Since September 11

President Bush, with the unqualified support of all three branches of government, used the September 11th terror attack on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon as justification for an unlimited war on Afghanistan and other un-named countries as well as three named countries—North Korea, Iran, and Iraq. That war is already proceeding on several fronts: Afghanistan; the Philippines (where U.S. military “advisers” are operating); Colombia (where the U.S. government has openly embarked on a war against the rebels, justified by protection of the oil pipeline partially owned by Occidental Petroleum); Iraq (which the U.S. never stopped bombing since 1991 and where the deadly sanctions responsible for the deaths of almost two million civilians, half of whom are children under five, continues full force); and scores of other countries where covert U.S. operations work to safeguard U.S. corporate interests by propping up dictators or destabilizing independent regimes.

The “War on Terrorism,” besides giving a blank check to the U.S. government to wage war indefinitely against the poor of the world (mainly the poor who live in oil-rich areas), also attacks Constitutional rights within the United States, including the right to a fair trial, the right of habeas corpus, rights of privacy and free speech, assembly, and religion. The “War on Terrorism” also is being used to justify extreme racial oppression and the scapegoating of immigrants, especially Arabs and the religious practitioners of Islam. Hundreds of people rounded up after September 11 languish anonymously in U.S. prisons without charges, lawyers, or rights.

Since shortly after September 11 there have been important areas of agreement amongst the many antiwar forces on the field of ideas. Major coalitions and local groups which have sprung up to oppose the “War on Terrorism” have opposed the United States’ shooting/bombing war. All have opposed the scapegoating of Arabs, Muslims, and other immigrants. All have spoken up in defense of our civil liberties and rights. All have opposed the war on working people and the social services they need at home—layoffs, the threats to social security, the cuts in funding for education and health care. All oppose the massive infusion of new billions into the war industry, the revival of the Star Wars (now the “Missile Defense” system).

The missing ingredient

The missing ingredient to building an effective mass movement has been, until now, the will to unite the largest possible opposition in common action on the same day so that the largest numbers of people could be mobilized. This is essential if the movement is to succeed in reaching out to the American people with the message that our interests are with the peoples of the world, not with the policies of the American government.

In order to break through what is essentially a blockade on the freedom of information, large numbers must be mobilized, numbers which cannot be ignored, because people will see the demonstrators, and independent media will circulate the information that, yes, indeed, there is not total support for the government’s lies and policy.

Socialist Viewpoint applauds the organizations who have decided to put aside their differences to focus on that which unites—a common date for mass action to stop this war! We urge all our readers to participate and help build the demonstrations.