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US pigs urinate on Taliban

US pigs urinate on Taliban

(new-power.org)

A recent video has surfaced that depicts several US marines standing above the bodies of their dead Taliban adversaries. The dead are aligned as trophies while the US soldiers urinate on them.  In the video, marines from Scout Sniper Team 4 laugh and mock the dead. One says “golden like a shower.” Another says, “have a great day buddy.” This graphically shows the US military violating the Geneva Conventions that state that the dead must be treated with respect. The video was posted to youtube by a whistle blower, “SimperfiLoneVoice,” who made his intentions known with the caption: “i thought marines were suppose to do the right thing when no one is watching.”

No matter how the US responds, this video is a major propaganda coup for those resisting imperialism. It has the potential to have an effect similar to Abu Ghraib in Iraq. The video has more sensational potential than the video of US troops executing a wounded combatant in Iraq. Even though the bodies appear to be corpses, all of the US crimes in the region can be symbolized in this simple, disrespectful act. Even though the dead do not feel, every living Muslim, even living Afghanistani, will see this as US marines urinating on their loved ones.

 

January 11, 2012 | Categories: Afghanistan, Asia, Middle East, US | 2 Comments »

History is unfolding in front of our eyes.. a look back

History is unfolding in front of our eyes.. a look back

(new-power.org)

This was a historic year. We have burst onto the world scene. We have shifted the debate. We continue to elevate revolutionary science to ever new heights. Our organization spreads. Our influence grows. We have momentum.

We published MSH 1 and 2 in English. These works broke new ground in political economy. They are the most advanced works in the world. These works are the key to understanding the global economy.

We published LL1, 2, 3, and 4 in English. We published LL1 and 2 in Spanish. These magazines set forth the general line of the Leading Light. All comrades and fellow travelers need to study the LL series. Everyone must read these at least three times. Study these closely. These are training manuals.

We published our Forward! booklet for those just coming into our circles. Forward! is currently in English, but will soon be in Polish and Spanish. All need to study this booklet.

We produced two amazing movies: A Storm is Coming and Walk the Road with Us. These are currently in English, Polish, and Spanish. Soon they will be in Tagalog.

We have created webpages in English, Spanish, Tagalog, Polish, and Greek.

This is incredible outpouring of creativity will continue. Our global reach continues to grow. Our organizational capacity grows.  What you see here is the tip of the iceberg. Our online and public work is not our main work. Our real work is beneath the surface. We are a mostly clandestine organization. Some of you are beginning to see our deep work.

We have correctly led the international communist movement at every key turn. We do not tail. We lead. We see further than all others. We are the vanguard. We pull others forward — even when they do not fully understand. This is not hyperbole, it is reality.

We are making history. Things may seem slow sometimes, but, the reality is that what we have accomplished this year is unprecedented. We have put scientific communism, Leading Light Communism, front and center internationally. We have comrades across the world. Our organization is expanding everywhere.

Everyone needs to look inward. Everyone needs to ask themselves if they are serious or not. We have pulled you forward. You stand at a crossroads. You are now beginning to see the possibilities. You now see our the true depth of our work. This is about revolution in the real world. This is not a game. Our science, organization, and leadership has brought us to this point. We need serious people who are willing to dedicate themselves wholeheartedly. We need people who will sacrifice. We need people to lead, to organize study circles, to work, and, especially, to donate. Donating is what allows us to keep operating on the global level. There are several roads before you. It is time to step up.

Science. Courage. Sacrifice. Honor. Discipline. Organization. Leadership.

We are dedicating our lives to this. We are red soldiers. We are Leading Lights.

Let’s make history. Let’s make 2012 a year to remember.

December 31, 2011 | Categories: LLCO, statements | Leave A Comment »

National Defense Authorization Act and the Militarization of the US

National Defense Authorization Act and the Militarization of the US

(new-power.org)

The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), with bipartisan support, will soon be signed into law. It authorizes 662 billion dollars for the defense budget of the US. It finances US imperialist wars abroad. However, it is not just an appropriations bill. The NDAA contains a dangerous set of provisions that dissidents, including Leading Lights, in the US need to be aware of. In the tradition of the Patriot Act, passed after 911, this piece of legislation clears the way for the violent suppression of dissent and further control of society by the capitalist state, the military and police apparatus in particular. These acts increase the power in the hands of the executive branch, military, policing, and intelligence agencies. Supporters of the bill like Republican senator Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, are very open about its powers. Graham stated, “The homeland is part of the battlefield and people can be held without trial whether an American citizen or not.” This act clears the way for martial law, especially in a crisis situation. It authorizes deployment of the military for domestic policing. It authorizes indefinite detention without trial, assassination, and torture for both non-citizens and citizens. The current administration continues to move in the direction that Bush began after the 911 attacks. Majorities in both the House and Senate passed the NDAA. Only 13 members of the House voted against it. 283 voted for it. In the Senate, 86 of the 100 senators voted for it.

Civil Libertarians inside the system have been pointing out the dangers of the legislation. The minority who voted against the legislation have been very vocal in their opposition. Republican senator from Texas Ron Paul, who is now leading the Republican Presidential race, stated, “This is a giant step — this should be the biggest news going on right now — literally legalizing martial law.” Mark Udall, a Democratic senator from Colorado stated:

“These provisions raise serious questions as to who we are as a society and what our Constitution seeks to protect… Section 1031 essentially repeals the Posse Comitatus Act of 1878 by authorizing the U.S. military to perform law enforcement functions on American soil. That alone should alarm my colleagues on both sides of the aisle, but there are other problems with these provisions that must be resolved.”

Senator Al Franken, a Democrat from Minnesota, described the Kafkaesque world that the NDAA creates:

“If we pass the Defense authorization bill with section 1031, Congress will… for the first time in 60 years, authorize the indefinite detention of US citizens without charge or trial. This would be the first time Congress has deviated from President Nixon’s Non-detention Act. What we are talking about is that Americans could be subjected to life imprisonment–think about that for a moment–life imprisonment without ever being charged, tried, or convicted of a crime, without ever having an opportunity to prove your innocence to a judge or a jury of your peers, and without the government ever having to prove your guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. I believe that denigrates the very foundations of this country.”

These critics are pointing to the repeal of the Posse Comitatus Act of 1878, suspension of habeas corpus, and the concentration of power upward to the executive. The bill grants the President more powers in the supposed war against terror.

After 911, thousands were rounded up, mostly from outside the US and detained as suspected “illegal combatants.” Others were victims of rendition. Many people found themselves in a Kafkaesque world, kidnapped in airports, taken halfway around the world to Eastern Europe or the Middle East, and tortured for alleged offenses. After cases of mistaken identity, some survivors of the nightmare have filed law suits against their state kidnappers. Although the Patriot Act contained some provisions on detention, during the Bush years, the executive branch created the Guantanamo and CIA’s secret prison system by fiat. When the detentions were challenged, the Authorization for Use of Military Force resolution, passed in September 2001, was used to justify the illegal detentions. The AUMF authorizes the president to use “necessary and appropriate force” to deal with those believed to be connected to the 911 attacks. Even so, the legality of the shadowy prison state was continually challenged, even becoming a topic of debate in the last presidential elections. With the passage of the NDAA, the legal questions will be perceived as settled by most.

In the past, the US state has shown itself willing to violently suppress its opponents and perceived opponents when it feels the need. During World War 2, the US rounded up Japanese, including US citizens, in the US. They confiscated their property, imprisoned them, and made them work during the war. S. Floyd Mori, national director of the Japanese American Citizens League, claiming to be the nation’s oldest and largest Asian American civil and human rights organization, said the legislation, if enacted and put into use, would be reminiscent of the unconstitutional indefinite detention of Japanese Americans during World War 2. The US has waged non-stop wars against oppressed nations since its founding. Even now, the US destroys Iraq, Afghanistan, and Libya. The US is currently targeting Syria. However, Iran is the main target of the US imperialists. In the 1960s and 1970s, the state violently attacked groups like the Black Panther Party and the American Indian Movement. Even so, the NDAA, like the Patriot Act before it, normalizes and extends the security state outside and within the US borders.

The NDAA, like the Patriot Act before it, is part of a greater trend. New, sophisticated technologies are being developed and used by the state to gather intelligence. There is an increasing trend toward use of these technologies throughout society, not just within the military. Local police and even private security firms increasingly have access to technologies that increase their ability to control dissent. In addition, local police departments and security firms are becoming more and more militarized. Local police departments and security firms not only regularly train with technologies and weapons once reserved for military use, they have also adopted military approaches and training styles. There are new, dangerous agencies like Homeland Security. And there is an increase in collaboration between local and national agencies. Torture is becoming acceptable in the supposed war on terror. Illegal detention is more and more considered acceptable. Assassination is considered acceptable. Just recently the US assassinated US citizen Anwar al-Awlaki with a drone with little protest in the US. They also reportedly assassinated Osama Bin Laden. In addition, the Stop Online Piracy Act will give the government power to shut down websites or muscle providers to do so themselves. The internet has become a major vehicle for dissent. This gives the state the ability to shut down online dissent legally.

Despite the cries from populist civil libertarians, the main target of the militarization of society will not be US citizens as a whole. Again and again, the US population, on the whole, support the police and military. Similarly, even though the US has the highest per capita incarceration rate of any country, few in the US raise objections to the growing prison state. People in the US support the police, military and prison state not simply because they are “brainwashed,” although false consciousness can come into play. They do so primarily because most people within the US are part of the global bourgeoisie. It is in their class interest to support the state security and military apparatus that protects their wealth. The jackboot of the NDAA will not land on most Americans, it will fall on Third World peoples worldwide, the most oppressed — especially nationally oppressed within US borders and the lower strata, migrants, Islamic communities, criminal organizations, dissidents and those labeled “extremist” on both the “left” (and, possibly even the “right”). There is a common belief that fascism in Germany in the last century was imposed on Germans against their desires and interests. This was not the case. Hitler’s regime in Germany was not an unpopular one. Hitler captured power in large part because of his popularity. The Nazis were able to advance themselves through a legislative, “democratic” process with the support of many Germans. Hitler’s regime was a popular one because it sought to advance the interests of Germans, including German workers, at the expense of other peoples. The Nazis plundered non-German, domestic and foreign populations to the benefit of most Germans. Similarly, just as many Germans supported the Nazi regime, similarly the US population will most likely support or generally not care about the slide toward greater militarization of society.

For some, the sky is always falling. Fascism is always around the corner and the economy is always on the verge of total collapse. Such Chicken Little rhetoric has been a constant from both the populist right and the populist “left” for decades. This kind of rhetoric is often used by populists, like the Occupy Wall Street, along with empty calls for First World social unity against a supposed shadowy cabal of elites. This sort of populist worldview is heard in the “We are the 99% versus the 1%” of the Occupy movement. Even though the populist rhetoric calls for social unity, it mostly falls on deaf ears in mainstream America. Mainstream America benefits from capitalist-imperialist policies that are bound up with the police, military, and prison state. In addition, mainstream America is not the target of the militarization of society nor will they oppose the militarization. Even so, a broken clock can still be right twice a day. The US economy is in crisis, but is far from on the verge of the collapse imagined by the populists. It could get worse, recover slowly, or peter on as it has. We should not be “leftist” Chicken Littles, using the perceived threat of fascism to justify any and every opportunist, populist alliance. We should recognize the potential for militarization of society against dissent, we should also plan for contingencies, while recognizing the real dynamics involved. We need to continue our steady work, increasing discipline and organization. We also need to increase our ideological level. If the jackboot begins to fall, we have the organization, the science, and leadership to defeat it. Discipline. Organization. Science. Leadership.

Sources

1. http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/270213/2….martial-law.htm
2. http://thenewamerican.com/usnews/politic….horization -act
3. http://www.thepeoplesvoice.org/TPV3/Vide….daa-martial-law
4. http://www.infowars.com/exclusive-government-activating-fema-camps-across-u-s/

December 27, 2011 | Categories: drug war, elections, fascism, occupy movement, police, US | Leave A Comment »

Kim Jong-il dies. Kim Jong-un is designated “great sucessor”

Kim Jong-il dies. Kim Jong-un is designated “great sucessor”

(new-power.org)

December 19, 2011, northern Korea’s “Dear Leader” Kim Jong-il is reportedly dead at age 69. Kim Jong-il had ruled northern Korea since 1994. He was the third son of Kim Il-sung, the leader of the Korean independence movement, who died at age 82. Just as Kim Jong-il inherited power from his father, now his son Kim Jong-un is set to officially inherit power. Although northern Korea has established a monarchical system, it is not clear how stable the system is. Some observers believe that it is possible that the young, Korean heir will be sidelined in the coming months by more established leaders. It is possible that the imperialists will use the death to their advantage. For now,  the official line from the Korean state can be characterized as “the King is dead. Long live the King!”

Although the mainstream media often points to the northern Korean regime in an effort to discredit socialism and communism, the system in northern Korea is not socialist nor communist-led by any stretch. The revolution there is stagnant. It is not socialist and it is not aiming at communism. It is a bourgeois nationalist regime with many feudal characteristics. Over time, the regime has dropped its pretense of Marxism, instead endorsing Kim’s ideology of Juche, so-called “self-reliance.”  Although Juche is just window dressing in some ways. According to some sources, Marxist classics are not read there except by special permission.  Northern Korean ideology blends bourgeois and nationalist notions of social unity with traditional, feudal, Confucian ones.  Socialism and communism were replaced by nation and family, with Kim and his male heirs taking the roles of great patriarchs (and, also, matriarchs) of the nation-family.

The northern Korean regime has been under siege since it was founded. The imperialists killed millions in the Korean War. They have been under threat ever since. The northern Korean regime has every right to defend itself, including the acquisition of nuclear weapons that they have used to get food and agricultural aid from the West. Northern Korea did not follow the Libyan example of giving up weapons to the West. The Libyan regime of Gaddafi paid dearly for this mistake. The northern Korean regime has reportedly traded some its weapons technology, especially  missile technology, to other countries, including those that have been threatened by imperialism. However, communists do not see northern Korea as a model. Northern Korea is neither socialist nor is it communist-led. Even so, defending Korea from imperialist aggression is part of upholding the broad united front against imperialism. As always, Leading Lights uphold the broad united front against imperialism in an intelligent, critical way.

December 21, 2011 | Categories: Asia, Korea, Revisionism | 3 Comments »

LLCO website down for maintenance for 3 days

LLCO’s website is down for repairs. Will be back in 3 days.

December 14, 2011 | Categories: Uncategorized | Leave A Comment »

Uphold the united front from attacks by fake leftists

Uphold the united front from attacks by fake leftists
by cherokeetears

(new-power.org)

There are those who say that it is acceptable to support imperialism on some occasions. This opportunism has plagued revolutionary politics since their inception. From the anarchists of Marx, to the social-imperialists of Lenin, and through the capitalist roaders of Mao’s China, every revolutionary period has had its opportunism. The Left has been infected by the liberalism and idealism of identity politics, and too often it has succumb to the pressure of this idealism. Individuals have embraced imperialism for their own prejudices, they aligned against national liberation in places like Libya and Afghanistan. They have set themselves up as shills for so-called “progressive imperialism.” They enable oppression from the shores of their imperial homelands. This is the case today with the US assault in the Middle East.

Mao Zedong saw the principal contradiction as between imperialism and oppressed nations. The main enemy on the world’s stage was imperialism. There can be no liberation without the defeat of imperialism. The struggle against imperialism is the struggle that unlocks the possibility of other social liberation. In this way, the struggle against imperialism is the most important one today. The so-called “left”in the First World has often exhibit a liberal naïveté that supports imperialism when the imperialists present their projects in the liberal and activist language of the “left.” It will yield when the imperialists present themselves as champions of idealistic and unscientific ideas such as bourgeoisie “democracy” or when the imperialists present themselves as supporting Third World peoples against totalitarian dictators or when the imperialists present themselves as the saving Third World women from Islam. The illusion of progressive imperialism is just that, an illusion born of successful propaganda by the imperialist themselves. This propaganda allows opportunists on the so-called “left” in the First World to support the export of imperialism with a liberal, democratic face. Such opportunism is idealistic and unscientific. It assumes that imperialism brings “democracy” and “freedom” when in fact it only brings exploitation and oppression. The institutions placed in countries by the imperialists are rarely better, and are often worse, than the institutions that imperialists condemn. Imperialism is not a better option, it yields nothing but open markets for capitalism. When the US’s pocketbook is threatened, when its hegemony in the world market is threatened, it acts: economic sabotage, destabilization, sanctions, bombs, invasions. The imperialists intervene “on behalf of the people,” but the reality is that these interventions only provide instability and violence against people.

When facing the threat of the invading Japanese forces, the Communist Party of China (CCP) allied with the reactionary Guomindang (GMD) in order to defeat the imperialist aggressors. The GMD was made of of several elements ranging from the nationalist bourgeoisie, feudalists, to compradors. The GMD had waged war against the CCPfor decades. The GMD had tried to annihilate the CCP. The long march, led by Mao, was begun as a breakout by the CCP from an anniliation campaign by the GMD. However, there was a bigger enemy than the GMD. The Japanese invaded and occupied China. If the Communists had continued fighting the GMD, both groups would have more easily been defeated by the Japanese. It was by upholding the Broad United Front Against Imperialism that the CCP won support of the masses. The CCP took up the national banner against the Japanese. This not only won them the support of the masses. This also won more progressive elements within the GMD to their cause. We must learn from history.

Imperialism cannot be justified in any aspect. Bourgeois so-called feminists try to justify imperialism by appealing to “women’s rights.” They try to justify imperialist aggression against Iraq and Afghanistan. Women’s rights have not significantly improved under the pro-US governments. Any improvement in women’s rights on the ground is coupled by religious, ethnic, and sectarian violence. Social programs in many cases have been destroyed, people have been forced into exile for fear of persecution on religious, ethnic, or political grounds. Resources are taken from the people by multinational corporations. This is not better than the current regime. Iraq is being destroyed by religious violence, and Sunni-Shia infighting is killing innocent civilians every day. This was not an issue under the previous government. Afghanistan is involved in a brutal tribal war, one in which there are still remnants of Taliban supporters, along with other tribes and ethnicities, all fighting one another. Imperialism has not made life better in these areas by any means. In addition, when the imperialists cannot put in a boot-licking, pro-Western moderate, they often cut a deal with those who are the most socially conservative. The imperialists are about power, not about human rights.

In light of recent events, attention has turned towards the tensions between the imperialists and Middle Eastern and African countries, most recently Libya and Syria. The US is setting the stage for a confrontation with Iran also. If imperialist aggression occurs with Iran in any aspect, the imperial so-called “left” will remain divided on the issue. Some — Leading Lights, anti-imperialists, and others — will oppose the attacks against the Third World. Many others — Democrats, opportunists, revisionists, and other First Worldists — will support the imperialists in the name progress. A “left” that supports imperialism is an enemy of the Third World masses and the revolution. They are social-imperialists. They may claim to be socialist, communist, anarchist, democratic, or progressive, but they line up with the imperialists. They do not understand the balance of social forces in the world. They do not correctly answer Mao’s famous question “Who are our enemies? Who are our friends?” Not only does their opportunism and idealism lead them to their incorrect position, but their privilege as First World peoples also leads them to align against the Third World. They desire more for themselves. They are consumers. They have a class interest in supporting a system that provides them with a relatively comfortable life.

The most deliberate opportunists will qualify their support, as they did with Afghanistan, Iraq, and Libya, stating that they “don’t support the imperialist support, but they support the movement of the people.” The reality is that they do not support the people. The media portrays these civil wars as one-sided, they portray US invasions as domestically popular, but this is not the case. Few support the invasion of their country by an occupying force. To do so is consider treason by most. Civil wars are civil wars because they are struggles between antagonistic groups. No coup d’etat, no civil war, no dissenting action is unchallenged or undisputed. Libya was a civil war. Tribal and religious opportunists took advantage of opportunities presented to them. They manipulated Libyan people to fight the government, the people did not act unanimously to destroy their governments, this was done for them. The Libyan regime was only defeated with massive support from the US, NATO bombs, MI6 and CIA operations, etc. Even other Arab states put troops on the ground in what amounted to a de facto invasion to oust Gaddafi. This imperialist act was cheered by the opportunist and movementarian so-called “left” in the US.

The same will be true of the actions in Syria and Iran. US aggression in Syria and Iran will face support from the corporate media. The media will portray one-sided views of unanimous support for imperialist aggression, and many self proclaimed “leftists” will support the imperialists. Be warned: these opportunists are effectively supporting imperialism and denying self-determination of peoples. They are serving up the people and resources of the Third World to the imperial butchers. Those who align with imperialism are lackeys. They are idealists. They are liberals. They do not uphold Marxism, they uphold liberalism. Their approach is not scientific. It will not bring socialism. Only by acknowledging the enemy of imperialism, will we be able to end imperialism. Embracing science will bring socialism, not idealism and liberalism.

Oppose US intervention in the Middle East. Fight against imperialism and its lackeys. Syria and Iran are the next targets in the imperialist’s crosshairs. We must not support imperialism against Syria and Iran, we must oppose imperialist aggression and uphold Leading Light Communism. Revolution is the only solution, imperialism will only delay the revolution.

December 10, 2011 | Categories: Afghanistan, Africa, Iran, Libya, Middle East, Palestine, Revisionism, Syria, US | 3 Comments »

Developments in Mumia’s case: death sentence taken off the table

New Power denounces the treatment of Mumia Abu-Jamal by the United States. Mumia Abu-Jamal is an ex-Black Panther who is held for his political beliefs. He is political prisoner who deserves freedom. Recently the LA Times reported on recent developments in the Mumia case:

“Mumia Abu-Jamal was spared the death penalty in the murder of a Philadelphia police officer on Wednesday. He’ll spend the rest of his life in prison, the Philadelphia district attorney said. But only freedom will satisfy supporters of Abu-Jamal.

They call the former Black Panther an innocent, a revolutionary and a celebrated journalist, and Free Mumia will host an event Friday to mark the 30th year of the racially charged case, followed by a fundraiser.

On Dec. 9, 1981, Officer Daniel Faulkner stopped a car driven by William Cook, Abu-Jamal’s young brother. Abu-Jamal was in a nearby taxi and ran to the scene. He exchanged gunfire with Faulkner, witnesses said. The officer was hit multiple times and died at a hospital.

Three decades later, Seth Williams, Philadelphia’s top prosecutor, agonized over the decision to end the push for the death sentence. He said he remained convinced of Abu-Jamal’s guilt and that he deserved to die.

Supporters have steadfastly maintained that Abu-Jamal was framed because of the activist’s criticism and claims of brutality by Philadelphia police.

There’s “strong and concealed evidence of his innocence,” says supporter Johanna Fernandez, a professor at a New York college.

Speakers for Friday’s event, to be held at Philadelphia’s National Constitution Center, are to include Cornel West, Vijay Prashad and Michelle Alexander.”

December 8, 2011 | Categories: Black nation, Court system, political prisoners | Leave A Comment »

We denounce the murder of Kishan Ji, fake encounters, and Operation Green Hunt

We denounce the murder of Kishan Ji, fake encounters, and Operation Green Hunt

(new-power.org)

The Indian state and their imperial allies have declared war against the people of India. The reactionaries impose underdevelopment and great poverty on the people of India. They terrorize the countryside, slums, and tribal areas with death squads and military operations such as Operation Green Hunt. The reactionaries engage in assassination campaigns, often hiding the assassination by reporting them as armed battles. These fake encounters mask a campaign of targeted assassination. Recently, it has been reported that Kishan Ji, an anti-imperialist leader, was killed by a joint-military operation that involved 1,000 reactionary security personnel.

Leading Light has differences with many of the organizations fighting against the state of India. Even so, Leading Light recognizes that many of those groups and individuals are playing a progressive, if limited, role in the anti-imperialist struggle. Leading Light denounces the extra-judicial murders taking place all over India. Leading Light denounces the murder of Kishan Ji. Leading Light calls on the Indian masses to unite under real, scientific leadership for global people’s war. Only with revolutionary science in the hands of the masses will capitalism be destroyed once and for all. We salute all those who died for a better world.

November 26, 2011 | Categories: Asia, India | 1 Comment »

No thanks, Amerikkka.. art by Leading Light Shubel Morgan

No thanks, Amerikkka.. art by Leading Light Shubel Morgan

(new-power.org)

November 24, 2011 | Categories: occupy movement, US | Leave A Comment »

Muammar al-Gaddafi dead – What does this mean?

Muammar al-Gaddafi dead – What does this mean?

by modernmarxist

(new-power.org)

It has been reported that the NATO-supported “rebels” of the NTC have overrun Sirte (after repeated bombings of Sirte from NATO, of course) and captured Mummar al-Gaddafi. On the way to Misrata, it is reported that the Libyan leader has died of his wounds.(1) Pro-imperialist tri-color flags from the Kingdom of Libya era are flying to represent the coming return of the old Libya, a Libya which was one of the poorest countries in Africa until Gaddafi took power.(2) While flags alone rarely are able to describe the whole nature of a movement, it is clear that NATO’s involvement and the NTC’s willingness to work with the imperialists mean that this “revolution” is not one designed to prevent Libyans from becoming victims of oppression and exploitation.

Gaddafi certainly wasn’t a Leading Light Communist, but his record of anti-imperialism far outweighs his comprador aspect.  Gaddafi worked with many pan-Third World organizations and partnerships including SATO with Hugo Chavez, the Great Man-Made River which brought fresh water through parts of the Saharan, attempts at a unified Africa, attempts at pan-Arab unity including a movement to introduce a pan-Arab, pan-African, and pan-Islamic currency, the gold Dinar, that would have allowed for easier transaction between other Middle Eastern economies as those of the entire of Africa. This proposal would have irrevocably damaged imperialist economic recovery and the supremacy of their markets. Gaddafi also took decisive steps against the bourgeoisie in his country including nationalizing oil fields, and seizing key industries from the multinational corporations and imperialist powers that had previously exploited the country’s resources.

We should not allow ourselves to be fooled by pro-imperialist and imperialist-owned, sensationalist media reports.  The NTC couldn’t even take Sirte without NATO intervention. NATO was the deciding factor in these events.(3)  NATO directed the NTC, provided weapons for them, and thoroughly bombed areas which the NTC “rebels” were supposed to take control of, resulting in the deaths of many civilians.(4)(5)(6) It is no coincidence that Libya has the largest oil reserves in Africa,(7) and while there were times when Gaddafi’s anti-imperialism wavered and he acted as a comprador to benefit the imperialists, his comprador role was shaky at best and unreliable. In the end, he refused to bend to the will of the First World imperialists. MI6 threatened Gaddafi’s  generals with the First World’s message of “Obey us or die”.(8.) In typical imperialist fashion, the forces of NATO countries and those backed by NATO attempted to assassinate Gaddafi many times before.(9)

The First Worldists, especially the Trotskyists, have very clearly shown their true colors in this conflict.  They have acted like true social-imperialists, siding with NATO and the rebels instead of joining the broad United Front against imperialism.  Many self-proclaimed communists claimed that they supported the “Libyan people” in their struggle against Gaddafi, however there is no “Libyan movement” against Gaddafi without NATO airpower and support.  There would have been no victory without the assistance of NATO, who’s firepower made the assault on Tripoli possible.  There is no doubt that without the imperialists, Gaddafi would have never been defeated.  Therefore there is no option for “siding with the Libyan people” against Gaddafi, the people themselves have been divided on the issue.  The Trotskyists sided with the neoconservatives on this issue, Gaddafi’s blood is certainly on the hands of these “communists.”  The various groups battling over control of the country have their own tribal interests and will surely honor those interests rather than the interests of the Libyan people.  There is no excuse for communists to oppose Gaddafi and side with the imperialists.

NATO and the First World have much to gain upon Gaddafi’s death. Libya has oil, natural gas, and gypsum.(10) The NTC’s role in Gaddafi’s death was minimal. They were and still are merely NATO puppets on the world stage. Gaddafi will be sorely missed by the Libyan people…especially after the First World sucks their country dry for all it has.

Sources:

Mummar Gadaffi Killed As Sirte Falls http://english.aljazeera.net/news/africa/2011/10/20111020111520869621.html (1)

Human Development Index Trends http://web.archive.org/web/20061027013029/http://hdr.undp.org/statistics/data/indicators.cfm?x=10&y=1&z=1 (2)

Clarity on Libya: MI6 is not part of the United Front http://new-power.org/2011/08/29/clarity-on-libya-mi6-is-not-part-of-the-united-front/ (3)

ibid. (4)

France supplying weapons to Libyan rebels http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/libya/8606541/France-supplying-weapons-to-Libyan-rebels.html (5)

Libya: exodus from Sirte as thousands flee rebel offensive http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/libya/8794617/Libya-exodus-from-Sirte-as-thousands-flee-rebel-offensive.html (6)

Oil reserves in Libya http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oil_reserves_in_Libya (7)

ibid 3. (8.)

Muammar Gaddafi – Assassination attempts http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gadaffi#Assassination_attempts (9)

FIELD LISTING :: NATURAL RESOURCES https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/fields/2111.html (10)

November 16, 2011 | Categories: Africa, Libya, Middle East | 2 Comments »

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