[Marxism] Decent Militant editorial on Iran

["Fred Feldman" <ffeldman@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Well, this is better than I would have expected.  Maybe the thought of
losing the significant core of  SWP members who were shaped by
solidarizing with Iran in the face of chauvinst "secular" racism and war
hysteria is giving the Great Man pause.  Not being a "the worse the
better" man, I would be pleased if this proved true, even if it slowed
the outflow of still potentially useful cadres a bit.
 
This is quite different from the line adopted re Iraq in 2003.  Time
will tell if Barnes is actually adjusting to other views, or (just as
likely at least) buying time to soften up opposition before taking the
offensive against those who tend to reject the reactionary  "space: the
final frontier" line that presents US occupation of semicolonial
countries with less than fully democratic regimes as some kind of
opening for building proletarian (Barnesian) parties.
 
Note also that the editorial calls for immediate withdrawal from "Iraq
and Afghanistan" without listing every other country where the US has
troops, as has been the custom of late, almost as though the Militant
was admitting that these countries today have a higher political
priority even though the principled questions are basically the same.  
 
Well, watch that "space" for further developments.
Fred
 


The Militant
Vol. 70/No. 35           September 18, 2006  
 
 
Imperialist hands off Iran! 
(editorial)
 
U.S. hands off Iran! Oppose the attempts by Washington and its allies to
impose economic and other sanctions on Tehran! Say no to the U.S.-led
drive to prevent Iran and other nations oppressed by imperialism from
acquiring the energy sources they need, including nuclear power, for
economic and social advances. 

These are demands that serve the interests of working people in face of
Washington's latest threat to "make Iran pay" for defying the United
Nations Security Council's ultimatum to stop uranium enrichment. 

The U.S.-led campaign against Iran is a by-product of the increasing
disorder of world capitalism. The sharpest consequences of this crisis
for the imperialist powers are in the Middle East and Central Asia. In
response, the U.S. rulers have launched what they call the "long war."
Since 2001 they have toppled governments in Afghanistan and Iraq and are
now stepping up threats and pressures against Iran and Syria, as they
did during and after the murderous Israeli assault on Lebanon. 

Washington's claims that it is promoting "democracy" and "freedom" in
this part of the world are sheer hypocrisy. "Governments accountable to
the voters focus on building roads and schools, not weapons of mass
destruction," said U.S. president George Bush in his recent speech to
the American Legion. What about the U.S. nuclear and chemical and
biological weapons arsenal built and expanded under Democratic and
Republican administrations alike? 

The U.S. rulers' goal is to attempt to shift the relationship of forces
in the Middle East and Central Asia in favor of imperialism and, in so
doing, gain firmer control over resources such as oil. They are trying
to do so by taking steps toward toppling the Iranian regime and
establishing a government that would be more subservient to Washington,
as the shah of Iran was for decades until he was overthrown through a
popular revolution in 1979. In the process the U.S. capitalists also aim
to deal blows to some of their imperialist allies, who are also their
competitors and maintain trade and investments in Iran. 

Let's speak out against the profit-driven war aims of Washington and its
allies and defend unconditionally the sovereignty of the affected
nations. We should demand: U.S. and all occupation troops out of Iraq
and Afghanistan now! No to the threats against Iran and Syria! 
 
 



 
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