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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>On April 8,2004, Dwane Monroe wrote:</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3>"We would like
to support Iraqi trade unionists and<BR>others with agendas we can understand
and relate to<BR>and who prefer peaceful marches. But it so
happens<BR>that al Sadr, taking into account all the unsavory<BR>things we think
we know about him, is the one who<BR>stepped up to the plate and confronted
imperialism<BR>head to head. And yet, even so, we cannot support him<BR>in
good conscience.<BR><BR>So here we are, opposing imperialism, hoping for
its<BR>relatively gentle end yet stuck with a queasy feeling<BR>about the very
people on the front lines against it<BR>whose goals, if realized, would present
the world with<BR>no improvement.<BR><BR>This is a true dilemma. We need
to recognize it and<BR>deal accordingly."</FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3>xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx</FONT><BR></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Dwane has provided a sober reflection of a current
issue he thinks the left must deal with. I like the tone of
Dwane's post. It stimulated several questions: Must the left
take positions on all or most issues? Is there a main topic for
left analysis and activism (including goals, tactics, and strategy) and
what should it be? </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I'm reminded of several things. Just as the
right must do, much of the left feels obliged to make support-reject decisions
on most every issue it confronts. Much of the left feels a strong need to
be "correct and pure" on all topics, all struggles, all situations. This
is a horrendous task and impossible to achieve. Just making the effort to
be correct on everything is all-consuming, and may distract from or replace
other important things such as strategizing and organizing for change in
the domestic political situation, which logically is the first step toward
change in imperial policy. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Even though some of my best friends are Greens, I
think so many in that party (and allied groups) unduly focus on their personal
purity; almost religious in zeal. The harder left has always been
burdened with a perceived need to support tendencies or states or whatever that
appear to be progressive or potentially supportive of a particular line. I
suppose that's from a Leninist-like legacy coming out of the
responsibilities of revolutionary leadership. Analyses must be made and
lines must be changed to meet the exigencies of changing conditions. Well,
many misjudgments were made because conditions always change. And
sometimes the left was quite ignorant of the situations being
evaluated. Nevertheless, a judgment was required.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>In Condi Rice's three hour testimony to the 9-11
Commission today she harped on strategy and tactics that clearly were
in support of imperial policy. She engaged in her mission
professionally. But I was struck with certitude that the left must
also engage in strategy and tactics to change the very structure of power right
here at home. Some change may come from the mass persuasion of street
actions, but I believe the task is much more fundamental and
difficult.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Regarding the specifics in Iraq, U. S. Labor
Against the War decided to support Iraqi labor. Since labor is basic,
preceding before and continuing after al Sadr and others step up to the
plate, USLAW put forth both a long and short-range principle. Whether
Kurd, Sunni, or Shia, survival and freedom require making a living. That's
labor. The left must find common dimensions to work with that apply across
the board. Labor is a good beginning.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Bob Mast</DIV></FONT></BODY></HTML>