[PEN-L:30457] Re: Re: Bush Militarism- How many Divisions are there in

[Hari Kumar <hari.kumar@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Michael P said There are none.
Carrol Said:
"They are not in any politically significant sense _divisions_. ...............And I think
there is a reason for that: divisions  in the ruling class occur only under heavy pressure from the working-class. Divisions on the international level, such as those that led to the world wars, are
another thing. I don't think the latter have permanently disappeared .....I think predicting the outcome (prognosis) of such differences of opinion on policy among the ruling class  lies in the area of
contingency and crystal-ball gazing. As Mao said, Marxists have no crystal ball."
REPLY:
1) I do not think Michael - that it can be denied that there has been some domestic restraints on Bush. Mild maybe - but I think it would be erroneous to ignore them. Disgusting sight in general? Sure. But how is it so different about so much of USA history in its days of Imperial Arrogance? I agree the degree of nausea that Bush arouses is extremely marked to say the least.
2) Carrol: I have been aware of a proposed conflict presidential power between the 'cowboys' (Texan based oil) & the 'yankees' (northern based financial based capital). Is this outlandish & inconsistent with facts?
3) If there are indeed even minor wedges between groups of capitalists, we should be willing to recognise them -  just in case there is only a marginal possibility of using them.
4) I do not know how anyone could deny current day international differences between imperialists. I know there was to-&-forth on this one between Chris Burford & Proyect, but divisions between EU imperialists & USA-UK imperialists on a host of matters since Bosnia have emerged - including now Iraq.
5) As to the Chairman's pontifications- he was surely being highly disingenuous - judging from many of his other pronouncements. In any case let us leave Mao aside. I am absolutely sure you are not suggesting that Marxists make no plans following the careful analysis of history & the balance of forces - or......perhaps I err?
Hari