America’s Rulers Do Not Have Clean Hands

CRISPIN BELTRAN

Chairperson

International League of Peoples’ Struggle

15 September 2001

 

The International League of Peoples’ Struggle condoles with the families of the civilian victims in the New York and Pentagon attacks by a yet unidentified extremist group but condemns the US government and its high officials for using the tragedy to hide their own responsibility, whip up a reactionary type of patriotism and further intensify their oppression and aggression against other peoples and nations.

 

US Pres. George W. Bush has embarked on a dangerous course of stirring up war hysteria and of fueling anti-Arab and anti-Muslim sentiments among the American people.  He has asked for special powers in his so-called war against terrorism.  His loyal subalterns are calling for the intensification of domestic surveillance that can be used against suspected terrorists as much as against those who are opposed to government economic and social policies.    

 

The US rulers cannot pretend to have clean hands.  They have a long history of installing in power and propping up dictators who sowed terror on their own people.  The CIA and the US military services have given special training to torturers and death squads in El Salvador, the Philippines, Peru, Guatemala, and others.  The US has been responsible for the death, maiming and dislocation of millions of people in its wars of aggression in Korea, Vietnam, Iraq, Libya, Yugoslavia, and others.

 

The US has arrogated unto itself the power to act as the “world’s policeman.”  In the interest of the world’s peoples?  No,  in the interest of its own giant monopoly corporations and banks.  It uses its overwhelming superiority in political and military power to open up markets and gobble up the world’s resources.  Those who stand up against it receive their “just” punishments -- from economic blackmail and blockade, withdrawal and withholding of “aid” to outright military intervention, aggression and occupation.

 

In this time of national mourning, we call on the American people to contemplate on why their government’s policies and actions stir up so much hostility, deep anger and resistance. We call on them to reject the jingoism that is being fomented and the war preparations that are being carried out by the Bush administration. Only then can something good come out of this national tragedy.