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[Marxism] Re: Support Anti-Colonialists Everywhere?

(I received this offlist. I thought that it raised some important
questions, so I will answer it publicly while leaving the correspondent
unnamed.)

Marxists support anti-colonial resistance *no matter the character of
the leadership*.

I don't know if that's necessarily true. I would think Marxists would
support the anti-colonial cause everywhere but there are some characters
and outfits (and forms of resistance) who I wouldn't be supporting. E.g.
does that mean marxists overseas should support dissident Republicans
even if they are being effectively run by British military intelligence
to do more damage to the Republican cause than they're worth. It's
resistence but not as we know it...

This sounds like a reference to internal Irish politics rather than
anything having to do with Iraq. My guess is that no faction of the
Irish nationalist movement was ever being "effectively run by British
military intelligence." More to the point, perhaps, sometimes an
anti-colonial group will try to exploit inter-imperialist rivalries and
use funding and intelligence from an imperialist power as did the
Eritreans and the Kurds. Leaving aside the question of the wisdom of
such collaboration, their struggle has to be judged on its merits and
not who they get support from.

I've read a lot of marxists who weren't too scared of voicing opposition
to the PLO or ANC's strategies. Weren't/Aren't these groups
anti-imperialist/anti-colonialist? I think that the SWP put out a
pamphlet on the 'Shining Path' - what did that say but condemn an
anti-colonialist movement? That must have been written along time ago.

This is not a matter of "voicing opposition". It is a question of
deciding whether the armed struggle against US occupation has any
progressive aspects. The Militant does not write articles advising
against the use of suicide bombs. It is opposed to the armed struggle
entirely. They even lump shooting down helicopters with blowing up
mosques. All of these activities must be denounced. It is only the
"civil opposition" led by proletarians who presumably read the
unreadable speeches of Jack Barnes who can be supported. With respect to
the "Shining Path", the Militant did describe it as "reactionary".
Although this group had many faults, it was fighting a capitalist
dictatorship. Even David Scott Palmer, one of the most outspoken
"Senderologists" is forced to admit that "The insurgency has rarely
engaged in indiscriminate violence and should not be compared with Pol
Pot and the Khmer Rouge in this regard."

Also I think that there has to be a certain self-reflection on the means
used to fight against imperialism - is it justifiable. And that's coming
from someone who would have to acknowledge the need for suicide bombing
in Palestine today. I'm the last one who might be expected to come out
with some crap to 'lick up' to the imperialist scum but not every group
under the sun is worth supporting. And I am not necessarily saying that
I don't support any particular resistance group in Iraq. I usually cheer
when I hear another US/UK war criminal has been removed one way or the
other. Killing 53 Iraqis signing up for the army/47 for the paramilitary
police is fine by me - targeting civilians would not be.

Right.


Finally, I think the crucial issue is the relationship between the armed
group and its support base. Whether its means/ideology are empowering
and building towards a revolution.

I honestly don't have any idea what the program of the resistance is. It
is only 8 months, however, since it appeared. I would urge a little
patience. But if it calls for nothing more than the ouster of the USA, I
would be *for it*. Such an outcome would have a profound effect on the
worldwide struggle against imperialism. If you can't figure this out,
you have no business in Marxist politics.

PS. I can't help thinking that this question for Trotskyists has
something to do with the Permanent Revolution theory which ties
socialism with anti-imperialism. Not sure just which way it goes - might
explain the difference here though. Gotta go.

Not sure what this means, so I won't comment on it.



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