>First, the anti-imperial states in the present circumstances are not the
>semi-socialist newly decolonized regimes of the post-WWII period that
>progressives felt were uniformly worth protecting from the emerging
>capitalist order.
I agree. but this was always more or less the case as far as I can tell. the left's historical laziness in privileging support for nation-states over support for a project (socialism, communism) has returned to haunt both marxists and left-liberals alike. to the extent to which there was less of a contradiction between the two, the contradiction could be evaded. no longer.
Nathan, I agree with you that the neat anti-imperialist (soft leninist) position of many on the left is now clearly redundant, as you know. but this has never once compelled me into supporting NATO intervention. these are not the only options. despite your astute criticisms of the repetition of cold war analogy, I think you come down to simply reversing this with a support for NATO (or the UN, as have others) as the only available option. this is a sign of defeat for the left, not to mention the working class around the world. rallying round either of these options will not strengthen the working class -- quite the opposite.
as for alternatives: we might need to recall how the left internationally goes about allying itself with movements which are not 'in government'. they may well be small in the ex-yu, as elsewhere, but they are there. and, my problem with NATO's war is that this war is already resulting in the marginalisation and defeat of those movements. this is not 'doing nothing', even though it is certainly not as immediate as we would like. I am wondering why, instead of seeking out forces within the ex-yu to support and ally yourself with (and I clearly do not mean the Belgrade govt), it has been considered a much better option to support NATO intervention. this is a recipe for defeat, for both the ex-yu working class and the working class in the US. _____________________________
from: http://www.marxist.com/Europe/dragan.html
Letter from Belgrade
[...] Imperialistic, NATO aggression against Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY) is fastening the process of devastation of our society, gathering people around Slobodan Milosevic, totalitarist, and the worst ruler in several hundred years history of Serbian people. He participated in breaking the former (big) socialistic Yugoslavia, which was broken into FRY (Serbia and Montenegro), Croatia, Slovenia, Bosnia und Mazedonia; and was assisted by burgeous governments of USA, Germany and other western countries. Now, the same capitalist regimes are giving him excuse (by direct military attack) for silent elimination of free media, intellectuals and any other potential danger to his rule.[...]"
Angela --- rcollins at netlink.com.au