From: "dave graham" <davgraham-AT-hotmail.com>
Subject: AUT: Some thoughts from Bob Myers
Date: Thu, 18 Oct 2001 17:24:30 +0000


The following from Bob - may give us a clue as to how a REAL anti war 
movement might develop itself. At least its a lot better than our local 
SWP's 'join the party' dirge, and it might give folk some cheer when faced 
with other leftist lunacy.

Gra


______________________________________________________________________
Wed, 17 Oct 2001

Developing the anti-war movement. please forward to interested people

Bob Myers.

These ideas are only partially thought through.  I am circulating them 
because I think a clearer idea can better emerge from a collective 
discussion.

Underpinning a lot of the anti-war protest is a conception of US imperialism 
that is inadequate or wrong.  It sees US imperialism as nothing different 
from a previous age when the great powers simply went about the world taking 
control of territories through military power. It is with this picture that 
the anti-war protestors denounce the US/UK attack on Afghanistan.

I am not here going to try to say what is wrong with this 'imperialism'.  
People who think this is an adequate picture needn't read on.

These anti-war protests do attract a growing number of people and this, of 
course, is very good.  But it fails to connect with millions of other 
people, who are agitated by what is going on. And the inability to connect 
with this wider population will ensure that the anti-war movement has no 
effect on the course of events, neither able to impact on the present 
reality nor able to build a lasting movement for the future.

By attacking an ‘imperialism’ of an earlier period the anti-war movement 
leaves Bush/Blair et al to occupy the moral high ground in most people’s 
thinking - for democracy against the Taliban etc.  No amount of detailing 
the Bush/Blair hypocrisy or past atrocities of US policy will overcome this 
(though this propaganda is both right and needed). All this leaves 
unanswered the question on everyone's mind,

`	'What to do to get a safe world?’ Anti-war yes but pro what?

Bush/Blair have a plan. We have nothing but words about 'a better world’, 
which cut little ice. And so with the cold war division of people at an end, 
a new division between people opens up.

The oppressed masses in huge parts of the world drawn to Islam and the rest 
supporting a war against terrorism.

Now it is very difficult to answer this question of how to break this 
alliance of people with Bush/ Blair/ Islam exactly because of the past 
failure of the revolutionary/radical/anti-capitalist movement.  If the 
Middle East oppressed turn to Islam it is above all because of the terrible 
history of the 'communist party'. But the anti-Stalinist left also has to 
share some responsibility. My own ex- 'party' - the WRP - in the past had 
terrible relations with many middle east dictators and dressed this up as 
'anti-imperialism'. This rotten past means that the present war takes place 
with a huge gap between the kind of internationalist movement of practical 
solidarity that the Afghans (and other) need and that which exists.

So there is no magic wand that can be waived to make contact with the 
anxious millions. But we must make a start and I think that means a radical 
shift in the anti-war campaign.

As demonstrations etc against war we must develop a practical initiative 
that allows all the concerned and anxious people to do something themselves 
to reach for the 'safer' world rather than just being spectators as things 
get worse.

Why do we anti-capitalists leave the 'humanitarian' campaign to the awful 
charities that cannot defend humanity because they are so tied to the 
governments that fund them. Isn't the need of Afghans for food, education 
material, medicine etc etc - isn't this our concern - not separated from a 
political campaign against capital and war but inseparably linked up with 
it?

I am not saying exactly what such an initiative of practical solidarity 
should be.  Maybe it depends on local campaign conditions - maybe we can 
develop an international framework but this is like the great campaign to 
fight fascism in Spain in the 30's - this went from sending fighters right 
through to collecting food and clothes.  Clearly here and now we are not 
talking about sending fighters.

For example people will know about the Revolutionary Association Women of 
Afghanistan.  I am not naming this group because I have a particular 
political brief for it but because its basic work - against Taliban, 
Northern Alliance, US bombing etc means that it is a voice of independence 
crying out for support. And I mean support, not using it to simply bolster 
our existing 'anti-war' propaganda.

Against Bush/Blair's coalition to fight terrorism we should develop our own 
international coalition that by its combination of political perspectives 
and practical solidarity begins to show people another world - of  
co-operation. It is only in such a practical initiative that we will be able 
to overcome the scepticism of the millions that they can do anything. Words 
and demonstrations alone are not enough.

So maybe- just as an example - we could start an international campaign to 
collect money, food, medicines, and educational material to be delivered to 
RAWA.

How is this different from all the 'humanitarian' efforts under way already? 
  Because our initiative would have at its heart the self organisation and 
mobilisation of people to give direct solidarity to a political element in 
Afghan society that sees a way out of the chaos - not something to simply 
feed hungry people so they can starve or be killed tomorrow. We are 
strengthening the international movement for a different world.

The greatest impact of this campaign in the first place is not so much in 
Afghanistan itself but here in all our countries.  To begin to change the 
outlook and activity of people here. In the midst of such a practical 
campaign we can invite speakers from RAWA etc to come and explain to people.

It’s in this way that people will best be able to hear what they say and to 
learn.  It is in this framework of activity that the Pilger type propaganda 
about past crimes of US etc will really make sense and be understood.

Bob Myers.
Workers Aid



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