Re: [Marxism] Re: From Dieter Elkins on Fallujah....

[Steve Gabosch <sgabosch@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

On Fred's comment on the "Rumsfeld worshippers at the 'Militant'":  In my
opinion, the suggestion that the Militant is pro-Rumsfeld and sympathetic
to imperialism is incorrect.  The 'Militant' is completely opposed to
imperialism, including US imperialism in Iraq, and has never wavered from
this position.  Claiming otherwise is factually untrue and is in my opinion
somewhat off-topic.  But there are many questions of fact that Fred and
others are discussing that are very much on-topic.

On the question of the *military* estimation of the current Iraqi
resistance:  There is no question the Iraqi resistance forces have not been
defeated and continue to be a major problem for the US
occupation.  Fallujah hurt them - they lost many fighters, arms, and a
stronghold - but the US certainly did not eliminate them.  Militarily, what
is the size and composition of the resistance's forces, how well trained
are they, how well are they armed and otherwise equipped, and how well, and
by whom, are they being funded?  These are not meant to be trick questions
(I certainly have no trick answers), nor do I expect anyone on Marxmail to
have access to special knowledge beyond the reports and articles posted and
discussed.  I ask these questions to point out they are factual questions
that are important to pursue and that they are different from other kinds
of questions - especially political questions.

On the *political* estimation of the current Iraqi resistance:  A different
set of questions needs to be asked.  What is its social and political
composition, social base, political program, historical origin?  What
class(es) in Iraqi society do the resistance forces represent?  The
Militant of course has characterized the current Iraqi resistance as mainly
consisting of remaining Baathist military forces that had not been defeated
in the 2003 invasion.  How true is this empirically?  What evidence exists
that other significant forces comprise the current resistance?  Also, an
even larger political question is on my mind:  what is the relationship
between the current Iraqi resistance and the workers and poor farmers of
Iraq in general?  What things are the Iraqi resistance fighters doing to
mobilize and empower the masses of Iraqi toilers?

On Rumsfeld:  Does Rumsfeld's stated strategy for creating smaller, more
mobile, and deadlier intervention forces reflect current US imperialist
military policy?  The Militant has reported its take on this trend in some
depth.  For example, "Rumsfeld defends global repositioning of U.S.
military" October 12, 2004  http://www.themilitant.com/2004/6837/683758.html

Best,
- Steve Gabosch


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