We Need An Anti-War Government: Say No To Redeployment Plans
The U.S. ruling circles are caught in the failure of U.S-style democracy. They cannot crush resistance in Iraq or anywhere else. They cannot meet the anti-war mandate of the voters. Their usual devise of using the Democrats as the way to divert and pacify the people is also failing. Peoples at home and abroad are rejecting U.S. empire building with its aggression, wars and crimes against humanity and will not accept anything less than All U.S. Troops Home Now.
The Democrats find themselves unable to both be champions of the ruling circles while also convincing the people that they are legitimate. Once again Democrats are voting to fund the war. Once again they are trying to present plans for redeployment of troops, as “the best” they can do. The recent bill that passed the House, 223-201, sets a deadline of April 1, 2008 to achieve a “limited presence,” then leaves President George W. Bush to decide what “limited” means. The bill requires a continued presence in Iraq large enough to “disrupt and eliminate al-Qaida and its affiliated organizations,” and to “maintain and advance U.S. national security interests.” It also requires that Bush merely consult with Congress on the redeployment.
In this manner, troops, bases and paid government mercenaries, which now outnumber troops, will remain. Indeed, their numbers may increase in Afghanistan and “redeployment” could also include “disrupting and eliminating” resistance in Syria, Iran and elsewhere. Congress is also putting in law the elimination of its role as decision-maker on matters of war, which is its Constitutional duty. Instead it requires that Bush simply “consult Congress,” on plans.
The New York Times also added its voice, saying it is “time for the U.S. to leave Iraq,” while also saying there must be a military presence, resources and bases in Iraq for the “foreseeable future.” Their “Road Home” is a road of splintering Iraq, involving the Kurds and Turkey in U.S. adventures and “meddling” in the affairs of Syria, Iran, and others in the region, so long as the meddling is not “excessive.”
The problem for the Democrats and the U.S. rulers they serve is that they cannot uphold principle and they cannot meet the demands of the times for a democracy that empowers the people. Indeed they stand exposed as the main block to empowerment of the people here and abroad. That is, people are seeing that it is the peoples’ lack of political power that is the problem to solve and Democrats are not going to help.
The ruling circles are favoring their “rainbow” of Democratic candidates to provide some legitimacy. But this "rainbow" of faces cannot hide the content. These these candidates are presenting themselves as staunch supporters of continued war and aggression, so long as it is better “managed;” staunch supporters for Israel in its genocide and aggression in the region; ready to continue government refusal to guarantee the right of Katrina survivors to return and rebuild; of maintaining the genocide of mass incarceration of the youth, especially national minorities; and of implementing the broad attack on the rights of immigrants and all workers. Whatever maneuvering room existed when Bush was first elected for Democrats to fool the people, is fast disappearing. The brutal path of war and fascism is all that remains for the U.S. And it is the Democrats who most likely will be that face of U.S.-style fascism.
It is now two years since Katrina and no responsibility has been taken by the government for the crimes committed before, during and since. The majority of people remain displaced and about 30,000 families face homelessness, again, when existing funds for housing assistance are eliminated on September 1. As in Iraq, more crimes are being committed, more openly, leaving no room for even the appearance of democracy and social responsibility.
It is the peoples who are standing up for principles, won in blood and struggle, such as the right of all nations to sovereignty, the right of all peoples to exist — to defend their right to be, the outlawing of aggressive wars, torture and genocide. And it is the peoples, with their broad defense of rights who are opening the path to a democracy that serves them and all humanity. They are putting their own empowerment on the agenda.
The existing set-up has been smashed by the rulers themselves and cannot be put back together again. It is a failed system, a failed U.S. state. The lack of maneuvering space imposed by this failure means they will necessarily strike with greater ferocity against the peoples. It also means there is an opportunity for the peoples to provide their own alternative, to provide an anti-war government. Let all together occupy this space!
The Democrats find themselves unable to both be champions of the ruling circles while also convincing the people that they are legitimate. Once again Democrats are voting to fund the war. Once again they are trying to present plans for redeployment of troops, as “the best” they can do. The recent bill that passed the House, 223-201, sets a deadline of April 1, 2008 to achieve a “limited presence,” then leaves President George W. Bush to decide what “limited” means. The bill requires a continued presence in Iraq large enough to “disrupt and eliminate al-Qaida and its affiliated organizations,” and to “maintain and advance U.S. national security interests.” It also requires that Bush merely consult with Congress on the redeployment.
In this manner, troops, bases and paid government mercenaries, which now outnumber troops, will remain. Indeed, their numbers may increase in Afghanistan and “redeployment” could also include “disrupting and eliminating” resistance in Syria, Iran and elsewhere. Congress is also putting in law the elimination of its role as decision-maker on matters of war, which is its Constitutional duty. Instead it requires that Bush simply “consult Congress,” on plans.
The New York Times also added its voice, saying it is “time for the U.S. to leave Iraq,” while also saying there must be a military presence, resources and bases in Iraq for the “foreseeable future.” Their “Road Home” is a road of splintering Iraq, involving the Kurds and Turkey in U.S. adventures and “meddling” in the affairs of Syria, Iran, and others in the region, so long as the meddling is not “excessive.”
The problem for the Democrats and the U.S. rulers they serve is that they cannot uphold principle and they cannot meet the demands of the times for a democracy that empowers the people. Indeed they stand exposed as the main block to empowerment of the people here and abroad. That is, people are seeing that it is the peoples’ lack of political power that is the problem to solve and Democrats are not going to help.
The ruling circles are favoring their “rainbow” of Democratic candidates to provide some legitimacy. But this "rainbow" of faces cannot hide the content. These these candidates are presenting themselves as staunch supporters of continued war and aggression, so long as it is better “managed;” staunch supporters for Israel in its genocide and aggression in the region; ready to continue government refusal to guarantee the right of Katrina survivors to return and rebuild; of maintaining the genocide of mass incarceration of the youth, especially national minorities; and of implementing the broad attack on the rights of immigrants and all workers. Whatever maneuvering room existed when Bush was first elected for Democrats to fool the people, is fast disappearing. The brutal path of war and fascism is all that remains for the U.S. And it is the Democrats who most likely will be that face of U.S.-style fascism.
It is now two years since Katrina and no responsibility has been taken by the government for the crimes committed before, during and since. The majority of people remain displaced and about 30,000 families face homelessness, again, when existing funds for housing assistance are eliminated on September 1. As in Iraq, more crimes are being committed, more openly, leaving no room for even the appearance of democracy and social responsibility.
It is the peoples who are standing up for principles, won in blood and struggle, such as the right of all nations to sovereignty, the right of all peoples to exist — to defend their right to be, the outlawing of aggressive wars, torture and genocide. And it is the peoples, with their broad defense of rights who are opening the path to a democracy that serves them and all humanity. They are putting their own empowerment on the agenda.
The existing set-up has been smashed by the rulers themselves and cannot be put back together again. It is a failed system, a failed U.S. state. The lack of maneuvering space imposed by this failure means they will necessarily strike with greater ferocity against the peoples. It also means there is an opportunity for the peoples to provide their own alternative, to provide an anti-war government. Let all together occupy this space!
