Democratic Left: after the war

Wojtek Sokolowski sokol at jhu.edu
Wed Jun 16 08:26:03 PDT 1999


At 07:45 AM 6/15/99 +0100, Chris Burford posted:
>-------------------------------------------------------------
>The following emergency resolution was passed at Democratic Left's
>National Conference weekend, 5/6 June 1999:
>-------------------------------------------------------------
>
>Recognising that members of Democratic Left disagree strongly
>about the war in former Yugoslavia, this conference nevertheless
>believes that, in the aftermath of the war, DL should seek to influence
>public debate about future defence and security policy in Europe.
>In particular, we ask the new EC to consider, as a matter of priority,
>convening a broad-based conference to discuss the following issues:
>
>* the safety and well-being of the Kosovo Albanians and all
> other victims of the break-up of Yugoslavia
>
>* the physical, economic and social reconstruction of Serbia and its
> re-integration within the international community
>
>* the steps that need to be taken to secure a wider regional settlement,
> including the possibility of a pan-European conference on the Balkans
> and the establishment of an intergovernmental Balkan Council
>
>* the reform of and relationship between NATO, the UN, the EU and
> the OSCE
>
>* the balance between military force, international diplomacy and
> social development as instruments of security policy and the role of
> non-government and community organisations as agents of conflict
> prevention
>
>* the promotion of multi-cultural institutions and norms as integral
> elements of European civilisation
>
>* the revision and updating of just war doctrines to take account of the
> causes of modern wars and the nature of modern warfare
>
>* the regulation of the arms trade, the prevention of nuclear
> proliferation and the pursuit of nuclear disarmament
>

They forget to add feel-good psychological counseling to treat the effects of hangover resulting from selling out one's principles.

This whole stuff reads like Blarite PR bullshit targeting limousine liberals and yuppie audiences. Yeah, this is the end of the Left as we know it.

wojtek



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