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March 2002

ISBN:
1-58367-070-X (paper)

160 pp

Current Affairs/
Politics

Also of Interest:
The State
of the Union:
A New Cold War
by Rahul Mahajan

THE NEW CRUSADE

America’s War on Terrorism

by Rahul Mahajan

“This is a well-researched and carefully argued polemic. It will be a vital aid to all those resisting the dominant culture in these conformist times.” — TARIQ ALI

“The New Crusade deals effectively with the heavy costs of the ‘war on terrorism' both at home and abroad, the media's supportive role, and the possibilities of containing the rogue state.”— EDWARD S. HERMAN

“Mandatory reading for anyone who wants to get a handle on the war on terrorism. Mahajan writes clearly and in plain language. This short book takes on directly all the main issues surrounding the war. A truly brilliant introduction to the topic by an exciting new author.” — ROBERT W. McCHESNEY

“The New Crusade is a sober, thoughtfully argued presentation not to be taken lightly and deserving of as wide a readership as possible. This is a highly recommended and welcome contribution to the current national dialogue regarding our ‘war on terrorism.’” — THE MIDWEST BOOK REVIEW

• Will the US-led war on terrorism rid the world of this scourge, or fuel the hatred and suffering on which it feeds?
• Will the Middle East and central Asia be stabilized once Afghanistan is reduced to rubble and starvation, or become a zone of enduring war?
• Within the United States, will it bring about new forms of patriotism and solidarity, or provide a platform for intensified racism, new assaults on civil liberties, and on the living standards of ordinary Americans?

The attack on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon on September 11, 2001 and the U.S. government response, especially after the bombing of Afghanistan, transformed U.S. and global politics.

The New Crusade examines the myths that have arisen around the war on terrorism and the ways they are used to benefit a small elite. Mahajan demonstrates how accepted accounts of the causes of the U.S. military intervention in Afghanistan, the conduct of the war, and its consequences have been systematically distorted. He shows how global power is being redefined in the process and explores the new directions the war is likely to take.

Reflecting both deep knowledge of the region and the commitment and hands-on experience of a seasoned activist, Mahajan provides a powerful interpretation of events that will be decisive in the making of our time.

Contents
Introduction

PART ONE: THE WAR ON TERRORISM-MYTH AND REALITY

1. Another Pearl Harbor
2. They Hate Us for Our Freedom
3. You're with Us or You're with the Terrorists
4. Self-Defense
5. Multilateralism, Diplomacy, Restraint
6. Power, not Revenge
7. A Humanitarian War
8. Surgical Strikes
9. A War for Civilization
10. A War on Terrorism
11. Fighting for Our Security
12. United We Stand
13. Restricting Freedom in Defense of Freedom
14. Racism: We've Come a Long Way
15. Defending Dissent
16. The Free Press Reports for Duty
17. Censorship in Defense of Civilization
18. The People Want War
19. We Have to Do Something

PART TWO: THE NEW WHITE MAN'S BURDEN

20. The White Man's Burden
21. The United States as Imperial Power
22. Assessing Humanitarian Intent: Biological Warfare?
23. Assessing Humanitarian Intent: Making Africa Safe for AIDS
24. Humanitarian Interventions in Context: Afghanistan, Somalia, Kosovo, Rwanda
25. Who Cares about Iraq?
26. Beyond the White Man's Burden

PART THREE: NEW DIRECTIONS IN THE WAR ON TERRORISM

27. Afghanistan and Central Asia
28. Somalia, the Philippines, and Other Targets
29. Israel and Palestine
30. Iraq
31. Weapons of Mass Destruction as Casus Belli
32. Reexamining National Security
33. Biological Weapons Again
34. Containing the Rogue State

Notes
Index

About the Author
RAHUL MAHAJANis a member of the Nowar Collective, the National Board of Peace Action, and the National Committee of the National Network to End the War against Iraq. He is a frequent contributor to www.commondreams.org and is currently completing a Ph.D. in physics at the University of Texas at Austin.

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