From: "Glen Fuller" <g.fuller-AT-uws.edu.au>
Subject: europe post-madrid - and w.o.t.ever
Date: Wed, 17 Mar 2004 11:00:38 +1100


Steve,

Here is the socialist alliance home page:
http://www.socialist-alliance.org/

I don't have a problem with their politics at all, just their political
practices. I had never seen anyone from this group in the flesh before I
moved to the inner-city 'cool' area of Sydney just recently. Prior to that I
was living out in the densely populated Western suburbs (closer to my uni),
the traditional region of the working class and ethnic minorities (whom
actually make up the largest demographic slice but are still 'minor' in the
d&g sense). I find that kind of a bit worrying, sure they need a critical
mass for their organisations day to day survival, but they also need a much
larger critical mass for their ideological trajectory.

Something else that Tarik Ali said that I had forgotten about (until I read
one of your posts a couple of posts ago), is that the election of a
socialist democratic party in Spain will change the power dynamics in
Europe, at least in terms of the 'war on terror'. It is now more than likely
Germany, France and Spain will form an anti-war bloc to counter the
prevailing UK lead initiative. Ali was saying hopefully this will make it
harder for Blair to keep his job. He was very big on punishing the leaders
of countries that fully participated in the w.o.t. eg US, Aus, UK, ie They
should be voted out at all costs to show the political elite they will be
punished for going against the wishes of the populace. This also relates to
the total loss of momentum experienced after these three countries did go
making a 'war of terror' after the massive (biggest ever) public rallies and
displays of cohesive mobilisation against the w.o.t. Because of the
respective government's total lack of appreciation of the population's
desire not to go war, the wont turned into a woft which turned into a
w.o.t.ever for a lot of people. People felt like they had no collective
Political agency (apparently). I think Ali means to force the reinvestment
of power back into the hands of the people by way of punitive electoral
practices. Not a bad idea.

Third party political ads would serve a very good role against the
established establishments I think at least in the upcoming Aus elections.
But who has the capital? Packer, murdoch? haha

Ciao,
Glen.


PhD Candidate
Centre for Cultural Research
University of Western Sydney
----- Original Message -----
From: <steve.devos-AT-krokodile.co.uk>
To: <lyotard-AT-lists.village.Virginia.EDU>
Sent: Wednesday, March 17, 2004 9:56 AM
Subject: Re: post hegelian slumber....post madrid awakening


> Hugh said : "...Postmodern Europe, like Israel/Palestine seems committed
> to surviving religious terrorism whether its is deployed as tanks,
> copters, planes, or dynamite belts, back-packs...."
>
> I do wonder where and why you developed this impression, because it is
> in complete contradiction to the real.
>
> [Let me just emphasize especially for those who don't know about the
> long ongoing history of 'terrorism' in western europe, that terrorism
> has been an ongoing feature of our social and political life - and will
> continue to be for the foreseeable future. Any person who imagines
> otherwise is ignoring our recent history.]
>
> steve
>
>
> hbone wrote:
>
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >>Eric/all
> >>
> >>As requested some notes on the aftermath of Madrid seen from here..
> >>
> >>The political shock waves from the terrorist actions in Spain/Madrid are
> >>echoing across Europe. But it seems likely that the event will not be
> >>bringing Europe and America closer together, for even though sizable
> >>terrorist actions have now taken place on both sides of the Atlantic,
> >>the actual result of the attack may widen the strategic gap between
> >>America and Europe.
> >>
> >>The neo-liberal and neo-conservative theory was that once Europe had
> >>been roused from its post-Hegelian slumber, with inbuilt multilateralist
> >>dreams. With the resultant  European appeasement ways being seen to be a
> >>theoretical mistake. That it would then begin to appreciate and accept
> >>the Hobbesian reality of a world where security depends on military
> >>might. At this oint the theory went that the west would unite under the
> >>threat of Islamic extremism, as it had done under the threat of Soviet
> >>invasion. But of course after Madrid, Europe is no closer to this view
> >>rather idiotic misinterpretation of events.
> >>
> >>We are two full-scale 'wars'  in, Afghanistan and Iraq and countless
> >>anti-terrorist operations, but all of these events have failed to
> >>convince most Europeans that this war, as understood is winnable.
> >>Western intelligence agencies were completely unaware of the the Madrid
> >>attacks. They had expected electronic "chatter" and rumours of an
> >>imminent strike from information intercepts. There were absolutely none.
> >>(as if a terrorist soes not also see Hollywood movies...) The security
> >>people mistakenly told us  that al-Qaida was weakened and that
> >>consequently it could only mount attacks soft targets outside of the G20
> >>countries in Bali, Istanbul and Tunisia. That proved to be a dangerous
> >>miscalculation. What happened to the theory - that the front line in
> >>Iraq would draw all jihadists to a sticky end? Al-Qaida, is still there
> >>alive and kicking, and so probably is Osama bin Laden (possible future
> >>ruler of Saudi Arabia?). The bombings of last week have shown that the
> >>"crusader" targets are as vulnerable or more so as they were
> >>two-and-a-half years ago, when the Twin Towers were levelled.
> >>
> >>As the Hegelian and post-Hegelian would say in concert - the
> >>anti-terrorist events have merely encoraged them - why is it that the
> >>Hobbesian's are so superficial ?
> >>
> >>
> >>steve
> >>
> >>
> >>
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