Re: Yugo - a key document for analysis

["Bryan A. Alexander" <bnalexan@xxxxxxxxx>]

This is clearly a good text for work.
        (Another is the RAM plan, wherein JNA staff consider the Persian
Gulf War as a model for civil war)
        Some responses:

Bryan Alexander
Department of English
University of Michigan
**********************

On 14 Jan 1996, Chris, London wrote:

> Yugo - a key document for analysis
>...
> I agree with the republishers that it is a key document for analysis,
> though IMO I would suggest it indicates the route by which certain
> Serb marxists started on a path towards terrorism over the population, which
> ultimately played even more into the hands of the imperialists so tragically
> and dramatically.
>
> Chris B
> London.
>
>...
> YUGOSLAVIA ARMY EXPECTED ATTACK FROM WEST
>...
> The document was titled "Report Concerning the Actual
> Situation in the World and Yugoslavia, and Immediate Tasks
> of the Yugoslav People's Army." It charged that there were
> "Western designs" to dismember Yugoslavia.

It also discusses the roles of nationalities and criticizes the former
Yugoslav Communist Party (LCY).

>
> Although the FCND report is not available in English,
> parts of it are translated in the book "The Destruction of
> Yugoslavia," by Branka Magas.

Again, a fine work.  See "The Generals' Manifesto," 266ff.
>
> YUGOSLAV SOCIALISM TARGETED
>
> The report was delivered to the Yugoslav army on Jan. 25,
> 1991,  before the collapse of the Soviet Union. It indicates
> that the Yugoslav military believed that the continued
> presence of the USSR would prevent an all-out drive against
> Yugoslavia.
>
> This assessment was probably correct. It was after the
> collapse of the USSR that Yugoslavia became a primary target
> of the Western imperialist powers.

Not to mention the flip side: that Yugoslavia was also a primary target
for Soviet expansion for decades, and Tito considered NATO a good balance
to Stalin and successors.

>
> The FCND report says that "though future developments in
> the USSR cannot be predicted with any certainty," the
> presence of the Soviet state blocked the Western imperialist
> powers' drive to overthrow socialism in Yugoslavia.

heck, the *Soviets* abhorred Yugoslav communism!  Jeez.
>
> In Yugoslavia, the document says, "socialism has not yet
> been finished off, brought to its knees. Yugoslavia has
> managed to withstand, albeit at a high cost, the first
> attack and wave of anti-communist hysteria. Real prospects
> of maintaining the country as a federative and socialist
> community have been preserved.

Alas, this follows a paragraph where the authors confidently assert that
"Soviet disintegration has slowed down," predicting that the USSR will
return in strength. (271)

 >
> "Western planners have achieved considerable success in
> the realization of their basic strategic orientation--the
> destruction of communism and the socialist option--but not
> their ultimate aim. They have not succeeded in overthrowing
> communism in any country where the revolution had been
> authentic." Again, this was written before the collapse of
> the Soviet Union.

Clearly.
        While I was in FY I collected conspiracy theories.  One of my
favorite was that NATO engineered the Wars of Yugoslav Succession in
order to wipe out the JNA, thus clearing the way for total armed
domination of all of Europe.  Hm.

>
> "As far as our own country is concerned, the West has
> realized that the Yugoslav idea and socialist option have
> much deeper roots than they had envisaged, so that the
> overthrow of socialism in Yugoslavia is not the same thing
> as in other countries. This is why we can expect that they
> will modify the method of their action and move to an even
> stronger attack. It would be very important for them to
> achieve complete success in Yugoslavia. For they would be
> cutting into a country where revolution had been authentic.

It is not clear from this passage exactly what Yugo-soc. would be.
Magas takes them to task for clear local bias and self-interest, which
seems correct.  Also, note that there were crucial tensions between
the JNA and workers during the self-management campaign.
Again, these posters have no problem with Milosevic, ultimately, and
end up supporting his petty Stalinism.

>
> "Their further activity is likely to develop on two
> fronts, with two different aims. On the one hand, they will
> try to overthrow those Communists who have retained power,
> either in individual republics or at the Federal level."
>
> This will be done in part by demanding constant elections
> "until their proteges take power."

Ah, that canny military mind.  The opposition will try to take power -
why didn't I think of that?

>
> The report continues, "The other front is the break-up of
> Yugoslavia, accompanied by vilification of Communists. This
> strategy has been confirmed by several explicit actions.
> This is shown also by the well-known prognosis of the CIA
> that `Yugoslavia will fall apart within eighteen months.' We
> know with what intentions such statements are given, and
> that they always have a clear function.

OK.
>
> "The same is true of the State Department declaration of
> 25 December 1990, which contains a threat that the USA will
> `strongly resist all use of force or pressures aimed at
> arresting the democratic process or establishing a non-
> democratic unity of Yugoslavia.' The essence of the message
> is quite clear: they will overthrow socialism in Yugoslavia
> even at the price of its disintegration. At the same time,
> this is a warning to the Army not to prevent this process.

Note for all Clinton-lovers: within one month of taking office Slick
Willy stated *explicitly* that he would continue this, Bush's, policy.

>
> "The support for democracy expressed in certain circles in
> the West is a transparent demagogy, because for them
> democracy is only that which corresponds to their aims and
> interests. For them, democracy in our conditions is
> primarily one that is anti-socialist."

Again, my ambivalence: this is correct, but the source is not sympathetic.
>
> The report also brings up the political conditions
> necessary to defend socialism.
>
> "Based on the ideas of Yugoslavism, national equality,
> brotherhood and unity, freedom and social justice the
> [Communist] Party [of Yugoslavia] achieved victory in the
> war of 1941-45.

I must stress that the partisan victory is *the* foundational myth for FY.
>
> "These are the same ideas that will bring victory to the
> League of Communists--Movement for Yugoslavia. The Army can
> ensure the conditions for a peaceful resolution of the
> crisis, but it cannot solve the question of Yugoslavia. This
> can be achieved only by a strong political organization,
> whose program will be accepted and supported by the broadest
> social layers."

NB!  This is an advert!  The JNA *established* the LCY-YM at this time.
That it utterly failed to win support is worth discussion and analysis -
which this source fails to do...

> > So here is a document showing that in
December
1990 the > U.S. State Department threatened the Yugoslav government
> with the use of force if it in any way resisted the
> destruction of socialism and the break-up of the country.
> This report deserves careful examination for understanding
> what's behind the war in Bosnia.
>

Yes, and in more depth than the author would like.  And what happened to
multinationals, anyway? >
>
>                          - END -
>
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