On Thu, 27 Aug 1998, Tresy Kilbourne wrote:
-- a defese of the Monibomber.
Chomsky comments,
"On the bombings, there's a lot to say, but it can be reduced to a very
simple question: Do we, or do we not, take seriously the position of the
Administration in justifying them?
"If we do, then it follows that quite a few countries around the world
should be setting off bombs in Washington. Take just the most obvious,
Cuba, which has been probably the main target of terrorism for almost 40
years, based in the US, for much of the time officially authorized and run
by the US government. The most recent successful terrorist attack was a
year ago, bombing of tourist centers in Havana that killed an (Italian)
visitor, wounded others, and caused plenty of damage. As has been well
known (to those who chose to know) since the extensive Miami Herald
investigation last Fall, the bombings were run by the world's leading
terrorist, Luis Posada Carriles, whose CIA connections go back to the Bay
of Pigs, with financing and direction from Miami. Even the New York Times
has recently conceded the facts (pretending it discovered them). If the US
is entitled to bomb Afghanistan and Sudan on suspicions that people there
are involved in terrorism or preparation of chemical weapons, then,
obviously, Cuba is entitled to bomb Washington. That's only the first of a
long list.
"Plainly, we cannot assume that the Administration position is intended
seriously, which means that commentators who are taking it seriously can
be assigned to the noble order that includes the writers for Pravda, the
Nazi press, and others like them.
"The alternative is not to take the position seriously. It follows that
the Administration is declaring itself to be a violent and lawless state,
which does as it chooses. Its principle is that the powerful act as they
wish, as long as their targets are defenseless. That's no real innovation
in world affairs, though it isn't often this brazen."
Noam Chomsky
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