WTC.Political.Context.FINAL

Political Context PLEASE NOTE: One aim of this site is to expand the dialog around these issues by representing as many the viewpoints as possible, rather than the standard debate which can be found on any TV channel. What this means is that the site will present *MANY* opinions, very few of them our own, in the interest of making all the parameters and potentialities of the debate clear. Because the debate is many-sided, and people come from very different perspectives and experiences, labeling the viewpoints without analysis of their factual basis is a dangerous trend. If a point of view represented is false, then it is valuable to point out how this is so, in order for others to better reason with the facts. Don't just bitch about it: make your case at the FORUMS

Afghanistan: The Making of U.S. Policy (1973-1990) National Archive essay: "Afghanistan experienced massive changes between 1973 and 1990--four coups, the intervention and withdrawal of the Soviet armed forces, the exile of one-third of its population as a result of the war, and one million deaths" Landmines: "Reaping What Has Been Sown" The Cold War superpowers made Kabul the world's most heavily mined city: "It costs about $3US to buy a landmine, but it costs $3,000US to remove it safely from the ground." Georgia: War On Terrorism Brings Renewed Russian Pressure Who Is Osama Bin Laden? - by Michel Chossudovsky, University of Ottawa "The Islamic "jihad" was supported by the United States and Saudi Arabia with a significant part of the funding generated from the Golden Crescent drug trade" This article from 1996 is strangely prescient: Blowback - by Mary Anne Weaver, The Atlantic On terrorism, jihad, and the CIA's provision of $3 billion to Afghan resistance groups Interview with Noam Chomsky on the WTC Events AlterNet -- America's Terrorist Roots Afghanistan: The Darkness of the Shulamite enclosed garden Women in Afghanistan Bush's Faustian Deal with the Taliban Colin Powell announces a $43 million 'gift' to the Taliban last May Hatred is the Enemy This site addresses the rise of anti-Arab and anti-Muslim hysteria and hate crimes occurring as a result of the terrorist incidents, and counters the isolationist 'us vs. them' mentality. "... if, in the heat of the moment and the lust for vengence we surrender our basic American principles such as demand for proof beyond a reasonable doubt, then we ourselves will have damaged America and what it stands for far more than those who attacked the World Trade Center could ever do themselves." from What really happened - A Moment of Reflection. Originally written in response to the Oklahoma bombings,here's an interesting historical overview of how crises have been handled in the past and what that may say about our times: Fake Terror - the Road To Dictatorship (It's the oldest trick in the book) "...we are being warned that a dangerous enemy threatens us, implacable, invisible, omnipresent, and invulnerable as long as our government is hamstrung by that silly old Bill of Rights." | On the Taliban, by Hazara.net The Hazaras are a race living in Afghanistan and persecuted by the Taliban. Caspian Sea Region: Regional Conflicts How the Afghan civil was has been preventing oil development in the region Environmental Impacts of the CentGas Pipleline in Afghanistan - by Daud Saba "the establishment of such a gigantic project in Afghanistan will have huge environmental consequences that should be addressed before the implication of the proposed project. " Afghan Magazine "The available information (on Afghanistan) is dry facts and statistics that render little meaning and knowledge. afghanmagzine.com hopes to change that by promoting and raising awareness to the arts, culture and history of the Afghan people. " U.S. Policy Toward Political Islam by Stephen Zunes, Foreign Policy in Focus New Yorker Piece by Susan Sontag A Plea for Reason and Diplomacy, not Revenge By Randy Kritkausky They can't see why they are hated Americans cannot ignore what their government does abroad, says Seumas Milne This is the most straightforward article we've seen on how American actions have helped set the stage for the situation that gave rise to the hijackings. Political Statements Bin Laden's warning: full text (Oct.7 2001) -"One million Iraqi children have thus far died in Iraq although they did not do anything wrong. Despite this, we heard no denunciation by anyone in the world or a fatwa by the rulers' ulema [body of Muslim scholars]." Please help us collect political speeches and statements by all involved parties by emailing links@global-dialog.org We're adding to these articles, links, and discussions as quickly as we can - please send all relevant URLS to LINKS with the Subject: LINKS or volunteer to help with Subject:Volunteer

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" To Whom It May Concern: It is not my natural policy to want to destroy the different governments that men feel are necessary for their needs and happiness. I do feel that in their governments they have seriously neglected music as a vital factor in human relationships and that musicians have been left at the mercy of the worst type of exploitation and hostile environment. The type of governments that men have today are the type of governments that they deserve and I am not saying anything about governments because as long as men don't change, governments will always be just as they have always been under the jurisdiction of man. I do not feel that America which is a country based on spiritual concepts should deny those who are spiritual who feel that they can contribute more to humanity by being their natural spiritual selves. I am not trying to reform the world. I am not trying to be a self ordained leader of a cult or any of those things that have been thought and said by other people. I am only offering what I have to offer in the sincereness of my heart to those who might have the need of what I am saying. I am only doing that which it is natural for me to do. I do not have contempt for governments. What would men do without governments, since there are so many of them? Still I feel that men are limited in their vision and in the things which they can do for a person and if they are limited I like to feel it is not because they are keeping anyone else from trying. America has proven itself to be a very efficient government despite mistakes for 'To err is human'...I am not in politics, still I am offering what I have to offer to the world in the only way I know how to do so. " Sun Ra The Immeasurable Equation lovolution lovevolv@dti.net 10/02/01 10:33:09 MDT