[Marxism] Re: Australian troops are back in Timor

[clintonf@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

Greg:
He says much about the allegedly good results of this intervention but does
not offer any explanation of how it has gone so awry.

CF: Explanations have ranged from Indonesian-backed conspiracies to 
Australian-inspired
coups. A more accurate analysis would take into account an unresponsive state 
apparatus
and all this entails, an unreasonably early withdrawal of Australian troops 
from the border, poverty, political closure and legacies of the occupation. I 
have written about this elsewhere.

Greg: Fernandes leaves out the egregious Jose Ramos Horta-who has taken an ever 
more
prominent position since the most recent Australian intervention. He has 
supported
the US invasion of Iraq-explicitly likening it to the intervention in East 
Timor.

CF: See Chapter Five of my book if you think I've left him out:
<http://www.scribepub.com.au/Catalogue/Titles%202004/Reluctant%20Saviour.html>

Greg: One of the astonishing sights in the lead up to this latest intervention 
was
the Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer on TV actually outling to the
East Timorese government how to draw up the document inviting in Australian
troops and telling them exactly who should sign it.

CF: This was to ensure that everyone in the leadership was committed in writing 
in advance
to the presence of peacekeepers and to ensure that East Timorese sovereignty 
was not violated.

Greg: Fernandes-as I understand it-specifically rejects Marxism

CF: Fair enough.

Greg: Did it require any greater courage for the many on the left comfortably
ensconced in Sydney Melbourne and other cosy Australian locations to
support the intervention line

CF: Many went back to East Timor immediately afterwards, re-establishing links 
with
their East Timorese friends. These friendships had been built during 24 years 
of struggle.
The entire East Timorese leadership and population was demanding an 
intervention.
Activists here knew this, and supported their call. They knew what a failure to 
intervene
would have meant.

________________________________________________
YOU MUST clip all extraneous text before replying to a message.
Send list submissions to: Marxism@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Set your options at: http://lists.econ.utah.edu/mailman/listinfo/marxism