arch/ive/ief (2000 - 2005)

Speech by Commander in Chief Fidel Castro Ruz, President of
the Republic of Cuba. Havana, September 22, 2001

Fellow countrymen:

No one can deny that terrorism is today a dangerous and
ethically indefensible phenomenon, which should be
eradicated regardless of its deep origins, the economic and
political factors that brought it to live and those
responsible for it.

The unanimous irritation caused by the human and
psychological damage brought on the American people by the
unexpected and shocking death of thousands of innocent
people whose images have shaken the world is perfectly
understandable. But who have profited? The extreme right,
the most backward and right-wing forces, those in favor of
crushing the growing world rebellion and sweeping away
everything progressive that is still left on the planet. It
was an enormous error, a huge injustice and a great crime
whomever they are who organized or are responsible for such
action.

However, the tragedy should not be used to recklessly start
a war that could actually unleash an endless carnage of
innocent people and all of this on behalf of justice and
under the peculiar and bizarre name of "Infinite Justice".

In the last few days we have seen the hasty establishment of the basis, the concept, the true purposes, the spirit and the conditions for such a war. No one would be able to
affirm that it was not something thought out well in
advance, something that was just waiting for its chance to
materialize. Those who after the so-called end of the cold
war continued a military build-up and the development of the most sophisticated means to kill and exterminate human
beings were aware that the large military investments would
give them the privilege to impose an absolute and complete
dominance over the other peoples of the world. The
ideologists of the imperialist system knew very well what
they were doing and why they were doing it.

After the shock and sincere sorrow felt by every people on
Earth for the atrocious and insane terrorist attack that
targeted the American people, the most extremist ideologists and the most belligerent hawks, already set in privileged power positions, have taken command of the most powerful country in the world whose military and technological capabilities would seem infinite. Actually, its capacity to destroy and kill is enormous while its inclination towards equanimity, serenity, thoughtfulness and restrain is minimal.

The combination of elements --including complicity and the
common enjoyment of privileges-- the prevailing opportunism, confusion and panic make it almost impossible to avoid a bloody and unpredictable outcome. The first victims of whatever military actions are undertaken will be the billions of people living in the poor and underdeveloped world with their unbelievable economic
and social problems, their unpayable debts and the ruinous
prices of their basic commodities; their growing natural and ecological catastrophes, their hunger and misery, the
massive undernourishment of their children, teenagers and
adults; their terrible AIDS epidemic, their malaria, their
tuberculosis and their infectious diseases that threaten
whole nations with extermination.

The grave economic world crisis was already a real and
irrefutable fact affecting absolutely every one of the big
economic power centers. Such crisis will inevitably grow
deeper under the new circumstances and when it becomes
unbearable for the overwhelming majority of the peoples, it
will bring chaos, rebellion and the impossibility to govern.

But the price will also be unpayable for the rich countries.

For years to come it would be impossible to speak strong
enough about the environment and the ecology, or about ideas and research done and tested, or about projects for the protection of Nature because that space and possibility
would be taken by military actions, war and crimes as
infinite as "Infinite Justice", that is, the name given to
the war operation to be unleashed.

Can there be any hope left after having listened, hardly 36
hours ago, to the speech made the President before de U.S.
Congress?

I will avoid the use of adjectives, qualifiers or offensive
words towards the author of that speech. They would be
absolutely unnecessary and untimely when the tensions and
seriousness of the moment advise thoughtfulness and
equanimity. I will limit myself to underline some short
phrases that say it all:

"We will use every necessary weapon of war."
"Americans should not expect one battle, but a lengthy
campaign unlike any other we have ever seen."
"Every nation in every region now has a decision to make.
Either you are with us or you are with the terrorists."
"I've called the armed forces to alert and there is a
reason. The hour is coming when America will act and you
will make us proud."
"This is the world's fight, this is civilization's fight."
"I ask for your patience [...] in what will be a long
struggle."
"The great achievement of our time and the great hope of
every time, now depend on us."
"The course of this conflict is not known, yet its outcome
is certain. [...] And we know that God is not neutral."
I ask our fellow countrymen to meditate deeply and calmly on the ideas contained in several of the above-mentioned
phrases:
. Either you are with us or you are with the terrorists.
No nation of the world has been left out of the dilemma, not even the big and powerful states; none has escaped the
threat of war or attacks.
. We will use any weapon.
No procedure has been excluded, regardless of its ethics, or any threat whatever fatal, either nuclear, chemical,
biological or any other.
. It will not be short combat but a lengthy war, lasting
many years, unparalleled in history.
. It is the world's fight; it is civilization's fight.
. The achievements of our times and the hope of every time,
now depend on us.
Finally, an unheard of confession in a political speech on
the eve of a war, and no less than in times of apocalyptic
risks: The course of this conflict is not known; yet its
outcome is certain. And we know that God is not neutral.
This is an amazing assertion. When I think about the real or imagined parties involved that bizarre holy war that is
about to begin, I find it difficult to make a distinction
about where fanaticism is stronger.

On Thursday, before the United States Congress, the idea was designed of a world military dictatorship under the
exclusive rule of force, irrespective of any international
laws or institutions. The United Nations Organization,
simply ignored in the present crisis, would fail to have any authority or prerogative whatsoever. There would be only one boss, only one judge, and only one law.

We have all been ordered to ally either with the United
States government or with terrorism.

Cuba, the country that has suffered the most and the longest from terrorist actions, the one whose people are not afraid of anything because there is no threat or power in the world that can intimidate it, with a high morale Cuba claims that it is opposed to terrorism and opposed to war. Although the possibilities are now remote, Cuba reaffirms the need to avert a war of unpredictable consequences whose very authors have admitted not to have the least idea of how the events will unfold. Likewise, Cuba reiterates its willingness to cooperate with every country in the total eradication of terrorism.

An objective and calm friend should advise the United States government against throwing the young American soldiers into an uncertain war in remote, isolated and inaccessible places, like a fight against ghosts, not knowing where they are or even if they exist or not, or whether the people they kill are or not responsible for the death of their innocent fellow countrymen killed in the United States.

Cuba will never declare itself an enemy of the American
people that is today subjected to an unprecedented campaign
to sow hatred and a vengeful spirit, so much so that even
the music that sings to peace has been banned. On the
contrary, Cuba will make that music its own, and even our
children will sing their songs to peace while the announced
bloody war lasts.

Whatever happens, the territory of Cuba will never be used
for terrorist actions against the American people and we
will do everything within our reach to prevent such actions
against that people. Today we are expressing our solidarity
while urging to peace and calmness. One day they will admit
we were right.

Our independence, our principles and our social chievements
we will defend with honor to the last drop of blood, if we
are attacked! It will not be easy to fabricate pretexts to do it. They are already talking about a war using all the necessary weapons but it will be good recalling that not even that would be a new experience. Almost four decades ago, hundreds of strategic and tactical nuclear weapons were aimed at Cuba and nobody remembers anyone of our countrymen sleepless over that.

We are the same sons and daughters of that heroic people,
with a patriotic and revolutionary conscience that is higher than ever. It is time for serenity and courage.
The world will grow aware of this and will raise its voice
in the face of the terrible threatening drama that it is
about to suffer.

As for Cubans, this is the right time to proclaim more proud and resolute than ever:
Socialism or death!
Homeland or death!
We will overcome!