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On terrorism and the state

trick | 18.01.2002 14:12

At the end of the seventies, Gianfranco Sanguinetti wrote 'On terrorism and the state' (Del terrorismo e dello stato), in which he exposed the role of the police and secret services in terrorist activities as the bomb on the Piazza Fontana and the kidnapping of Aldo Moro. His observations remain acute:

"... the whole population, which no longer supports the state or rises up against it, must be convinced that she at least has one enemy in common with it, against which the state protects her on the condition that it is in turn no longer disputed by anyone. The population which is in general hostile to terrorism, should therefore admit that she needs the state at least for this, that she must give the state the most far-reaching powers, so that it can forcefully take up the difficult task of protecting the community against a dark, mysterious, perfid, ruthless, in one word ghost-like enemy. Against a terrorism presented as the absolute evil, the evil in itself and for itself, all other evils move to second rank; they must even be forgotten."

trick

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yes. Readers should also look at Victor Serge

18.01.2002 14:51

Serge's "What everyone should know about the State" is a classic primer into the true nature and history of our political edifices. Usually out of print and only avilbale from dingy left- wing bookshops. Many of his tips apply just as much today (in the age of the internet) as they did when telephones and telegrams were the latest communications. But its not easy reading.

D. Sposa -Balincom

Sanguinetti on-line...and more

18.01.2002 15:04

Unfortunately the full text of Sanguinetti’s book is not available on-line in English. Parts of his book are though. See the following links:

Sanguinetti’s Prefaces to 'On Terrorism and the State':
 http://www.notbored.org/italian-preface.html
 http://www.notbored.org/french-preface.html

Sanguinetti archive:
 http://www.notbored.org/sanguinetti.html
 http://www.notbored.org/reichstag.html

Sanguinetti was a one time member of the Situationist International. His on time co-collaborator and Situationist Guy Debord also wrote about the growing influence of the secret state upon society:
 http://www.notbored.org/debord-preface.html
 http://www.notbored.org/commentaires.html

On the Italian ‘Strategy of Tension’ and more generally the NATO 'Gladio Networks', see the following:

Statewatch ‘Strategy of Tension’/Gladio (Italy) cuttings archive
 http://www.poptel.org.uk/cgi-bin/dbs2/statewatch?query=Gladio&mode=records&row_id=7255

A not particularly good short summary of Italian Stratagy of Tension:
 http://www.copi.com/articles/guyatt/gladio.html

Tony Negri’s rather lame reflections on the period:
 http://www.en.monde-diplomatique.fr/1998/09/11negri
…and an okay(ish) critique
 http://www.notbored.org/negri.html

Statewatch archive on Belguim Gladio/ "Nijvel" gang/
"Brabant massacres":
 http://www.poptel.org.uk/cgi-bin/dbs2/statewatch?query=Gladio&mode=records&row_id=19305
 http://www.poptel.org.uk/cgi-bin/dbs2/statewatch?query=Gladio&mode=records&row_id=19229
 http://www.poptel.org.uk/cgi-bin/dbs2/statewatch?query=Gladio&mode=records&row_id=19156
 http://www.poptel.org.uk/cgi-bin/dbs2/statewatch?query=Gladio&mode=records&row_id=19129
 http://www.poptel.org.uk/cgi-bin/dbs2/statewatch?query=Gladio&mode=records&row_id=19046
 http://www.poptel.org.uk/cgi-bin/dbs2/statewatch?query=Gladio&mode=records&row_id=8508

UK Parliamentary question on Gladio Networks:
 http://www.parliament.the-stationery-office.co.uk/pa/cm199293/cmhansrd/1992-06-15/Writtens-8.html

The following material that is in varying degrees useful, but unfortunately not available on line:

Bale, Jeffrey M., ‘Right-wing Terrorists and the Extraparliamentary Left in Post-World War 2 Europe: Collusion or Manipulation’ in 'Lobster' (18) 1989.  http://www.lobster-magazine.co.uk/issue18.htm
(Academic and liberal, but useful)

Christie, Stuart, 'Stefano Delle Chiaie: Portrait of a Black Terrorist' (Anarchy, London, 1984)

Sanguinetti, Gianfranco, 'On Terrorism and the State' (London, 1982)

Willan, Philip, 'Puppet Masters: the Political Use of Terrorism in Italy', (Constable, London, 1991)
(This book should be handled with care. See review by Larry O'Hara, ‘Blinded by the Light’, in issue 23 of the British para-political magazine Lobster -  http://www.lobster-magazine.co.uk/issue23.htm )

Harry Roberts
mail e-mail: harry_roberts@hot-shot.com
- Homepage: http://www.notbored.org/sanguinetti.html

"Such a perfect democracy..."

18.01.2002 16:09

"Such a perfect democracy constructs its own inconceivable foe, terrorism. Its wish is to be judged by its enemies rather than by its results. The story of terrorism is written by the state and it is therefore highly instructive. The spectators must certainly never know everything about terrorism, but they must always know enough to convince them that, compared with terrorism, everything else must be acceptable, or in any case more rational and democratic."

Guy Debord in 'Comments on the Society of the Spectacle' (1988)

Guy Debord
- Homepage: http://www.notbored.org/commentaires.html