Political Action, Social Movements, Peace

Statement of the Black Radical Conference. An incisive statement condemning the attack and arguing for a renewed radical and revolutionary struggle — one that explicitly disavows terrorism — aimed at the roots of the political and economic system that countenances and gives rise to genocide. See www.blackradicalcongress.org

Statement by the Political Committee of Solidarity. The socialist organization Solidarity condemns the attack, places it in historical context, and argues for increased protection of democratic rights. www.solidarity-us.org.

The Panic Button, by Eric Martin a teacher of World History provides insight into the range of responses to the attack, and suggests the need for and importance of deeper historical and political analysis. This commentary appeared on Z-Net (www.zmag.org)

All Has Changed, by L.A. Kauffman, a veteran radical journalist argues that a struggle for global justice is more important now than ever, but that its moorings have all shifted. Kauffman also presents a moving account of what it is like to be a New Yorker and an activist in New York at this moment. See www.free-radical.org.

By comparing the anti-Vietnam War movement and the relative silence of Americans concerning the plight of the Palestinians, Civil Rights attorney, anti-war activist, and disability rights advocate Michael Schwartz raises a number of important hypotheses about the value of anti-war, pro-rights activism as an effective ìshieldî against terrorism.

Paul Carr, a recent graduate of Syracuse University with a BA in Geography reflects on the changed content of American national identity, and the ways that his geographical knowledge helps him to understand the US peopleís global interdependence in Open You Minds and Hearts.

Michael Mandel a legal scholar at the University of Toronto argues that the war in Afghanistan is illegal under international law in Say What You Want, But This War is Illegal.

From Laam Hae, a PhD student in Geography at Syracuse University.Ý Laam moved to the US from Seoul, South Korea, in August, 2001.

Matt Hannah writes about how the war in Afghanistan following the attacks of September 11 reflects issues of masculinity and manhood that have shaped American foreign policy in general. "...Bush will not venture near the front lines in Afghanistan, but even before we started to bomb the country, this 'War on Terrorism' was being presented as the crucible in which Bush's masculinity, and with it, America's, is to be forged..."

Media Workers Against the War (www.mwaw.org) provides an analysis of the huge rally against the war in Afghanistan, held in London on 13 October, 2001.