*On The 7th Anniversary- All Out On March 20th To End The Afghan And Iraq Wars-A Guest Commentary From "National Assembly"

Click on the title to link to the "National Assembly To End The Afghan And Iraq War" Website.

*On The 7th Anniversary- All Out On March 20th To End The Afghan And Iraq Wars-A Guest Commentary From "National Assembly"

Markin comment:

I have already argued in previous entries about the importance of massing in Washington, D.C. on March 20th for this event. Bring your own slogans and banners, but be there to start building the long-delayed and needed divorce from one Barack Obama who has been given a pass on war issues- for no known rational reason. We knew, because he made it clear from the beginning what his priorities were in 2008, and he rubbed our noses in it last year. Now we need to get our priorities clear. Obama- Troops Out Now!

**********

Below is a repost, in a seemingly endless series of reposts of last year's, the 6th anniversary of the Iraq War,of my comment.


Commentary

On this the Sixth Anniversary of the Iraq invasion I repost my entries from previous years. There is essentially nothing new to add, except to replace the name Bush with Obama in the slogan- Immediate Unconditional Withdrawal of All U.S./Allied Troops from Iraq and Afghanistan!

From March 19, 2008

Today I will go to downtown Boston and participate in my nth demonstration against the Iraq War. I will have my banner, I will shout and I ....will be frustrated that in many fundamentals we (meaning here the anti-war movement) are no closer to forcing a total troop withdrawal from Iraq than 5 years ago. But, my frustration will pass. In fact it has already. I will shout to the bitter end- Immediate Unconditional Withdrawal of All United States/Allied Troops and Mercenaries From Iraq and Afghanistan!

Below I have reposted, as much as it pains me, a comment I made as we approached last year’s 4th Anniversary of the Iraq War. Damn.

COMMENTARY

WRITTEN ON MARCH 19, 2007 THE FOURTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE AMERICAN INVASION AND OCCUPATION OF IRAQ.

This will be short and sweet for four years of war without an effective extra-parliamentary (or for that matter, parliamentary) opposition in an unpopular war led by an unpopular President speaks for itself. That said, the slogan Immediate Unconditional Withdrawal from Iraq by the United States and its rapidly dwindling coalition forces retains its validity. As does the fight for a straight no vote on the war budget. And, finally, as does the validity of the desperately necessary fight to form anti-war soldiers and sailors solidarity committees. Otherwise this time next year we will be writing about the fifth year of the war. Forward.

***************

I will not repost the 2006, 2005, 2004 entries because you have already read enough on this grim subject.

*All Out On March 20th To End The Afghan And Iraq Wars -A Guest Commentary From "The National Assembly To End The Afghan And Iraq Wars

Click on the title to link to the "National Assembly To End The Afghan And Iraq Wars" Website.


Markin comment:

I have already argued in previous entries about the importance of massing in Washington, D.C. on March 20th for this event. Bring your own slogans and banners, but be there to start building the long-delayed and needed divorce from one Barack Obama who has been given a pass on war issues- for no known rational reason. We knew, because he made it clear from the beginning what his priorities were in 2008, and he rubbed our noses in it last year. Now we need to get our priorities clear. Obama- Troops Out Now!

*From The "UJP" Website- For Those Who Can't Make It To Washington March 20th- A Local Boston Action

Click on the headline to link to the "UJP-Boston" Website for an announcement for a local Boston anti-war action for those who cannot go to Washington.

Markin comment:

I have already argued in previous entries about the importance of massing in Washington, D.C. on March 20th for this event. Bring your own slogans and banners, but be there to start building the long-delayed and needed divorce from one Barack Obama who has been given a pass on war issues- for no known rational reason. We knew, because he made it clear from the beginning what his priorities were in 2008, and he rubbed our noses in it last year. Now we need to get our priorities clear. Obama- Troops Out Now!

*****

Obviously some people will not be able to go to Washington on March 20th for health, economic, family, or other reasons so here is a local opportunity to show your opposition to Obama's wars. Same struggle, same fight! Obama-Immediate, Unconditional Withdrawal Of All U.S./ Allied Troops And Mercenaries From Iraq and Afghanistan!

*All Out On March 20th To End The Afghan And Iraq Wars -A Guest Commentary From "The National Assembly To End The Afghan And Iraq Wars

Click on the title to link to the "National Assembly To End The Afghan And Iraq Wars" Website.


Markin comment:

I have already argued in previous entries about the importance of massing in Washington, D.C. on March 20th for this event. Bring your own slogans and banners, but be there to start building the long-delayed needed divorce and consequent free ride that one Barack Obama has received- for no known rational reason. We knew, because he made it clear from the beginning what his priorities were, and rubbed our noses in it last year. Now we need to get our priorities clear. Obama- Troops Out Now!

*All Out On March 20th To End The Afghan And Iraq Wars -A Guest Commentary From "The National Assembly To End The Afghan And Iraq Wars

Click on the title to link to the "National Assembly To End The Afghan And Iraq Wars" Website.


Markin comment:

I have already argued in previous entries about the importance of massing in Washington, D.C. on March 20th for this event. Bring your own slogans and banners, but be there to start building the long-delayed needed divorce and consequent free ride that one Barack Obama has received- for no known rational reason. We knew, because he made it clear from the beginning what his priorities were, and rubbed our noses in it last year. Now we need to get our priorities clear. Obama- Troops Out Now!

*All Out On March 20th To End The Afghan And Iraq Wars -A Guest Commentary From "The National Assembly To End The Afghan And Iraq Wars

Click on the title to link to the "National Assembly To End The Afghan And Iraq Wars" Website.


Markin comment:

I have already argued in previous entries about the importance of massing in Washington, D.C. on March 20th for this event. Bring your own slogans and banners, but be there to start building the long-delayed needed divorce and consequent free ride that one Barack Obama has received- for no known rational reason. We knew, because he made it clear from the beginning what his priorities were, and rubbed our noses in it last year. Now we need to get our priorities clear. Obama- Troops Out Now!

*All Out On March 20th To End The Afghan And Iraq Wars -A Guest Commentary From "The National Assembly To End The Afghan And Iraq Wars

Click on the title to link to the "National Assembly To End The Afghan And Iraq Wars" Website.


Markin comment:

I have already argued in previous entries about the importance of massing in Washington, D.C. on March 20th for this event. Bring your own slogans and banners, but be there to start building the long-delayed needed divorce and consequent free ride that one Barack Obama has received- for no known rational reason. We knew, because he made it clear from the beginning what his priorities were, and rubbed our noses in it last year. Now we need to get our priorities clear. Obama- Troops Out Now!

*The Latest From The United For Justice With Peace (UJP) Website- Congrees To Vote On Afghan War ON March 10- Vote "No" With Both Hands!

Click on the title to link to a "UJP" Website article concerning an upcoming Congressional vote on Ohio Representative Dennis Kucinich's anti Afghan War resolution.

Markin comment:

When we have a Workers Party Congressional Representative in office, he or she will make it the first order of business to use that position as a "bully pulpit", or as Lenin put it in his 1901 pamphlet, "What Is To Be Done?" use it as a "tribune of the people", to present resolutions against the entire imperial war budget. Voting "No" with both hands, and both feet across the board and appealing to the masses to support that effort.

In the meantime Representative Kucinich remains one of the few steady anti-war Democrats who have not caved in to Obamania. However, as I have written on many other occasions his work is in vain in the party he belongs to. Break with the Democrats! And that is not addressed to him, that is a lost cause at this point, but to the many anti-war activists who still adhere to that party. Out Now!

*From The UJP Website- A Rally And March In Honor Of International Women's Day

Click on the title to link to a "United For Justice with Peace" (UJP) Website entry for a rally to be held in honor of the 100th Anniversary of the celebration of International Women's Day.

Markin comment:

I am not altogether sure that this is the 100th anniversary (I thought that it was first observed in 1908),but that is neither here nor there. In addition to whatever demands are appropriate on this date around the women question, the economic question and the myriad other concerns we need to address let this one stand out. Obama- Immediate, Unconditional Withdrawal Of All Troops And Mercenaries From Afghanistan And Iraq! That is a demand every women, every girl every man and every boy can, and will, rally around.

P.S.- I checked "Wikipedia" and in their entry for IWD they are using 2010 as the date of the first one started by the Socialist International (Second International) in its better days. So, let's mark the 100th in style- that above mentioned style.

*From "The Rag Blog"- " History Of Relations With Iran- A Guest Commentary

Click on the headline to link to a "The Rag Blog" entry concerning the history of Western, mainly American, relations with Iran.

Markin comment:

At the end of the day, as the war clouds thicken in Washington and in other NATO capitals over Iran, it seems almost certain that we will be defending that benighted country against some form of overt American-led imperialist action. For now though- No To Sanctions! Hands Off Iran!

*On The Question Of Organizing For A Major National Anti-War Rally This Spring – A Commentary

Click on the title to link to the "New England United" Web site, the umbrella anti-war organization that is a key regional sponsor of the March 20th rally in Washington, D.C. mentioned in the commentary.

Markin comment:

In a recent blog entry, “As The 2010 Anti-War Season Heats Up- A Note On "The Three Whales" For A Class Struggle Fight Against Obama’s Wars”, dated January 19, 2010, I put forth a few ideas, particularly around the concept of forming anti-war soldiers and sailors solidarity committees, that the circle of anti-war militants that I work with locally are committed to pursuing this year as the struggle against War-monger-in-Chief Obama’s Afghan war policies takes shape. The elephant in the room that was missing in that laundry list of tasks enumerated in the entry was any notion of supporting a national mass anti-war rally in Washington, D.C. this spring, now scheduled, as usual, for the anniversary of the start of the Iraq war in 2003, March 20th. And there is a good and sufficient reason for that omission. The circle is split on an orientation toward that event. Thus, the comment that follows in favor of organizing for and building such an endeavor and putting some resources and energy into the event is my own personal take on the question, fair or foul.

Certainly, given the priorities listed in that previous blog entry mentioned above, it would be quite easy to walk away from serious organizing for, getting transportation for, making housing arrangements for, and the thousand and one details that go into providing a contingent for a national march or rally. Moreover, as has been argued in the circle by a number of militants, to do so for just one more garden variety of a seemingly endless (and fruitless) series of mass marches over the past several years. And normally I would agree with that analysis, especially once it became clear that the main strategy of those groups who call such national marches is to make such events the main, and exclusive, point of extra-parliamentary opposition to the war. Or worst, see these things as an effective political tool for “pressuring” politicians, especially “progressive” Democrats (if there are any left, as of late). Pleassee...

Hear me out on this one though. President Obama made his dramatic announcement for a major Afghan troop escalation on December 1, 2009. That, along with a less publicized build-up in February 2009, and the odd brigade deployed here or there since has meant that the troop totals-I will not even bother to count “contractors”, for the simple reason that who knows what those numbers really are. I don’t, do you?- are almost double those that ex-President Bush nearly had his head handed to him on a platter for in the notorious troop “surge” of 2007. And the response to Obama’s chest-thumping war-mongering. Nada. Or almost nothing, except a small demonstration in Washington on December 12th with the “usual cast of suspects” (Kucinich, McKinney, et.al) and a few hundred attendees and small local demonstrations around the country.

Now this might seem like an slam-dunk argument for wasting no more time on the spring rally tactic. And that argument is enticing. But, as a veteran of way too many of these demos, and as a militant who has spilled no small amount of ink arguing against the endless rally strategy on many previous occasions, I still like the idea of a spring march. First, because Obama needs to know that those on his left, particularly those who supported him in the 2008 election cycle are more than just passively angry at him for the Afghan troop escalation. And that is important even if the numbers do not match those of the Bush era. Secondly, those of us on the extra-parliamentary left need to see who those disenchanted Obamians are. If we are going to be successful we have to get our fair share of these left-liberals before they ditch politics altogether. And lastly, as the bikers and gang members say- “we have to show our colors”. Large or small we need to see what we look like. All those may not be individually, in the end, sufficient reasons but I will say this to finish up. Unless you plan to have an anti-war demonstration outside the gates of places like the military bases at Fort Bragg, Fort Hood, Fort Drum, and Fort Lewis in which case I will be more than happy to mark you present and accounted for you should be in Washington on March 20th. And ready to fight around the slogan – Obama- Immediate, Unconditional Withdrawal of all U.S./Allied Troops and Mercenaries from Iraq and Afghanistan!

*Say It Isn't So, Joe- Obama Seeks More Dough For His Wars

Click on the title to link to an "Associated Press" article detailing the latest Obama request for additional, additional (the word is used twice intentionally)money for his little war projects in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Markin comment:

The article speaks for itself but I thought all that extra war dough thing went out with Bush/Cheney. Oh well, we know what to do. NO on the war budget (big or small)!

*"Iran In Turmoil"- A Guest Commentary

Click on the title to link to a "Workers Vanguard" article, dated January 15, 2010, "Iran In Turmoil".


Markin comment:

I stand in solidarity with the point made in the article about not giving any political support to any of the religious/bourgeois factions in the inner-governmental squabbles. We have been down that road before. The second part of the the slogan from the old days-"Down with Shah- Down With The Mullahs!"- still holds true today. Needless to say that Russian revolutionary Leon Trotsky's theory of permanent revolution, originally worked out and written over one hundred years ago,applies in the Iranian situation these days.

*New Years Greetings From The "An Unrepentant Communist" Blog- A Guest Wish List

Click on the title to link to the "An Unrepentant Communist" blog for a New Year's greeting and a progressive wish list.

Markin comment:

I would not have, perhaps, stated the wish list in exactly this way but most of the sentiments that are expressed there would make my wish list as well. I do note one glaring omission, an omission that is rather surprising since it will probably be a subject of major struggle this year. There is nothing on withdrawal of American and other foreign imperial troops from Iraq , Afghanistan and other hot spots in the world. This is, moreover, a very strange omission, as Barack Obama, at least, has staked his presidency on this issue, particularly on Afghanistan. So I will add my own number 11.

11. Obama- Immediate, Unconditional Withdrawal Of All U.S./Allied Troops and Mercenaries From Afghanistan and Iraq!

Bob Feldman 68: `Hands Off Iran' lyrics-(And The World-Markin)- A Guest Commentary

Markin comment:

Click on to view Bob Feldman's lyrics. We may still need them before we are done.

*A Short Note On The Question Of The Politics Of “To The Streets”

Click on title to link to my blog entry, dated September 21, 2009, concerning the latest talk of of American Afghan troop escalations by chief commander there, General Stanley McChrystal. The Markin commentary there is an example of my "to the streets" perspective.

Markin commentary:

Of late I have been on something of a tear concerning the need for us, that is leftists, labor militants, radicals and the odd, assorted left liberal, to get back on to the streets in opposition to various policies of the Obama administration, especially of the probably endless future troop escalations in Afghanistan(only limited by the shrinking supply of cannon fodder, mainly our working class and minority youth) and the insidious immigration policy of en mass deportations of ‘’illegal’ immigrants that has put the wretched Bush Administration policy in the shade. In response to an inquiry in this space- NO, I do not have a “street” fetish political deviation. Hear me out.

Underlying my political perspective in the various commentaries on “to the streets” politics has been the understanding that we left militants do not, as a practical matter, have very much leverage today, over the political agenda in America. Moreover, Obama, for the most part, still enjoys a “honeymoon" period of unknown duration with the mass of people that we want to get to- labor militants, minority activists, and various other left-leaning constituencies. I have also noted that the Afghan troop escalation question is a wedge that we can use to pry those "folk" away from the Democratic Party. That is the simple politics of my latest my propaganda and agititional proposals.

I pose the question this way to those who offer another perspective. What is it? What is your alternative? Reliance on that slim, very slim parliamentary formal, somewhat half-hearted anti-war opposition? The labor bureaucracy? The “ghost” of Ted Kennedy? You get my drift. Furthermore, that parliamentary opposition to the February Obama Afghan troop escalation while heartening, as any objectively anti-war action is, was very narrow, very narrow indeed. On the real issue, the funding for Afghanistan (and Iraq) there was a very small left Democratic group of Congressional figures who voted the straight up NO vote required on that bill.

And that sad reality points to part of our political problem here in America. We have no independent working class party, we have no worker party representatives to act as “tribunes of the people” on our behalf in the halls of Congress, we, if we are principled, moreover, do not want a workers party executive running this imperialist show so what we have, or don’t have, will be determined by those mean downtown city streets. I will add, under a theme that I have used repeatedly before, that “those streets are not for dreaming now”. But with the hell to come over Afghanistan and other issues we better be there. And this slogan, above all, should be emblazoned on our banners- “Obama- Immediate Unconditional Withdrawal of All U.S./Allied Troops From Afghanistan (and Iraq).


Note: I have railed, endlessly, about the limits of “peace crawl” demonstrations in stopping imperialist war, at the time of Vietnam and Iraq (I&II), that are the total sum of the strategic perspectives of many leftists and left organizations. I stand by those prior polemics, as a general proposition. The point is that politics, including revolutionary politics, has a lot to do with timing. The timing now calls for a turn to the streets. We will yell at the “peace crawl” strategy and those who endlessly advocate it when those who advocate the strategy are an an obstruction to stronger actions. For now –“To The Streets”

*Waist Deep In The "Big Poppy"- Once Again, It's McChrystal Clear- More Boots Needed For Obama's Afghan War Policy- TROOPS OUT NOW!

Click on title to link to Bob Woodward's "Washington Post" article, dated September 21, 2009, concerning Obama's chief Afghan commander on the ground, General Stanley ("Search and destroy, and let god sort it out")McChrystal's 'private' sixty-six page report 'begging' for more boots on the ground.

Markin comment:

After a quick search through my archives of late I have noticed that I have been bringing up the subject of Obama's Afghan war policy more and more. Obviously that frequency has become necessary as the political and military situation in Afghanistan gets more desperate and the American military commanders, headed by the chief reporter on this report, General Stanley McChrystal (see, I can be 'civilized' and not use my nickname above for him at every opportunity), keep trying to 'fix' the thing with more troops. That is, however, their problem.

Our problem, and it is one that I have addressed before, is to stop the bastards in their tracks. I have been something of a Cassandra on this issue of Afghanistan since Obama's election. I have no special insight into his mind, the workings of his administration, or of the military's. However, this I know. When Obama stated in his pre-election speeches and 'debates' that America was fighting the wrong enemy in the wrong place (in Iraq) and the real focus should be Af-Pak then upon his election I started shifting my emphasis(although we still fight under the banner of immediate unconditional withdrawal of ALL U.S./Allied troops from Iraq, as well). I believe that it was not more than a few days after his election that the first rumblings of the Obama February troop escalations started to circulate. Make no mistake-this is Obama's signature war-signed, sealed and delivered. I would hope that no one, at least no self-respecting leftist, would bet me that the latest troop requests were NOT going to be granted.

Notwithstanding that future, take heart. From our anti-imperialist, anti-capitalist perspective this "failed policy-in-waiting" is, if nothing else, unless we can otherwise stop it, unfortunately unlikely at present, a "teachable" moment. I note the growing dissatisfaction with the Obama Afghan War policy, particularly among the left wing of his own Democratic party. They are, however, still somewhat 'smitten' with the man and his "charms", political and otherwise so the opposition is merely tepid and confused at this point. But, as a glance at "The Daily Kos", the left bourgeois political junkies' 'haven', confirms there are rumblings in that empire.

Okay, so our tasks are? Well, for starters, the 8th anniversary of the American occupation in Afghanistan is coming up and we should get out on the streets, yes the streets, to build a physical public presence against this war policy. Most of the political talk that I have heard has come from academics who, more in sorrow than anger, want to direct Obamian American foreign policy elsewhere. Or have enough of a sense of history to know that this one is a 'loser'. Let's make it a loser in our own way- out to the streets. Our battle cry- Obama-Immediate Unconditional Withdrawal Of All U.S./Allied Troops From Afghanistan (and Iraq too!)


******
Every once in a while (more frequently than I would like but today seems like a very appropriate time) old Pete Seeger's song about his World War II adventures that served as a parable for President Lyndon Johnson and his constant Vietnam escalations, "Waist Deep In The Big Muddy” just seems appropriate. This is one of those occasions. Just switch "Big Poppy" for "Big Muddy" and you will have it just about right.

"Waist Deep In The Big Muddy"-Pete Seeger

It was back in nineteen forty-two,
I was a member of a good platoon.
We were on maneuvers in-a Loozianna,
One night by the light of the moon.
The captain told us to ford a river,
That's how it all begun.
We were -- knee deep in the Big Muddy,
But the big fool said to push on.

The Sergeant said, "Sir, are you sure,
This is the best way back to the base?"
"Sergeant, go on! I forded this river
'Bout a mile above this place.
It'll be a little soggy but just keep slogging.
We'll soon be on dry ground."
We were -- waist deep in the Big Muddy
And the big fool said to push on.

The Sergeant said, "Sir, with all this equipment
No man will be able to swim."
"Sergeant, don't be a Nervous Nellie,"
The Captain said to him.
"All we need is a little determination;
Men, follow me, I'll lead on."
We were -- neck deep in the Big Muddy
And the big fool said to push on.

All at once, the moon clouded over,
We heard a gurgling cry.
A few seconds later, the captain's helmet
Was all that floated by.
The Sergeant said, "Turn around men!
I'm in charge from now on."
And we just made it out of the Big Muddy
With the captain dead and gone.

We stripped and dived and found his body
Stuck in the old quicksand.
I guess he didn't know that the water was deeper
Than the place he'd once before been.
Another stream had joined the Big Muddy
'Bout a half mile from where we'd gone.
We were lucky to escape from the Big Muddy
When the big fool said to push on.

Well, I'm not going to point any moral;
I'll leave that for yourself
Maybe you're still walking, you're still talking
You'd like to keep your health.
But every time I read the papers
That old feeling comes on;
We're -- waist deep in the Big Muddy
And the big fool says to push on.

Waist deep in the Big Muddy
And the big fool says to push on.
Waist deep in the Big Muddy
And the big fool says to push on.
Waist deep! Neck deep! Soon even a
Tall man'll be over his head, we're
Waist deep in the Big Muddy!
And the big fool says to push on!

*U.S. Troops Back On Patrol In Iraq On The Low- Immediate Unconditional Withdrawal Of All Allied Troops From Iraq- Loudly

Click On Title To Link To BBC Story About The Situation With The So-called "Incredibly Shrinking U.S. Troop Presence" In Iraq. Miracle Or Myth? Let Me Just Say We Had Better Start Getting Our Grandchildren Ready To Face The Music In Iraq When Their Time Comes. John McCain and Before Him One George W. Bush Said It Would Take A Generation Or More To Stabilize The Situation In Iraq. They May Have Not Been Far Off The Mark. But Just To Be On The Safe Side- Obama-Immediate Unconditional Withdrawal Of All U.S./Allied Troops From Iraq!

*The Struggle In Iran 2009- The View Of The Internationalist Group

Click on title for a leftist perspective on the situation in Iran in the aftermath of the "elections" there from the Internationalist Group.

Markin comment:

The article is placed here for informational purposes as I am not that familiar with the politics of the group (other than that it split from the International Communist League a number of years ago). This article makes several interesting points. The most important, thirty years after the overthrow of the Shah in 1979, is that leftists can give no political support to any of the various religious factions in Iran. A whole generation of Iranian leftists and working class militants paid with their lives and their blood for that serious mistake in the struggle against the Shah. Learn the lessons of history, damn it.

*From The Pages Of "Workers Vanguard"- Hands Off Iran!- A Guest Commentary

Click on the headline to link to a "Workers Vanguard" article on Iran, dated April 13, 2007.