Re: [Marxism] Imperialist feminism in Iraq

[Louis Proyect <lnp3@xxxxxxxxx>]

sdsocialist@xxxxxxx wrote:
> Not only did RAWA "never actually support the war", it actively opposed the war on Afghanistan, demonstrated clearly by issuing a statement about the war titled "Taliban should be overthrown by the uprising of Afghan nation" (http://rawa.fancymarketing.net/us-strikes.htm).
>
> In fact, the liberal feminist organizations that did rally support behind the war, like the Feminist Majority Foundation, completely ignored RAWA's position.  I would argue that RAWA is an example of a solid anti-imperialist women's rights group that we should look to.
>
> -Rebecca

RAWA is a very problematic group despite their obvious dedication to
woman's liberation. They have been guilty of rhetorical excess and
footlooseness with the facts. For example, they claimed that the most
infamous warlord in Afghanistan, one Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, who threw acid
in women's faces among other monstrous acts, was actually an AGENT OF
THE KGB. The only other political organization that makes such a claim
is run by cryptofascist madman Lyndon Larouche.

(http://www.larouchepub.com/other/1995/2241_afghansi_intro.html)

I should mention that this is probably related to their Maoist roots.
They were completely hostile to the progressive government that
attempted to introduce democratic reforms in Afghanistan, including
equal rights for women. They also accused the Taliban of selling captive
women as prostitutes to "rich Arabs". Whatever else the Taliban was
guilty of, this seems highly unlikely given their strict religious
practices.

They were also on record as favoring the return of the exiled King of
Afghanistan, who supposedly would be "the only alternative as a first
step to establish an infrastructure in Afghanistan." I myself doubt that
the Afghans needed this.

Finally, whatever the intentions of the group, it is a grievous mistake
to go on CNN to denounce the Taliban in the days leading up to the war
in Afghanistan. I don't feel the need to spell this out in detail.

--

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