Beyond September 11: An Anthology of Dissent

Beyond September 11: An Anthology of Dissent

by PhilScraton (Editor)

Synopsis

The unprecedented and tragic events in New York, Washington and Pennsylvania left an indelible mark on world politics. Civilian deaths in horrific circumstances triggered an uncompromising response from the US administration and its allies: an open-ended 'war on terrorism'. This anthology includes some of the world's leading commentators - Noam Chomsky, Robert Fisk, Naomi Klein, John Pilger, Paul Foot and A.Sivanandan. It presents accessible, detailed and often deeply personal accounts of the aftermath, the bombing of Afghanistan and the dubious claims for its legality. From investigative journalists to critical academics, human rights lawyers and anti-racist campaigners, the contributors are united in their opposition to military intervention in Afghanistan and beyond and to the attack on civil liberties in the US, the UK and Europe. From the US and Canada, Herman and Julia Schwendinger, Jonathan Farley, Tony Platt, Cecilia O'Leary, Christian Parenti and Michael Mandel are among critical academics who assess the validity, lawfulness and political consequences of the Bush/Blair agenda. European based commentators include Martti Gronfors and Thomas Mathiesen. Examining the the context and rhetoric of US vengeance -- ennobled by the symbolic title 'Enduring Freedom' -- they challenge political and popular definitions, constructions,pathologisation and reporting of terrorism. In questioning the representation of war as 'just', the anthology focuses on civilian deaths in Afghanistan, evidence of US/allied atrocities, violations of prisoners' rights and US determination to escalate military offensives, regardless of global destabilisation.

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More Information

Format: Paperback
Pages: 272
Edition: Reprint
Publisher: Pluto Press
Published: 20 Jun 2002

ISBN 10: 0745319629
ISBN 13: 9780745319629

Media Reviews
Most of the 36 contributors to this small volume are dissenters to President George E. Bush and Prime Minister Tony Blair's prevailing policies in response to terrorism. The two leaders are the targets of a group of British academics, lawyers, and journalists joined by MIT scholar Noam Chomsky. While not denying the horrors of the World Trade Center's 3,000 deaths, more is said about Afghan and other Third World victims. One chapter is titled 'America's Jihad 'and another 'United States Ruthlessness.' Although thousands died at the World Trade Center, millions continue to suffer obliteration bombing far exceeding the bombing in Dresden during WW II. The poor die Afghan cities or fleeing across mountain trails or along harsh untraveled deserts. Shattered by such actions is the imperial myth expressed in the US's quest for world domination. The commentators point to the grinding poverty and humiliation in Islamic societies everywhere. The American 'sin' was vengeance in rushing to judgment, never defining terrorism or binding itself by rules of engagement. Patriots understandably take offense at such condemnation, yet these comments may serve a purpose and teach Americans to see themselves as others see them as they seek peace and world order. Recommended for general readers, upper-division undergraduates and above. --K W. Thompson, University of Virginia in Feb 2003 issue of Choice
Author Bio
Phil Scraton is Professor of Criminology and Director of the Centre for Studies in Crime and Social Justice, Edge Hill University College, UK.