George Bush is once again on the warpath. Four years ago he was preparing to invade Iraq. Now he is preparing for war once more. Again the ostensible reason is �weapons of mass destruction�. In Iran�s case the issue is nuclear weapons. There are significant differences though.
In 2006, George Bush is talking diplomacy as the appropriate means of struggle �at the moment�. He hasn�t ruled out war though. In 2006, Bush is talking United Nations. In 2002 Bush considered the UN an albatross around his neck He argued that it was historically redundant. Some of the more moderate of Bush�s hawkish clan (such as Colin Powell) considered that the process had to go through the UN basically for tactical reasons and for America�s good name in relation to the rest of the world, notably Europe.Effectively, the United Nations for George Bush had the choice of agreeing with America or being made redundant. Obey us, join us in invading Iraq, or else! George indicated that irrespective of whatever the UN decided, US and allies would go ahead anyway!
Some of Bush�s hawks regret this tactical dalliance with the UN because for them it simply meant that Saddam had more time to prepare.
In regards to Iran, Bush is playing softly softly. He is making sure that he has the world behind him. The end-game will be the same. He wants to invade another innocent country. Iran has not invaded anyone and is making no territorial claims.
Some would say that Iran's having nuclear weapons makes it a threat to peace and security. We say: America is not opposed to nuclear weapons. It is just opposed to countries not sympathetic to America's having nuclear weapons. Iran has every right to believe that America is a threat. The US imperialist war drive pushes ahead. Iran is oil rich and a US friendly regime there will help the US to control the whole of the region. The US also wants to wipe out El Quaida which they believe the Iranians are backing it. They also believe that Iran is backing sections of the resistance in Iraq.
Conquering Iran will be no easy task. Overwhelmingly, the population backs the government and share their fanatical religious beliefs. This means fighting for their religion guns in hand. Even those who are opposed to the Mullahs' regime are mainly anti-American. In short, America faces total opposition from a whole country of armed people. They will make Iraq seem like a picnic in comparison. The casualties on America and its allies will be immense.
Revolutionary communists oppose the regime in Iran. We support its military overthrow by revolutionary means. we give military support to those who fight the imperialists when they invade a semi-colony (which Iran effectively is). Internationally there is a clear responsibility for the proletariat to defend Iran. In Australia and elsewhere we must start preparing now!
The US will cover its naked aggression against Iraq through a military coalition. There is only one force which can defeat the imperialist war drive � the working class. Once again, predictable as ever, the Australian left will be building popular fronts aimed at persuading ruling class parties and sections of the ruling class itself of the moral virtues of changing sides. This is an exercise in futility. Bourgeois forces will only join the action if the movement has no working class teeth.
The ruling class do not listen to morality. They listen when their interests are threatened. We must threaten their war effort with working class direct action.