April 2, 1999
An Afro-American view on War Against Yugoslavia
The U.S. and various European countries have joined forces under the
banner of NATO to wage war on Yugoslavia. This ferocious attack has been
carried out under the guise of defending the rights and lives of the
Kosovo Albanians. Nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, the
ruling classes of the U.S. and European capitalist states are intent on
securing the Balkans in the name of their own narrow political and
economic interests.
To understand these events, it's necessary to see the Balkans in a larger,
regional context. The Balkans sit astride historic trade routes. They are
the gateway between Europe and the Middle East. For the capitalists,
control of the Balkans is key to having control of and access to the oil
and other wealth of the Middle East and the Caspian Sea region. The U.S.
has historically dominated the world's economy through the control of oil,
and is intent on maintaining this control.
Secondly, the capitalist governments are bent on destroying any vestiges
of socialism that remain in Yugoslavian society. They want to bring the
country to its knees and put in power a government that will guarantee
that Yugoslavia does not emerge as a communist country.
The assault on Yugoslavia is also an aspect of the consolidation of global
capitalism. This consolidation includes an ongoing process of smashing
national sovereign rights in order to force the world's people to submit
to the globalization of the market.
The tactics of the U.S. and NATO beg certain questions. The U.S. and its
"allies" claim they are acting to protect the rights and safety of the
Albanian minority within Yugoslavia. Yet clearly the U.S. and NATO are not
so concerned, for example, about the rights of the Kurds in Turkey, the
Irish in the United Kingdom, or the Puerto Rican political prisoners in
the U.S. Indeed, where was the concern for "human rights" when the U.S.
sponsored the butchering of thousands of people in Guatemala in recent
decades? And if it is now U.S. policy to intervene in other countries to
"defend" national minorities, one wonders which country is next, and what
the consequences might be.
Also, what will be the impact of the war and its aftermath in Europe? The
Kosovar Albanians will not settle for the "regional autonomy" that Clinton
has promised them. They will fight for independence, and their fight will
spark a sympathetic struggle by the Albanian minorities in surrounding
countries, such as Macedonia. The implication is the creation of a large,
poor Greater Albania, something adamantly opposed by the rulers of
neighboring countries such as Greece and Italy. Thus, while the
capitalists seek to stabilize the Balkans under their rule, their
intervention will promote further resistance and instability.
In short, the U.S. and European capitalists have opened a Pandora's box
with their murderous assault on Yugoslavia. Their economic interests
compelled them to intervene, yet their intervention has unleashed forces
they cannot control. The attack has evoked worldwide opposition,
particularly from the populations of Europe and Russia. Russia, which has
historic ethnic and religious ties to the Serbs, could well be
destabilized by events set in motion by the war, with profound
consequences for the world. Even in the U.S., support for the war appears
weak.
Where do the interests of the world's people lie in all of this? They do
not lie in supporting wars that are aimed only at securing the interests
of a handful of wealthy capitalists. Global capitalism is creating a
global class of destitute people whose common interest is in building new,
cooperative societies where no one is homeless or hungry. This will be the
foundation for a peaceful, prosperous world.
---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Sun, 28 Mar 1999 17:58:34 -0800 (PST)
From: Speakers for a New America (speakers@mcs.net)
To: brc-news@igc.org
Subject: [BRC-NEWS] War Against Yugoslavia
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The following is a statement by the League of Revolutionaries for a New
America on the War Against Yugoslavia.
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Speakers are available through Speakers for a New America. Call
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information call 1-800-691-6888.
This article originated in the PEOPLE'S TRIBUNE/TRIBUNO DEL PUEBLO (Online
Edition), Vol. 26 No. 4/ April, 1999; P.O. Box 3524,Chicago, IL 60654;
Email: pt@noc.org; http://www.lrna.org. Feel free to reproduce and use
unless marked as copyrighted. The PEOPLE'S TRIBUNE/TRIBUNO DEL PUEBLO
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