RE: [Marxism] SWP post-election analysis

["Walter Lippmann" <walterlx@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Louis has pointed out another bizarre gaffe in the peculiar
evolution of the Socialist Workers Party of the United States
of America as it continues its path of rightward adaptation.

The fact that the SWP(USA) would use THE BELL CURVE, a racist
book, to support one of their arguments, only shows how far
this group has evolved.

The SWP's militant and intransigent opposition to the Iraqi
resistance is an even more striking example of this. Take a
look at the latest issue, which Louis cites. Here's a giant
commentary on Iraq which looks like it came out of Rumsfeld's
public relations department. THE MILITANT completely fails to
even discuss the Iraqi resistance. To THE MILITANT, there is
no Iraqi resistance. That is the line of the White House and
the Pentagon. The White House line is that there are only a
few outside troublemakers causing all the problems in Iraq.
http://www.themilitant.com/2004/6843/index.shtml

In order to sell its message to its readers, many of whom
were, once upon a time, anti-war fighters during the Vietnam
struggle, they include a ritualistic call for withdrawal of
U.S. troops. But this is nothing but snake all. The SWP says
it holds the position of "immediate withdrawal". But nothing
NOTHING flows from this position. No tasks. No joining with
or supporting anti-war demonstrations to make the call for
withdrawal a political issue within the United States of
America.

Carefully read the "withdrawal" EDITORIAL in THE MILITANT

"There is no revolutionary resistance in Iraq today. That's
why the U.S. and Iraqi forces are likely to roll through
Fallujah and other cities in the area. Unlike bourgeois-led
militias like Tawhid and Jihad that use reactionary methods
such as beheading hostages and killing children-methods
despised by most Iraqis-a revolutionary movement against
imperialist domination would offer a clear presentation of
what it's fighting for. None of these militias has ever
uttered a word that would serve the interests of working
people in Iraq. Nor is there any bourgeois regime in the
Mideast willing to risk organizing resistance to the
imperialist occupation.

THE SWP(USA)is openly predicting US success in Falloujah.
Don't these people have the decency to shut up and wait?
Why are they expressing confidence, just like the those
Pentagon propagandists are? It gets worse when they write:

"working people in Iraq and the surrounding region will be
able to make use of the political space they have to find
ways to advance their struggles and eventually develop a
revolutionary leadership."

Excuse me, "the political space they have"? Just what
"political space" do Iraqi workers have? Since there was
no such "poltical space" under Saddam Hussein, it can
only have "opened up" since Washington's invasion and
occupation of Iraq. Where else could it have come from?

FULL MILITANT EDITORIAL
http://www.themilitant.com/2004/6843/684320.html

And if the good news about Washington getting its
warmaking apparatus in to fighting trim isn't the
thing you needed to read today, let's look at the
progress German imperialism is making in getting
its own fighting forces into tip-top shape:
http://www.themilitant.com/2004/6843/684350.html

(If you can believe THE MILITANT, there seems to
be no opposition to Berlin's war moves, and we
don't see THE MILITANT proposing any, either.)

This fits in with their public opposition to the
victory of the Frente Amplio in Uruguay as well.
The Frente Amplio promised to restore relations
with revolutionary Cuba, which has been broken
by the preceding capitalist regime of Battle,
and has already publicly announced that it will
be carrying this restoration out. THE MILITANT,
which of course OPPOSES the victory of Uruguay's
left party, completely OMITS mention of this
very significant issue.
http://www.themilitant.com/2004/6843/684353.html

Reading THE MILITANT in the new millennium:
It's a dreary job, but SOMEBODY's go to do it.

Walter Lippmann
Havana, Cuba
http://www.walterlippmann.com



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