Ten Years after 9/11: What Now?

Yesterday was the tenth anniversary of what came to be known as 9/11, and which saw the destruction of one of the symbols of global capitalism and modern colonialism. Years will pass before the average man learns the truth behind these events, and whether they were actually perpetrated by al-Qaida. Al-Qaida is that organization which the U.S. made into both a scarecrow and a hanger at the same time: A scarecrow through which it attempts to instill some kind of fear into the regimes that side with [al-Qaida], and a hanger on which to place the reasons for [U.S.] activities that violate human rights — both domestically and globally. Domestically, through laws that do not respect human rights but that satisfy American citizens — who are in a kind of brainwash by the American media following the events — and by using the term “terrorism” toward this end — without defining its meaning and aim but only to instill fear in the American people, so that they accept what they are dictated, as if they themselves asked for it. Globally, through what [the U.S.] has done outside its territories — changing many concepts and systems, and turning the terms human rights and right to self-determination into outdated, meaningless concepts.

Due to the destruction of the twin towers, the U.S. robbed the whole world and turned two independent Muslim countries into its colonies. In a matter of days or weeks, it killed more people than during the ten-year-long Gulf War. In fact, the U.S. did not do this because of the buildings that were destroyed but, rather, for other reasons — including the new capitalism, the American arms industry and the spread of a new type of colonialism (similar in form to the old one) — that utilized military force to occupy other countries and agrees, in concept and aim, with controlling those countries and driving them to embark upon the colonialist ride.

It is not yet clear who is responsible for this act. In the three hours following the event, and before the start of any investigation, Bush accused bin Laden and al-Qaida. Many researchers and observers attribute it to an intelligence agency, probably the CIA, acting alone or in collaboration with other intelligence agencies. On the face of it, al-Qaida is behind this act because of its leaders’ hostility toward the U.S. and its practices in Arab and Muslim lands. But this is defied by logic for various reasons. First, the organization’s limited power — which makes it difficult to undertake a task requiring so much preparation, organization and options not available to it — and this besides the huge abilities that the U.S. security and intelligence agencies possess, where nothing happening in the world is hidden and where they listen — through extensive eavesdropping — to the conversations of world leaders. How can [the U.S.] then be unable to access a call from someone living in a faraway cave and who has very limited means compared to those of [the U.S.] and its agencies?

Second, the U.S. — to guarantee its weapons industry and continuous supremacy on the market, as well as profits — was looking for an enemy. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, it had no other alternative than Islam, Muslims and the term “Islamic terrorism,” which afterwards spread like wildfire. Every Arab or Muslim became accused and convicted, with or without cause. They are all guilty until proven innocent, and the term [Islamic terrorism] came into use without proper definition of its meaning, effect or specific authority to which it is attached. Bush used it to pass legislation and budgets, as he pleased, in order to combat that word [Islamic terrorism], without specifying how, where and whom.

Ten years after [9/11], the world has changed a lot. To control the Arab region, the U.S. has waged wars unchecked, robbed two Muslim countries and helped what is referred to as Israel. Everyone is afraid of being labeled with that word [Islamic terrorism] and, for fear of being added to that word’s list, everyone seeks to satisfy the greatest country. Everyone has been submissive as never before and, as a consequence, the Arab peoples have been the worst hit. But is this the end of it? Have we lost everything as Arabs? Have the Arab peoples given in as their regimes have? To be continued …