[Marxism] Re: Another disgraceful article from "The Militant"

["Fred Feldman" <ffeldman@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

David Altman is too critical of the Militant article on Iraq, in my
opinion.  I think the article is very restrained, considering the
provocation.

After all, what has taken place is a flagrant violation of the norms of
revolutionary centralism, which the Militant exists to defend and
propagate.  Tens of thousands -- probably hundreds of thousands of
Iraqis -- have acted in clear defiance of decisions taken by the elected
leading bodies of the Socialist Workers Party. These people are way, way
out of line.

Yet the Militant -- very patiently, in my opinion -- makes no mention of
their defiance.  It doesn't even file charges or set a trial date.
Instead, it is giving them time to get back in line, perhaps by
surrendering.  At this point, the Iraqis themselves will have to figure
out the tactics of undoing the damage they have done to the norms.

The editors of the Militant and the leaders of the SWP had clearly
instructed the Iraqis that they could not resist the occupation at this
time.   They were directed instead to make use of the "civic space" that
the occupation allowed for in order to build up a "revolutionary
organization" and "proletarian party," at which time they could apply to
the elected leading bodies for permission to begin resisting.  If they
disagreed, they could have raised the question with the Political
Committee.

These instructions were given publicly the Militant and in clear
English, which all Iraqis should have learned by now.

But no.  They just went off and did there own thing. And what is the
result -- they are tail-ending the bourgeois nationalists -- whom the
elected leading bodies have repeatedly proclaimed cannot carry out
resistance of any kind today.  (The bourgeois nationalists' own defiance
of the norms is another scandal.  It is time to call a halt!)

Even worse, they are calling the president of the United States names.
So unfair!  So reactionary! And they are helping the French and German
bourgeoisies to start World War III.  Oh, what a tangled web we weave
when first we venture to defy revolutionary centralism!

The Militant is taking a low-keyed approach even though actions such as
these have the potential to threaten the political homogeneity of the
party, something which -- we all understand and agree, I hope-- cannot
be permitted under any circumstances.   Constantly maintaining and
CONSTANTLY INCREASING its own political homogeneity is one of the
central purposes of the party today.  The Iraqi Sunnis and Shiites have
not been real helpful, to say the least.

To be fair, the Militant also carries an article on Venezuela that
acknowledges another violation of the line (the IMPLEMENTATION -- which
the Militant had said was not taking place -- of the agrarian reform).
In this case, too, there is no indication that disciplinary action will
be taken.

Things may be loosening up a bit.
Fred Feldman

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