"There is a further element present in this NATO undertaking that applies to the United States in particular. The logic of war appropriately seeks warfighting doctrines and weaponry that keep US casualties as low as possible, while possessing the maximum capability to harm the enemy. By itself this is normal in a world that remains organized around the sovereign state. But carrying this logic to the extreme invites reckless and irresponsible recourse to force and gives rise to an alarming tendency of the Anglo-American public to convert warfare into a new kind of electronic bloodsport. It establishes a one-sidedness that resembles the structure of torture, with the perpetrator choosing the method by which to inflict pain and the victim helpless to retaliate. Probably no country has the maturity to use such a military option prudently and morally. Certainly the United States lacks this capacity.
"A final, related observation. When the atomic bomb was initially developed, it was used against Japanese cities in a setting where there was no prospect of retaliation. I doubt very much that Hiroshima and Nagasaki would have been attacked with such weapons if the Japanese had possessed atomic bombs of their own or if Germany had used them earlier in the war against British cities. During the cold war, massive mutually destructive capabilities existed. As a result, extreme caution was exercised by the nuclear weapons states, and no weapon of mass destruction was used--despite the pressure to do so in several crisis situations. If the Kosovo/Yugoslav ordeal leads to some fundamental rethinking about the role of force, it may at last bring ppthe world closer to finding a way to respond to humanitarian crises without converting them into humanitarian catastrophes. At the very least, it might prompt humility in Washington." -- Reflections on the War (June 28, 1999)
There are contradictory ways to address the atrocities of the 11th: the prevailing mood is to invoke the metaphor of cancer, and to preach military surgery of a complex and globe-girdling character that needs to be elevated to the status of a world war, and bears comparison with World War I and II; the alternative, which I believe is far more accurate as diagnosis and cure, is to rely on the metaphor of an iceberg. The attack on America was the tip of an iceberg, the submerged portions being the mass of humanity that is not sharing in the fruits of modernity, but finds itself under the heel of American economic, military, cultural, and diplomatic power. To eliminate the visible tip of the iceberg of discontent and resentment may bring us a momentary catharsis, but it will at best create an illusion of 'victory.' What needs to be done is to extend a commitment to the sacredness of life to the entire human family, in effect, joining in a collective effort to achieve what might be called 'humane globalization.'-- Fearing the Aftermath (September 17, 2002)
It is well known that the US Government has been the most ardent supporter of sanctions, rejecting efforts by other countries to end them. These efforts by political leaders subject them to potential criminal responsibility, especially given the well-documented knowledge of the large number of civilian deaths attributable month by month to the sanctions. This responsibility is aggravated by the efforts to penalize individuals who seek to bring medical supplies and other forms of relief to the people of Iraq. The Treasury Department regulations that implement the sanctions and impose penalties for their violation are null and void due to their flagrant disregard of applicable international law.
Fearing the Aftermath (9/17/02) War on Iraq: It's Not the President's Decision (Counterpunch 9/19/02) No War Against Iraq: Bush's War Against Iraq Would Violate Constitution (9/17/02) Testing patriotism and citizenship in the global terror war Appraising the war against Afghanistan ISBNs for Richard A. Falk Democracy Now! Discussion with Amy Goodman and Richard Murphy (May 24, 2001) Richard Falk discussing Kosovo on Radio Nation (June 23-29, 1999) Taming the Nuclear Monster Richard A. Falk Richard A. Falk homepageThis site may contain copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond 'fair use', you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.
Last modified: Sat Oct 11 02:05:54 CDT 2003