, oil pipelines, | | | | President Bush stated that "rogue states" would be |
| and Soviet subversion).Even though so-called | | | | targeted next, and said the following:"America's next |
| "terrorists" are violent, self-destructive, and | | | | priority in the war on terrorism is to protect against |
| counterproductive, most of them are rational human | | | | the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and |
| beings. They are concerned about social, political, or | | | | the means to deliver them... The authors of mass |
| religious injustice, and are willing do whatever it takes | | | | murder must be defeated and never allowed to gain |
| to battle against such injustices, even if it requires | | | | or use the weapons of mass destruction... Rogue |
| giving up their own lives. It's good when people | | | | states are clearly the most likely source of chemical |
| dedicate their lives to opposing atrocities and injustice. | | | | and biological and nuclear weapons for terrorists... We |
| It's not good when they turn towards violence out | | | | cannot accept and we will not accept states that |
| of feelings of hopelessness and desperation.Now | | | | harbor, finance, train or equip the agents of terror. |
| America has a vague new "evil" to make its public | | | | Those nations that violate this principal will be |
| fear: "terrorism." This was the answer to the prayers | | | | regarded as hostile regimes."It's astonishing that so |
| of many corporations with defense contracts, military | | | | few Americans see the hypocrisy. When Bush |
| personnel, and politicians who feared that irrational | | | | describes "rogue states," he is describing America. |
| spending on military would fade after the decreased | | | | America is most guilty of the proliferation of |
| fear in the previous "evil" of communism. These | | | | weapons of mass destruction. America is the number |
| warmongers can now justify an endless, bloodthirsty, | | | | one source of weaponry for terrorists. America |
| "moral" quest to wipe out any human beings viewed | | | | harbors, finances, trains, and equips "the agents of |
| by the US as "terrorists" or those who "harbor | | | | terror" more than all other nations combined.Shortly |
| terrorism."The behavior of the media was consistent. | | | | after his declaration against "rogue states," Bush |
| From the constantly repeated videotapes of the | | | | announced that the United States would violate the |
| airplanes crashing into the World Trade Center to | | | | 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty. Bush made this |
| David Letterman's formulation of opinions based on | | | | decision, despite global opposition to doing such, |
| absolute ignorance, the media led the cry for | | | | especially from China and Russia.The Patriot Act (the |
| revenge. The media also refused to look into why | | | | "anti-terrorism" legislation) and other repressive |
| America is the target of hatred and violence. Any | | | | measures were rapidly established following |
| such questions were quickly dismissed as the media | | | | September 11th. The Patriot Act alone blatantly |
| zombies proclaimed, "Terrorists hate our freedom | | | | violates six amendments of the Bill of Rights |
| and democracy." No one ever asked why countries | | | | addendum to the US Constitution. The 1st |
| with more freedom (such as Canada, Australia, | | | | Amendment's guarantees of freedom of speech, |
| Sweden, Netherlands, etc.) have not been targeted | | | | right to assembly, and right to petition are violated. |
| by terrorists.During the war the media blatantly | | | | The 4th Amendment's issue of probable cause is |
| ignored the countless thousands of civilian casualties | | | | violated, along with its prohibitions against |
| in Afghanistan, but dedicated hours to the deaths of | | | | unreasonable search and seizure. The Patriot Act |
| Marine pilots who died in helicopter accidents. (By the | | | | violates the 5th Amendment's guarantee that no |
| way, doesn't it seem like most American casualties in | | | | person shall be deprived of life, liberty, or property |
| recent wars primarily result from accidents or | | | | without due process of law by allowing indefinite |
| "friendly fire," not involving "the enemy"?)"President" | | | | incarcerations without a trial. The 6th Amendment's |
| Bush repeatedly called the September 11th attacks | | | | guaranteed right to a speedy and public trial is |
| "cowardly." The hypocrisy of this statement is quite | | | | violated. The 8th Amendment's prohibition of cruel |
| obvious. Dropping bombs on millions of civilians in | | | | and unusual punishment is violated. The 13th |
| Southeast Asia, killing mostly women and children, | | | | Amendment's prohibition of punishment without |
| while comfortably hovering in the sky above is truly | | | | conviction is also violated. The Patriot Act also opens |
| "cowardly." Dropping a single atomic bomb to kill | | | | the door for the FBI to have total access to any |
| 100,000 people in Hiroshima is certainly "cowardly." | | | | personal data and the CIA to target Americans for |
| Training, arming, and funding Central American | | | | surveillance. It appears that the soldiers who "fought |
| contras and death squads to carry out massive | | | | and died for our freedom" did so in vain, since |
| gruesome bloodshed in order to protect US economic | | | | America's own politicians are taking the "freedoms" |
| interest is "cowardly." Using unmanned drone aircraft | | | | away.Not only does the Patriot Act cancel out |
| to bomb the women and children of Afghanistan is | | | | America's own Bill of Rights, it also violates |
| absolutely "cowardly."Nearly all Americans have | | | | international law. The United Nations Declaration of |
| forgotten the fact that these people who are called | | | | Human Rights states, "No one shall be subjected to |
| "terrorists" are the same exact people that President | | | | arbitrary arrests, detention, or exile," and "Everyone |
| Reagan called "freedom-fighters." (see previous | | | | is entitled in full equality to a fair and public |
| Afghanistan section) Most Americans are completely | | | | hearing."After September 11th over 1,200 people, |
| unaware that the Taliban came to power with CIA | | | | mostly Arabs and Muslims, were rounded up by the |
| funding and advising.Most Americans are unaware of | | | | FBI and INS and kept in detention. Many of these |
| the advanced warnings of the attacks and the | | | | people were detained on the basis of no evidence at |
| suspicious behaviors occurring around September 11th. | | | | all and without contact with a lawyer. The |
| They aren't aware that in 1996, Abdul Hakim Murad | | | | government refused to reveal the identities, |
| confessed plans to hijack planes and crash them into | | | | nationalities and whereabouts of the detained people. |
| buildings. They aren't aware that shortly before | | | | Many of them disappeared from their family and |
| September 11, 2001, FBI agents warned their | | | | friends without a trace. Mohammed Gondal was |
| superiors that Al Qaeda was planning kamikaze style | | | | imprisoned for 125 days, without being charged with |
| attacks on New York and Washington D.C. They | | | | any crime connected to terrorism. Iqbal Tihar spent |
| don't realize that according to law, there should have | | | | over two and a half months in jail, without any |
| been Air Force jets scrambled at 8:15 AM that | | | | charges. Nacer Mustafa spent 67 days in the Federal |
| morning (30 minutes after the hijacking began) | | | | Detention Center before being released. These are |
| instead of launching at 9:35 AM after the damage | | | | just three of over 1,200 human beings, many of |
| was done. They don't realize that "President" Bush | | | | whom are still unaccounted."They who can give up |
| personally asked Democratic Leader Tom Daschle to | | | | essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety, |
| limit Congressional investigation into the events of | | | | deserve neither liberty nor safety."- Benjamin Franklin |
| September 11.Most Americans are unaware of the | | | | (1759)The fearful masses have happily surrendered |
| Bush and Bin Laden partnership. They don't know | | | | their civil rights and constitutional protections after |
| about George W. Bush heading Arbusto, an oil | | | | September 11th, thinking that their government will |
| company partly financed by the Bin Laden family. | | | | protect them from the "monsters" it has created, |
| They don't know about the Taliban's visit to Texas in | | | | funded, and motivated. People are being detained |
| 1995 to arrange Unocal pipeline plans with Halliburton, | | | | without evidence and are found guilty until proven |
| Inc. (Vice President Dick Cheney was the CEO.) They | | | | innocent (if they ever get the chance to present |
| don't know about how George and Barbara Bush | | | | such proof). The Justice Department expanded its |
| stayed at the Bin Laden palace in Saudi Arabia during | | | | authority to eavesdrop on attorney-client |
| visits. Most Americans are unaware of "President" | | | | conversation, eroding more rights. Freedom of |
| George W. Bush sending a plane to escort Bin Laden | | | | speech is also a thing of the past. Anyone expressing |
| family members out of the US immediately after | | | | discontent with America is subjecting themselves to |
| September 11th, despite the FBI's objections.Most | | | | social scorn, government surveillance, and possible |
| Americans are unaware that "President" George W. | | | | detainment. There have even been teachers |
| Bush gave the Taliban $43 million in May 2001 | | | | chastised and suspended for presenting nonviolent, |
| (announced by Secretary of State Colin Powell on | | | | alternative views in media and political classes. Some, |
| May 17), less than four months before the attacks in | | | | such as Dr. Sami Al-Arian (a computer engineering |
| America. The $43 million was given as a gift, even | | | | teacher fired from the University of South Florida), |
| though Washington was completely aware of the | | | | have been fired for expressing their views outside of |
| oppression caused by the Taliban and the Taliban's | | | | the workplace.At the beginning of 2002, "President" |
| links to past American attacks. Yes, American tax | | | | George W. Bush proposed the largest military |
| dollars funded the attacks that killed 3,000 Americans. | | | | increase in two decades. This increase adds $48 billion |
| The hypocrisy of George W. Bush declaring an | | | | to the already astronomical annual military budget. |
| eternal war against those who "finance terror" is | | | | This increase alone is larger than any other country's |
| indisputable. If Americans truly want to hunt down | | | | military budget, with the exception of Japan. Before |
| the "financers of terror" and those responsible for 9 | | | | adding $48 billion to the amount spent on military |
| 11, they need to target the White House and | | | | every year, Bush:- Cut $39 million from federal |
| Pentagon.News coverage showed footage of Iraqis | | | | spending on libraries. (This happened one week after |
| and other people, many of them children, celebrating | | | | Laura Bush started a national campaign for libraries.)- |
| in the streets after the events of September 11th. | | | | Reduced the Community Access Program by 86%. |
| Americans were disgusted by this and couldn't | | | | The Community Access Program coordinates care |
| understand how these people could be celebrating. | | | | for people without health insurance.- Cut funding for |
| Imagine that you are an Iraqi child. Your father was | | | | the Girls and Boys Clubs of America programs in |
| forced at gunpoint to join Saddam's army. He was | | | | public housing by $60 million.- Cut $15.7 million from |
| shot dead by US planes while surrendering. Your | | | | programs dealing with child abuse and neglect.- Cut |
| mother was killed by a cluster bomb. All your siblings | | | | healthcare benefits for war veterans.- Attempted to |
| were infected with cholera, because of the | | | | eliminate "Reading Is Fundamental," which gives free |
| contaminated water that resulted from US bombings | | | | books to poor children.The pro-war patriots have a |
| of treatment plants. There was no way to treat | | | | hard time seeing any alternatives to violence. The |
| your siblings, because US sanctions blocked out the | | | | worst thing about all this is that so many people are |
| needed medication. Your siblings all die. If one day | | | | obsessing about the American deaths on September |
| you found out that US military and economic centers | | | | 11th, but they aren't doing a damn thing to stop the |
| were attacked and damaged, there's a good chance | | | | continuous deaths of more civilians. Haven't the tragic |
| that you would celebrate with others in the | | | | events of September 11th taught them how precious |
| streets.On August 15, 2002 it was announced that | | | | life is? Why do they demand policies that will |
| about 600 family members of September 11th | | | | slaughter more innocent lives, instead of doing what |
| victims filed a trillion dollar lawsuit against the | | | | they can to save children dying right now, at this |
| Sudanese government, Saudi officials, banks, and | | | | very moment?As shown earlier, the US has been |
| charities for supposedly funding the attacks on | | | | supplying and empowering "terrorists" all over the |
| September 11th. First of all, it was "President" George | | | | world: the Taliban, Saddam Hussein, General Suharto, |
| W. Bush who gave a gift of $43 million to the Taliban | | | | Roberto D'Aubuisson, the list goes on and on. The |
| in May of 2001. Maybe this lawsuit should be made | | | | best way to reduce terrorism in this world is to stop |
| against the Bush Administration. Secondly, if family | | | | participating in it. This is something that the US |
| members of the victims of American violence were | | | | politicians have trouble comprehending, as they |
| to file lawsuits of equal monetary value per victim, | | | | choose to escalate terrorism instead. They choose to |
| the amount would be in the quadrillions. (See the tens | | | | terrorize foreign soils and continue to create, train, |
| of millions of victims listed in "America's Greatest Hits" | | | | and fund armies that will carry out acts of terrorism. |
| and Section 2) There isn't enough money in the | | | | They choose destruction over construction. They |
| entire world to pay such a settlement."An eye for an | | | | choose war over peace. They choose hate over |
| eye only ends up making the whole world blind." | | | | love. |