September 14, 2001 Freedom Socialist Party statement on
political terrorism and the September 11 assaults
On September 11, thousands of ordinary working people--firefighters, restaurant and clerical workers, public employees, janitors, and rescue workers, many of whom were unionists--died or were injured as a result of the stunning air assault on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. We in the Freedom Socialist Party are saddened by this savage attack on men and women like ourselves who fight discrimination on a daily basis and struggle to meet the needs of their families, often without the help of the government. We know the suffering that follows when breadwinners lose their jobs, much less their lives.
These workers, brutally and irrevocably scarred by this act of political revenge, are the unwitting victims of imperialist leaders who talk peace while ordering political assassinations and kidnappings, embargoes and blockades, aerial bombings and IMF directives that routinely cause intense suffering around the globe. Many U.S. workers were truly shocked to discover in this crisis that they too live in an unsafe world. Sadly, this is a fact that workers in other countries, especially the Third World, already know after bitter decades of U.S. military and diplomatic intervention.
As the country searches for answers, those desiring to prevent another terrorist catastrophe in the U.S. must first ask why intelligent men would mount such a deadly attack. President Bush's characterization of the September 11 disaster as "good vs. evil" is superstitious nonsense meant to stir up nationalistic sentiment for war. Those behind it were driven to act, not by Satan, but by their political experiences in a world dominated by the "American Empire."
This attack was anything but "senseless." Assuming that it was carried out by opponents of the U.S. in the Middle East or elsewhere, it makes perfect, horrible sense, given the state of the world and the class war today. The installation and arming of U.S. client regimes across the globe which in turn suppress their own people; the assassinations of acknowledged public leaders as in Palestine; the CIA money and personnel poured into creating death squads and reactionary Islamic extremists like the Taliban in Afghanistan; the arrogant walkout staged by the U.S. at the World Conference on Racism: these things cause terrorism to flourish.
When the U.S. government, representing the interests of gigantic multinationals, rules the world through military terror, diplomatic intimidation, and corporate blackmail, how can one expect the people who live under these conditions--often without any democratic means for expressing their opposition--to take this punishment lying down? U.S. workers would never agree to that for themselves and should not be surprised that the rest of world also fights back against repression, manipulation and exploitation.
While it is necessary to understand why acts of terrorism might be resorted to, the Freedom Socialist Party does not support them. As the introduction to Leon Trotsky's pamphlet Against Individual Terrorism says, terrorism is "an attempt to substitute the technical feats of a small group for the necessary social movement of the masses themselves." And terrorism provides a rationale for increased government repression at home and abroad--hurting not only the individuals directly and immediately affected, but the whole international working class.
Already U.S. officials are using the attacks as a potent pretext to crack down on radicals, peace activists, dissenters and civil liberties as happened after the Oklahoma City bombing in 1995. They are fostering a xenophobic climate in which people are considered "enemies" because of the color of their skin, their nationality or accent. As is already evident, acts of terrorism mobilize workers behind their own national ruling class and against the "foreign" enemy. Today the media is full of calls for revenge against Arab states and political organizations. All this lays the groundwork for the Bush administration to pour more money into "national security" and beefed-up military spending, resulting in more cuts to healthcare, education and job training. Certainly, the cause of international cooperation among working people has been severely damaged by this act.
At this point, it is not known who is responsible for these assaults, although Arab radicals are already being blamed. But it is clear who will benefit: the hawks, militarists, and rightwingers who want to shred the U.S. Constitution, and the profit-makers who will gain through increased military spending. As one TV business commentator put it, in reference to a possible stock market recovery should the U.S. bomb Iraq, "Bullets are bullish."
The Freedom Socialist Party is already working with other socialists and movement activists to combat the war drive being whipped up by President Bush, Democratic and Republicans politicians, and NATO. At the same time, we are offering our support to potential targets of racism, xenophobia, and FBI persecution. We think it is especially critical to defend the anti-globalization movement, whose work fosters internationalism and unity around the needs of the most oppressed.
The FSP will continue to fight for a world in which all workers enjoy freedom of expression, a livable wage, and an environment cleansed not only of pollution but bigotry as well. We hope to be a part of turning the tragic events of September 11 into an opportunity for education, for solidarity, and for the advancement of socialist ideals.
Issued September 14, 2001. Please feel free to copy and distribute this statement (without changes). For more information, contact FSP at 4710 University Way NE, Seattle WA 98105. Phone 206-985-4621 • E-mail fspnatl@igc.org •Website www.socialism.com
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