Charles writes:
But has the kid's war really been to the advantage of the interests of working class, of the U.S. and the world, over the capialist class's interests in the context of the class struggle, the concrete ways in this period in which the two classes are irreconcilably antagonistic ?
Yes, I think the outcome of the invasion (not, of course, the invasion itself) has been to the advantage of the world's peoples, especially the working classes. The Iranians, North Koreans, Venezuelans, Cubans, etc. - even the Russians and Chinese - all understand their relative position with the US would have been much weakened if the US had been able to quickly pacify Iraq. A US success in Iraq would have freed up its military for interventions elsewhere, united and emboldened its ruling class, and stimulated the dangerous chauvinist tendencies within the US population. The stalemate imposed on US forces in Iraq has had the opposite effect of encouraging the forces opposed to US imperialism in Iran, NK, Venezuela, Bolivia, Lebanon, and elsewhere ===============================
As a_class_, the ruling class only cares about how the state's actions impact the relationship the ruling class has with the ruled class.
It also cares about its relations with other ruling classes and popular classes, on which its profits and the integity of the world system which it dominates depends. In relation to Iraq, I think this has been more of a concern to it than Bush's unpopularity at home and the congressional elections. ==================================
Unless the workers of the U.S. and the world have somehow gained in their class struggle with the imperialists and the U.S. bourgeoisie, then the ruling class does not consider that the kid messed up.
The spread of antiwar sentiment in the US and the related dissatisfaction it has helped bring to the surface can't be considered as anything other than a "gain" from the left POV and this is being directly attributed to Bush by the majority of opinion- and decision-makers in the US. =====================================
The new laws that were passed out as a result of the war (on "terror) seem to favor the ruling class over the working class with respect to future civil disorder that might arise in the class struggle. The Iraqi working class does not seem to be strengthened at all vis-a-vis Iraqi capital or imperialist capital. Rather the contrary. I suspect the kid gets high marks from the ruling class for his war. He won't be impeached.
Bush won't be impeached, but not because "the kid gets high marks" but because impeachment can be a divisive process which hurts the legitimacy of the Presidency. I think there is presently a feeling in the US ruling class that Clinton's impeachment was too frivolous and partisan, and that there is need to heal the current division within it, of which the impeachment, the election of Bush in 2000, and the Iraq invasion are all of a piece. The Democrats are well disposed to this kind of internal "compromise" and "healing", and it also corresponds to the American mood after six years of Bush's truculent administration. I expect this mood will be an obstacle to the US left wanting to build on the popular unrest expressed in the midterm election.
