Why Is The Irish Anti-War Movement Not Anti-Imperialist?
For socialists any battle against the war is welcome, but we believe an effective movement must be anti-imperialist. We must tie together moves to war across the globe as being orchestrated by a genocidal cabal of the western powers led by the US.
The basic question about the attack on Iran is Why? Why is the US launching this attack, causing thousands to die and putting us all at risk of global war? After endless lies we are told: for regime change. Trump wants to select the leader of the Iranian nation. He wants to do this on behalf of the project for a Greater Israel to rule in West Asia, but he also asserts hegemony over the countries in Latin America. Although he stops short of military action, Europe is threatened with retaliation for anything less than full support for war.
The assertion of global power is matched by the barbaric nature of the attack. Yet again the US uses the pretence of negotiation to prepare an ambush based on the murder of civil and military leaders.
The advancement of the project for a Greater Israel has meant a continuation of genocide in Palestine and effective genocide through mass displacement in Lebanon. In the background is Israel’s open willingness to use nuclear weapons which threatens us all.
The fact that the US is able to order Europe to join in the war on Iran (firing only “defensive” missiles) is deeply concerning. The EU and NATO are already rushing headlong to war with Russia, with the US providing targeting information. The growing number of attacks on Russian ships provides a route to rapid escalation.
Yet in these dire circumstances a mass anti-war movement is absent from the stage. There is no more urgent task than building such a movement.
We cannot follow in the footsteps of the Palestine solidarity movement. There were a number of successful interventions, but in general it stayed within the zone of humanitarian concern and was unable to take up the growing tempo towards war in Iran, Latin America or Europe or even to mount a consistent resistance to the increasing attacks on democratic rights by western governments.
For socialists any battle against the war is welcome, but we believe an effective movement must be anti-imperialist. We must tie together moves to war across the globe as being orchestrated by a genocidal cabal of the western powers led by the US.
In addition, we must assert that the main enemy is at home. What is within our reach are Quisling governments that already oppress us in the interests of imperialism and are driving us towards slaughter. A successful strike against these targets would be a real blow.
We are a small organisation with limited resources, but we are willing to play our part and to line up behind others who can drive the struggle forward.
