Nicaragua

[Jon Flanders <72763.2240@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Jon Flanders:

  I went back to my copy of the New International put out by the US SWP which
summed up the SWP's position on the Nicaraguan revolution. I wanted to see how
and where the similarities and differences were with the recent contribution
of Louis P on this subject.

  The SWP's position can be summed up this way, that the Sandinista's should
have taken the road of the Cuban revolution, but did not.

  The basis for moving forward in this direction according to the NI, was the
military defeat of the contras. The arguement of the Sandinistas that the
geopolitical relationship of forces was unfavorable is rejected. NI also
asserts that the only revolutionary grouping in Nicaragua was the Sandinistas,
that the ultra-left organizations offered no viable alternative.

  "What is needed in Nicaragua today(this was written in 1989)is an opposition
to the current course that is utterly loyal to the revolution and to the FSLN,
seeks to implement the Historic Program(of Fonseca), defends the communist
perspective, fights for Marxism and points toward the example of the Cuban
revolution. It would draw together in a struggle to defend the revolution the
veterans of the revolutionary struggle who have not abandoned the road they
set out on when they joined the FSLN as well as the class struggle fighters of
the younger generation."

  The question I have about the above perspective is this. How important was
the military situation in the overall scheme of things? Time has blurred my
memory and I don't remember the details of the military denouement.

 Louis gave many reasons for the Sandinista retreat. They are cited in the NI
as well, while it is argued that another outcome was possible. Certainly
anyone involved in  Nicaragua solidarity work, as I and many others were,
would have liked another ending. I wanted some clarification on this, and
didn't want to let Louis' serious contribution go without some acknowledgement
either.

  I personally don't have the time for a big discussion on this, but would
welcome any other thoughts and information on the military side of the
Nicaraguan struggle.

 Best, Jon Flanders


  E-mail from: Jonathan E. Flanders, 07-Apr-1996




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