The reports this morning of scares on the rail network in Spain and in the USA suggest further developments towards economic terrorism in contrast to the political excitatory terrorism of gestures like 9/11.
In the London last Thursday week the underground (tube) system was badly affected. France has been troubled by threats to its rail network. This development need not be very consciously planned to occur partly spontaneously as the authorities and the terrorists each try to anticipate the others next moves. It does suggest to me that sledgehammer "New American Century" approaches are unlikely to be successful. A lot of international cooperation will be necessary. The interests of finance capitalism demand it as their system is highly socialised despite the ultimate private nature of the ownership of the means of production. Counter-measures require a great deal of social cohesion and consent from the working class and the working people who may well want increasing levels of accountability from those who exercise state power (on behalf of capitalism but in the name of the people). There is a certain historical inevitability in this which will proceed independently of the totally conscious awareness of any protagonist in this fast developing global war. Chris Burford London
