Seventh Anniversary of September 11
• War on Terrorism Solves No Problem — Empower the People to Solve Problems Facing Society
Seventh Anniversary of September 11
War on Terrorism Solves No Problem — Empower the People to Solve Problems Facing Society
Across the country Americans are marking the anniversary of September 11 and assessing what the U.S. war on terrorism has accomplished. Certainly it has not solved the problem of terrorism, of contributing to world peace, of improving the security of the peoples abroad and at home. As people mourn the lives of Americans lost, many are also mourning the more than one million Iraqis and Afghanistanis killed, the many Palestinians, all those killed by illegal, unjust U.S. wars of aggression. There is a growing consciousness among the people that it is the lives and well-being of all the peoples that must be looked after. The chauvinism of the rich that says only their needs should be met is being rejected. This was made clear at the recent actions at both the Democratic National Convention (DNC) and the Republican National Convention (RNC) where Americans were one with the world’s peoples in denouncing U.S. wars and defending the rights of all. Banners more than a block long held the names of Iraqis killed, with a sign saying, “We remember you.”
Other signs and chants demanded No War on Iran, Right of Return for Palestinians, Housing is a Right, Healthcare is a Right, Stop the Raids Against Immigrant Workers. The large majority of Americans want an end to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan now, an end to U.S. aggression. All U.S. Troops Home Now! is becoming the demand, as Americans organize to contribute to peace in the world. And they want the government to uphold their duty to provide security at home by meeting the needs of the people. The demands that social programs, like education and healthcare be funded, and war funding ended, were everywhere.
What stood out is the sharp divide between the drive of the workers and people for an end to U.S. wars and all attacks on rights, and the violence and state terrorism of the rich.
Protesters at both the DNC and RNC saw first hand that the war on terror has brought police state actions against the people at home alongside the brutal wars abroad. There was a massive police presence, constant police provocations against demonstrators, use of pepper spray, tear gas and mass arrests of hundreds at the RNC simply for participating in permitted marches. Youth organizers at the RNC were arrested and the convergence center and media center raided, all before a single action occurred. The youth are being charged with “conspiracy to riot in furtherance of terrorism.” No acts of violence or terrorism, no weapons, no explosives, nothing but young people organizing for their rights, were seized by police.
The joint task force of federal, state and local police made certain the entire city of St. Paul felt like an occupied police state, with police present in force everywhere and acting with impunity to block roads, search cars and bags, use pepper spray, and detain and arrest people. These police state measures are directed at protesters and the population as a whole. Senator Barack Obama and Senator John McCain said nothing about the police terrorism used against protestors and both the Democratic and Republican parties no doubt sanctioned the actions.
Both parties of the rich have confirmed that more war and aggression are on the agenda, with “all options” on the table, including use of nuclear weapons. They are not denouncing the war on terror for what it is — a U.S. war of state terrorism against the peoples at home and abroad.
U.S. terrorism is an integral part of arrangements of fascism and war being imposed on the people. The lawlessness and impunity of the U.S. military abroad and police at home during the conventions show these are arrangements of the here and now that must be vigorously opposed.
It is the violence and terrorism of the U.S. state, put on display at the conventions of the political parties and imposed on the peoples worldwide that represents the biggest threat to peace and security today. It is the determination and undaunted spirit of demonstrators that echoed the stand of the many first responders and others who came forward September 11 to lend a hand, assisting people, whatever their background, nationality, whether documented or undocumented.
Then and now, it is the peoples who give expression to the spirit of One Humanity, One Struggle for Our Rights! The right to healthcare, housing and education were among the demands at the DNC and RNC actions. And no doubt today the people have on their minds the many firefighters, first responders, and families in New York City suffering from numerous health problems and contending with a government that refuses to provide the right to healthcare. Far from guaranteeing their care, these 9/11 survivors join returning veterans and hurricane Katrina survivors in being denied healthcare. They join the more than 50 million Americans, mostly women and children, without any health insurance. And as the lay-offs in manufacturing continue, alongside those of city and state workers nationwide, many more will find themselves not only without healthcare, but without homes.
The manufacturing sector has lost 3.8 million jobs since 2000. Since December 2007, 438,000 jobs have been lost, most in manufacturing and construction. State workers across the country are being laid off and threatened with having their wages cut to minimum wage. Yet there are many hundreds of billions for militarism and state terrorism. The violence of unemployment, poverty, and homelessness — as many tens of thousands more face foreclosure — have all increased in this period. These are vital matters of security for the workers and people. It is against this violence too that the peoples are organizing and taking the stand that Our Security Lies in Our Fight for Rights! The government’s war of terrorism is aimed at blocking this fight of the peoples, it is aimed at keeping the rich in power at all costs.
The police violence at the conventions and continued aggression abroad bring to the fore that the ruling class and its political parties have no solutions for the problems facing society. Their answer of more wars, more repression, yet more war funding and paying the rich, has failed to provide security. There is nothing but darkness and more terrorism coming from this path of the ruling class. The stand of the people to end aggressive wars and defend the rights of all must be given a place in the political process. Organizing the workers and people to come to power to solve the problems facing society is the path to security and ending all terrorism. Achieving empowerment of the people is of course what the rich say cannot be done. But what the facts say is that achieving peace and security cannot be done so long as the rich remain in power. So let us together stand against the rich and their wars and repression, by giving no votes to pro-war candidates of the Democrats and Republicans. We do not want or need a pro-war president, a commander in chief of U.S. state terrorism.
Take a stand against the rich and vote for independent or third party candidates. Take a stand to join all concerned in strengthening the organizing work for political empowerment of the people, in the electoral arena, through demonstrations, through building up and uniting all the fighting forces standing for rights.
No to the U.S. War of Terrorism! Yes to the Rights of All!
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