War against Iran?
In January I wrote about the possible assault on Iran. While I then believed that the attack might come in April or May, I was thankfully wrong. Now the propaganda campaign has been stepped up with attempts from the US government and the CIA to have the Revolutionary Guard listed as a terror organization. Liberal newspapers fire off volley after volley of racist slander against Iran, as against Iraq, echoing the Israeli and American propagandist vanguard.
You might say that there will be no war, that the US war machine is too weak, that the economy is doing badly, that the European Union or the Democrats will stop a war. None of these things are true. The United States possesses the greatest war machine in the world, far outdoing the others in the top ranking list. It also has a war economy which relies on a perverted Keynesian mechanism to allow the government to pump money into the military and stabilize employment, wages and economic structures. The imperialist theft of natural resources and labour power is of course also a major boost for an economy that is built on racism and war.
Furthermore, the European Union and the Democratic Party are contenders only for the prize of being the most pathetic. Brought into power by a sweeping victory, so intent, so obvious and so strong through the simple promise of peace the Democrats managed to throw it all away over a night. Nothing else, nothing more. The Democrats came to power because they said they were for peace and against war. It was a curious thing, then, their ridiculous surrender before the battle had even begun. But it was to be expected. Hillary and the rest of the East Coast aristocracy are part of the burgeoise and so tied in with it that their hands are tied. All they can manage is a muffled protest now and then.
The European Union is much the same with one major difference. While the Democrats attempts to appear to be a party for at least groups of the people, the EU seems to be wanting to soar far, far away from the riotous plebs. Their hands are as tied as the Democrats, and what we can hope from them is simply that they will attempt to build their own imperialist power bloc and to create some form of division of power in the future. That solution is anathema to a socialist, but it could possibly provide some respite for various parts of the world.
We have been at this juncture before. In every colonial war and every territorial dispute, and every time imperialism has appeared and disappeared again it has been the power of the working classes that has judged the outcome of the war. The struggle remains between the proletariat and the burgeoise, split between national lines. When Iraq was invaded, more people than ever demonstrated around the world in solidarity and with the wish for peace. Now, the popular resistance in Iraq has spread and intensified. In country after country governments have won through going to elections in opposition to the war and have subsequently withdrawn their troops.
If Iran is attacked, it will be Iraq all over again. But worse. This time, it won't just be demonstrations - but riots. This time, those Marines stationed inside US embassies might very well be needed. And though I wish no war over Iran whatsoever, the seeds of armed resistance there are far better than in Iraq. Socialist, secular, organized, they might flee into the mountains of Iran and create a popular war that would sweep the theocratic fascists away as well as the imperialists.
The only guarantee for peace is popular resistance abroad and in the occupied nations. We need to make ourselves ready to lead the demonstrations and extend our solidarity in case of an assault against Iran. The parliaments wavering between their support for US imperialism and popular resistance will be swept away. If the environment is one of those socialist renaissance things, the desire for peace is an ingrained part of our heritage that will never leave us as long as we remain internationalists and socialists.
You might say that there will be no war, that the US war machine is too weak, that the economy is doing badly, that the European Union or the Democrats will stop a war. None of these things are true. The United States possesses the greatest war machine in the world, far outdoing the others in the top ranking list. It also has a war economy which relies on a perverted Keynesian mechanism to allow the government to pump money into the military and stabilize employment, wages and economic structures. The imperialist theft of natural resources and labour power is of course also a major boost for an economy that is built on racism and war.
Furthermore, the European Union and the Democratic Party are contenders only for the prize of being the most pathetic. Brought into power by a sweeping victory, so intent, so obvious and so strong through the simple promise of peace the Democrats managed to throw it all away over a night. Nothing else, nothing more. The Democrats came to power because they said they were for peace and against war. It was a curious thing, then, their ridiculous surrender before the battle had even begun. But it was to be expected. Hillary and the rest of the East Coast aristocracy are part of the burgeoise and so tied in with it that their hands are tied. All they can manage is a muffled protest now and then.
The European Union is much the same with one major difference. While the Democrats attempts to appear to be a party for at least groups of the people, the EU seems to be wanting to soar far, far away from the riotous plebs. Their hands are as tied as the Democrats, and what we can hope from them is simply that they will attempt to build their own imperialist power bloc and to create some form of division of power in the future. That solution is anathema to a socialist, but it could possibly provide some respite for various parts of the world.
We have been at this juncture before. In every colonial war and every territorial dispute, and every time imperialism has appeared and disappeared again it has been the power of the working classes that has judged the outcome of the war. The struggle remains between the proletariat and the burgeoise, split between national lines. When Iraq was invaded, more people than ever demonstrated around the world in solidarity and with the wish for peace. Now, the popular resistance in Iraq has spread and intensified. In country after country governments have won through going to elections in opposition to the war and have subsequently withdrawn their troops.
If Iran is attacked, it will be Iraq all over again. But worse. This time, it won't just be demonstrations - but riots. This time, those Marines stationed inside US embassies might very well be needed. And though I wish no war over Iran whatsoever, the seeds of armed resistance there are far better than in Iraq. Socialist, secular, organized, they might flee into the mountains of Iran and create a popular war that would sweep the theocratic fascists away as well as the imperialists.
The only guarantee for peace is popular resistance abroad and in the occupied nations. We need to make ourselves ready to lead the demonstrations and extend our solidarity in case of an assault against Iran. The parliaments wavering between their support for US imperialism and popular resistance will be swept away. If the environment is one of those socialist renaissance things, the desire for peace is an ingrained part of our heritage that will never leave us as long as we remain internationalists and socialists.
Labels: imperialism, Internationalism, Iran, US
posted by Björn at 9:37 AM
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