[Marxism] Re: Australian troops back in East Timor.

[Ggregray@xxxxxxx]

First a note of explanation - I think that I had a slight confusion about how
this thread started off-I think I have ascribed to Tom O'Lincoln  views
expressed in an article by Ben Hillier in Socialist Alternative that I think Tom
posted.
Anyway as I understand it those views are either the same or close to those
Tom would hold-if I am wrong on that I apologise and I'm sure Tom is more than
capable of clarifying that if he feels the need to do so.
But to the point- Rohan Gaiswinkler accuses me of finding it "..necessary to
rewrite history.." after qouting me as writing;
"Did it require any greater courage for the many on the left comfortably
ensconced in Sydney, Melbourne and other cosy Australian locations to suppoprt 
the
intervention line along with the Howard government and the overwhelming
weight of "public opinion" as expreessed through  the bougeois mass media."
The only point that Rohan can really be upset about in that quote is that I
did not give him and his DSP and other comrades enough credit for bringing
Howard and his government into the  coalition of the willing for that particular
imperialist intervention.
I was in Australia in 1999 and I was well aware of the campaign for
intervention that was relentlessly waged through the mass media I can't recall 
whether
there were many actual editorials but those are, in my opinion, the least
useful ways that the media has of pushing its line.
Here I make a mea culpa. The atmosphere of the time created enormous
pressures on socialists and while I never joined the chorus of those who 
supported
sending in Australian troops I think I fudged on the issue and did not take a
clear position on opposing it- I was  wrong in that but I don't think you 
resolve
past mistakes by maintaining them.
I have never blamed as Rohan puts it "..EVERY bad eventuality in E.Timor on
the 1999 intervention.." That is what is called in Australia a furphy- it has
nothing to do with what I think about East Timor so I will leave it to
anyone-if such exists-who takes that position to deal with it.
There has recently been quite a discussion on this list about Marxism and
absolute truth and Rohan stakes his ground in that discussion with his rejection
of marxism as a theory of absolute principles. But on the concrete issue of
imperialist troop interventions perhaps Rohan could outline the (relative
Marxist?) principles that guide his and his comrades in their positions on this.
Is East Timor sui generis or do the principles that justified imperialist
troop intervention there stretch to Kosovo,Afghanistan,Iraq, Darfur, Solomon
Islands,Aboriginal communities in the Northern Territory in Australia?
These are just some of the places where imperialist troops (including
Australian) have either intervened or been called on to intervene for what have 
been
posited as overwhelming humanitarian reasons.
How far do we go- is it OK to sometimes join hands with Howard but never with
Bush?
I don't want to be seen as some old fashioned absolutist on these questions.
For example I think the DSP is a bit at sixes and sevens over the current
intervention in East Timor earlier there was a statement from the DSP which
opposed the use of troops but since they went in it is not clear to me, from
perusing Green Left Weekly,
that they stick to that position.
At the risk of absolutism I state clearly that I am opposed to the Australian
military intervention and I am for the immediate withdrawal of those troops (
and police). Socialists should campaign for large scale no strings aid to
East Timor and  re-negotiation of the Timor Gap oil agreement so that the East
Timorese receive a just share of oil revenue.
On a another note, Clinton Fernades will, I hope, be pleased that I have
ordered and will buy a copy of his book Reluctant Saviour this afternoon. I will
be interested to read, inter alia, what he has to say about Jose Ramos Horta.
In my comment I raised the issue of Horta and his support for the US ( and
Australian) invasion of Iraq  in the context that CF had rejected as bullshit 
the
claim that Australia's 1999 intervention in East Timor was used as support
for further such intervention elsewhere. In that context I maintain that it is
reasonable to note that Horta supports the Iraq war as an equivalent
intervention.
Greg Adler

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