There is also a little mentioned item: when the US invades for whatever
reason with troops, they are there to stay: Korea, Jugoslavia, etc. come
to
mind.  Thus if Central Asia is invaded, the Russians and others know well
that these regions will be added to the US empire.  A large part of the
tacit oppisition to the US action is based on this recognition.

 > > On the
Bombings > By Professor 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.  9/13/2001
>
> ===========================================================================
>
> This posting is provided to the individual members of this group without
> permission from the copyright owner for purposes of criticism, comment,
> scholarship and research under the "fair use" provisions of the Federal
> copyright laws and it may not be distributed further without permission of
> the copyright owner.
>
> FLW
> ===========================================================================
>