TheAnarchistLibrary(Mirror)
Anti-Copyright
NoamChomsky
TheEmpireandOurselves April9,1986
Retrievedon8thJune2021fromchomsky.info
FromASolidarityPamphlet,April9,1986
usa.anarchistlibraries.net
TheEmpireandOurselves
April9,1986
whethersomeplotinyourbackyardbelongstohimorbelongsto you.Therearetwowaysofdealingwiththat.Onewayistotake agunandshoothim.Theotherwayistogotothecourts.Now thatisthedifferencebetweentheMafiaandlaw-abidingcitizens. Andexactlythesameistrueinthissituation.
IfthereisadisputeovertheGulfofSidrathereisawaytodeal withit.There’stheWorldCourt,forexample.That’sthewayto dealwithit.Nowthereisplainlynourgency.Youknow,nothing turnsonwhethershipscansailtheretomorrowortwoyearsfrom now.
Butforalawless,violentstateyoudon’tuselegalmeans.What youdoisshootyourwaythrough.That’sexactlywhatwedid.We diditbecauseweneededaconfrontationandwewanttoelicitterrorismsothatwecanthenscreamaboutterrorism.Anditwasvery well-timed,longplanned,andit’snotthefirsttime.It’sthefourth orfifthtime.That’swhattheLibyathingisabout,andthere’llbe morelikeLibya.
Shiites,includingtheleaderoftheLebanesereligiouscommunity, whoIthinkisabouteighty.Tocompoundtheidiocy,thesepeople arefanaticallyanti-LibyanbecauseLibyaprobablykilledtheir majorreligiousfigure.Anyway,theAmericanpresswasloyal enoughnottoreportanyofthat.
Nowtakealookatthatincident.Ittellsyousomethingelse aboutthelawlessnessandthuggeryofthecurrentAdministration; infact,ofallofeliteopinion.Ifyoulookattheconfrontationwith Libyayou’llnoticethatwhateverybodydiscussesistheU.S.right tosendships,asgrantedbythelawofthesea.
Therearetwopointstonoticeaboutthat.OnethingisthatLibya didn’tattackourships.Sothereforeanyquestionthatmaybe raisedaboutthelawoftheseaistotallyirrelevant.Libyaattacked ourplanes.Sowhat’sinvolvedistherightofhostileaircraftto intrude.
NowtheUnitedStateshasapositiononthat.Thereisnolaw aboutthat.Statestakeunilateralpositions.AndtheUnitedStates hasaposition.Wehavewhatwecallan11airidentificationzone” underwhichweclaimtherighttoshootdownhostileaircraft withinatwo-hundredmilerangeofourshores.Nowit’skindof hardforustoclaimthatothercountriesdon’thavethesameright ifweclaimthatright.
Ourplaneshadintrudedwithobviouslyhostileintentwell withinatwo-hundredmilelimit.SobyourstandardsLibyahad arighttoshootthemdown.Wethencommittedanillegalact byretaliatingagainstLibyanships.Nowallofthisissuppressed inthediscussionandpeopletalklearnedlyaboutthelawofthe seaandtwelvemilelimits,whichistotallyirrelevanttowhat happened.Thiswassimplyanactofinternationallawlessnesson thepartoftheUnitedStates.That’spointnumberone.Byour ownstandards.
Pointnumbertwo,supposethatsomeconfrontationhadtaken placeonthesea,whichitdidn’tuntilweattackedLibyanships. Well,supposeyouandyourneighborhaveanargumentover
talkaboutaconfrontationbetweenLibyaandtheUnitedStatesis–Iwon’teventalkaboutit.It’sonlyinacountryasbrainwashedas thisthatonecouldeventalkaboutthetopic.
Furthermore,Khadafiisveryeasytohate.Heisaterrorist.In fact,Libyahaskilleddozens,accordingtoAmnestyInternational. ThelastAmnestyInternationalfigurewas,Iforgettheexactnumber,maybe20orsomenumberofLibyandissidentsthroughout theworld,andthatsureisterrorism.Ifyoulookyou’llnoticethat AmnestyInternationalwasabletolistthemandgivetheirnames. Inthecaseofourclientstates,like,say,ElSalvadorand Guatemala,theycan’tlistthem.Thereisn’tenoughpapertolist them.Besidestheydon’tknowtheirnamesbecausetheyruntoa hundredandfiftythousandorsomething.ButundoubtedlyLibya isaterroriststate.Evenifit’sakindofretailterrorismbyour standards.(Laughterandapplause.)
Anyhow,itisinvolvedinterrorismandKhadafiiseasytohate. SothereforeitisveryeasytosetupconfrontationswithKhadafi, andalsocheap.We’vedoneitrepeatedly.We’vedoneitaboutfour orfivetimesinthelastfouryears.Everytimethatitisnecessary tostrikemanly,heroicposesweinventsomethinglikeaLibyan invasionoftheSudanacrosssixhundredmilesofdesertandwe’re goingtostopthembyamanlyshowofresolve.GeorgeShultzcan getupandstrikeheroicposesontelevision.
Someofthecasesaresoludicrousyoucanbarelybelievethem. Therewasthestoryin1981thatLibyanhitmenwereroaming thestreetsofWashingtontoassassinateourleader.Theyput tanksaroundtheWhiteHouse.Itrequiresanextraordinarily brainwashedcountrynottohavecollapsedinridiculeoverthat story.
TheultimateendofthatstorywasthattheU.S.transmitted throughouttheworldalistofthehitmen.Theydidn’twantto identifythemhere,buttherewasasecretlistcirculated.Andin Englanditsurfaced.Itleakedtothepressanditwaspublished. AnditturnedoutthatthelistofLibyanhitmenwasLebanese
Wecouldgoback,youknow,stageafterstageafterstage,and we’llfindplentyofterrorism.MostofitbeingcarriedOutonOur sideintheMiddleEastwithdirectAmericanresponsibility.That’s, incidentally,byanoverwhelmingmargininnumberskilled,inpreemptivestrikes,andsoon.Justoverwhelmingly.
Let’stalkaboutLibya.That’sagainthesamestory.Whydid weattackLibya?[Chomskyisreferringheretothefirstattackon Libyanships.TheU.S.bombedLibyaafewdayslater–ed.]
Well,LibyaplaysaveryspecialroleinAmericanpolicy.WeregularlyattackLibyabecauseitiseasy.TheReaganAdministration hastomaintainwarfever.Hastomaintainconfrontation.And thereasonsforthathavetodowithitsdomesticpolicies.ThemajordomesticpoliciesoftheReaganAdministrationweretoeffecta substantialtransferofresourcesfromthepoortotherich.ToprovideahugestateSubsidytothesystemofadvancedtechnology.
TheratioofstatespendingtoGNPhasrisenfasterunderthe ReaganAdministrationthansinceWorldWarII.Thewayyouforce thepublictoinvestinhigh-technologyindustry,thewayyouarrangethesystemofpublicsubsidyforprivateprofit,isthroughthe militarysystem.Everytimeit’sfeltnecessarytoforcethepublic toinvestinhightechnology,whatyoudoissay,theRussiansare comingandwe’vegottohaveabigmilitarysystemandlotsofmissiles.Andaccidentallyyouareabletobuildthenextgenerationof computerswithpublicfunds.
Thebeneficiariesarenotmilitaryindustryprimarily,it’sjust high-technologyindustry.Associatedwiththatisincreasedinterventionthroughouttheworld.Soyou’vegottogetthepublic scaredandthatmeansyouhavetohaveconfrontationsandwar fevers.
TheoreticallytheenemyissupposedtobetheSovietUnion.But it’strickytogetinvolvedwiththem.Theycanfightback.Soit’s bestnottohaveconfrontationswiththem.Thatmightblowup theworld.It’sbesttofindsomebodyyoucanattackwhocan’t fightback.Well,Libyaismadetoorder.Imean,youknow,to
LETMEBEGINbyaskingaquestion.Whyarewehavingthis meetingaboutCentralAmericatodayandnot,say,tenyearsago? Wasit,forexample,thattenyearsagodemocracywasflourishing inCentralAmericaandthepopulationwassohappy,free,prosperousandwellfed?Well,obviouslynot.Tenyearsagotheywere livingunderbrutalmilitarydictatorships.Weweredirectlyresponsibleforwhatwashappeningtothemthen,exactlyaswearenow. Butorderreignedandprofitsflowed,andthereforetherewasno interesthere.
Orlet’saskasecondquestion.WhyarewemeetingaboutCentralAmericaandnot,say,abouttheCaribbean?Isitthatnothing ishappeningthere?Yes,thingsarehappeningthere.TakeHaiti, forexample.Haitiisnowinthenews.Ithasbeeninthenewsfor thelastcouplemonths,butaboutayearagoitwasn’t,although interestingandimportantthingswerehappening.Forexample, theHaitianlegislaturepassedalawunanimouslywhichreadas follows,andIamquotingfromit:“EverypoliticalpartymustrecognizeinitsstatutesthePresidentforLifeasthesupremearbiter ofthenation.”
ThenewelectorallawexcludedtheChristianDemocrats,andit statedthatthestatecansuspendanypoliticalpartywithoutreason. Thiswasratifiedby99.98%ofthevote.Therewasindeedareaction intheUnitedStates.TheAmericanambassadordescribedthenew lawonpoliticalpartiesas“anencouragingstepforward.”
TheAdministrationthencertifiedtoCongressthatdemocratic developmentwasproceeding,andthatallowedthemtorelease$50 millioninmilitaryandeconomicaid.TheeconomicaidprimarilyaidedBabyDoc;itwentstraightintohisbankaccounts.The UnitedStatesatthatpointwaspursuingwhattheHouseForeign AffairsCommitteecalledthebasicprincipleofU.S.policy,namely, tomaintainfriendlyrelationswithDuvalier’snoncommunistgovernment.
Haitiisacountryofaboutsixmillionpeopleinwhichfourthousandfamilieshave80%ofthewealth,87%ofthechildrensuffer
frommalnutrition,there’s82%illiteracy,60%ofthepopulation haveanannualpercapitaincomeof$60.Theretorture,stateterror andslavelaborconditionsarethecommonlot.Butthat’sperfectly okay.Noconcernhere.
ByDecemberoflastyearthingsbegantochange.Therewas turbulence,demonstrations,killings.AndatthatpointtheUnited Statesbegantoshowsomeconcernaboutwhatwashappening. HereisthewayitwasdescribedintheWallStreetJournal:“The WhiteHouseconcludedthattheregimewasunraveling.U.S.analystslearnedthatrulinginnercircleshadlostfaithinDuvalier.As aresult,U.S.officials,includingSecretaryofStateGeorgeShultz, beganopenlycallingfora“democraticprocessinHaiti.”‘
Well,that’saninterestingcomment.Thecynicismisquite extraordinary.Ofcourseitwouldn’tbenoticedinahighly indoctrinatedsocietylikeours.Butthepointisthatbefore, everythingwasquitesatisfactorywhilenowwesuddenlyneeded ademocraticprocess.Thesamecynicismwasillustratedin ourbehaviorinthePhilippinesaboutthesametime,alsoevokinggreatself-congratulationandmuchaweaboutourgeneral magnificence.
Nowthereisanofficialexplanationforthelackofattention whenorderreignsandprofitsflow,Oneversionofthatwasgiven byJeanKirkpatrick,thechiefsadist-in-residenceoftheReagan Administration,inthearticlethatpropelledhertofameandinto theAdministrationin1979.Shehadthefollowingtosay:
Becausethemiseriesoftraditionallifearefamiliar, theyarebearabletoordinarypeoplewho,growingup inthesociety,learntocopeandthereforeacceptthe factthatwealth,power,statusandotherresources favoranaffluentfewwhiletraditionalautocrats maintainthemassesinmisery.Sothereforeourlack ofconcernisquiteproper;indeed,quitedecentand moralbecausethelowerordersfeelnopain.
Whatwasitaresponseto?Let’sadmitwhatisabsurd,thatthe attackonTuniswasaretaliationfortheLarnacakillings,which werecertainlyterrorism.ButwhyweretheLarnacakillingscarriedout?WasitjustcrazyArabs?No,theyclaimeditwasretaliation.Andinfactinthatcasetheclaimisalittlemoreplausible thantheIsraelione.
Theyclaimeditwasretaliationforthehijackingofships.Now IsraelfreelyhijacksshipsintheMediterraneanthatareintransit betweenCyprusandLebanon.Anditcapturespeopleonthem. It’sbeendoingthiscertainlysince1976.Itquitefreelyandopenly takestheshipsintoIsraeliportsanddoesanythingitwantstothe people.Capturesthemandputstheminjail.Backin1976itwas sendingthemtoitsChristianalliesinLebanon,whokilledthem.
Nowthehijackingofshipsisconsideredacrimewhenit’sdone bythewrongpeople.Youknowwegetallupsetaboutit.Butthis hijackingisconsideredquiteokaybecauseit’sdonebyanAmericanclientstate,whichinheritstherightofterrorismfromus,and thereforetheactsthattheycarryoutarenotterrorism.
Idon’tsaywecancondonethemurdersinLarnaca.Buttheyhad areasonthattheygave.TheyclaimedthattheseyachtsinCyprus werebeingusedforsurveillancethatwassendinginformationfor theshiphijackers.WellIdon’tknowifthatistrueornot.Butthat wasanactofretaliation.However,that’snotthewaywelookat it.It’soursidethatretaliatesandtheirsidewhoareterrorists.
Ifyou’veread“TheCityofGod”bySt.Augustine,youmayrecall thathedescribesacasewhereAlexanderofMacedoncaptureda pirate.Andheaskshim,Howdareyoudisturbtheseaswithyour crimes?Andthepirateresponds,Howdareyoudisturbtheworld withyourcrimes?Thepiratesays,IhaveasmallboatsoI’ma thief,youhaveanavysoyouareanemperorandnotathief.St. Augustinesaysthatwas“anelegantandaccurateresponse.”And itis.Ifyouhaveanavyandyoudisturbtheworldyou’renota terrorist.Butifyou’resmallandyouhavealittleboat,you’rea terrorist.That’sessentiallythecriterion.
ifyouattackSyriayou’reintrouble.Theyhaveamissiledefense systemandtheRussiansmightdosomethingandsoon.Tunisis defenselesssoitiseasytoattack.
TheUnitedStatesgovernmentofficiallyapplaudedthemforcarryingoutthisattackandsaiditwasalegitimateresponsetoterrorism.Then,aftertheworldreactiontothat,theUnitedStates backedoffalittle.ItabstainedontheSecurityCouncilresolution denouncingwhattheSecurityCouncilunanimously,exceptforthe UnitedStates,calledanactofaggression.AndthentheU.S.governmentwascriticizedhereforbeinganti-Semiticforabstaining onthatresolution.ThatagaintellsyousomethingaboutAmerican culture.
ImentionedthattheU.S.governmentwasobviouslyinvolved inthisraid.That’scertain.TheIsraeliplanescamerightacross theMediterranean.Theywererefueledinflight.TheU.S.government’sofficialpositionisthattheywereunabletodetectthem.
Thisisthemostsophisticatedsurveillancesystemintheworld andtheywereunabletodetectplanesthatwereevenbeingrefueledontheway.Ifthat’sreallytrue,anybodywhobelievesthat taleoughttobecallingforacongressionalinvestigationofthetotal incompetenceoftheAmericanmilitary,whichplainlyleavesthe countrycompletelyopentoattackbyanybody.Youmaybelieve thatstory,butnosanepersonwill.Infact,partofourcomplicity intheattackwasthatwedidn’teveninformtheTunisiansthatthe killerswereontheirway.
Thismorning’s“L.A.Times”,justtotakeanotherexample,hasa storyaboutinternationalterrorism,thegreatscourgeofthemodernage.Theyquoteasauthoritiesrepresentativesofseveralofthe leadingterroriststates,theUnitedStatesandIsraelinparticular. Andtheytalkaboutallthehorribleterroristactsthathavetaken place.Theydon’tmentionthisone.TheTunisattackdoesnot count.Thatisbecausethatwas,inourterms,alegitimateresponse toterrorismandthereforeit’sokay.
26
That,incidentally,isquiteaclassicviewofimperialpower. InCentralAmerica,however,bythelate1970s,problemswere brewing.Whatwashappeningwasthatthepackanimalsforgot thatthemiseriesoftraditionallifearequitebearableinluxury apartmentsinWashington,andtheytriedtoovercomethem.That wasathreattoorderandprofitsinNicaragua,inElSalvador,and Guatemala.Sothereforetherewasgreatconcernhereandmuch suddenrhetoricabouttheneedfordemocracy;anincreasedU.S. involvement;andmeetingslikethisonewhichdon’ttakeplace whenU.S.interestsarenotthreatened.Allofthatteachesus somethingaboutourselves.
LookingOurselvesintheFaceintheMirror ofOurDominions
IfyouwanttolearnsomethingaboutthenatureoftheSoviet Union,whatkindofagovernmentitisandwhatkindofasociety theyrun,oneofthebestthingstodoislookatEasternEurope. Thattellsyouwhattheydowheytheyhaveachance,when somethingisundertheircontrol.
CentralAmericaandtheCaribbeanhavebeenintheirongripof theUnitedStatesforacenturyandthereforetheytellusalotabout ourselves.Whatyoufindifyoulookisoneoftheworld’sworst horrorchambers.There’sstarvation,slavelabor,torture,massacre byU.S.clients.VirtuallyeveryefforttobringaboutsomeconstructivechangehasledtoanewdoseofU.S.violence.
It’sanilluminatingpictureifwewanttolearn.Asanexampleof howlittlewewanttolearn,youmighttakealookatlastSunday’s “NewYorkTimesMagazine”wherethere’sacoverarticlebyJames Lemoyne.Hehasthefollowingtosay:
Virtuallyeverystudyoftheregion,includingthe KissingerCommissionReport,hasconcludedthatthe
revolutionsofCentralAmericaprimarilyhavebeen causedbydecadesofpoverty,bloodyrepression,and frustratedeffortsatbringingaboutpoliticalreform.
Well,that’strue.Virtuallyeverystudyhasconcludedthat.But why?Whathascausedthedecadesofpovertyandbloodyreparation?Thatquestionisunanswered.Hisarticlegoesontotalk abouttheSovietUnionandCubaandBulgariaandNorthKorea andthePLO–allsortsofcountrieswhoareinvolvedintheregion andcausingallsortsofturmoilandproblems.
Butthereisonecountrythatismysteriouslymissingfromthe discussion–namely,themajorone,theonethathastheresponsibilityforthetragedyandfortheturmoil,Andthatisarevealing exampleofthecynicismandthequiteastonishingmoralcowardice oftheAmericanelites.Andinthisitisverymuchlikeeveryofficial studyoftheregionandagreatmanyoftheunofficialones.
AcoupleofmonthsagotheCouncilonHemisphericAffairs publisheditsannualhumanrightsreportforLatinAmerica.Itselected,astheworstgovernmentsinLatinAmericafor1985,ElSalvadorandGuatemala,theonlytwogovernmentsinCentralAmerica“thatabducted,killed,andtorturedpoliticalopponentsona systematicandwidespreadbasis.”This,incidentally,isthesixth successiveyearthattheyobtainedthathonor,andinthatperiod theyhavesucceededinkilling,thosetwogovernments,roughlya hundredandfiftythousandpeople,andcausingseveralmillionsof refugees.
Therewas,infact,oneothercontenderforfirstplaceinthe CouncilonHemisphericAffairsreport;namely,theContras–what eventheirsupporterscallanAmericanproxyarmy,thatisattackingNicaraguafromitsHonduran,andinpartCostaRican,bases. Therearealsothousandsofciviliansmurdered,tortured,andmutilatedbythem.Theycarryoutnoothernoteworthymilitaryoperations.Theonlyreasontheydon’tachievefirstplaceisthatthey don’thavequitethestrengthtodoit.
itandtorturepeopleandmurderthembecause,look,they’regettingaidfromtheUnitedStates,ourgreatenemy.Howwouldwe reacttothat?
Wetakeitforgrantedthatthesecountriesareourdomains.They arenotallowedtodoanythingthatwedon’ttellthemtodo.And iftheydecidetobepluralistic,no,wekillthem.Andiftheywould decidetobeasdependentontheSovietUnionasDenmarkison us,well,then,obviouslywekillthem.Andthat’stakenforgranted. Thatagainisasignofthelawlessnessandthuggeryofmainstream Americanculture.
Youknow,iftheSovietUnionsaid,Look,we’vegottocontain Denmarkbysendinganarmytoattackit–howwouldwereact? Well,that’sthewayweoughttoreacttoourselves.
“Retaliation”inNorthAfrica
Q:CouldyoupleasecommentontherecentIsraeliand U.S.actsofaggressioninNorthAfricaagainstspecifically TunisiaandLibyaandhowthiswillaffectthestrugglefor Palestinianjustice?
Chomsky:Welltheseareimportantcases.Let’stakeTunisia first.Israel,withU.S.complicity,obviously,sentbombersto attackTuniswheretheykilledfifty-fivePalestiniansandtwenty Tunisians.Nobodywhowasattackedhadanythingtodowith theactiontowhichthiswasallegedlyaretaliation.Tuniswas attackedbecauseitwasdefenseless.That’stypical,incidentally. Youattackpeoplewhoaredefenseless.Youwanttomakesure youdon’tattackoneswhocanfightback.
TheattackthatitwassupposedlyinretaliationforwasinLarnaca,Cyprus,wherethreeIsraelishadbeenmurdered.Themurderershadbeencaughtandwerefacingtrial.Israeliintelligenceand AmericanintelligenceconcededthatnobodyinTunishadanything todowithit.TheysaiditwasorganizedinSyria.But,ofcourse,
Let’stakeanactuallookatthefigures.InMay1985whenthe U.S.imposedtheembargoonNicaragua,totalNicaraguantrade withtheSovietBloccountrieswasabout20%.That’sroughlythe sameasU.S.tradewiththeSovietBloccountries,alittlelessin fact.AndmuchlessthanEuropeanandgeneralThirdWorldtrade. Nowthefigureismuchhigher.Abigsurprise.Wecutoffourtrade andwe’veputpressureonclientstatestocutofftrade,including mostofEurope.Andwe’vecutoffsupportfromtheinternational lendinginstitutions.
Sobigsurprise,thecountrythatweareattackingturnstothe onecountrythatiswillingtogivethemaid,theSovietUnion.And thenwehavethehypocrisytoaccusethemoftakingSovietaidand ofclaimingthatthisisareasonforconcernonourpart.
There’sonlyonethingmoretosayaboutthat.Andthatis,why arewedoingthis?WhydidwedoitinthecaseofCuba?Why didwedoitinthecaseofVietnam?Whydowealwaysdoit? Theanswerisquiteobvious.Becausethatallowspeopletoask questionsliketheoneyou’veasked.
ThatallowsthenewcastersonTVtogetupandmakebreathless commentsabouttheSovietBlocarmsusedbytheseCommunists afterwe’vesentanarmytoattackthemandcutoffeveryother supplyofarms.Infact,asIsaid,itgivesretrospectivejustification fortheattackthatwearecarryingoutagainstthemforentirely differentreasons.Namely,becausetheyarethethreatofagood example.
Havingsaidthis,letmetakealookatyourquestionfromanotherpointofview.Supposethat,contrarytofact,Nicaraguahad wantedtohaveprimarilySovietaid,whichitdidnot.Wewant themtobeaSovietclientsowecanhaveajustificationtodestroy them.ButsupposetheyhadwantedSovietaid.Thentheywould beverymuchlikeDenmark.Denmarkgetsitsmilitarysupport fromus.NowsupposethattheSovietUniontookapositionlike yours:WhatrightdoesDenmarkhavetogetaidfromtheUnited States?We’vegottosendanarmytoattackDenmarkanddestroy
Nowtheseatrocitiesarenottheordinarygardenvarietykinds ofmurders.InElSalvadoritmeans,forexample,eliteAmericantrainedbattalionsgoingthroughatown,destroying,andleaving behindthemwomenhangingbytheirfeetwiththeirbreastscut offandtheirfacialskinpeeledback,bleedingtodeath.
ItmeansinNicaragua,forexample,theContrasgoingintoa town,shootingitup,killingpeople,takingafourteen-year-old girl,rapingher,slittingherthroat,cuttingherheadoffandputting itonapoletointimidatetherestofthepopulation.Topickone example.ThatonefromanAmericanpriestwhohasbeenworking thereformanyyears.Oneexamplefromalistamilelongcompiled byhumanrightsorganizations,barelynotedhereandquicklyforgotten.
It’sratherinterestingthatAmericanreportersinNicaraguaare remarkablyincapableofdiscoveringanyofthesefacts,thougheveryinvestigatinggroupthatgoesdownquicklycomesupwitha goryandgrislyseriesofthem.
InGuatemalaitmeans,forexample,troopsgoingintoavillage, collectingthepopulationinthecentraltownbuilding,takingout themenandbeheadingthem,rapingandthenkillingthewomen, takingoutthechildrenandsmashingthemtopiecesagainstrocks inanearbyriver.Thesearethekindsofthingsthatwearetalking about.ThisisarecordthatbearscomparisontoPolPot,bothin scaleandincharacter.
It’salsonotablethatwearetalkingaboutthreecloseU.S. allies,infactclients,whichhavebeensupportedbytheUnited Statesthroughout.Withoneexception.InthecaseofGuatemala, CongressputsomerestrictionsontheExecutivelimitingits capacitytoparticipateingenocidetotheextentthatitwanted, andthereforeitwasnecessarytocalluponotherclientstates tohelp.FirstwereArgentineneo-Nazis,butthatwaslostwith theunfortunatereturntodemocracyinArgentina;andsince, primarilyIsrael,whichhaslentitselfwithgreatenthusiasmtothe cause.
TothatrecordwemayaddNicaragua,wherein1978and1979, inthelastdaysofSomoza,aboutfiftythousandmorepeoplewere killed.Contrarytomanylies,theCarterAdministrationsupported thatmassacretotheveryend.It’sverymuchliketheHaitiand Philippinescase.
WhenitwasclearthatSomozacouldnolongerbemaintained, theCarterAdministrationtriedtoretaincontrolofthecountryby theNationalGuard,whichtheU.S.hadinstalledinthefirstplace andhadtrainedandmaintainedeversince.Andwheneventhat didn’twork,theUnitedStatesshortlyafterbeganorganizingthe NationalGuardagain,outsideNicaragua,toattackthecountry, nowasaproxyarmy.Well,allofthisalsoteachesussomething aboutourselvesifwecaretolearn.
Kennedy’sParadigm:BetteraTrujilloThana Castro
Whatisthereasonforthisverysystematicbehavior?And,indeed, itisquitesystematic.Thereisanofficialanswertothat,orkindof answer.TheanswerwasperhapsgiveninitsclearestformbyJohn F.Kennedy.Hesaidthatwewouldbeinfavorofdecentdemocratic regimes,asheputit,but,andthencomesaratherbigbut:ifthere isadangerofaCastrowewillalwayssupportaTrujillo.
Well,whatdothosetermsmean?WhatdidhemeanbyaCastro?ItisimportanttounderstandthathedidnotmeanaCommunistoraRussianally,butratherthecategoryofCastroisvastly broader.AsforTrujillo,weknowwhathemeantbythat.Trujillo wasthemurderousandbrutaldictatoroftheDominicanRepublic whowasinstalledwithU.S.supportandwhotortured,murdered, androbbedforthirty-fiveyearswithAmericansupportuntilwe finallyturnedagainsthimbecausehisrobberybegantoextendto U.S.corporationsandtheirlocalclients.
donortoindependentZimbabwewhoseleaderisanavowed Marxist.Wealsoshouldnotoverlookthefactthatthe UnitedStateshasgivensubstantialaidtoTanzaniawhose leaderhasalsobeenanavowedsocialistandpractices socialistpolicies.Also,theothermajorpointwhichIthink neededsomeemphasisisthatRussiaanditsallies,which playasubstantialmilitaryroleinplaceslikeCubaand CentralAmerica,aretheantithesisofdemocracyinsofaras thepoliticalprocessgoes.Weneednotdenytheeconomic improvementsthathavetakenplaceintherespective countries.ButIdothinkthatthesecountriesarenotlovers ofdemocracyandthatthereissomebasisforthecurrent Administration’spoliciesbeingpredicatedonconcernfor RussianandCommunistinterventionaswell.
Chomsky:Okay,justtosavetimeletmekeeptoCentralAmericaandputasidetheAfricancase.IfweweretolookattheAfrican casewewoulddiscoverthattheaidisbeinggiveninthesamemannerandforthesamepurposes.Thatis,topreventmeaningfulsocialreformandtoinsurethatthecountrieswillbepenetrableby U.S.-basedinstitutions.
ThereisnoquestionatallthattheSovietUnionistheantithesis ofdemocracy,plainly.ButdoesthatmeanthattheUnitedStates hasarightforaconcernoverRussianmilitaryaidtoNicaragua? That’sthecrucialthing.Thatmistakestotallywhatisgoingon.
TheUnitedStatesispleading,isworkingwithalmostfanatical determination,totrytogetNicaraguatorelysolelyonRussianaid. That’sthepurposeoftheAmericaattack.
Wearesendingamilitaryforcetoattackacountryandatthe sametimearecuttingoffeverysourceofaidtothem.So,forexample,FrancewassendingmilitaryaidtoNicaraguabutweput pressureonFrancetostop–wewanttheSovietUniontosupport them.Notonlyhavewecutoffeverykindofmilitaryaid,butwe havealsocutoffeveryotherkindofaid.
ThetitleofoneOxfamreportonNicaragua,incidentally,is“The ThreatofaGoodExample.”ThatexplainsthereasonfortheAmericanattackagainstNicaragua.ThereasonsthatareofferedbyWashingtonaretooridiculoustomeritrebuttalamongsanepeople.
JuliaPrestoninthe“BostonGlobe”,amonthorsoago,saysthat “fewU.S.officialsnowbelievetheContrascandriveouttheSandinistassoon.Administrationofficialssaytheyarecontenttoseethe ContrasdebilitatetheSandinistasbyforcingthemtodivertscarce resourcestowardsthewarandawayfromsocialprograms.”
Thecrueltyandsavageryofthatpolicyisimpossibletodiscuss, asIcan’tfindwordstodescribethecynicismofthefactthatit isreportedwithoutarousinganyconcernhere.Thepointis,the UnitedStateswillnottolerateanyconstructivedevelopmentinits owndomain,anydevelopmentsthatwillharmtheinterestsofthe eliteswhorunthisplace,andhencewearegoingtodestroythem iftheyhappenanywhereelse.Throughout,therealconcernisthe threatofagoodexample.
Now,thereisnoreasonatallforustoallowthishorrorstoryto continue.Inacountryasfreeasthisone,thereisagreatdealthat canbedonetoreversethiscourse.Itbasicallyrequirestwothings.
Thefirstthingisthatitrequiresacertainamountofhonesty. Enoughhonestytolearnwhoweareandwhatwedointheworld andwhatwe’vebeendoingforalong,longtime.Secondly,itrequiresacertaindegreeofcourageandcommitment,namelytodevoteourselvestochangingaworldofterrorandsufferingthatwe havehelpedtocreateandnowmaintain.(Applause)
FromtheQuestionPeriod:Nicaraguaandthe Russians
Q:ProfessorChomsky,withduerespecttoyourerudition, yourlecturetomecameacrossassomewhatone-sided.We cannotfailtorecallthattheUnitedStateswasthelargest
InfacttheDominicanRepublicservesasakindofilluminating casestudytoanswerwhatIthinkisthecrucialquestion:what Kennedyandtheotherplannersmeanwhentheysaywehaveto avoidthedangerofaCastro.ThefirstMarinelandingontheDominicanRepublicwasintheyear1800,sothere’salonghistory.
Iwon’trunthroughthenineteenthcenturybutthemostserious interventionsbeganunderWoodrowWilson.WoodrowWilson,as youalllearninschool,wasthegreatapostleofself-determination andhecelebratedthisdoctrine,amongotherthings,byinvading theDominicanRepublicandHaiti.IntheDominicanRepublic hiswarriorsfoughtforsixyearstosuppressthe“damnDagoes” asTheodoreRoosevelthaddescribedthem.Thiswasavicious counterinsurgencycampaignthathasessentiallydisappearedfrom Americanhistory.Thefirstmajorscholarlystudyofitjustappearedin1984,byBruceCalder,UniversityofTexasPress.Calder, inkeepingwiththeconventionsofAmericanscholarship,regards thisasakindofanoddexception,aninexplicabledeparturefrom ourpathofrighteousness.Buthedoesdescribewhathappened andI’llgiveyousomeofhisdescription.
HesaysthatWilsonintervenedintheDominicanRepublicin 1916toblockconstitutionalgovernmentandinsurecompleteU.S. economicandmilitarycontrol.ThebehavioroftheMarines,he says,wasbrutishbyDominicanstandards.Theymurdered,destroyedvillages,theytortured,theycreatedconcentrationcamps whichservedasaslavelaborsupplyforthesugarcorporations. Theendresultwasthatthesugarcompanies,overwhelmingly American,ownedaboutaquarteroftheagriculturallandwhile thepopulationsankintomiseryandstarvation.
Now,ofcourse,allofthiswasdoneinself-defense.Everything wealwaysdoisinself-defense.Butwhowerewedefendingourselvesagainst?Wellitstartedin1916sowecouldn’tbedefending ourselvesagainsttheBolsheviks.SoitturnedoutthatweweredefendingourselvesagainsttheHuns.Theredidn’thappentobeany Hunstherebutthatdidn’tmatter.
WhentheMarinesleft,theyplacedthecountryinthehands ofaNationalGuardtrainedbytheUnitedStates.Trujilloquickly emergedandhebecamethedictator,oneofthemostrapaciousand brutalofthemanydictatorsthatwe’veestablishedundersimilar conditionsthroughouttheregionofourcontrol.
Well,everythingwasokayforthirtyorthirty-fiveyears.Trujillo waspraisedintheUnitedStatesasaforward-lookingleader;forexample,afterhemassacredfifteenortwentythousandHaitiansin onemonthin1937andcarriedoutothersimilaractionsagainsthis ownpopulation.However,bythelate1950sthisloveaffairwas beginningtoturnsour.Trujilloownedatthattimeabout70to 80%oftheeconomy,whichmeansthattheproperowners,mainly American-basedcorporations,werebeingpushedout.TheCIA wasauthorized,orinstructed,tocarryoutanassassinationplot. Whethertheydiditornot,somebodydid.Hewasassassinated.
Atthatpointtherewasademocraticelection,in1962.Juan Boschwaselected.JuanBoschwasaKennedyliberal.Hispolicies wereessentiallythoseprofessedbyJohnF.Kennedy.Kennedyimmediatelycommittedhimselftoundermineanddestroyhim.U.S. aidwasstopped.TheUnitedStatesblockedtheremovalofTrujilloistofficers.TheU.S.militarymaintainedtheirclosecontactwith them.Itwasquiteobviousthattherewouldbeamilitarycoup giventhisU.S,insistenceonmaintainingtheTrujilloistmilitary system.
Boschfoughtcorruption,hedefendedcivilliberties,hestopped policerepression.Hebeganprogramstoeducatepeasantsand workersfortruedemocraticparticipation.Heactuallysucceeded underawfulconditionsininitiatinganeconomicrevival.Itwas plainthatwehadto“lethimgo,”asAmbassadorMartinsaid,and sowedid.Therewasamilitarycoup,quicklyrecognizedbythe UnitedStates.Well,atthatpointaneconomicdeclinesetin,corruptionincreased,therepressionincreased–andallofthiswasfine. Noobjections. 12
Correspondinglytherehasbeengreataweandhighregardforour achievementthere.ItisoneofthemostsordidepisodesinAmericanhistory.
Americanrhetoricthroughoutthisperiodisverynobleandelevated.Buttherealitythatitobscuresissomethingratherdifferent.TheofficialenemyiswhatpresidentKennedycalledthe “monolithicandruthlessconspiracythatisattemptingtothwart ourbenevolence.”The“monolithicandruthlessconspiracy”was renamed“theEvilEmpire”bytheKennedycloneRonaldReagan. Therealenemyhasalwaysbeentheindigenouspopulation.And theprincipleunderwhichwehavedefendedourselvesfromindigenouspopulationsthroughouttheworldhasbeenourfreedomto robandexploit.
Ifwecannotdestroysuchelementsbyforce,aswetypicallytry todo,thenthenextbestthingistodrivethemintothehandsof theRussianssowecanthenprovidearetrospectivejustification fortheviolenceandterrorthatwelaunchagainstthemforquite differentreasons.
Thisveryfamiliarstoryisbeingre-livedinNicaraguatoday.The UnitedStatesisnotconcernedbytheuselesstanksinthestreetsof Managua,norisitconcernedbythecensorshipofajournalthatis supportedbytheaggressorandsupportstheaggression.Whatitis concernedaboutistheearlysuccess,andquitesubstantialsuccess, ofsocialreforms–thankfullyaborted,thankstotheContrawar.
Thisiswellunderstoodbyindependentagenciesthatworkin Nicaragua.OxfamAmericareportsthatamongthefourcountries inwhichithasworkedinCentralAmericaforthelasttwenty yearsorso,“onlyinNicaraguahassubstantialeffortbeenmade toaddressinequitiesinlandownershipandtoextendhealth,educational,andagriculturalservicestopoorpeasantfamilies.”
ButtheContrawarhasslowedthepaceofsocialreformandit hascompoundedthehungerinthenortherncountrysideexactlyas intended,andithascompelledOxfamtoconvertitsdevelopment aidtoawarrelief,whichisagreatsuccessforAmericanpolicy.
while,inElSalvador,wheretheelectionswerecarriedoutinan atmosphereof“terroranddespair,macabrerumorandgrislyreality,”that’sfine.Infact,it’sagreattriumph.
ThepersonwhotranslatedthepleaofArchbishopRomerointo EnglishwasaleadingCentralAmericanJesuitpriest.HewasoriginallyGuatemalan,buthefledfromtheAmerican-backeddeath squadsinGuatemalatoElSalvador,wherehethenwasforced tofleefromtheAmerican-backeddeathsquadsinElSalvadorto Nicaragua.
Iwashonoredtobehisguestacoupleofweeksago.He’spartof thequitewonderfulexilecommunitythatisinNicaragua.People suchasChristianDemocratswhohaveescapedthedeathsquads inElSalvador.TheGuatemalanHumanRightsGroup,whichof coursecan’tfunctioninGuatemala.Andmanyotherswhofled fromthevariousU.S.torturechamberstotheoneplaceinCentral Americawhereadecentpersoncanlivewithsomedignityand hope.Although“we”aregoingtotakecareofthat!
WhyReaganHatesNicaragua:“TheThreatof aGoodExample”
InJanuary1981ReaganwassworninasPresident.Themassacres inElSalvadorescalated,insadismandscale.DirectU.S.participationincreased.TheU.S.AirForce,flyingfromHonduranbases, coordinatesairstrikesagainstSalvadoranvillages.Nightattacks, muchmoreaccurateattacksgiventheU.S.participation,haveincreasedthekillrateamongdefenselessvillagersandfleeingpeasants.Thesehorrorscontinue.
Thereactiontothemhereisinteresting.Theyhaveledtoa mountingapplauseintheUnitedStatesastheterrorhasseemed tobeachievingsomeresults.Andinfactitisasuccess.Ithas verylargelysucceededindestroyingthepopularorganizations,as itwasintendedtodo.Thethreatofdemocracyhasbeenovercome.
Thatincidenthelpsusgetsomeunderstandingofthemeaning oftheterm“Castro.”JuanBoschwasoneofthoseCastroswhowe havetoopposeinfavorofaTrujillo.JuanBoschwasnotaCommunist,hewasaliberaldemocrat.Hetriedtoinstituteacapitalist democracy,andthatwasintolerabletoBigBrother.
Well,that’snottheendofthestory.In1965therewasaconstitutionalistmilitarycoup,attemptingtoreturntheDominicanRepublictoconstitutionalistruletoreinstatethelegallyelectedpresident,JuanBosch.Twenty-threethousandMarinesweresent,who foughtagainsttheConstitutionalistforces.Andthentheystood bywhiletheDominicanmilitary,whomtheyhadrescued,carried outasubstantialslaughterofcivilians.Theystoodbybecausethe officiallinewasthatitwouldviolateU.S.neutralityforthemtointerveneatthatpoint.So,thethreatofdemocracywasavertedand thetraditionalorderwasrestored.
Theresultthistimewasmoreserious.Itwasdeathsquads,torture,massstarvation,theflightofabout20%ofthepopulationto theUnitedStates,andoutstandingopportunitiesforU.S.investors whoboughtupprettymuchtherestofthecountry–GulfandWesternbeingone,amongothers.
APatternfortheRegion
InElSalvadorin1932therewasahugemassacretheycalled“the Mantanza.”ThefirstMantanza;thesecondonebeingtheonethat’s goingonnow.Sometentothirtythousandpeasantsweremurderedinafewweeks.TheUnitedStatesNavywasstandingoffshoreatthetimebut,astheChiefofNavalOperationstestified beforeCongress,itwasnotnecessarytointervenebecausehesaid thesituationwaswellinhand.Sowejustwatched.
TurningtoNicaragua,thefirstmajorU.S.militaryintervention inNicaraguawasin1854.That’sahundredandthirtyyearsago, alittleoverthat.AtthattimetheU.S.Navyburneddownatown
toavengeanallegedinsulttoanAmericanmillionaire,Cornelius Vanderbilt.Throughagoodpartofthefirsthalfofthiscenturythe countrywasunderMarinerule.ThatlefttheNationalGuardunder Somoza,andwemaintainedituntiltheveryend.
InGuatemalatherehadbeenoneintervalinthetraditionalhistoryofbrutalmilitarydictatorships,1944–1954,whentherewas ademocratic,capitalistregime.ItwasinitiatedbyArevalowho wasmodelinghimselfonRoosevelt’sNewDealandimmediately arousedbitterAmericanenmity.In1954thatexperimentwasoverthrownbyaCIAcoup.ThatinitiatedthirtyyearsofmilitarydictatorshipinastatewhichprobablyresemblesNaziGermanymore closelythananyotherinthecontemporaryworldoverthisperiod.
In1963itlookedasiftheremightbeadangerofademocratic election.WhentheythoughtthatArevalowasgoingtobeallowed backintothecountryandthatmighthavemeantademocraticelection,Kennedysupportedamilitarycouptoforestallthat.Thisact initiatedareallyhugemassacre,maybetenthousandpeopleorso werekilledinthelate1960s.
AtthatpointtherewasdirectU.S.support.U.S.GreenBerets wereinvolved.AccordingtotheVicePresidentofGuatemala,U.S. planes,basedinPanama,werecarryingoutnapalmraids.Things werethenquietforalittlewhilebutinthelate’70sitgotserious againandsincethattime,maybesinceabout1978,currentestimatesarethataboutahundredthousandpeoplewerekilled,with U.S.supportthroughout.
Ishouldsaythatamongtheotherliesthatyoureadconstantly oneisthatundertheCarterAdministrationmilitaryaidtothese GuatemalanHimmlerswasterminated.That’sfalse.Infact,U.S. militaryaidcontinuedjustbarelybelowitsnormallevelright throughthistime.
UnderReagan,supportforwhatatthatpointeventheconservativeGuatemalanbishopswerecallinggenocide,becameabsolutely euphoric.Theworstofthesemonsters,RiosMontt,whowasin charge,forexample,duringtheincidentthatImentionedbefore.
theUnitedStatesitselfwasnotunderattack.Americancolonies hadbeenattacked,nottheUnitedStatesitself.
Anyway,weareveryirateaboutcensorship.Wedon’tbelieve incensorship.WhatwebelieveiniswhatislaudedinElSalvador, wheretherehasbeennocensorship.Itisperfectlytruethatthere hasbeennocensorship.Thereasonisthereisnomedia.Theeditorofonejournalwasfounddecapitated,aftertorture,inaditch. Theeditorofanotherjournalfledafterassassinationattempts.The churchradiostationswereblownup.Sonowyoudon’thaveany censorship.Everything’sfine.
TwoElections:ElSalvadorandNicaragua
Afterasufficientdoseofterror,whatweliketocallfreeelections werecarriedoutinElSalvador.InthewordsofaBritishparliamentaryhumanrightsdelegationwhichobservedthem,theelections werecarriedout“inanatmosphereofterroranddespair,macabre rumorandgrislyreality.”Well,theAmericanpresshailedthistriumphofdemocracyexactlyasPravdadoesundercomparablecircumstances.
ThatsameparliamentaryBritishhumanrightsgroupobserved therecentNicaraguanelections,whichitfound“fairandhonest.”Thiswasthesamereportgivenbynumerousobserversin Nicaragua,oneofwhichwasanIrishparliamentarydelegation includingrepresentativesfromtwoconservativeparties.Their reportwasfullofpraisefortheelections.TheAmericanprofessionalLatinAmericanStudiesAssociationdescribedtheelections as“amongthebestheldinLatinAmerica.”Butnoneofthiswas reportedintheAmericanpress.Theelectionsdidn’ttakeplace. TherewerenoelectionsinNicaragua.
SoyouconstantlyreadthatoneofthecrimesoftheSandinistas isthattheydidn’tallowelections.Andthereforeunlesstheyallow electionswehavetodothismad,horriblethingtothem.Mean-
people’sorganizationsfightingtodefendtheirmostfundamental humanrights.”
Romerohadseizeduponwhatwas,infact,theessenceofU.S. policy,namely,todestroythepopularorganizations,soCarternaturallysenttheaidwithamessagetoCongress,sayingthattheaid was“tohelpthearmy’skeyroleinreforms.”That’sonethatwould havemadeOrwellgasp.
Atthatpointtheobviousconsequencesfollowed.Afewweeks latertheArchbishopwasassassinated.InMaythewaragainstthe peasantswasunleashedinfullviolence.Thiswasdoneunderthe guiseoflandreform,incidentally.Astateofsiegewasestablished whichremainsuntiltoday.Wehearalotofcomplaintshereabout theNicaraguanstateofsiege,initiatedjustlastOctober!
ThepeasantswerethemainvictimsoftheCarter-Duartewar in1980–10,000orso.InJunetheUniversitywasdestroyed;the armymovedin,killedalotofpeople,burnedthelibrary,destroyed equipment,andsoon.InNovemberthepoliticaloppositionwas simplymassacredbythesecurityforces.
Meanwhilethemediaweredestroyed.Wedon’tbelieveincensorshipintheUnitedStates,asyouknow,andwehavebecome quiteiratewhenacountryunderattackbytheUnitedStatescensorsanewspaperthatisopenlysubsidizedbythecountrythat isattackingitandhasexpressedsupportfortheattacklaunched againsttheircountry.Ofcoursewewouldneverdoanythingof thatkindifwewereunderattackfromsomeunimaginablesuperpower,fromMarsorsomewhere.Ifanewspaperherewassupportingtheattackerandtheeditorwasexpressingsupportforthe attackwecertainlywouldn’thaveanycensorshipunderthosecircumstances.
Infactthatistrue.Becauseanyoneevenremotelyconnectedto thenewspaperwouldeitherhavebeenkilledorputinconcentrationcamps–asyoumayrecallwasdonehereundermuchlessonerouscircumstances,hereinCalifornia,whenitwasfoundusefulto steallandfromdomesticJapanese.Andthatwasatatimewhen
Reagandescribedhimasamantotallycommittedtodemocracy whoisgettingabumrapbyhumanrightsgroups.
TheDeathSquads:LegacyofKennedy’s AllianceforProgress
Nowthisapparatusofrepressionandmurderanddeathsquads andtorture,thatwasanessentialcomponentofJohnF.Kennedy’s AllianceforProgress.Andthat’sworthunderstanding.In1962 theKennedyAdministrationmadeadecisionwhichintermsof itsconsequencesisoneofthemostimportantinrecenthistory, barelyknownhere.Theyeffectivelyswitchedthemissionofthe LatinAmericanmilitaryfromhemisphericdefensetointernalsecurity.Internalsecuritymeanswaragainsttheirownpopulation. Andthat’swhathappenedasincountryaftercountrynationalsecuritystateswereestablishedmodeledontheNazis,oftenusing NaziwarcriminalswhowehadspiritedoutofGermanyandsettledinLatinAmerica.PeoplelikeKlausBarbie.Itendedupbeing whatacommissionheadedbySolLinowitzcalled“aplagueofrepressionwithoutparallelinthehistoryofthecontinent.”InElSalvadortheKennedyAdministrationestablishedthebasicstructure ofthedeathsquads,theintelligenceapparatuswhichwasthenput towork.
TheAllianceforProgress,whichismuchlaudedhereasanother exhibitionofourbenevolence,wasatotallycynicaloperation.The AllianceforProgresswasinitiatedinordertostop“thevirusofCastrofromspreadingcontagionthroughouttheregion”–that’svery common,typicalterminology.Itdidfavoracertainkindofeconomicdevelopment,gearedtoexportcropsforthebenefitofU.S.basedagribusinessandfertilizerandpesticidecompanies.
Duringthatperiodtherewasstatisticalgrowth.So,forexample,inalloftheCentralAmericancountriesundertheAlliance forProgressandasaresultofitsprograms,beefproductionin-
creased.But,atthesametime,ineverysingleoneofthesecountries,beefconsumptiondecreased.Thereasonwasthatcroplands thathadbeenusedforsubsistencecropsforthepopulationwas beingeliminatedinfavorofgrazinglandsforwealthyranchers tiedtoAmericanagribusinesswhowereproducingbeefforexport. Infact,throughoutthisperiodwhiletherewasstatisticalgrowth, therewasalsoincreasedmiseryandincreasedstarvation.
Nowthatkindofeconomicdevelopmentcarriesacorollary. Thatkindofeconomicdevelopmentdoesinevitablyarousedissidentsandthatrequiresanapparatusofrepressiontostillit.In thispreciseandclearrespectthedeathsquads,forwhichthebasic structureswereestablishedbytheKennedyAdministration,are partandparceloftheAllianceforProgressandanessentialcomponentofit.Infact,thedeathsquadsaretheonlylastingelement ofthatsystemapartfromtheenrichmentofU.S.agribusinessand relatedcorporations.
PopularOrganizationsandStateTerrorinEl Salvador
LetusexaminethatlegacyintherecenthistoryofElSalvador.In the1970ssomethingswerehappening.Therewereelectionsin 1972and1977.The1972electionwaswonbyDuarteandUngo.It wasstolenbythemilitary.Duartewascapturedandtortured.He wasfinallyreleasedandcametotheUnitedStates.Nobodyeven wantedtotalktohim.Infact,inCongresstherewereexactlytwo people,apparently,EdwardKennedyandTomHarkin,whowere willingeventotalktohim.
ThatrevealswithutterclaritytheabsoluteloathingofAmerican elitesfordemocracyaslongasorderisbeingmaintained,aslong asprofitsareflowing.Italsorevealswithabsoluteclaritytheutter cynicismofthecontemporarypretenseofconcernfordemocracy. It’saverythincoverforstateterrorism.
16
Thesamethinghappenedin1977,againarousingverylittleinterestorconcernhere:repression,torture,starvation,thenormal aspectsoftheAmericansemi-coloniescontinued,soeverything wasessentiallyfine.
Therewere,however,twoproblems.Thefirstproblemwaswhat wasgoingoninNicaragua.In1979Somozawasoverthrownand thatwasseriousbecauseNicaraguahadbeenthemajorbaseforthe projectionofAmericanpowerintheregion.Itwasabaseforthe successfuloverthrowofGuatemalandemocracyin1954,forthe BayofPigsattackonCubain1961,fortheDominicanRepublic invasionin1965,andalsoevenfortheoverturningoftheelection inElSalvadorin1972,whenNicaraguantroopsintervened.
Thisbasewasnowlost.Therewasasecond,evenmoreimmediate,concerninElSalvadoritself.Andthatwasthatinthe 1970s,whattheycalledpopularorganizationswerebeginningto develop.Manyofthemwerechurch-based,beginningwithBible studygroups,turningtoself-helpgroups,peasantassociations, teachersunions,andsoon.
Thatreallywasadangersign,becauseitmeantthattherereallywasathreatofmeaningfuldemocracy.Thatis,notwhatwe calldemocracy,whichisasystemthatallowsapopulationevery onceinawhiletochoosebetweenselectedbusinessandlandowner groupswhosharecontrolofthestatebetweenthem,whilethemilitarymakessurethatnobodyiscausinganytrouble.That’swhat wecalldemocracy.
ButtheSalvadoranpopularmovementcouldhavebeenaneffectiveandmeaningfuldemocracywhichwouldhavegivenpeopletheactualopportunitytoparticipateinademocraticprocess. Somethingwhichwedon’thavehere,incidentally,andwhichwe certainlyarenotgoingtotolerateinacolonylikeElSalvador. Somethinghadtubedoneaboutthat,and,infact,itwas.
InFebruary1980ArchbishopRomerosentalettertoCarter. “Theaid,”hewrotetoCarter,“willsurelyincreaseinjusticehere andsharpentherepressionthathasbeenunleashedagainstthe