Violence Abroad, Cutbacks at Home...

national | miscellaneous | news report Saturday January 25, 2003 02:17 by sa - Socialist Alternative thesocialistalternative at yahoo dot co dot uk

No Blood For Oil.

For once every one seems to agree. Public opinion across the World is firmly against the war. 400,000 have marched in London; and over 200,000 gathered in Washington DC and across the States against attacks on Iraq. Here opinion polls show a majority stance against our government having any involvement in this war.

Yet its still going ahead. Nothing seems to affect the determination of Bush and Blair to make war. To find the best way to stop this war, we need to look at why its happening. After September 11th, Bush’s government, the most unpopular in American history, supported by less than a quarter of the electorate seized the chance to impose its agenda in the name of ‘fighting terrorism’. A tax cut that benefited the top 10% was forced through congress and legislation rolling back civil liberties introduced. There have been drastic increases in military budget. Anyone opposing these measures has been labelled ‘pro-terrorist.’
The same thing happened in Europe. The EU is attempting to criminalize protest by defining ‘terrorist’ as anyone who opposes the political or economic structures of their society. Tony Blair has threatened to use ‘anti-terrorist’ legislation to break a strike by fire fighters-the same people who would be expected to risk their lives if terrorist ever did strike London.
So the ‘war on terror’ has been manipulated for the benefit of wealthy elites on both sides of the Atlantic. The US State Department has said that the goal of this war should be to impose US Style ‘free enterprise’ around the world., with low corporate taxes, no trade unions, and minimal spending on health and education-the same agenda being promoted by the IMF and World Bank.
Seen in this context the war on Iraq makes perfect sense. The US government is afraid its ally, the Saudi dictatorship may collapse, threatening ‘stability’ and the interests of US Oil companies ( Bush and Cheney both made their fortunes in the oil industry). By establishing a permanent military presence in Iraq with a puppet regime in place. America will control 10% of all known oil reserves, while also being in an excellent position to attack any Arab states that won’t toe the line (not to mention the Palestinians). If it succeeds in Iraq, the US Military will set its sights even further. The next target may be Latin America. Already members of the Bush Administration have spoken of the ‘second axis of evil’: Fidel Castro, Hugo Chavez of Venezula, and the Brazilian president Lulu, all sworn opponents of the neo-liberal agenda. US Military intervention is being used to defend corporate globalisation. If we want to oppose militarism and aggression, it’s essential we oppose the Thatcherite social policies promoted by governments in Europe and Latin America. Since the protests against the World Trade Organisation in Seattle three years ago, a movement for global justice has developed and scared our rulers shitless. This movement is the main target of ‘anti-terrorist’ legislation, not Al Queda. And it’s the only force capable of stopping Bush and the war mongers.
During the Nice Referendum, our government assured us that Irish Neutrality was safe in their hands. But now they’ve done everything possible to support Bush, allowing warplanes to land at Shannon and supporting the US at the UN Security Council. This is not an accident. Fianna Fail and the PDs look to America for ideological inspiration. US Conservatives have praised their neo-liberal economic policies as an example to the world. With friends like that, Irish neutrality is an embarrassment. Over the last few years, our neutrality has been gradually eroded, so we can be eased into NATO or an EU Militarised alliance. This is not just morally unjust: it harms every Irish person not lucky enough to form part of that charmed circle with foreign bank accounts who benefit from McCreevys tax cuts. Already the government has spent a quarter of a billion beefing up the armed forces for participation in the RRF. There was no question of slashing military expenditure in the last budget; everyone affected by cutbacks in social spending is paying the price so that Irelands elite can join the club of countries with a militarised foreign policy. Its no surprise then, that , that Cowen and Ahern haven't done anything to oppose war on Iraq. If we want to shift our governments policy, we have to make them pay a heavy political price for supporting Bush-and the best way to do that is to make the connection between cutbacks at home and violence abroad.