Yugo: anti Dayton

["Chris, London" <100423.2040@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

As you know Carrol, I am used to your contributions
always being thoughtful and interesting, even when I disagree with
them, as of course I do with the one below.

I do feel it is an ironic turn of phrase to suggest the issue of
Yugoslavia was "debated to death" on this maillist last summer,
when 200,000 (as I recall) Yugoslavs have been actually put to death,
many of them for having a Muslim surname, and wanting a
secular state.

Even from the first principles of marxism, as to what helps to
strengthen the unity of the working class, the replacement of
internecine warfare with accountable bodies of armed men, is a
reform which only an ultra-leftist would refuse. I think your
post shows the despairing cul-de-sac of an ultra-leftist position
on Yugoslavia, because you can see no way forward except to denounce
bourgeois and imperialist govenments.

A more fundamentally revolutionary position is to say that the Dayton
imperialist intervention cannot lead the reconstruction of Yugoslavia.
Only the most profound movement of democratic reconstruction, built up
by millions of tiny actions of practical forgiveness and material
reconciliation, led by those most dedicated to the cause of ordinary
working people, can and will rebuild that democratic country.

And do not think those people do not exist. They exist everywhere in
Yugoslavia. They are the real heroes. We must not lose faith in them
at this critical time.

Chris, London.


_______________________________________________________________

From: cbcox@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx (Carrol Cox)
Date: Tue, 19 Dec 1995 16:58:14 -0600 (CST)
Subject: Re: Yugo: anti-Dayton politics

    The issue of Yugoslavia was debated to death on this maillist last
summer, and there is not much more to say. However, I wish to make
a prediction. The U.S. Invasion of Yugoslavia (and that is what it should
be named) will end up a disaster for the people of Yugoslavia. Period.
Nothing that progressives, here or in Europe, can do will have any
influence on U.S. policy in Yugoslavia, or on the actual implementation
of that policy.

    I will venture a further prophecy. *No* U.S. military activity
beyond its borders (I call Puerto Rico beyond its borders) will be other
than a disaster for the area involved and will be at least bad and
probably disastrous for the people of the U.S.A. as well.
        Carrol Cox




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