<nettime> Fidel on "Infinite Justice"

[Jim Carrico <jim@at.org>]

http://www.granma.cu/ingles/septiem4/discu-i.html

Speech by President Fidel Castro Ruz, president of the Republic of 
Cuba, Havana, September 22, 2001

Fellow countrymen:

No one can deny that terrorism is today a dangerous and ethically 
indefensible phenomenon, which should be eradicated regardless of its 
deep origins, the economic and political factors that brought it to 
life and those responsible for it.

The unanimous irritation caused by the human and psychological damage 
brought on the American people by the unexpected and shocking death 
of thousands of innocent people whose images have shaken the world is 
perfectly understandable. But who have profited? The extreme right, 
the most backward and right-wing forces, those in favor of crushing 
the growing world rebellion and sweeping away everything progressive 
that is still left on the planet. It was an enormous error, a huge 
injustice and a great crime whomever they are who organized or are 
responsible for such action.

However, the tragedy should not be used to recklessly start a war 
that could actually unleash an endless carnage of innocent people and 
all of this on behalf of justice and under the peculiar and bizarre 
name of "Infinite Justice".

In the last few days we have seen the hasty establishment of the 
basis, the concept, the true purposes, the spirit and the conditions 
for such a war. No one would be able to affirm that it was not 
something thought out well in advance, something that was just 
waiting for its chance to materialize. Those who after the so-called 
end of the cold war continued a military buildup and the development 
of the most sophisticated means to kill and exterminate human beings 
were aware that the large military investments would give them the 
privilege to impose an absolute and complete dominance over the other 
peoples of the world. The ideologists of the imperialist system knew 
very well what they were doing and why they were doing it.

After the shock and sincere sorrow felt by every person on Earth for 
the atrocious and insane terrorist attack that targeted the American 
people, the most extremist ideologists and the most belligerent 
hawks, already set in privileged power positions, have taken command 
of the most powerful country in the world, whose military and 
technological capabilities would seem infinite. Its capacity to 
destroy and kill is enormous while its inclination towards 
equanimity, serenity, thoughtfulness and restrain is minimal.

The combination of elements - including complicity and the common 
enjoyment of privileges - the prevailing opportunism, confusion and 
panic make it almost impossible to avoid a bloody and unpredictable 
outcome.

The first victims of whatever military actions are undertaken will be 
the billions of people living in the poor and underdeveloped world 
with their unbelievable economic and social problems, their unpayable 
debts and the ruinous prices of their basic commodities; their 
growing natural and ecological catastrophes, their hunger and misery, 
the massive undernourishment of their children, teenagers and adults; 
their terrible AIDS epidemic, their malaria, their tuberculosis and 
their infectious diseases that threaten whole nations with 
extermination.

The grave economic world crisis was already a real and irrefutable 
fact affecting absolutely every one of the big economic power 
centers. That crisis will inevitably grow deeper under the new 
circumstances and when it becomes unbearable for the overwhelming 
majority of the peoples, it will bring chaos, rebellion and the 
impossibility to govern.

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 
underlining 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 whatever 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 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, 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 proclaims 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 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.

Whatever happens, the territory of Cuba will never be used for 
terrorist actions against the American people and we will do 
everything within our reach to prevent such actions against that 
people. Today we are expressing our solidarity while urging peace and 
calmness. One day they will admit we were right.

Our independence, our principles and our social achievements we will 
defend with honor to the last drop of blood, if we are attacked!

It will not be easy to fabricate pretexts to do it. They are already 
talking about a war using all the necessary weapons but it will be 
good recalling that not even that would be a new experience. Almost 
four decades ago, hundreds of strategic and tactical nuclear weapons 
were aimed at Cuba and nobody remembers anyone of our countrymen 
sleepless over that.

We are the same sons and daughters of that heroic people, with a 
patriotic and revolutionary conscience that is higher than ever. It 
is time for serenity and courage.

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 proud and 
resolute than ever:

Socialism or death!

Patria o muerte!

Venceremos!

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