Issue No. 2, Spring 1993

More of the same — wars, domination and imperialist aggression Clinton’s Policy for the “New World Order” By BARRY SHEPPARD work, the backing off of it doesn’t have the same kind of international concerns” he shift from Bush to Clinton oc as when the Soviet Union existed. In other curred without the slightest dis words, more risks can be taken. turbance to the foreign policies of T Behind the War Against Iraq the outgoing administration. The missile attacks and bombing of Iraq The fact that the transition from Bush initiated by Bush right before the transfer to Clinton has been so smooth does not continued through it and after Clinton took mean there cannot be shifts, even dramatic the helm. The invasion and “pacification” ones, as the situation changes. An example of Somalia proceeds according to plan. was the shift under the Bush administra Clinton stiffened Bush’s policy of refus tion from the Carter-Reagan-Bush strat ing entry to Haitian refugees by throwing egy of backing and arming Iraq against up a blockade of the island nation. The Iran during their long war in the 1980s, trade blockade of Cuba has been tight U.S. Marine kicks Somali youth away from to waging war against Iraq. ened with the new President’s vociferous the gates to Mogadishu’s port. But both the backing of Iraq against Iran support. Possible intervention into Yugo and the subsequent war against Iraq were slavia continues to be weighed. the demise of the Soviet Union this bipar The common policy of the Republicans tisan policy was carried out under the Continued on page 20 and Democrats regarding these hot spots watchword of anticommunism. While this reflects their overall bipartisan foreign slogan can be utilized again, and still is in policy that has been in effect since the the case of Cuba, new slogans and excuses Second World War. are being put forward to justify imperial INSIDE: This bipartisan foreign policy has been ist aggression. based upon defending and extending the These include cynical use of humani interests of the handful of very rich U.S. tarian aid, as in the case of Somalia, or of ABORTION RIGHTS PAGE 8 families who are the real rulers of the United “stopping aggression” by Iraq, or of fight States. They seek to dominate as much of ing the horror of “ethnic cleansing” by IMMIGRATION AND the world as they can, to control raw ma Serbia, etc. TRADE UNION POLICY PAGE 1 0 terials, dominate markets, and secure ar In his confirmation hearings before the eas of foreign investment. In this endeavor, Senate Armed Services Committee, they are in fierce competition with their Clinton’s new Secretary of Defense, Les LENIN ON MARXISM PAGE 1 6 counterparts in the other “advanced” Aspin, explained that the situation fol capitalist countries, especially Germany lowing the “cold war” meant that the U.S. M A L C O L M X andJapan. could step up its use of force around the PAGE 2 4 This policy includes the use of force world. against any peoples who attempt to break “Maybe you use force not to achieve ENVIRONMENT PAGE 2 8 out of such imperialist domination or out something but to punish people for doing of the capitalist system altogether. Up until certain things, “ Aspin said. “If it doesn’t CONTENTS C linto n's P olicy for the N ew W orld Order T he T hree S ources and T hree C omponent Parts of M arxism Barry Sheppard............................................................................. 1 V.l. Lenin................................................................................... 16 V iolence Against Homosexuals on the Increase A ustralia C onference: S ocialism N ow M ore T han Ever Tasso Geist..................................................................................3 Malik Miah................................................................................. 19 California D rywallers S core M ajor V ictory for Labor C risis C reated By W ashington Adam Wood..................................................................................4 Leonard McNeil........................................................................... 21 S tudents and Native A mericans Fight to S ave H istoric Garden A n A narcho-C o m m u n is t V iew po in t: David Turpin, Jr.............................................................................5 W orking T ogether for Liberation Mo Harry....................................................................................23 New Directions For UAW Caroline Lund...............................................................................6 M a lc o lm X and the Fight Against Racism LeeArtz..................................................................................... 24 T he A bortion F ig h t: W here A re W e N ow? Claudette BBgin.............................................................................8 A S trategy for Environmental A ction Democratic Socialist Party of Australia.............................................. 28 Im m igration and T rade U nion P olicy Carl Finamore..............................................................................10 Ga ys, D emocratic Rig h ts, and the M ilitary C. Titus Clark.............................................................................. 29 S outh A frica: La n d, Ra ce, and Revolutionary Politics Barry Sheppard............................................................................12 Letters..................................................................................... 31 Russian Labor Activist Tours S.F. Bay Area Big Business M edia S teps U p C uba-B ashing Interview with Kiril Buketov............................................................. 13 Mo Harry....................................................................................32 JOIN Activists for Independent ^INDEPENDENT I Socialist Politics Jpuncs We are entering the worst capitalist crisis dependent Socialist Politics (AISP) seeks in over 60 years. The collapse of the So to rebuild the socialist movement in the viet Union only exacerbates this process. United States through collaboration and Independent Politics is a socialist magazine Sudden and severe international and do democratic discussions with other activ founded in 1992. Signed articles reflect the views of their authors and publication of an article does not mestic conflicts are inevitable as the rich ists and groups fighting for fundamental necessarily mean agreement with its content. Unless compete with each other for control of social change. We are activists in trade otherwise stated, all materials in Independent Poli markets and resources, tightening screws unions, feminist groups, Black, Latino and tics may be reproduced with acknowledgement. Please on the poor to raise profits. The bulk of Asian groups, student groups, and other send reprints. © Independent Politics 1993 the economic and social burden falls im movements for social change. Closing News Date: February 2, 1993 mediately and most heavily on the working If you agree with this approach and you Editor: Malik Miah people and oppressed of the world. In the would like to participate in effective po Editorial Committee: Alex Chis United States, increased attacks on working litical activity in the central social struggles Claudette Begin people in general are disproportionately of the day, collaborate through open and Suzanne Forsyth affecting women, African-Americans, democratic discussions with other activists Alan Hanger Mo Harry Latinos, Asians/Pacific Islanders, Native and groups in the unions and social Lee Artz (Chicago) American Indians, and youth. movements, and work to rebuild a non Kathleen O’Nan (Los Only a consciously organized and sectarian, fighting American socialist Angeles) militant mass response can resolve the movement, contact Activists for Inde Design and Production: Blue Dog Design deepening crisis in the interests of the pendent Socialist Politics for more infor Business Manager: Alan Hanger Printing: Howard Quinn immense majority of humanity. The key mation. Write to: All correspondence and requests for subscrip is independent political action by the AISP tions, single issues, or bundles should be mailed to: working class. We need to break out of P.O. Box 78241 AISP, P.O. Box 78241, San Francisco, CA 94107. the framework of the two party system San Francisco, CA 94107 Telephone: (415) 337-7959 controlled by the rich. Activists for In (415) 337-7959 INDEPENDENT POLITICS 2 Spring 1993 Violence Against Homosexuals n both legal efforts On the Increase on his promise to pre and random acts vent discrimination of violence, attacks against gays in the I By TASSO GEIST targeting gay and lesbian military. Gay soldiers people are on the in who are “out” and those crease in the United States. A report by roommate were murdered by a who have been forcibly outed are stand the San Francisco-based group Commu firebombing by skinheads. The Gay and ing up and trying to fight back. But the nity United Against Violence indicates that Lesbian Community Center of Colorado issue has exposed gays in the military while nationally attacks against gays and lesbi has documented 166 cases of anti-gay at the same time offerring them no real ans have been on the rise in the 1990s. In violence and harassment in 1992. The legal protection. Consequently, bashing 1991 a total of 1,822 incidents were re against gays in the military has also been ported to agencies in five cities. Compared on the rise. Recently, one gay sailor was to 1990, reported anti-gay incidents in beaten to death by shipmates and his

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