But the price will also be unpayable for the rich countries. For years to come it would be impossible to speak strong enough about the environment and the ecology, or about ideas and research done and tested, or about projects for the protection of Nature because that space and possibility would be taken by military actions, war and crimes as infinite as "Infinite Justice," that is, the name given to the war operation to be unleashed.
Can there be any hope left after having listened, hardly 36 hours ago, to the speech made the President before the U.S. Congress?
I will avoid the use of adjectives, qualifiers or offensive words towards the author of that speech. They would be absolutely unnecessary and untimely when the tensions and seriousness of the moment advise thoughtfulness and equanimity. I will limit myself to underline some short phrases that say it all:
"We will use every necessary weapon of war."
"Americans should not expect one battle, but a lengthy campaign unlike any other we have ever seen."
"Every nation in every region now has a decision to make. Either you are with us or you are with the terrorists."
"I've called the armed forces to alert and there is a reason. The hour is coming when America will act and you will make us proud."
"This is the world's fight, this is civilization's fight."
"I ask for your patience [...] in what will be a long struggle."
"The great achievement of our time and the great hope of every time, now depend on us."
"The course of this conflict is not known, yet its outcome is certain. [...] And we know that God is not neutral."
I ask our fellow countrymen to meditate deeply and calmly on the ideas contained in several of the above-mentioned phrases:
. Either you are with us or you are with the terrorists.
No nation of the world has been left out of the dilemma, not even the big and powerful states; none has escaped the threat of war or attacks.
- We will use any weapon.
No procedure has been excluded, regardless of its ethics, or any threat, however fatal -- either nuclear, chemical, biological or any other.
- It will not be short combat but a lengthy war, lasting many years, unparalleled in history.
- It is the world's fight; it is civilization's fight.
- The achievements of our times and the hope of every time, now depend on us.
Finally, an unheard of confession in a political speech on the eve of a war, and no less than in times of apocalyptic risks:
- The course of this conflict is not known; yet its outcome is certain. And we know that God is not neutral.
This is an amazing assertion. When I think about the real or imagined parties involved in that bizarre holy war that is about to begin, I find it difficult to make a distinction about where fanaticism is stronger.
On Thursday, before the United States Congress, the idea was designed of a world military dictatorship under the exclusive rule of force, irrespective of any international laws or institutions. The United Nations Organization, simply ignored in the present crisis, would fail to have any authority or prerogative whatsoever. There would be only one boss, only one judge, and only one law.
We have all been ordered to ally either with the United States government or with terrorism.
Cuba, the country that has suffered the most and the longest from terrorist actions, the one whose people are not afraid of anything because there is no threat or power in the world that can intimidate it, with a high morale, Cuba claims that it is opposed to terrorism and opposed to war. Although the possibilities are now remote, Cuba reaffirms the need to avert a war of unpredictable consequences whose very authors have admitted not to have the least idea of how the events will unfold. Likewise, Cuba reiterates its willingness to cooperate with every country in the total eradication of terrorism.
An objective and calm friend should advise the United States government against throwing the young American soldiers into an uncertain war in remote, isolated and inaccessible places, like a fight against ghosts, not knowing where they are or even if they exist or not, or whether the people they kill are or not responsible for the death of their innocent fellow countrymen killed in the United States.
Cuba will never declare itself an enemy of the American people that is today subjected to an unprecedented campaign to sow hatred and a vengeful spirit, so much so that even the music that sings to peace has been banned. On the contrary, Cuba will make that music its own, and even our children will sing their songs to peace while the announced bloody war lasts.
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The world will grow aware of this and will raise its voice in the face of the terrible threatening drama that it is about to suffer.
As for Cubans, this is the right time to proclaim more proudly and resolutely than ever:
Socialism or death! Homeland or death! We shall overcome!
-Fidel Castro
------------------------------------------- Macdonald Stainsby Rad-Green List: Radical anti-capitalist environmental discussion. http://lists.econ.utah.edu/mailman/listinfo/rad-green ---- Leninist-International: Building bridges in the tradition of V.I. Lenin. http://lists.econ.utah.edu/mailman/listinfo/leninist-international ---- In the contradiction lies the hope.
--Bertholt Brecht