John Walker wrote:
Just a BRIEF reply to Dave's reply to Rob.
Without wanting to sound too sectarian there were a few points in the
repy which don't seem to make much sense to me. The arguement appears
to be that we should defend Yugoslavia as well as supporting the
right of Kosovars to defend themselves. Rob's 'dual defeatism' seems
to be replaced by 'dual defence-ism'. Is this you position and is it
consistant with reality.
As for the Trotskyist rhetoric of: > in the Yugoslav army the
rank-and-file have to organise to take
> control of the army; to encourage the formation of multi-ethnic
> militia; to act against any reactionary paramilitaries engaged in
> ethnic cleansing; and to call for a truce if and when it is necessary
> for the workers movement to survive.
> Communists lead this movement by forming cells in the army and
> in militias and workers councils.
I do not care much for Left-ists in the Imperialist counteries
issuing political strategies to comrades in a far more difficult and
critical situation in oppressed countries.
One final more general point is one the varing responses of the left.
In Britain the support for Yugoslavia is coming from the Old Pro-
Soviet Communist Parties with the bulk of the left remaining
relatively neutral and the Trotskyist Workers Power isolated in its
support for the KLA while opposing NATO. What are other comrades
experience (as opposed to their own positions.
Regards,
John Walker
In response to John;
1. Dual defensism? Defense against imperialism takes priority. But
Kosovars should defend themselves also against any Serb oppression.
We hope that multiethnic militias can stop Serb oppression and unite
workers against imperialism. Is this consistent with reality? Well,
what else is? The 'reality' of today has been imperialism's revival
of old ethnic differences. Only the united working class can overcome
these differences in a new 'reality' of socialist federations.
2. Communist 'rhetoric'. John should know that communists must
have a programme for all situations. In this situation it is the
anti-imperialist united front. I might be located in NZ but the
international tendency I belong to is spread over a number of
countries. I agree that communists in oppressor countries have a
first duty to mobilise their working class against NATO. But we also
have to spell out the ABC's of communist leadership in oppressed
countries as well. Otherwise workers will fall into the trap of
popular fronts with their bourgeoisies.
3. Most of the left is correct in giving unconditional support to
Yugoslavia. Those who put conditions on this either by opposing
Milosovic or supporting the KLA are offering a helping hand to NATO.
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