IV335 - November 2001

The dreadful slaughter in New York, Washington and Pennsylvania handed the Bush administration a political gift of monumental proportions; an opportunity to launch a political offensive against all its opponents at home and abroad.

In the wake of the terror attack on the World Trade Center in New York City on September 11, the US government and mass media have been working overtime to arouse a patriotic war fervour. Threats and vigilante attacks were widespread against Muslim and Arab residents in the days immediately following the tragedy. But anti-war and anti-racist forces have begun organizing a serious opposition.

We are all horrified by the terrorist attacks on New York City and Washington. Thousands of working men and women were senselessly murdered, and unions across the world have joined to condemn the act.

Thousands of Pakistani religious elements including the young students have taken to the street all over Pakistan on the first day of bombing Afghanistan.

This is a formal appeal from Labour Party Pakistan to help the party in this crucial juncture of Pakistan history.

Beyond the common condemnation of, and horror about, the tragedies of September 11 in New York and Washington there has emerged a serious political divide in India concerning the American proposals and preparations for fighting "international terrorism" through an international coalition of states led by itself.

Adil is leader of a small left wing organization based in Afghanistan. He is himself in exile. He was in Jilalabad for three days from 16-19th September to see the mood and to instruct his party comrades on future strategy.

The horrible mass murder resulting from the suicide attacks of September 11 can in now way justify the abominable bombardment of one of the poorest and most exhausted countries of the world by the richest country and its allies.

Almost 2 million people are on the brink of famine in Honduras, Nicaragua, El Salvador and Guatemala. The effects of the succession of "natural disasters", the collapse of agricultural prices and the decomposition of the economies of the region also extends to Costa Rica and the entire coastal zone of the Gulf of Panama. International "humanitarian aid" is at a scandalous level: a dollar per person.

If Genoa will remain a significant moment in the history of mobilization and struggle it is not simply because of the violence of the repression and the extent of the demonstrations, but also because of the enormous difference between the expectations of public opinion and the demonstrators and the decisions taken by the G-8 meeting.