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Issue No. 181 | 06 June 2003 |
National Leadership
History: Nest of Traitors Interview: A Nation of Hope Unions: National Focus Safety: The Shocking Truth Tribute: A Comrade Departed History: Working Bees Education: The Big Picture International: Static Labour Economics: Budget And Fudge It Technology: Google and Campaigning Review: Secretary With A Difference Poetry: The Minimale Satire: Howard Calls for Senate to be Replaced by Clap-O-Meter
Allianz Claims on Sick and Dying Back Pay Bill From Behind the Bars Stabbings Ground Job Cuts � For Now Red Light for Cut Price Labour Hire Sacked Workers� Ultimate Insult Electrolux Repays Survival With Bastardry Nurses: Bosses Should Foot Bank Fees Rail Workers Telegraph Press Council Track Call Centre Leak Shames Stellar
Politics The Soapbox Media The Locker Room
Negative Campaigning Response to Gould Aged Policy Looks Hairy Tom's Turn God Save Billy Deane Solidarity Forever More Bad Language
Labor Council of NSW |
Letters to the Editor Response to Gould
Dear Editor, I would like to comment on Bob Gould's "open letter" which appeared in issue 176. The full text of my article "NOT IN YOUR NAME INDEED" in 'The Australian' may be viewed on the Left pro-war website www.lastsuperpower.net/ I supported the US-led war against the Iraqi regime because I oppose fascist dictatorships of any kind, including those originally established by the US itself. I do not accept the logic or the morality of the viewpoint that says one should not support the US overthrow of such a regime because the US helped create it in the first place. A genuine Left position supports the overthrow of fascism by force when necessary and recognizes that bourgeois democracy is qualitatively better than semi-feudal despotism. A social revolution is underway in the Middle East. Bob Gould says that "It is clear the Iraqi people will attempt to take advantage of the fall of Saddam Hussein to achieve freedom of speech, basic trade union rights, (etc)". Saddam, of course, did not "fall". He was toppled, overthrown, and now his state apparatus is being dismantled and replaced. This was only possible because of the US-led war. Modernization and democratization of the region has been the US goal all along. Freedom of speech, etc., are part and parcel of that process. The first non-Ba'athist newspaper to be distributed in Baghdad after the regime's defeat was the 'People's Path', published by the Iraqi Communist Party. The civilian casualities of the war were equal to about a month's tally of murder under the Saddam regime. Bob Gould represents a pseudo-Left position which objectively served, and was applauded by, the regime. Your readers may also like to read the article "WAR FOR PEACE? IT WORKED IN MY COUNTRY", by Jose Ramos Horta, published in the New York Times on 25 February, which argued against the anti-war movement. The URL is: http://usinfo.state.gov/topical/pol/arms/03022504.htm It is right to rebel against reactionaries, Barry York email: [email protected]
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