Stop Press - international reaction to the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center and Pentagon

New Internationalist, Oct, 2001

Boris Pankin, the last Soviet Foreign Minister.

Ha'aretz, ISRAEL

Hanan Ashrawi, who is spokeswoman for the Arab League, a member of the Palestinian Leglislative Council and the director of Miftah, an NGO devoted to promoting democracy and dialogue ... [sent] her condolences to the American nation in the name of the Palestinian people, the Palestinian Authority, intifada activists, and the Arab states.

Ashrawi urged the world not to draw conclusions about Palestinian attitudes from the behaviour of the few 'exceptions' who had rejoiced at news of the attacks... 'The Palestinians, as victims of the Israeli occupation, naturally identify with the victims of the terror attack.'

Amira Hass

Bangkok Post, THAILAND

It would be a mistake to dismiss the terrorists as mere fools and heretics. They, too, view themselves as defenders of truth, justice and peace, So intensely so that they are willing to die - and kill - to pursue their version of justice. To preserve their understanding of truth. We call it insanity. They call it martyrdom.

Michael Moore, the maker of 'Roger and Me' and other films, via email, UNITED STATES

All day long I have heard everything about this bin Laden guy except this one fact - WE [the US] created the monster known as Osama bin Laden!

Where did he go to terrorist school? At the CIA!

Posted anonymously onto New York nyc.indymedia.org website, UNITED STATES

'I'm sitting here and I'm sorry I can't control myself, I started to cry and I can't stop. I can't believe this is happening. My dad who works and volunteers at a Muslim Mosque in LA, has a whole week off from work, he stayed in LA last night and went to work for daily prayers early this morning before the news hit... in the past few hours they have had over 250 death and property destruction threats via phone and email. I don't and neither do they support these terrorists... We didn't do this, as a middle eastern person I'm saying that from the bottom of my heart... I'm very sorry for this happening but I'm scared for my community right now, and I don't know what's going to happen. I've been talking to my family in Afghanistan and Iran 3 times this morning, but I can't any longer because the phone calls are not able to go through, they are terrified there, they think that the US is going to start bombing them. They are very very confused and distraught.'

Statement by Project Underground via email, UNITED STATES

We at Project Underground are outraged and deeply saddened by this morning's violent attacks on human life and human possibility in New York, Virginia and Pennsylvania...

Today our society is awash with fear. But what is of greatest concern is those who would use that fear to inflict a new round of terror. We stand aghast at those who in the wake of tragedy can only speak in terms of dollars and cents. We watch as traders flee to the 'security' of gold and oil and are reminded that that 'security' has been purchased with the blood of communities with whom we work.

We are saddened and distraught that some would use the bloodshed today as the pretext for greater hate or for the reduction of freedom.