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Michael-- Out of concern that we transform this discussion site on film philosophy into a discussion group on world-historical events and politics and the ways of nation-states and terrorists, O'll try to be brief. Your posting of Fidel Castro's speech yesterday is edifying tonly as an example of that leader's particular way with rhetoric. Just to be quite clear on this, Michael: Do you agree with Castro's analysis? That, in essence, the attack on various US public buildings yesterday was nothing more than a tit for a tat, a natural response to US policy? Do you not think, Michael, that Castro was gleeful over what happened? Do you not conceive his disingenuousness? Do you think that Castro would be honestly capable of articulating the actual impulse behind the act, that it is thoroughly imbedded within the most profoundly warped version of Islam (so warped that it ceases to be anything Islamic at all), and that it is the latest in history's long line of outrages done in the name of God? Please don't hide behind a citation of a news report quoting Castro, which is virtually meaningless in itself. Please instead state your views on this: Where do you stand? I worry that the Garys out there are so lost in an amoral haze that they don't know what hit all of us yesterday. I hope you are not in that same haze, for this has nothing to do with the finer points of US policy in the Middle East. This is something far, far larger than that. Robert Koehler ----- Original Message ----- From: "Michael Chanan" <[log in to unmask]> To: <[log in to unmask]> Sent: Wednesday, September 12, 2001 3:41 PM Subject: Re: A Terrible Act of Evil (SIC) - Cuba's Castro urges U.S. to "keep calm" > As a follow-up to Gary's very sane posting: > > Cuba's Castro urges U.S. to "keep calm" > By Andrew Cawthorne > > HAVANA (Reuters) - Cuban President Fidel Castro, a > longtime political foe of the United States, has > warned of "dangerous days" ahead for the world and > urged U.S. policy-makers to keep calm following deadly > attacks in Washington and New York. > > The controversial communist leader also said > Washington's own past use of "terrorism" against other countries was > partially to blame for the three crashes of hijacked planes against New > York's landmark World Trade Centre and the Pentagon outside Washington. > > The attacks killed thousands of people. > > "In part, these tragedies are a consequence of having > applied terrorist methods - against Cuba for many > years, and in the case of other countries --because > they have spread the idea of terrorism," Castro said > in an evening speech. > > Cuba, which is on the U.S. list of states allegedly > sponsoring terrorism, in turn accuses Washington of a four-decade-old > policy of "terrorism" and "genocide" against Havana through an economic > embargo and support for acts of violence. > > Castro, who spoke at the inauguration of a school, > said Tuesday's events had thrown the world into > uncertainty, and urged restraint from the United > States. "It's very important to know what the U.S. > government's reaction will be. There are possibly > dangerous days ahead for the world," he said. > > "If on one occasion it is permissible to make a > suggestion to the enemy... we would urge the leaders > of the imperial power to be calm, act with equanimity, > and not be dragged by moments of anger or hatred ... > into wanting to hunt people, tossing bombs all over > the place." > > Rather, Castro said, the United States and the world > should seek to tackle the roots of terrorism like > unresolved international conflicts and an unjust > socio-economic order. > > "SEARCH FOR PEACE" > > "Search for peace everywhere to protect all peoples > against this plague of terrorism," Castro said, > drawing an ovation from his audience of several > thousand. "None of the world's problems, including > terrorism, can be resolved by force." > > Earlier, Havana expressed its "solidarity" and "pain" > after the attacks, and offered air and medical > facilities to help. > > "We deeply regret the loss of human life, and our > position is of total rejection of this sort of > terrorist attack," Cuban Foreign Minister Felipe Perez > Roque told reporters. > > Cuba, which lies 90 miles (140 km) south of Florida, > offered to receive aircraft blocked from entering the > United States because of the closure of airports > there. > > An official government statement added Havana's offer > to cooperate with medical aid to the United States. > Castro said that could range from sending blood to > medical personnel as needed. > > "The Cuban government heard news of the attacks with > pain and sadness," the communique said. "At this > bitter time, our people express solidarity with the > U.S. people and express total willingness to > cooperate, as far as our modest possibilities allow." > > But in a reminder of Cuba's hostile relationship with > its northern neighbour, Perez said the islanders could sympathise with > victims of Tuesday's attacks because "Our people have suffered four > decades of terrorism, and we know very well the consequences of this > sort of act." > > Pre-empting possible speculation -- which has not > emerged -- that Havana might have had a hand in > Tuesday's events, Perez said: "About any idea of Cuban involvement, I > don't think that's even worth referring to. No one could be thinking > such a barbarous thing." > > Castro, in his nearly two-hour speech, noted the > "efficiency, organisation and synchronisation" of > Tuesday's attacks, and suggested it was not > necessarily the work of a big group. "Nobody knows the > damage small groups of 20, 25 or 30 people - fanatics > or people committed to certain ideas - can do," he > said. > > A leading Cuban dissident also sent condolences in an > open letter to Bush, and Cuban musicians in Los > Angeles for Tuesday night's cancelled Latin Grammy > awards announced they were also cancelling a concert > scheduled for Wednesday.