On the Justice of Roosting Chickens
| Company type | Book |
|---|---|
| Industry | Publishing |
| Founded | 2003 |
| Founder | Ward Churchill |
| Products | Non-fiction book |
| Owner | AK Press |
On the Justice of Roosting Chickens: Reflections on the Consequences of U.S. Imperial Arrogance and Criminality is a 2003 publication authored by Ward Churchill and released through AK Press. The book's title draws inspiration from a 1963 speech by Malcolm X, in which he referred to the John F. Kennedy assassination as "chickens coming home to roost."
The phrase "Roosting Chickens" was initially introduced by Churchill in his essay dated September 12, 2001, titled "Some People Push Back': On the Justice of Roosting Chickens". Within this piece, he characterized the September 11 attacks as "acts of war" carried out by the "Islamic East" in defense against "crusades" launched by the "Christian West," highlighting conflicts like the Arab–Israeli conflict and the First Gulf War during the late twentieth century.
Original essay
The essay "Some People Push Back" was composed just one day following the September 11 attacks in 2001.
Topics
In this essay, Churchill asserted that the September 11 events were retaliatory measures against American imperialism, particularly its actions in the Middle East:
On September 11, 2001, additional repercussions—alongside the deaths of approximately half a million Iraqi children—manifested at New York's World Trade Center and the Pentagon. These Iraqi children, all younger than twelve years old, perished as an anticipated outcome of the 1991 US "surgical" bombing targeting Iraq’s water purification systems, sewage infrastructure, and other civilian-essential facilities. Such bombing constitutes a Class I Crime Against humanity, breaching international law and accepted norms of civilized conduct. The mortality rate escalated further due to US-enforced sanctions, maintained through a substantial military presence and recurring bombing operations. Among Iraq’s roughly eighteen million residents, nearly 500,000 children—amounting to about 25% of that demographic—died, with many survivors enduring long-term physical and mental harm. In effect, an entire generation suffered devastation.[1]
Conclusions
Churchill maintains that since the United States instigated aggression, it is predictable that "some people push back." He also contends that those present during the World Trade Center attack were not wholly innocent civilians:
Regarding individuals inside the World Trade Center... they were civilians in a certain sense but not blameless. They comprised a technocratic class central to America's global financial dominance—the "mighty engine of profit" propelling U.S. military strategy—and were fully aware of their role. Ignorance does not excuse this educated elite. If they were oblivious to the repercussions of their actions, it was due to deliberate denial, distracted by commercial engagements that translated into suffering elsewhere. Should there exist a more appropriate means to hold these "little Eichmanns" within the towers accountable, I would welcome suggestions.[1]
Book
Following this essay, Churchill expanded his arguments into the 2003 book On the Justice of Roosting Chickens. The volume begins with a foreword by Chellis Glendinning and is organized into three sections:
- "The Ghosts of 9-1-1," which elaborates on "Some People Push Back."
- "That 'Most Peace-Loving of Nations'," which examines U.S. military interventions and covert operations.
- "A Government of Laws"?, which catalogs alleged breaches by the U.S. of international law, with particular attention to United Nations resolutions.
Response
Initially, neither publication attracted significant attention, although the 2003 book acknowledged disputes concerning Nazi allusions present in the earlier essay. In 2004, the Gustavus Myers Center for the Study of Bigotry and Human Rights awarded Churchill's book an honorable mention.
In January 2005, Churchill ignited substantial controversy with his comments about victims of the World Trade Center after being invited to speak at Hamilton College; the scheduled talk was ultimately canceled due to "credible threats of violence." His use of the phrase "little Eichmanns" provoked widespread media backlash, demands for his resignation, and scrutiny regarding his suitability as an educator. On September 11, the University of Colorado Board of Regents issued a public apology for his statements related to the attacks. Subsequently, Churchill underwent investigations into allegations of plagiarism and academic misconduct, was dismissed from his position, and responded by filing a lawsuit against the university. He succeeded in a wrongful termination claim and was awarded nominal damages of $1; however, this jury decision was later overturned by a judge. The U.S. Supreme Court declined to review his final appeal in 2013.
See also
- Genocide
- Overseas expansion of the United States
- Inversion in postcolonial theory
- Blowback (intelligence)
- Jus ad bellum
- Laws of war
- New Imperialism
- Oil for Food program
- Popular opposition to war on Iraq
- Post–September 11 anti-war movement
- Reprisal
- Strategic bombing
- Victor's justice
- War crime