Peace and solidarity

The bombing of Afghanistan has upped the ante on the urgency of working to build broad coalitions for peace and against terrorism.

Since the horrific events of Sept. 11, much has been said about the desperate situation of the Afghani people now crushed under the heel of the theocratic, dictatorial Taliban, and about the role of the Northern Alliance and other Taliban opponents who now figure in Washington's plans for the region. Some background helps shed light on the current crisis.

In that horrific instant on September 11th, the potential of a wider war spread over our country and the world's horizon. Indeed, in the wake of the terrorist attack, the struggle for peace and against the danger of war has become the overarching issue of our time and a precondition to eliminating terrorism in all of its forms. No issue at this moment and for the foreseeable future looms larger.

The U.S. Administration has come out with the view that Afghanistan could be only its first target in the strikes against terrorism. Iraq could be the next, and other countries could follow later. This has an ominous ring.

Terrorism is morally and politically reprehensible. Under no circumstances can it be justified. Its only outcome is to strengthen the forces of political reaction, racism, and militarism in our own country as well as abroad.

Needless to say, the shock of Tuesday's terrible events hasn't worn off. Everyone is struggling with how to take it in personally, as well as respond politically.

RAWA stands with the rest of the world in expressing our sorrow and condemnation for this barbaric act of violence and terror. RAWA had already warned that the United States should not support the most treacherous, most criminal, most anti-democracy and anti-women Islamic fundamentalist parties because after both the Jehadi and the Taliban have committed every possible type of heinous crimes against our people, they would feel no shame in committing such crimes against the American people whom they consider "infidel".

El Partido Popular Socialista de México expresa sus condolencias y solidaridad al pueblo de Estados Unidos y particularmente a los familiares de las víctimas inocentes de los hechos sucedidos el 11 de septiembre en Nueva York y Washington, entre ellas probablemente numerosos connacionales mexicanos que laboraban allá.

Responses to September 11 attacks.

Some issues are clear: this must not be allowed to become the basis for anti-Arab and anti-immigrant attacks, nor for a call to retreat or give up on the many vital ongoing struggles for peace and justice. That these terrible acts may lead to escalating violence and war is a real danger that concerns many people. And, of course, for everyone, in addition to shock and horror there is the question of why and how such a thing could happen. We shouldn't shy away from discussing the roots of, and reasons for, terrorism, but this is a long term question. Yesterday's events will profoundly shape our world, and have many dimensions we will have to examine and think through.

The Communist Party of India expresses its shock and horror at the coordinated and massive terrorist attack on sensitive civilian and official sites in the U.S., which has led to the death of several thousand lives, caused vast destruction, and spread panic and fear among people, not only in the U.S.A., but elsewhere in the world. We express our heartfelt condolence to the people of the United States in this hour of grief.

We are writing to express our deep sorrow at the recent terrorist acts perpetrated against US workers and their families. The Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Ireland, on behalf of the entire membership of the party, expresses condolences to the families of the deceased and offers sympathy to the injured and their families.

We condemn these attacks as they are counterproductive in the development of the needed solutions for those political and social problems facing us all. At the same time such attacks are a result of the politics of the United States Government which has in the past supported terrorist activity in many parts of the world, such as in the Near East or in the Balkan region.

Hijacked civil aircraft on September 11 crashed into the World Trade Center building in New York and the U.S. Department of Defense Building (Pentagon) in Washington D.C. These incidents, in which many people were killed and many more injured, are brutal acts of terror without precedent. Whatever the reasons, such indiscriminate killing of people is a crime which is absolutely unjustifiable. With anger and in the name of international justice and humanity, the JCP condemns the terrorist attacks.

The Palestinian People's Party warns of the scheme of Sharon's government which is trying to exploit the bombing operations with planes that targeted the World Trade Center in New York and the US Defense Department in order to settle accounts with the Palestinian leadership and people through forming the so-called "international front to fight terrorism" that offers a cover up for more acts of aggression against the Palestinian people and against the other peoples of the world who are struggling to reinforce their independence and right in self determination.

The World Federation of Trade Unions expresses its shock and horror at the immense loss of lives and huge material damage caused by the inhuman, premeditated attacks on the World Trade Centre in New York and government buildings in Washington on 11 September.

The tragic attack which has killed people and destroyed US symbols must be severely condemned, as we have always condemned and will irreducibly condemn any act of terrorism against defenceless women and men. Thousands of lives have been disrupted by an absurd and criminal suicide strategy.

The position of Cuba against all kind of terrorist actions is well known. We cannot forget that for over 40 years our people has been victim of such actions, promoted from the territory of the United States itself.

Our desire to elevate this work is not born out of a moral obligation alone; it is born out of necessity. For there is no struggle for bread and butter issues at home, for decent housing, for better education for better wages that will be won if we do not also struggle for peace and disarmament.

We, the members of the Communist Party USA, seeing the ongoing occupation of and attacks against the Palestinian people by the Israeli state, hereby resolve that...