THE WORLD AFTER 9 - 11
"The interests behind the Bush Administration, such as the CFR [Council on Foreign Relations], The Trilateral Commission - founded by Brzezinski for David Rockefeller - and the Bilderberger Group, have prepared for, and are now moving to, implement open world dictatorship within the next five years. They are not fighting against terrorists. They are fighting against citizens."
- Dr. Johannes B. Koeppl, Ph.D., former German defense ministry official and advisor to former NATO Secretary General Manfred Werner
"Let us never tolerate outrageous conspiracy theories concerning the attacks of September the 11th."
- George W. Bush, speaking to the United Nations.
"We stare at TV screens and try to comprehend the suffering in the aftermath of terrorism. At the same time, we're witnessing an onslaught of media deception. Silence, rigorously selective, pervades the media coverage of recent days. ABC News analyst Vincent Cannistraro helped to put it all in perspective for millions of TV viewers. Cannistraro was in charge of the CIA's covert aid to Afghan guerrillas. In other words, Cannistraro has a long history of assisting terrorists—first, Contra soldiers who routinely killed Nicaraguan civilians; then, Mujahedeen rebels in Afghanistan...like Osama bin Laden. How can a longtime associate of terrorists now be credibly denouncing "terrorism?" It's easy. All that's required is for media coverage to remain in a kind of history-free zone that has no use for any facets of reality."
- Norman Solomon, Creators Syndicate, 13th September 2001
"On September 11th, 2001, as America was being attacked, the Blair government was hosting an 'arms fair' in London's Docklands, attended by various human rights abusers, including Saudi Arabia, spiritual home of al-Qa'ida and birthplace of Osama bin Laden. Out of respect for the victims of the Twin Towers attrocity, the annual conference of the Trades Union Congress was curtailed, along with sporting fixtures and other public events. The arms fair went ahead. Shortly afterwards, in an interview with David Frost, Blair declared that the way to defeat terrorists was to '...stop the people who gave them the weapons.' Frost said nothing."
- Extract from essay 'The Great Game' in 'The New Rulers of the World' by John Pilger, Verso books, 2002
Like any sane, rational person, I watched in utter horror as over 3000 people lost their lives in the worst terrorist attack in history. All those people, killed by nothing more than 19 men armed with bolt cutters and knives. It was almost beyond belief.
But within days a picture of the 'new' world began to emerge. Human rights and peace activist groups virtually vanished from the public consciousness as drums beat for war. Senators and representatives sang 'God Bless America' on the steps of Congress, and immediately voted the largest increase in military spending in the history of the US, a stunning 50 BILLION dollars. The so-called 'hawks' in the administration had complete centre stage. To disagree with them was tantamount to treason. Soon the talk was of attacking all manner of countries, with all manner of weapons.
The 'new' enemy, terrorism, became a blank cheque, a justification for almost anything. "You're either with us, or against us," said George W. Bush.
The mainstream media would have you believe that the world has changed almost beyond recognition but the reality is that little is different, though perhaps a good deal worse. Information about the activities of the US and UK governments may be slightly more accessible, but the the 'war on terrorism' has seen the killing of thousands, and the near starvation of millions, of Afghans, despite the fact that 15 of the hijackers were from Saudi Arabia. And as the bombing got under way, censorship history was repeated, with major US radio corporations ordering their subsidiary stations not to play a list of 150 songs, including John Lennon's 'Imagine.' and the entire works of the band 'Rage Against The Machine.' It has seen the return to power of Afghan warlords who, with the tacit support of the US and UK, caused such havoc in Afghanistan that the people welcomed the Taliban in 1996. It has seen the oil friendly Taliban transform from the recipient of almost 40 million dollars of US aid to enemy number one, after years of US and UK complicity and conscious ignorance of their horrendous regime.
It has seen Israel, under indictable war criminal Ariel Sharon, carry out the most bloodthirsty campaign against Palestinians since the 1967 war. It has seen Palestinians reduced to suicide bombers to fight back against an Israel in receipt of stupendous amounts of US military and financial aid, with almost blanket support from the administration and press. It has seen the US revoke, ignore and refuse to accept dozens and dozens of international laws and treaties under a president whom it has been proved did not win the election. It has seen the most sustained assault on American civil liberties since the days of McCarthyism, including the incarceration of an estimated 2000 people without trial on unspecified charges. It has seen the re-emergence of the Anti-Ballistic Missile 'Star Wars' program and the 'First Strike' policy on tactical nuclear weapons.
It has seen a political coup attempt in oil rich Venezuela, widely believed to have been sponsored by the CIA. It has seen the US oust the head the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, Jose Bustani, and their continued refusal to pay their dues and co-operate with them. It has seen India and Pakistan draw close to the brink of nuclear war over the disputed Kashmir region, whilst the British government continues to sell India arms and Hawk attack aircraft. It has seen the sanctions on Iraq continued and modified to suit a massive public relations campaign to shift blame to Saddam Hussein's regime. It has seen the introduction of a 'retroactive pricing' system on Iraqi oil sales that has near bankrupted the 'Oil-For-Food' programme. It has seen the US formulate a policy of 'regime change' where ever it deems necessary, which has removed any logical hope for the return of weapons inspectors to Iraq and a peaceful resolution to over 12 years of bombing and sanctions, and places many countries in the firing line of US foreign policy objectives.
The few positive aspects include the moves of the US and Russia to dismantle almost two thirds of their nuclear arsenals, a move originally offered by Mikhail Gorbachov over ten years ago. And the fact that activist Michael Moore's book 'STUPID WHITE MEN,' berating the Bush Jr. administration, was the number one bestseller in the US, outselling even Harry Potter, indicating that not all Americans are hoodwinked yet.
This can be of little comfort to those populations devastated by US bombs and sanctions, and those living in brutal regimes conveniently supported and overlooked by the US government in their policies of 'defending the values of civilisation' and 'enduring freedom.'
The following pages have been posted in response to the latest developments, including a large section on the Israel-Palestine conflict. The BEYOND WEIRD page features several articles from the fringes, but in particular an absolutely mind boggling genuine interview with Dick Armey, leader of the US House of Representatives, who sets out his views on what should be done with the Palestinians. It would be hilarious if it weren't so disturbing. Essential reading is Noam Chomsky's lecture, entitled THE NEW WAR ON TERROR, which provides a jaw dropping historical perspective on the origins of the al Qa'ida network. The US COMPLICITY AND CORPORATE INTERESTS page contains two articles, one written before 9-11, and one afterwards, that shed much needed light on the make up of the Bush Jr. administration, and especially the business interests of Vice President Dick Cheney. The MAKE YOUR VIEWS KNOWN page features extensive additional contact details for governments, UN, European Union and media outlets where you can have your say....or at least try to, as well as links to dozens of alternative media sources and activist groups.
ARTICLES FROM THE AFTERMATH OF 9-11
CLASSIC QUOTES FROM THE AFTERMATH OF 9-11
THE NEW WAR ON TERROR - A speech by NOAM CHOMSKY
THE ISRAEL - PALESTINE CONFLICT 2002
US COMPLICITY AND CORPORATE INTERESTS
MEANWHILE BACK IN IRAQ (And Vietnam)