For those who would like to appropriate Pinter, a reminder of his words in the last days of his life… and his usage of the Nobel platform to launch a scathing attack on unilateralism, naked power, and national interests. Using the example of United States foreign policy under presidents ranging from Reagan to Bush, he talked about “interventions” in Nicaragua, Chile, Indonesia, Iraq… we are just about beginning to see the results of such a strategy borne by national interest over morality and conscience.

It would serve us to remember that those who died a the Taj were the victims of such a strategy of nationalist interests (of course, here the terrorists were serving the national interests of our “enemies”). We should ask those who lost loved ones if they cared about national interest over personal suffering. Or will it be our media and “strategic thinkers” who will tell us what is in our best interests.

Read Pinter’s acceptance speech here

Harold Pinter Nobel Acceptance Speech. Click to Download/read [PDF]