On September 11 Islamic extremists declared war against the West, a war outside all traditional patterns that made terrorism its lethal weapon. Terrorist attacks have greatly increased since then, leading to widespread psychological destabilization that promises an uncertain future. Public opinion is divided between those supporting drastic interventions and a net minority that is against war tout court. One takes up a demagogic stand when he declares he does not want war: like in marriage, war is avoided only by two who want to get on! Processions with placards and slogans recall demonstrations that were organized a few years ago during the Vietnamese war. It was disastrous when the Americans left the territory: there followed an epoch-making genocide that reduced the Vietnamese populace from 13 million to about 300 - 400 thousand units.
Obviously there were no marches on this occasion. There were neither protests nor demonstrations. They were all silent. What mattered was that the war had come to a close. We do not like this kind of peace. It tastes of feigned, of an artefact. It has the flavour of “political” and “instrumental”. The dreadful war that arouses religious phantoms has reached us too. Italians have actively participated in the death of carabinieri [the Italian military corps with civil police duties], soldiers and civilians in Iraq in a composed and dignified manner. The same can be said about the Italian Red Cross, which, despite the danger, stayed on in Iraq to give the people some humanitarian aid.
Organizations from other nations chose another course of action. They hurriedly returned to their countries of origin; this also applies to UN representatives. Speaking frankly, without studied reserve, we can say that the UN does not play its role consistently and with firm conviction. Certainty is that terrorism is like cancer: it must be rooted out from our history with every means, even if the method does not promise to be painless.
This cancer has already reached a metastatic stage. Hence it is our duty not to prevaricate with unproductive, sterile debates in order to avoid the destruction of the little there still is to defend in our world.
Translated by interpres sas