Re: [Marxism] Sucker punching Leslie Cagan

[Brian Shannon <brian_shannon@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

On Jun 19, 2006, at 11:55 AM, Louis Proyect wrote:

> The Militant states:
>
> <startquote>
> Statements by liberals or middle-class radicals in the U.S., like  
> Kenneth Roth of Human Rights Watch or Leslie Cagan of United for  
> Peace and Justice, saying that Washington was “perfectly within its  
> rights” to kill Zarqawi, or that they “would not condemn” the  
> killing because the target was “a terrorist,” are a capitulation to  
> U.S. imperialism and its allies.


> "No, I don't recall saying that to the reporter I spoke to. I  
> believe I said something like this...If there was evidence that  
> Zarqawi had committed acts of terrorism then there should have been  
> an effort to bring him to justice - which means arresting him and  
> putting him on trial.
>
> "To be honest, I do not recall the exact words I used - but that's  
> my position and so I am sure that was what I was communicating.  -  
> Leslie Cagan


> The Militant articles have been cloaked in neutrality, but it is  
> obvious to the careful reader which side they are on:
>
> At a February 22 Pentagon briefing in Washington, Gen. David  
> Rodriguez said the operation is expected to be of a “significantly  
> lesser degree” than what took place in Fallujah. In the current  
> operation the Marines intend to “ride that fine line…where we don’t  
> spoil the goodwill that’s here…while still having enough force so  
> if the enemy decides to fight we can kill them,” said Lt. Col.  
> Steven Dinauer. To that end, said the Monitor, in addition to their  
> regular complement of tanks, mortars, and grenades, the Marines  
> have also brought along a lawyer, $20,000 to pay for damages, and  
> dozens of soccer balls.
> full: http://www.themilitant.com/2005/6910/691003.html


I'm surprised that Louis, who is usually finely tuned to such things,  
sees Cagan's reply as superior to the Sun's (and the Militant's)  
presentation. Since there is no right to economic strangulation,  
invasion, and occupation, then there is no right to "arrest him and  
[put] him on trial." There are many other things that the experienced  
Cagan could have said. This is indeed a low point, whether on the  
UFPJ web site or not. She is the spokesperson for a movement and it  
doesn't matter whether the interviewer is the Sun, the Times, or the  
Nation. Her reply ignores the whole history of the war and the fight  
against it.

Louis is entirely right that The Militant's se of this quote from the  
Pentagon is contemptible. Picking undigested straw from dog's crap is  
more justified that throwing the whole kagada in our face. The  
Militant, from shortly after the beginning of the war until now,  
seems to think that by quoting the Pentagon it gets a relatively  
honest presentation, instead of the spiels of the politicians and  
media. It's the same crap, but dressed up green fatigues, or if in  
dress uniform, with medals.

Brian Shannon




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