NOVEMBER 27, 1981 75 CENTS VOLUME 45/NUMBER 44 .

A SOCIALIST NEWSWEEKLY/PUBLISHED IN THE INTERESTS OF THE WORKING PEOPLE 1cara• ua, rena a on aert As evidence grows of U.S. military plans By Fred Murphy that "'you're not going to get El Sal­ Evidence continues to mount that vador' and make them believe it." the Reagan administration and its re­ "Something must be done to bring gional allies are preparing to take these bandits under control," Nutting military action in Central America said. and the Caribbean. Cuba, Nicaragua, These and similar declarations and Grenada are on military alert in serve to confirm warnings by the Cu­ expectation of imminent counterrevo­ ban and Nicaraguan governments lutionary attacks. that imperialist military actions The most ominous U.S. statements against their countries or in El Salva­ thus far came November 12, when Se­ dor are now being prepared. cretary of State Alexander Haig testi­ Armies on alert fied before the Foreign Affairs Com­ The Cuban armed forces have been mittee of the House of Representa­ on full alert since October 31. In Nica­ tives. ragua, the Sandinista People's Army "Can you provide this committee · and the popular militias have been in and this Congress with an assurance a similar state of readiness since No­ that the United States is not and will vember 8. The island of Grenada in not participate or encourage in any the eastern Caribbean -whose revo- · way, direct or indirect, efforts to ove~­ lutionary government has also been throw or destabilize the current gov­ the target of U.S. threats mid pres­ ernment of Nicaragua?" Haig was sures - is on military alert as well. asked. Appeals have come from all three "No, I would not give you such an countries for solidarity actions to get assurance," Haig replied. out the truth about Washington's On November 15, Lt. Gen. Wallace moves. Nutting, chief of the U.S. Southern The Soviet Union has warned Command in Panama, declared that Washington of the grave results an the situation in El Salvador is "fra­ attack on Cuba could have. "Recent­ Barricada gile" and that Washington had to ly, the campaign of malicious attacks Militia Reserve Battalion 95-32 from Managua's San Judas neighborhood make it clear to the rebel forces there against the republic of Cuba has in- leaves to take up positions on Nicaragua's Atlantic Coast, November 10. - with military force if necessary - Continued on page 4 Report fro.m Havana: 'We are without fear' ban revolution." Washington, he said, By Larry Seigle Caye; Huese . ... · ~Nassau . HAVANA - With calm determi­ is "also threatening to intervene in \ ·:...• .... . nation, Cuba remains mobilized in Nicaragua, in El Salvador, in Central · • \ Isles Behemes the face of continuing threats from America." '"I • Washington. The response ofthe Cuban people to this speech was immediate and dra­ The army reserves and portions of matic. Beginning the day after the the territorial troop militia are on speech, people throughout the island alert. Workers in public health and took to the streets in marches and ral­ other sectors that would be involved lies with handmade signs and ban~ 1il case of an attack or other military ners to register their support. Demon­ emergency remain on twenty-four­ strations were organized by unions, hour call. student organizations in the high Billboards across the island carry schools and universities, the CDRs, the slogan, "We are absolutely with­ the Federation of Cuban Women and out fear!" the National Association of Small On October 24, Fidel Castro set the Farmers. tone of the Cuban response to reports In Havana on November 1 - a that the United States is planning Sunday - demonstrators assembled military action against Central outside the People's Power assembly America or th~ Caribbean. for the central section of Havana, Speaking at the second congress of which was in session. The streets the Committees for the Defense of the were jammed with people. Contin­ Revolution (CDRs), he said, "If we are gents were organized by student or­ not capable of defending ourselves, ganizations from area schools, and we can't expect solidarity from any­ workers were mobilized by their CDR one. If we are capable of defending chapters. . ourselves, then we will see what hap­ Signs and banners said, "Cuba will pens. That will be decided by history never surrender," and "Fidel, tell us and the way in which everyone ful­ what more we have to do." One quote fills their duty of solidarity to the Cu- Continued on page 7 In Our Opinion VOLUME 45/NUMBER 44 NOVEMBER 27, 1981 CLOSING NEWS DATE-NOVEMBER 18

The fact is that Nicaragua's Government of ration and friendship to our brothers and sisters Scurrilous resolution National Reconstruction does represent the in Nicaragua, and opposes the war moves of the The AFL-CIO convention that met in New workers and farmers - the majority - against bosses' government. York City this week adopted, with no discus­ the bosse·s. sion, a scurrilous resolution attacking the Nica­ In the past two years, despite the extreme raguan revolution. poverty of the country, Nicaragua has made tre­ Chance to discuss This adds the voice of the labor officialdom to mendous strides forward in health, education, On November 20-22, the second National La­ the shameless chorus of lies and slanders by the land reform, workers' rights and wages, and de­ bor Safe Energy and Full Employment Confer­ big-business media. And this at a time when the mocratic rights. ence will be held in Gary, Indiana. This meeting Reagan administration is looking for any pre­ The Council of State, which is the national offers an excellent opportunity for unionists to text to move militarily against the government legislative body, includes official representa­ discuss some important matters facing working established by Nicaragua's working people. tives of the trade unions (including the CUS and people that were taken up badly, or not at all, by The AFL-CIO resolution claims that "the rev­ the CNT), the Indian minorities, the mass or­ the AFL-CIO convention. olution which deposed the tyrannical Somoza ganizations of women, youth, and neighborhood First is the threat of imminent military regime now threat~ ns to be more oppressive defense committees, the Catholic clergy, and the moves by Washington against Cuba, Nicara­ than its predecessor." It accuses the Sandinista universities. gua, Grenada, and the struggle of the oppreseed National Liberation Front (FSLNJ-led govern­ Even a CUS leader was forced to admit in a people- of El Salvador. Getting out the facts ment of trying to "silence all democratic opposi­ recent interview, "We believe that the Council about these developments and organizing pro­ tion." of State is an institution where we can freely tests against them are especially important re­ What "faCts" are mustered to support these discuss and dissent. We are taking advantage of sponsibilities for labor activists. outrageous assertions? its openness . . . to explain our point of view Second, these moves are occurring in the con­ The resolution says leaders of the "democratic about the national situation." text of the Reagan administration's military trade union movement" - the Confederation of The AFL-CIO also charges that "various build-up, including the expansion of its nuclear Trade Union Unification (CUS) and the Confed­ Christian denominations . . . have been the arsenal. Washington's plans to station nuclear­ eration of Nicaraguan Workers (CTN)- are be­ subject of religious persecutions." tipped missiles in Europe, along with fiendish ing unjustly persecuted by the FSLN. This is an out-and-out lie. neutron bombs, have spurred massive mobiliza­ But far from being democratic, the CUS col­ Last year, the FSLN issued a statement on ' tions in most European countries. In this coun­ laborated for years with the Somoza dictator­ "The Role of Religion in the new Nicaragua." It try thousands have participated in p,ublic meet­ ship against opposition. forces in the trade included the following: ''The FSLN sees freedom ings against nuclear weapons during the past unions. to profess a religious faith as an inalienable week. Since the revolution, both of these organiza­ right which is fully guaranteed by the revolu­ The struggle against nuclear weapons and tions have consistently sided with the bosses tionary government." their continued production is not only part of the against the workers. This statement continues to guide the govern­ fight against the employers' war drive; it's also Consequently, the CUS and CTN have been ment's actions. linked to their decision to press ahead with the sharply criticized by both the Sandinista gov­ The AFL-CIO's miserable resolution ends use of nuclear power plants. ernment and other unionists. with a call to the "international labor move­ The Reagan administration is pushing ahead And that's also why these unions are tiny ment . . . to take appropriate action . . . to re­ with measures that can speed-up the licensing compared to the pro-revolution Sandinista verse this disturbing trend" of the Nicaraguan of nuclear power plants, including the country's Workers Federation, which organizes 85 per­ revolution. first breeder reactor in Clinch River, Tennessee. cent of the workforce. But U.S. workers have every reason to ap­ They are doing this in the face of many new The resolution complains that "elections have plaud the gains made by-the workers and farm­ , revelations about the hazards of nuclear power. been postponed until 1985." ers of Nicaragua as they use their government For t!'xample, the pressure around reactor cores But Nicaraguans do vote- in the mass or­ to advance their interests. has caused steel to·turn brittle after only four ganizations and the unions. Through these or­ And we should respond with solidarity, not years. Other reactors have rusting and d~Iiting ganizations, they directly participate in making condemnation. in the generator system. economic, social, and political decisions. The "Eyeglasses for Nicaragua" campaign The bureaucrats at the AFL-CIO convention launched by the United Steelworkers last year concentrated their attention on how to get more was a step in that direction. Democrats elected in 1982. Iranian soldier in danger If we're going to condemn anyone, top on our But the Democrats, no more tha~ the Republi­ As we go to press, we have learned that Ardeshir list should be Washington, Wall Street, and the cans, are not taking the side of working people Farzan, a soldier in the Iranian army and an anti­ imperialist militant, will go on trial November 20 Pentagon, wh9 are conspiring to follow up their in the fight against the employers' drive to de­ in Kerman. He is charged with belonging to the economic and political destabilization attempts fend their profits at home and abroad and their Fedayeen Minority. Farzan does riot belong to the with military intervention against the Nicara­ plans to keep building nuclear weapons and group. guan people. power plants. Supporters of Farzan fear his life is in extreme Attacking fellow workers in other countries, That is why those gathered at the Gary con­ danger. They ask that supporters of the Iranian and lining up our unions with the labor-haters ference should discuss how the labor movement revolution immediately send telegrams to Mr. Fal­ in the White House, weakens workers in this can develop an independent course. It's a good lahi, Prosecutor, Revolutionary Courts, Kerman, cou.ntry. occasion to discuss the merits of the unions Iran. Working people need a foreign policy of our fielding labor candidates in 1982 as a step to­ own. One that stretches out the hand of collabo- ward establishing a labor party.

The Militant Editors: CINDY JAQUITH Reader sends 8500 to get out the truth DOUG JENNESS Business Manager: NANCY ROSENSTOCK Editorial Staff: Connie Allen, Nelson Blackstock, "Please use the enclosed to help in the campaign to get and must be defended." Steve Bride, Fred Feldman. Nelson Gonzalez, Wil· out the truth about U.S. threats against Cuba, Nicaragua, To aid in that defense we need your help. Won't you send liam Gottlieb, Suzanne Haig, Margaret Jayko. Harry. Ring. Stu Singer, Larry Seigle. Grenada, and El Salvador," said the letter from a reader. It a contribution today? Just fill in the coupon below and mail it was accompanied by a check for $500. Published weekly except two weeks in Au­ with whatever you can afford. gust, the last week of December, and the first This week we bring you first-hand coverage from Havana week of January by the Militant (ISSN 0026- by former Militant editor Larry Seigle. He provides an exclu­ 3885), 14 Charles Lane, New York, N.Y sive look at the Cuban mass mobilizations in response to the 10014. Telephone: Editorial Office, (212) new dangers. 243-6392; Business Office, (212) 929-3486. I WANT TO HELP. Enclosed is my contribution In addition to eyewitness coverage like this, we have ex­ Correspondence concerning subscrip­ panded our press run to get extra copies into the hands of of $10_, $50_, $100_, $500_, tions or changes of_address should be addressed to The Militant Business Of­ supporters. other$ ___ flee, 14 Charles Lane, New York, N.Y. The letter quoted above continued : "It was one year ago 10014. • this month that I was fortunate enough to go to Cuba on a Name ______Second-class postage paid at New York, tour sponsored by the Militant and Perspectiva Mundial. Like N.Y. Subscriptions: U.S. $24.00 a year, out· everyone else on the tour I was inspired by the Cuban Revo- Street ______side U.S. $30.00. By first-class mail : U.S , Canada, and Mexico: $60.00. Write for air· lution and the international consciousness of the Cuban peo- . S t pie. ·City Z1p ta e ___ mail rates to all other countries. Signed articles by contributors do not necessarily "Cuba, Nicaragua, Grenada, and [the rebels in El Salva- Send to : The Militant, 14 Chprles Lane, New York, represenUhe Militant's views. These are expressed dor] are not backing down in the face of imperialist threats N.Y. 10014 in editorials.

2 THE MILITANT NOVEMBER '1,7, 1981 U.S. MILITARY THREAT Nicaraguans brace for attack 'We want to build our country ... and defend it' own problems. They certainly have plenty. They should put their own house in order, and maybe in that way they could set an example for others." Presidents can lie Nicaraguans have not let down their guard as a result of Reagan's November 10 assurances that he had no plans to send U.S. troops into combat in the Car­ ibbean or anywhere else in the world. "We should remember what President Kennedy did," said Barricada's lead sto­ ry November 11. "He assured the world that he not intend to send his sol­ diers against Cuba, and in fact he didn't. But mercenaries that had been armed, trained, and financed by Washington were landed at the Bay of Pigs." That same day, Barricada ran a photo of U.S. combat troops landing in Egypt for anti-Libyan maneuvers. In spite of the state of preparedness required by the mounting international Intercontinental PrP.ss/ t·rP.rt crisis, life in Nicaragua ., goes on very Nicaraguan peQple are proud of support to their sisters and brothers in El Salvador. Together they will stand up to U.S. ag­ much as normal. There are more sol­ gression. Above is a demonstration in January 1981, in Managua. diers around town, but by and large the atmosphere is calm, as people go to work, organize to bring in the coffee By Matilde Zimmermann carry out attacks on Honduran peas­ The U.S. government has also lashed harvest, and carry out ongoing health MANAGUA- "We are more than ants. He warned both the Nicaraguan out at Nicaragua because of the publica­ and education campaigns. just worried," a representative of the and Honduran people to be on guard tion here of a German reporter's charge Ironically, just when Haig started Sandinista National Liberation Front against such a provocation. that thirteen members of the U.S. em­ talking about "military options" against (FSLN) told Intercontinental Press No­ A few days later, a coalition of thirty bassy in Managua work for the CIA. Nicaragua, the whole country was on a vember 12. The same day, U.S. Con­ labor, political, and religious groups in This news was reported in the No­ mobilization footing, not for defense but gressman Michael Barnes said in Wash­ Honduras charged that ex-National vember 6 issue of the independent daily for a massive antimalaria campaign. ington that if he were in Nicaragua he Guardsmen were actively preparing in­ El Nuevo Diario. . On November 4, 5, and 6, some 85,000 would be building a bomb shelter. cidents designed to provoke a war be­ Father Miguel D'Escoto, the foreign young brigade . members and almost The general feeling here in Nicaragua tween Honduras and Nicaragua. The minister of Nicaragua, answered these 200,000 helpers were mobilized to ad- · is that the danger of some type of foreign coalition listed the estates of wealthy complaints at a November 9 news con­ minister three days of medication to attack is now real and immediate, and ranchers where these preparations were ference. every person over twelve months of age that the U.S. government has made a under way. These groups also warned "There is freedom of the press in Nica­ in the entire country. No other country firm decision to take whatever meas­ that the terrorists had obtained Sandi­ ragua. The government of the United in the world has ever attempted to erad­ ures it can to overturn the Sandinista nista army uniforms. States has no business protesting to the icate malaria through this type of si­ revolution. Nicaraguan government about the pub­ multaneous treatment of the whole pop­ The Sandinista People's Army has U;S. propaganda campaign lication of this information. Did they by ulation. been placed on a state of alert, and all Secretary of State Haig has threa­ any chance bother to consult with us be­ leaves and vacations have been sus­ tened to strangle the Nicaraguan revo­ fore firing the air controllers in the 'A book and a rifle' pended. On November 8, military pre­ lution, and the U.S. destabilization plan United States, and then outlawing the Two days later the country wound up paredness exercises were carried out in has been moving ahead on a number of trade union these workers belong to? a special month-long campaign to build installations around the country. fronts. Nicaraguan Agrarian Reform "The whole world knows who is prov­ new libraries. "We have to transform Recruitment to the People's Militias Minister Jaime Wheelock charged No­ oking this crisis and who is responsible Nicaragua into one giant library," said and to the militia reserve ballalions has vember 5, on his way to attend a United for expanding the Salvadoran conflict to Commander Tomas Borge at the open­ also been stepped up._The neighborhood Nations Food and Agriculture Organi­ the rest of the region. They have not ing of a · new children's library No­ Sandinista Defense Committees have zation meeting in Rome, that ·the U.S. learned, and they do not seem capable of vember 8. "But at the same time we had special meetings in some places to government was threatening to cut off understanding, that we are the ones have to transform Nicaragua into one explain the seriousness of the situation. meat imports from Nicaragua. who are going to have to solve our own big battle trench." At one such meeting in a neighborhood U.S. pressure has already led to the problems. And I'll give them a piece of "Every Nicaraguan," Borge said, in the town of Leon, for example, twenty suspension of a $30 million Inter-Amer­ advice, ·which is that they solve their Continued on page 15 new people, most of them women, signed ican Development Bank Loan that was up for the militia. to be used to rebuild Nicaragua's devas­ tated fishing fleet. According to junta 'Revolutionary vigilance' member Sergio Ramirez, suspension of New from Pathfinder There has also been increased partici­ this loan will seriously aggravate an al­ pation in what is known here as "revolu­ ready critical economic situation. Nicaragua: tionary vigilance." This consists of vo­ The increasingly menacing propagan­ An introduction lunteer civilian guard duty and night­ da campaign against Nicaragua in the to the Sandinista time patrols of factories, workplaces, U.S. press can only be designed to pre­ and communities, and is organized by pare. the American people to accept Revolution the Sandinista Defense Committees. some new military intervention in Cen­ By Arnold Weissberg, Managua correspondent for The evening of November 11 there tral America. 'Intercontinental Press,' was a protest demonstration by armed. An important part ofthis propaganda 48 pp., $.95. members of the militia from the central campaign is the charge that Nicaragua neighborhoods of Managua, and in a is "totalitarian," that democratic rights The Struggle number of places there have been bon­ are being violated. To fuel this cam­ fires and other traditional Nicaraguan paign, a delegation from the Inter­ for Freedom street protests. American Press Association, an organi­ in Guatemala A direct intervention or blockade in­ zation of newspaper owners, arrived in volving U.S. troops is not the only type Nicaragua November 11 to investigate By Anibal Yanez, 32 pp., $.75. of military action the Nicaraguans fear. allegations that the right-wing .daily La Encouraged by war threats from Rea­ Prensa is being persecuted. The associa­ gan and Haig, former members of the tion's concept of freedom of the press is Also Available: overthrown dictator Somoza's National that whoever owns the presses gets El Salvador: The Grenada Guard are stepping up their· activity in the freedom. Revolution Honduras and Costa Rica. The head of the delegation is Charles Why the U.S. In mid-October, a group ofSomozaists Scripps, president of the giant Scripps­ government at Work hijacked a plane in Costa Rica, obtained Howard newspaper chain in the United hides the truth By W. Richard Jacobs, Grenada's the release qf other ex-National Guards­ States. One member of the delegation is Ambassador to Cuba men who were in prison for bombing a a publisher from Argentina, where jour­ By Fred Murphy, 32 pp., $.95. progressive radio station, and took off nalists· have been tortured and mur­ Order from Pathfinder Press, 410 for El Salvador. dered. So there would be something Grenada: Revolution Nicaraguan Commander Luis Car­ laughable about this gang's concern for West Street. New York, N.Y. 10014. rion charged November 4..that groups of freedom of the press here if their visit in the Caribbean Add $. 75 for postage. Send for a free ex-National Guardsmen in Honduras was not part of the concerted and power­ By Sam Manuel and Andrew Pulley catalog of socialist books and were planning to disguise themselves as ful campaign to discredit and destabilize 36 pp.' $. 95. pamphlets. members of the Sandinista army and Nicaragua.

I'IOVEMBER 27, 1981 THE MILITANT 3 U.S. MILITARY THREAT

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Latin American mmlary chleis met In Washi~gton November 3-5 tor Conference o: Am;ican Armies. Ac:ording to November 6 'Washington P:st. •~!.;.,ering ~foc­ used specifically on El Salvador and U.S. charges of Nicaraguan and Cuban involvement there.'

• • • evidence grows of .U.S. plans Continued from page 1 letter. . . ." This conveniently left out Latin American troops which, after at­ "yet another long step . . . toward Cu­ tensified notably in the United States," the fact that the original source of the taining a consensus to the different ar­ ban-style totalitarianism in Nicara­ Soviet Defense Minister Dimitri Ustin­ charges "in the press" was none other mies, could be given legitimacy through gua." ov said in a November 7 speech in Mos­ than the U.S. government. the Organization of American States." But what really upsets the U.S. impe­ cow. "The government of the United Such an OAS "peacekeeping force" rialists and their media mouthpieces is States should ponder the consequences U.S. policy not working provided the cover for the U.S. invasion the fact that Nicaragua is the freest that could derive from such actions." Nicaraguan leader Daniel Ortega has of the Dominican Republic in 1965. But country in all Central America, and offered a concise explanation for the a 1979 attempt by the Carter adminis­ that the Sandinistas are taking the Venezuelan President Luis Herrera U.S. slanders. "Washington has recog­ tration to carry out such an intervention steps necessary to insure that it stays Campins told the press during a visit to nized that its policy [in El Salvador] of against the Sandinista rebels in Nicara­ that way. Washington November 17 that his gov­ elections with repression is not work­ gua failed to gain the support of Latin The Nicaraguan toilers and their al­ ernment opposed any military interven­ ing," Ortega told correspondent Alan American regimes in the OAS. lies in Cuba, El Salvador, and Grenada tion in Nicaragua. On November 12, Riding of the New York Times "So it is need to know that they are not alone in Venezuelan Foreign Minister Jose Zam­ left with an intervention. But it needs a 'Nicaragua is a. lost cause' their fight. "We must alert world opin­ brano said his country "opposes any •pretext and that has to be Nicaragua, One aim of the current verbal es~ala­ ion and American opinion," Cuban Min­ form of military intervention in Cuba." Cuba, and the Soviet Union. So it in­ tion against Nicaragua may be to lay ister of Culture Armando Hart told the Likewise, Peruvian President Fernando vents arms shipments, 500 Cubans and the basis for a fresh counterrevolution­ Paris daily Le Monde during a visit to Belaunde said November 8 in Lima that 1,000 planes from Vietnam to create a ary initiative through the OAS. that capital that began November 6. Ac­ "we will not support any intervention" whole climate to justify an intervention Speaking to a convention of realtors cording toLe Monde, Hart "says he is in Central America. in the region" (Times, November 10). in Miami on November 16, Vice-presi­ persuaded that a new U.S. action of the But there has been no indication that dent George Bush said he wanted to Vietnam type would call forth a new rise the U.S. rulers are backing off from At a November 10 news conference, President Reagan reaffirmed what he "send this message to the Sandinista of public protest in the United States it­ their military preparations. Haig's con­ leadership: the time has come for you to self. In any case, he is counting on U.S. gressional testimony came less than a called "our interest in preserving the Americas from this kind of exported rev­ decide." He demanded the Nicaraguan public opinion and on the action of week after he personally confirmed that leaders reject their current course to­ North American intellectuals who are such plans were being made. olution, the - this expansionist policy that is coming by way of, I think, the So­ ward what he called "madness and opposed to any intervention." The day before Haig refused to pre­ ruin." Such opinion certainly exists. It is one clude U.S. action against Nicaragua, viet[s] and the Cubans." The U.S. press seized on Reagan's as­ Similar attacks were launched by of the factors the warmakers must take Salvadoran Defense Minister Jose Guil­ Haig in his November 12 testimony be­ into account as they lay their plans. But lermo Garcia was quoted in an exclusive sertion that "we have no plans for put­ ting Americans in combat any place in fore the Foreign Affairs Committee of to be effective in halting intervention, interview with the Washington Post as the House of Representatives. The se­ such opinion must be mobilized. Suppor­ calling for a blockade of Nicaragua. the world," but took scant notice of his refusal to disavow the reports that other cretary of state accused Nicaragua of ters of the Cuban revolution and other Garcia was asked, the Post said, kinds of U.S. military moves are in prep­ "moving toward totalitarian govern­ solidarity and peace organizations are "whether his military problems would aration. ment" and building up an army that organizing picket lines and demonstra­ be solved by a blockade that would pre­ As Daniel Ortega pointed out, Wash­ "can only be a force for aggression and tions in a number of U.S. cities for No­ vent Cuba and other possible suppliers ington faces a deteriorating situation in the expansion of Marxist-Leninist poli­ vember 21. from shipping arms into Nicaragua so El Salvador. Reagan acknowledged that cy in the hemisphere." Eight U.S. Representatives, members they can be smuggled to the guerrillas "there may be something of a stalemate "The situation in Nicaragua is very, of the Congressional Black Caucus, sent in El Salvador. He answered: 'yes.'" in the inability to bring about a quick very disturbing," Haig said. "I think we a letter to Secretary Haig on November On November 17, "the Wa shington military solution" i~ El Salvador. Re­ can't delude ourselves as Americans 10 demanding evidence of the U.S. Post reported that "Informed U.S. gov­ ports from the scene indicate that things about that and then wonder perhaps six charges against Cuba. "The implication ernment sources said that among op­ are far worse than that for the imperial­ months or a year from now what hap­ of any military action is extremely dan­ tions being studied by the administra­ ists and their junta. pened that we have another Cuba on gerous and a direct threat to . world tion is a Latin and South American na­ this hemisphere and perhaps the expan­ peace," the Black members of Congress val force that would blockade or inter­ Desperate straits sion of this disease throughout Central warned. dict suspicious shipping headed for the "The Salvadoran Army has lost con­ America." Elsewhere, some actions have already Nicaraguan coast.... " trol of approximately one-fourth of El When the U.S. rulers say "another taken place. Thousands have marched Salvador's territory to guerrilla forces, Cuba," what they mean is extension of in Peru and Ecuador. On November 14, U.S. ducks challenge Washington Po!it correspondent Alma the socialist revolution. They cannot tol­ hundreds picketed the U.S. embassy in The main weapon in the propaganda Guillermoprieto reported in a dispatch erate other Cotlntries following Cuba's London, chanting "Cuba si,- Yankee no!" arsenal against Nicaragua and Cuba· is · printed November 10. example of abolishing capitalist exploi­ The Chamber of Deputies of the Mexi­ the claim that they are providing arms tation and imperialist domination and can Congress sent a message of solidar­ to the popular forces fighting the U.S.­ Although the State Department has voiced putting the nation's affairs into the ity to the National Assembly of People's backed junta in El Salvador. That increasing concern over the development of a hands of working people. Power in Cuba on November 13. "We charge remains unsubstantiated, de­ military "stalemate" between the guerrillas The imperialists have now concluded reiterate once again the Mexican posi­ spite repeated challenges to Washing­ and the government, tours outside the capital that working-class power in Nicaragua tion in defense of the self-determination into the countryside indicate that the stale­ ton by both governments to come up mate \'{as broken some time ago and that the has been consolidated. "Barring a mira­ of peoples arid especially the right.ofthe with even a shred of hard evidence. guerrilla Farabundo Marti National Libera­ cle, Nicl;lragua is a lost cause," a U.S. of­ Cuban people to freely forge their own . Fidel Castro even took the unusual tion Front (FMLN) is now gaining ground ficial in Latin America told Newsweek future without foreign interference," step for a head of state of dispatching faster than government troops can hold it. magazine, "and Ronald Reagan is going the message said. letters to the editors of the Washington to make sure it doesn't take anybody Jose Francisco Peila Gomez, president. Post and New York Times. The letter Aware that the Salvadoran armed for­ else in the region with it." for Latin America of the Socialist Inter­ published in the Post November 11 reit­ ces alone cannot defeat the FMLN mil­ This means punishing Nicaragua and national, said November 8 that "we op­ erated earlier calls from Havana for itarily, Washington has been readying crushing the revolution in El Salvador. pose aU .S. invasion of any Latin Amer­ proof of "Cuba's alleged participation in plans for intervention by foreign troops. "We've taken off the kid gloves" in deal­ ican country." Pen a Gomez is a leader of recent arms shipments to the Salvado­ Argentine military leaders have public­ ing with Nicaragua, a U.S. official in the ruling party in the Dominican Re­ ran revolutionary forces and the send­ ly offered to send forces to El Salvador, Managua told Newsweek. public, and in 1965 fought the U.S. ma­ ing of Cuban military advisers to coop­ and on November 8 a top-level U.S. mil­ The big-business news media in the rines that invaded his country. erate with them." itary delegation headed by Vice-admiral United States have fallen into line with In Panama, forty Catholic priests A State Department representative Thomas Bigley arrived in Argentina. the open anti-Nicaragua stance now have issued an urgent appeal to Pope asserted the next day that "the charges The visit coincided with a report in the proclaimed by Washington. An editorial John Paul II "to intervene with the to which [Castro] refers were made in Buenos Aires daily La Nacion that "the in the November 9 Washington Post as­ United States to avoid an imminent ca­ the press, not by the State Department. idea that has begun to appeal to the U.S. serted that by arresting several leading tastrophe" of intervention in Central Thus we see no reason to respond to his leaders is that of forming a batallion of capitalists, the Sandinistas had taken America.

4 THE MILITANT . NOVEMBER 27, 1981 Cuba challenges Haig: 'Present your evidence' Y ark Times is obvious. But even more tions and facilities would be able to si­ serious was a report published in the multaneously train, in approximate same newspaper the following day, No­ numbers, about 100 pilots. vember 6. On that occasion that New To train 1,500 pilots you would need York daily interviewed U.S. Secretary about fifteen academies with a capacity of State Haig, the same Mr. Haig who for 100 students each, working simul­ has never stopped lying since he as­ taneously with hundreds of professors sumed his present position, thet very and instructors for four years at a min­ same Mr. Haig who has not been able to imum. answer Cuba's challenges. What did Mr. You would need gigantic installa­ emment Junta of Nicaragua, Sergio Ra­ The following editorial appeared Haig say now? tions, with a total area ten times larger mirez, called the charge "absurd" and in the November 9 issue of the Cu­ than the Homestead Air Force Base in said its "aim is to prepare the ground for ban daily 'Granma.' The translation Confirmation by Haig Florida in the U.S., in which 100 planes a future military intervention in Nica­ is by 'Intercontinental Press.' According to the New York Times, are based in an area of 14.2 square ki­ ragua." Mr. Haig "confirmed" what jlad been lometers. With total disregard for the truth and published the day before in that same If you add to this the construction of 'Goebbels a small-fry' without the slightest respect for U.S. newspaper. When he was asked if the runways and other technical elements, The Yankee Big Lie, which is an ex­ and international public opinion, the article published the previous day over­ you would get an idea of the scope. pression of an aggressive, warlike, and Yankee imperialists continue their fre­ dramatized the situation, Mr. Haig re­ interventionist policy condemned by netic, irresponsible and provocative sponded, "hesitantly" according to the A new superpower? history and rejected by the peoples, is campaii;n oflies and threats against Cu­ reporter: "Well, I think, you know, no." . According to well-known data, 1,000 lurching toward delirium and halluci­ ba and the peoples of Central America. And after a pause he added that "I planes and heltcopters would mean that nation. We have completely exposed their lies wouldn't want to characterize it except Nicaragua would have an air force to­ Reading the recent statements by the and we have repeatedly called on them to say that it's not very reassuring when talling half the planes of all the Arab representatives of Yankee impet:ialism to present the supposed evidence they leaks occur of any kind." countries combined (excepting Egypt). one gets a sense of, among other things, claim to have substantiating their false It would be difficult to find a cruder or It would be larger than the air forces of the deep transformation that has taken accusations. more shameless expression of cynicism. France and Canada combined, double place in U.S. society. ·u.s. children are As was to be expected, the imperial­ Mr. Haig acknowledged that what was that of West Germany, and much larger traditionally taught in school that ists have been unable to answer the Cu= published on November 5 was correct, than the British air force. George Washington never told a lie. Fu­ ban challenge. They were unable to do that at that point the State Department, To transport 1,000 planes and helicop­ ture generations in that country will so because no one is capable of proving the CiA, and the Pentagon were prepar­ ters from Vietnam to Nicaragua would have to recall that the present Yankee lies. They have not been able to present ing new misdeeds against El Salvador, require fifty-five trips by ships of 15,000 leaders, although they probably made a single piece of evidence. They have against Nicaragua, and against Cuba. tons each. their appearance in a classroom at one been incapable of proving a single one of He did not take the trouble to deny it. It would be worth noting that to ser­ time, never stopped lying. With each li.e their accusations. They have not re­ The only thing that seemed to bother vice an air force that is about half that that is exposed, they respond with ever sponded to even one of the concrete, sim­ him was that someone had said it, that size; France needs more than 100,000 greater lies. Goebbels has become a ple, direct questions we have been put­ the information had been leaked to the men, as does West Germany, and the small-fry. ting to them for more than two months. press. figure is nearly as high for Great Bri­ Regarding Cuba, we tell them once tain. more, clearly so there won't be any mis­ 'Unscrupulous liars' 3,000 troops? To attain this degree of prowess, a takes, so that no one wiU be confused: It has been totally proven - beyond At the same time, according to the country as small and poor as Nicaragua We are not afraid of you , you do not the shadow of a doubt - that the Yan­ EFE newswire from Washington, on the would require no less than forty years scare us. Our people do not tremble be­ kee imperialists are obstinate and un­ night of November 5 the ABC television and tens of billions of dollars. fore the threats, arrogance and power of scrupulous liars, that they totally lack network reported that according to Yan­ Do they really imagine that anyone is the imperialists. Our people, up to the the slightest sense of honor, honesty, or kee military sources "the Cuban troops going to believe such a cock-and-bull last man and up to tbe last woman, will even self-respect. in Nicaragua total 3,000 men and not story? Do they really suppose anyone is know how to defend their revolution, Any normal liar would, upon being · 500 or 600 as had been indicated up to so naive as to believe that the Yankees their independence, and their dignity. exposed, at least have the sensitivity to now." have "discovered" such a monumental Our people are not made of the feeble keep quiet. But not the imperialists, be­ And as if that lie was not enough, the volume of maritime traffic moving from and rotten material of those who make cause they do not even have respect for same sources asserted "that Vietnam is one comer of the planet to the other? lies, exploitation, and crime their mode themselves. sending to Nicaragua 1,000 planes and The Nicaraguans testify that this re­ of existence. In recent days the Yankee officials helicopters, by boat and in parts." One port is a complete and total lie. They Our fighting and working people were have continued to repeat their lies, and has to be utterly crazy to assert such a state that not a single one of those sup­ forged with the steel of a more than cen­ their irresponsible and provocative lan­ thing. posed planes and helicopters is in that tury-long struggle and they will know guage has reached absolutely intolera­ It does not surprise us that the Yan­ country, not a single vessel is in transit how to resist and fight with determina­ ble limits. kee officers have the effrontery to repeat with any of them. tion and courage. On November 5, the New York Times the bald-faced lie about "the Cuban According to a report from the AFP Make no mistake. Any new imperial­ published a front-page article written troops in Nicaragua" and even to multi­ [Agence France-Presse] wire, the digni­ ist blow will be shattered when it comes by ajoumalist who is a former Washing­ ply their number six times. But it would fied and prestigious member of the Gov- up against this steel. ton government official. In it he reveals be worth asking the empire's sagacious that the State Department, the Penta­ warmakers: Have you calculated what gon, and the CIA are currently studying 1,000 combat planes and helicopters measures that are being proposed to mean? How many pilots, specialists, and Special Offer step up the imperialist intervention in technicians are required to operate El Salvador as well as aggressive ac­ them? Fidel Castro: tions that would be carried out against To get an approximate i dea of how ab­ Nicaragua and against Cuba. surd and baseless these reports are, we The Crisis of The article leads one to believe that would like to highlight the following the Yankee administration has come to facts, based on international norms for World Capitalism the conclusion that the genocidal clique military aviation: 0 ~ nclosed is $1.50 for two issues that kills dozens of Salvadorans every For 1,000 planes and helicopters you of IP containing complete Castro day is on the verge of collapse, and that would need a minimum of 1,500 pilots Speech. there is nothing left for its imperialist and approximately 7,000 to 10,000 sup­ 0 Enclosed is $8.75 for a three­ masters to do but opellly intervene in port personnel. month introductory subscription The ideas Reagan couldn't sup­ that country to try to keep it going. To prepare such a mass of pilots, spec­ While their own criminal and absurd ialists, and technicians would require to Intercontinental Press. press at Cancun, contained in a policy is now coming down on their an enormous effort and colossal invest­ Name ______speech to the Havana conference heads, the- imperialists are at the same ments. The best academy for training of the Inter-Parliamentary Union. time considering aggressive actions in­ pilots, navigators, and technicians in Address ______--'---- - Discusses plight of poor nations, cluding "to blockade Nicaragua" and the capitalist countries (located in the City/State/Zip· ______need for new world economic order. various measures against Cuba up to "a United States) graduates 800 men in Reprinted in two issues of Inter­ general blockade as part of an act of the three categories each year , after a Send to: Intercontinental Press, 41 0 continental Press. Regularly $1 .25 war, and an invasion by American and four-year-long course. West Street, New York, N.Y. 10014 each. Now $1.50 for both. possibly Latin American forces." An aviation academy that was well The gravity of the report in the New endowed with the necessary installa-

NOVEMBER 27, 1981 THE MILITANT 5 U.S. MILITARY THREAT Grenada prepares to defend revolution By Nelson Blackstock think they are simply smokescreens There is ominous new evidence of for a planned military intervention by military activity in the immediate Washington." vicinity of the S!pall Caribbean island Grenadians have good reason to of Grenada, according to Don Rojas, know about such threats. In August, editor of the Free West Indian. Prime Minister Maurice Bishop "We consider the situation to be ex­ warned of invasion preparations by tremely dangerous," Rojas told the Washington aimed at Grenada. Militant in a telephone interview No­ On August 11, the Associated Press vember 13. reported that U.s: military units on We are taking all necessary steps to the Puerto Rican island of Vieques insure that our country and our revo­ were practicing an invasion of "a lution is adequately defended," Rojas mythical small island nation called added. Grenadian armed forces have 'Amber,' which in certain ways bears been on a state of alert, he said. a striking resemblance to Cuba's close "We have information that within Caribbean ally Grenada. the last forty-eight hours there have "'Amber has an army of 2,000 and been a lot of troop movements in the holds sovereignty over several out-is­ vicinity of Barbados- a lot of naval lands called 'Amberines' .. .. activity and a number of military air­ craft have landed in Barbados," Rojas "Grenada, with an army estimated said. "Barbados is only a hundred and by U.S. diplomats to number 2,000 twenty miles from Grenada." holds sovereignty over a chain of out­ Asked about reaction to Reagan's islands called the Grenadines." Grenadian Prime Minister Maurice Bishop at March 1981 ceremony marking se­ menacing new threats against Cuba, U.S. Rear Admiral Robert P. cond, anniversary of revolution. Rojas said:· "There has been discm;­ McKenzie was· quoted as describing sion and condemnation across the Nicaragua, Cuba, and Grenada as board, throughout all sectors of our "practically one country" presenting country, a country with people of Afri­ lution - and with the revolutions of society, of what people see to be a sys­ a "political-military problem" to can descent. And this of course has Cuba and Nicaragua as well. We con­ tem of lies and slander directed at the Washington. tremendous appeal to Blacks and oth­ sider ourselves to be three prongs of Cuban revolution. Inventions and Grenada is viewed as a threat be­ er national minorities and ethnic mi­ the same fork in a sense. We would pretexts are being cooked up by Haig cause it "is the first in the English­ norities in the United States." welcome anything - large, small, and Reagan .and the other cowboys in speaking Caribbean te have had a Rojas told the Militant, "We certain­ medium-size - that is a protest or Washington. revolution," Prime Minister Bishop ly appreciate any manifestation of condemnation of imperialist aggres­ "We don't accept any of that. We said. "Grenada is primarily a Black support and solidarity with our revo- sion against our region."

Fourth International: 'Time to act is now' The following statement was adopted by the bought off or intimidated. They continue to courage­ the revolution. United Secretariat of the Fourth International ously reaffirm their right and their internationalist The U.S. rulers are now convinced there is no way on November 12. duty to aid their brothers and sisters throughout the to stop the creation of a workers state in Nicaragua ·The U.S. ruling class, together with its allies in Caribbean and Central America who are defying im­ short of outside military intervention . . Central and Latin America, is preparing a qualita­ perialism and struggling to take their destiny into Despite the powerful pressures U.S. imperialism tive new level of military · action against the their own hands. has brought to bear against Cuba, the Cuban govern­ deepening revolutionary struggles of the workers and In recent weeks the U.S. rulers have been carefully ment has refused to renounce its right to stand peasants of Central America and the Caribbean. preparing the political grounds for their escalated ag­ shoulder to shoulder with those who are struggling to Spokesmen for American imperialism, such as U.S. gression by a campaign of slanderous lies and charges break the chains of imperialist domination in Central Secretary of State Alexander Haig and Secretary of directed against the governments of Cuba and Nica­ America and the Caribbean. Knowing that the Cu­ Defense Caspar Weinberger, state that the moves be­ ragua as the alleged sources of the arms and aid be­ ban workers state is 'the ultimate target in Yankee ing actively considered include: ing utilized by the Farabundo Marti National Libera~ imperialism's drive to reverse the revolutionary up­ • use of troops from Argentina and other Latin tion Front in El Salvador. surge in the region, the Cuban people have responded American dictatorships in El Salvador, together with This campaign has reached a new crescendo follow­ by the millions to Washington's threats. They have a qualitatively expanded force of U.S. "advisers" and ing the spectacular military and political blow struck organized and mobilized repeatedly to reaffirm their massive new shipments of military materiel to the by the FMLN on October 15, when they destroyed the willingness to help extend the socialist revolution in Salvadoran junta. strategically important Puente del Oro Bridge over the region. • attempts to blockade Nicaragua by sea and land, the Lempa River. It was alleged that such a profes­ But imperialism cannot permit the creation of a including an escalation of military action by the Hon­ sional action could only have been executed by a spec­ new workers state in Nicaragua, or anywhere else, duran armed forces and Somocista units that operate ial strike force of Cuban troops secretly flown into Ni­ without using the various means at its disposal, in­ out of Honduras. caragua and infiltrated from there into El Salvador. cluding direct military intervention, to prevent it. • a "show of air power" directed against Cuba, and Despite repeated challenges by the Cuban and Ni­ Given the· scope of' the revolutionary upsurge in a "quarantine" of Cuban shipping to stop the alleged caraguan governments that Washington substan­ Central America today - the impact of the Nicara­ arms flow to El Salvador. tiate such accusations, they have only been reiterat­ guan revolution not only on El Salvador, but Gua­ The military chiefs of staff of Latin American gov­ ed without proof. And new accusations appear daily. temala and other countries as well - Washington ernments that have "common defense interests" with On November 8, for example, military spokesmen in cannot permit the overthrow of the military junta in U.S. imperialism met in Washington the first days of El Salvador. alleged that planes painted red and El Salvador without exhausting its options for pre­ November to discuss these various alternatives. The black, the Sandinista colors of Nicaragua, had been venting it. Nicaraguan government was excluded from the sighted airlifting supplies to FMLN units. When all other means fail, imperialism will not meeting. Behind the dangerous new moves by w ·ashington is hesitate to escalate their military aggression. That A four-week U.S. naval maneuver in the Caribbe­ one simple fact: all else has failed to halt the revolu­ point has now been reached. an, involving dozens of warships and hundreds of tionary upsurge in Central America. The circumstances are reminiscent of other mo­ planes began on October 30. The announced site of fi­ Despite massive military aid to the brutal dictator­ ments in history such as the eve of the Bay of Pigs in­ nal exercises for "Operation Re"adex" is the Puerto Ri­ ship in El Salvador, despite the murder of more than vasion of Cuba in April 1961, and the events leading can island of Vieques. 11,000 people in the first nine months of 1981 alone, up to the Gulf of Tonkin provocation that preceded The exact moves being planned are of course un­ the Salvadoran military has been unable to stop the the escalation of U.S. aggression in Vietnam in 1964. known, but the targets are crystal clear: advance of the FMLN. That is why the new campaign oflies, slanders, and • the workers and peasants of El Salvador, who Washington has become convinced that the disinte­ threats emanating from Washington must be taken have in recent months made major advances toward gration of the Salvadoran regime cannot be halted, with the greatest seriousness. The decision of the Cu­ bringing down the hated military junta; nor the popular insurrection crushed, without far ban and Nicaraguan governments to go on a full mil­ • the workers and peasants of Nicaragua, who con­ greater outside military intervention. itary alert is not crying wolf. The danger is real. tinue to put their interests and needs ahead of the Despite two years of unrelenting economic and pol­ The imperialist warmakers cannot ultimately be profits of imperialism and the Nicaraguan bourgeoi­ itical pressures on Nicaragua to abandon its course of stopped until the workers of their own countries suc­ sie; defending the interests of working people against ceed in taking power out of their hands. But they can • the workers and farmers of Grenada, who are or­ those of the Nicaraguan bourgeoisie, the Sandinista be deterred. That is why a massive response to their ganizing and mobilizing their forces to establish a leadership has resolutely reaffirmed this line of threats is important now, before they move. new social order aimed at meeting the pressing needs march and repeatedly mobilized the workers and The workers movement, solidarity organizations, of the Grenadian people; peasants of Nicaragua to assure victory. the antimilitarist movement, all have a responsibili­ • and, the workers and peasants of Cuba, who de­ Central to Washington's concern is the fact that the ty to help get out the truth about Washington's new spite twenty-two years of unrelenting pressure from Nicaraguan people are rapidly building not only a moves and work to mobilize the broadest possible re­ imperialism - including economic blockade, sabot­ strong professional army, but a powerful popular mil­ sponse. age, invasion, and biological warfare - refuse to be itia that every day grows more capable of defending The time to act is now!

6 THE MILITANT NOVEMBER 27,: 19&1 By Nelson Gonzalez twenty-five different locals attended a The Central America and Caribbean meeting of the CAP Council Womens solidarity movements here in the Committee United Auto Workers Re­ United States are preparing a response gion 9 and voted to endorse the No­ to the Reagan administration's military vember 21, New York march and rally. threats. In addition, the meeting resolved to Nearly thirty cities are heeding the take reports on the U.S. war threat back call made by the Emergency Campaign to their locals and organize car pools to Against U.S. Intervention in Central attend the demonstration. America and the Caribbean for nation­ In Boston, after meeting with a repre­ wide emergency protests on November sentative of the Revolutionary Demo­ 21. cratic Front of El Salvador and a Sal­ In New York, where over forty organi­ vadoran labor leader, four Massachu­ zations combined to make the emergen­ setts labor leaders issued a statement cy call, solidarity activists are working condemning the U.S. role in El Salva­ overtime to organ.ize a noon time march dor. and rally at United Nations Plaza. Kevin Mahar, president of Local 201 In Boston, the Antonio Maceo Brigade of the International Union of Electrical initiated an emergency meeting at­ Workers; Jack Clement, business agent tended by groups active in the Latin of the International Brotherhood of American solidarity movement, includ­ Electrical Workers Local 2321; Stenas ing the Central A~erica Solidarity As­ Klineteberg, president of SEIU Local sociation, an affiliate of the Committee 285; and Tess Ewing, president of Local in Solidarity with the People of El Sal­ 8754 United Steelworkers warned in vador (CISPES) as well as other peace their statement of the current war groups. threat to Central America. They con­ This meeting called an emergency demned these new threats and emphas­ demonstration and vigil for November ragua, an affiliate of the National Nica­ also planning pickets on that date. ized the importance of upcoming meet­ 21 which will culminate in a solidarity raguan Network in Solidarity with the In addition to the rapid response to ings and tours to tell American rally at the Arlington Street Church. Nicaraguan People; and others have the emergency call, on short notice some unionists the truth about the situation In Chicago, both a subregional meet­ handed out 6,000 leaflets for their emer­ very important trade union resolutions in Central America. ing of CISPES and an emergency coali­ gency demonstration. condemning the imminent military On November 7 seventy-five people tion meeting of solidarity groups and On the West Coast, solidarity acti­ moves and endorsing November 21 have attended a meeting in Indianapolis pro­ other organizations have agreed to build vists are also busy making prepara­ been obtained. testing U.S. government aid to the El November 21 protests, and in Chicago a tions. In Los Angeles, Local535 of the Social Salvadoran and Guatemalan dictator­ mass picket has been scheduled at the In San Francisco, an emergency coali­ Employees International Union (SEIUJ. ships. Held at UA W Local933's hall, the Federal building. tion has formed to organize a Bay area representing 10,000 unionists endorsed meeting was sponsored by the Indiana­ In Philadelphia, Delaware Valley demonstration on November 21. a resolution supporting November 21. polis Committee for Democracy in Latin CISPES; the Coalition for a Free Nica- San Diego, Phoenix, and Oakland are On November 12, representatives of America.

• • • Cuba French Trotskyists urge massive response Continued from front page A call to action against the threat of its attempts to drown the revolution­ in 1954, in Cuba in 1961, in Santo Do­ in particular, from Fidel's October 24 military intervention in Central ary movement there in blood. "The mingo in 1965. speech, was repeated on banner after America and the Caribbean was revolutionary forces of the Farabundo "Just as they dared in Viet- banner: "We serve notice on the impe­ printed in the November 13-19 Marti National Liberation Front nam . . .." rialists that the Cuban people will live Rouge, newspaper of the Revolution­ (FMLN) are on the offensive in every "Yes, Managua and Havana are with their revolution, or every last man ary Communist League, French sec­ arena." threatened," he concluded. and woman will die along with it." tion of the Fourth International. In response, Beauvais wrote, the "Yes, the Nicaraguan revolution U.S. imperialists are preparing mil­ and the Cuban workers state could be The demonstration was so noisy that Rouge urged everyone to turn out itary operations in the region. U.S. attacked, tomorrow. the assembly recessed and delegates for a national demonstration in Paris Secretary of State Alexander Haig "In the face of such obvious, such came outside to join the demonstration November 28, the first anniversary of has openly stated the targets are Cu­ serious, and perhaps such imminent and address the crowd. "We will defend the murder of six leaders of the Sal­ ba and Nicaragua. danger, any doubt, skepticism, or in­ this land and these skies regardless of vadoran Revolutionary Democratic action would be tantamount to com­ the price," delegate Isabel Perez told the Front (FDR). The action is sponsored "They are putting together a gigan­ plicity. crowd. by a broad coalition of organizations. tic armada of almost 100 warships," "We must mobilize! Speakers also denounced the Jamai­ The article, signed by Jean-Pierre Beauvais wrote. "Coming from bases in the southern United States, Puerto "We must again remember Viet­ can government for breaking diplomatic Beauvais, explained that imperial­ nam and the considerable role played relations with Cuba and spoke about the ism's diplomatic, political, and mil­ Rico, and Panama, the ships are head­ ing toward the coasts of Cuba and Ni­ by demonstrations in the United murder of two Cuban teachers in Nica­ itary offensive, aimed at defeating the caragua." States and around the world against ragua. Salvadoran and Guatemalan freedom the waging of that war. Today an in­ Demonstrations occurred throughout fighters and snuffing out the Nicara­ "We should not have a short memo­ ternational mobilization could again Havana during the first week of No­ guan revolution, has failed. ry," Beauvais warned. "Yes, they [the be an obstacle to carrying out impe­ vember. Workers at the country's big­ "The Salvadoran junta is on the imperialists] could dare to do it. ... rialism's plans for aggression. gest steel mill, outside Havana, staged a verge of collapse," he wrote, despite "Just as they dared in Guatemala "Let's prepare it!" huge demonstration outside the mill during a shift change. They stressed that they will fill all production quotas, dents carried a sign in English: "Paws Not a single special troops member has with certain important governmlmts to including the production of equipment off Angola!" ever been sent there; nor was that ever inform them of what the journalists for the all-important sugar harvest. The The demonstrations continued for considered. . . . were saying. That is, the journalists 1982 harvest officially began on No­ about two weeks following Fidel's "They hatched that kind of lie in an didn't invent anything. It was the State vember 15. speech to the CDRs. Although they have apparent effort to implement their plan Department that provided that informa­ now ended, the entire island remains [of aggression], seeking a justification in tion to the journalists, and the State De­ Similar actions took place around the politically and militarily on alert. the eyes of U.S. and international public partment was already handling country. In Santa Clara, an industrial In an interview with the news media opinion for their aggressive plans in that.... city in the middle of the island, crowds on Sunday, November 15, Fidel said: . Central America and against Cuba. "We challenged them, because in the filled the city's Sandino Stadium and "I think that, to be sure, they [the "I denounced that on the 24th. I said communication to those governments overflowed into the surrounding streets. United States] are finding a lot of resis­ that was unquestionably a ruse; that, in Haig said they had proof. And then we "Cuba will be respected!" was the slogan tance, with the exception of some gov­ this case, they didn't dare to make offi­ said, present the proof. . . . of the day. ernments that also apparently feel rath­ cial declarations, but instead used a cou­ "Well, they just can't answer.. . . I In the nickel mining center ofNicaro, er honored that the United States wants ple of journalists. However, just seven­ can say right now that we have torpe­ thousands of workers rallied in the yard to use them as mercenary troops in Cen­ ty-two hours later, we found out that al­ doed their maneuver. . . . And we of the nickel processing plant. After ad­ tral America. But really, how far are though that was not an official govern­ have placed them in an embarrassing dresses by union leaders, the workers they going to get with that? ment declaration, but was supposedly situation, and they still haven't an­ marched through the streets. Banners "What they are going to do is to set made by journalists, the secretary of swered our challenge. and chants carried the sloga.n, "If neces­ the prairie ablaze. If they really carry state had begun to contact certain gov­ "Now we have to be alert to what new sary, we will change our miners' out those plans, the only thing they are ernments - important governments of ruse they will come up with, what new helmets for combat helmets and our going to do is to set the grass on fire. important countries - to notify them lies they are working on. . . . tools for rifles." They are going to create an insoluble about that. That is, that Cuba had sent "There are some pe!>ple who think . At a number of rallies there were Ni­ problem if they get the idea to hunt up 500-600 special troops, and that they - that they are also trying to intimidate caraguan speakers, from the FSLN and South American troops to intervene in that is, the U.S.- would have to adopt Nicaragua and Cuba. That would be the students who are studying here. Salvad­ Central America. They are going to measures, etcetera. greatest foolishness in the world. After oran exiles were also present. Also join­ create a very serious problem." "I didn't know that on the 24th. On twenty-three years of threats, we can ing the demonstrations have been the Speaking of the accusation that Cuba the 24th, you could say that I guessed say that they still haven't managed to large number of Palestinian, African, had sent troops to fight in El Salvador, what their plan was. But just seventy­ intimidate anybody here. So they are and Vietnamese students here. In one Fidel said: "This is a big lie, a huge lie two hours later we received confirma­ wasting their time if they really think Havana demonstration, Angolan stu- from head to foot. A total and utter lie. tion that Mr. Haig had been in touch they're going to intimidate anybody."

NOVEMBER 27, 1981 THE MILITANT 7 would continue support for the rebel for­ U.S. camp!!!gn moves forward in Chad ces ofHissi:me Habre, who were based in the Sudan and who launched periodic attacks into eastern Chad. This carrot-and~stick approach paid off. In September, Goukouni flew to Pa­ Libya: the circle tightens ris for direct talks with Mitterrand. An "unconditional" French economic aid rc::!i~~~~ package was announced (reported to to­ tal some $500 million). In October, this was followed up by the dispatch of tons of ammunition and arms to Goukouni from the French military base in the neighboring Central African Republic, with the_promise of more to come. Goukouni, who in the past had been a sharp critic of French imperialism, now began directing his criticisms against Kh~rtoum• the Libyan troops in Chad - whom he himself had invited in. On October 29, SUDAN he demanded a complete Libyan mil­ itary withdrawal by the end of the year.

CENTRAL At the same time, the Organization of AFRICAN REP. African Unity (OAU), at the insistence ~ha..ti'"'" President (left), Libyan leader Muammar ei-Qaddafi (center) sent troops to of Paris and Washington, began to ham­ in late1980 to help quell French-backed revolt. Those troops will now be replaced by U.S.- and French-supported 'peacekeeping mer together a "peacekeeping" force for force.' Chad (to be composed of troops from Nigeria, Senegal, Togo, Benin, Zaire, Guinea, and Gabon). By Ernest Harsch from all of its oil and gas production op­ sent to patrol the Egyptian-Libyan The threatening ring that the Reagan erations in Libya. border. Qaddafi moves fast administration has been throwing up Exxon's move comes in response to ef­ Former U.S; President Richard Nix­ The French imperialists were clearly around Libya is being drawn ever forts by the White House to initiate eco­ on, who had gone to Cairo for Sadat's hoping to provoke a confrontation with tighter. nomic sanctions against Libya. Foreign funeral, subsequently visited Saudi the Libyan troops in Chad. French gov­ In one of the more provocative moves oil companies, many of them American, Arabia, Tunisia, and Morocco for discus­ ernment sources circulated rumors that so far, the White House has openly an­ have already been drastically reducing sions with Saudi Prince Fahd, Tunisia Qaddafi was fomenting a coup against nounced its support for an Egyptian in­ their orders for Libyan oil, forcing the President Habib Bourguiba, and Moroc­ Goukouni. French Mirage jets were vasion of Libya. Citing administration Libyans to cut production from 2 million can King Hassan II. According to a re­ flown to the base in the Ceritral African sources, the November 8 Washington barrels a day to 700,000 barrels a day port in the November 9 issue of the Pa­ Republic, and the 1,700 French troops Post reported that the White House "has within the last six months. This has ris fortnightly Afrique-Asie, Nixon was stationed there were put on alert. The given Egypt assurances of a U.S. mil­ meant a sharp drop in that country's oil seeking to enlist greater support from October 31 London Economist reported itary umbrella against the Soviet Union revenues, upon which many of its social them in the anti-Libya crusade. that the French government had in case of an Egyptian attack on Libya." and economic programs depend. This intense O.S. opposition to Qad­ pledged that "if the Libyans oppose the To emphasize the seriousness of this dafi has been aroused by his regime's OAU force in Chad, the French Foreign threat, thousands of American troops Destabilization policy of giving political -and in some Legion will intervene." began arriving in Egypt the following All of these moves are part of a con­ cases material - support to numerous Under these circumstances, Qaddafi, day, at the start of the largest overseas certed drive against the government of anti-imperialist struggles. on November 3, ordered the withdrawal military exercise ever carried out by Libyan leader Muammar el-Qaddafi One move that particularly irked the of Libyan troops from Chad- not by the Washington's Rapid Deployment Force. that has been building up over the past imperialists was the Libyan decision to end of the year, as Goukouni had re­ The White House sources cited by the half year. send several thousand troops into Chad quested, but immediately. The speed of Post claimed that there were no imme­ Several months after Reagan came in­ in late 1980, at the request of Chadian the withdrawal took Paris and Wash­ diate plans for an invasion of Libya. But to office, the White House adopted a se­ President Goukouni Oueddei, to help ington off guard, and confounded their according to the Egyptian minister of cret plan to overthrow the Libyan re­ put down rebel forces backed by the attempts to provoke a direct confronta­ defense, Gen. Abu Ghazala, "We will gime, details of which were later leaked French, Egyptian, and Sudanese gov­ tion. not rest until the day we have a friendly to the press. It included a propaganda ernments. The developments in Chad have ne­ regime on our western borders." campaign in the mass media to portray U.S. Secretary of State Alexander vertheless marked a setback for the Lib­ Qaddafi as a supporter of"international Haig termed that French setback a yan regime and have strengthened U.S. moves in Chad terrorism," the revival of a Libyan "gov­ "grave turn of events." Washington's drive to overthrow it. While the U.S. military maneuvers ernment in exile" based in Egypt, and While the weak Chadian government were still underway in Egypt, the Rea­ the escalation of sabotage and other ter­ Mitterrand lends a hand may itself pose no real threat to Libya, gan administration announced No­ rorist actions within Libya by opponents It was in Chad that the new French the dispatching to Chad of an OAU force vember 11 that it would provide U.S. of the government. government of Fran!;ois Mitterrand was -with American and French logistical planes and military personnel to help In August, U.S. Navy jet fighters shot able to give some assistance to Reagan's support - means that the hostile encir­ transport a 5,000-member inter-African down two Libyan planes over the Gulf of anti-Libya campaign. clement of Libya has been tightened military force into Chad in the wake of Sidra, during naval maneuvers in the In a shift from the policy of the pre- even further. the Libyan troop withdrawal from that gulf that were intended as a direct prov­ -vious government of Giscard d'Estaing, The danger to Libya is clear. An edi­ Central African country, which lies di­ ocation against Libya. Mitterrand sought to safeguard French torial in the October 24 Economist pro­ rectly south of Libya. The imperialist U.S. military aid to the Sudanese re­ imperialist interests in Chad not by posed two possible courses of action: government of France (Chad's former gime -which is bitterly hostile to Qad­ overthrowing the Goukouni regime, but either a direct Egyptian-Sudanese at­ colonial ruler) will also provide major dafi - has been tripled. by winning it over to a policy of closer tack or the ouster of Qaddafi by pro-im­ logistical support for the "peace-keepc Following the assassination of Egyp­ collaboration. He did this by offering perialist Libyan groups. ing" force. tian President Anwar el-Sadat in early Goukouni inducements of large-scale Whatever the case, the British busi­ The very next day, the Exxon Corpo­ October (which Washington briefly economic and military aid. ~t the same ness journal emphasized, "Colonel Qad­ ration, the largest American oil firm, tried to blame on the Libyans), two time, Mitterrand made clear that if dafi has to be stopped." announced that it was withdrawing American AWACS radar planes were Goukouni failed to cooperate, " Paris From Intercontinental Press

UN: 'Bring back Khmer Rouge' By Steve Bride chean rebels in January 1979, and back away from endorsing unity talks The United Nations has made its sent the Khmer Rouge into exile. between the Khmer Rouge and two annual proposal that the Khmer Today, Vietnamese remain in other exile factions now going on in Rouge be given a second chance to Kampuchea to help defend the new Thailand. The Khmer Rouge's UN rule Kampuchea. . regime from imperialist-backed at­ delegate had claimed the possibility The UN did this by way of succes­ tacks. by the Khmer Rouge who are of a united opposition was "intensify­ sive votes: camped- 30,000 strong- along the ing" the pressure on Hanoi to nego ~ • On September 18, to recognize Thailand-Kampuchea border. tiate the Kampuchea matter. But it is the deposed Khmer Rouge as Kampu­ Progress has been made in the well known that the talks are getting chea's representative in that body; Kampucheans' ability to defend nowhere, and few delegates wanted to and themselves. But it is generally recog­ stake the resolution on their outcome. • On October 21, to demand the nized that if the Vietnamese were to The resolution also calls for the withdrawal of Vietnamese troops leave, the Khmer Rouge - who are continuation of food relief to Kampu­ from Kampuchea. backed by the U.S. and Chinese gov­ chea, especially to the Thailand It was the third time around in as ernments - would be able to launch border area. There, such aid finds its many years for the two resolutions; a more effective military offensive. way into the hands of the Khmer both were supported by Washington. The UN resolution on withdrawal Rouge's well-fed guerillas, and then The Khmer Rouge ruled Kampu­ was sponsored by the Association of onto the black market. chea for four years, during which Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), a The status of any more substantive Khmer Rouge control mucl:l of food time they plunged the country into grouping of the most servile pro-U.S. relief effort remains unclear. All UN aid - and black market - along famine and slaughtered 3 million of regimes in the area. It contained sev­ aid to Kampuchea was to end in De­ Thailand-Kampuchea border. This its inhabitants. The carnage was eral last-minute changes to ensure cember of this year; but a poor rice youth tried to obtain food without ended only when Vietnamese troops the widest possible majority. harvest due to flooding and drought permission. intervened on the side of Kampu- The most significant of these was to has forced the UN to reconsider.

8 THE MILITANT NOVEMBER 27, 1981 PATCO fights decertification Controllers convicted for striking By Stu Singer switched his vote for decertification. In ona, guilty of "willfully striking port the administration. The industry NEW YORK CITY - While the AFL­ his original minority opinion, he had against the U.S. government while in has had a problem with this group for CIO convention is meeting in New said that he would prefer to send the its employ." Bill Taylor and Billy ten years, and it has cost us untold York, air controllers are in their six­ issue back to a judge, but only if Florence will be sentenced November hundreds of millions of dollars in teenth week on strike. Support to the PATCO agreed within five days to call 30 to a maximum of a year and a day inefficient management of the system. strike is not a major theme of the labor off the strike. The union said it would in jail and a $1,000 fine. These people are militants. convention. But the Professional Air call off the strike if the government Militant correspondent Dan Fein "The airways system is operating Traffic Controllers Organization ends its lockout. The union has taken interviewed PATCO local President better today as a whole than it has (PATCO) strike and the government the decertification decision to the U.S. Bill Taylor in Tucson a week before operated in the last ten or fifteen attack against it are among the most Court of Appeals for the District of Taylor was convicted in federal court. years." But even the government offi­ important issues facing the labor Columbia. .Taylor, like other strikers, has been cials acknowledge that this is not the movement. Over ·seventy federal indictments doing a lot of thinking about the strike case. Many flights are being delayed have come down against controllers and the unions. "I think the labor and on December 1 scheduled commer­ The union lost certification October throughout the country for the "crime" · movement has to broaden its power cial flights will be reduced another 5 22 by order of the Federal Labor Rela­ of violating the government no-strike base in the way of more coalitions of percent, to about 78 percent of the pre­ tions Authority. The vote was two to law. workers. One of the problems I see is strike level. one, but was changed to three to zero On October 28 a federal court jury that many labor leaders are not com­ Furthermore, flying is getting more on November 3 - wh_~n Ronald found the president and vice president municating well with their member­ dangerous as winter weather sets in. Haughton, chairman of the agency, of P ATCO Local 572 in Tucson, Ariz- ship. It seems that we in the labor But the government and the employers movement are very good at . under­ are determined to ignore air safety in standing our history, reliving it rhetor­ order to break this strike. Even their ical1y. But not applying it in this day plans on rebuilding the air control Unions protest ag ruling and age." system are falling through. Taylor told Fein he thought the Fifty percent of the first class of Solidarity Day demonstration was controllers who started training after "great. A step in the right direction. I the strike have flunked out. This is think it indicated that with the right twice the average rate. kind of leadership, labor could grow "Sure, my job would be a lot easier if much stronger. ... I think So.lidarity we took back, say 3,000 controllers," Day should not be a thing we do once Transportation Secretary Drew Lewis and then talk about for years. We stated according to the November 10 should organize more actions like that New York Times. "But we have con­ and organize them around specifics cluded that it would not be worth it. It aimed at the Davis Bacon Act, would not be worth it as a matter of PATCO, and other issues important to principle. And it would not be fair to labor." the people on the job who don't want to The controllers' strike has had some be associated with the people who effect on airline profits. Third quarter walked out." profits for most airlines were way To cover up their refusal to do any­ down even though they laid off over thing to support the P ATCO strike, the Militant!Tony 18,000 workers and forced paycuts and AFL-CIO and a number of major un­ ST. LOUIS- About seventy-five PATCO strikers and supporters picketed work rule concessions down the ions announced that officers and staff the Federal Court House here October 29 demanding free speech. They were throats of the others. would not fly during the strike. Some protesting a federal judge's gag rule that prohibited picketing at the airport The airline bosses are solidly behind of them have now resumed flying. As and outlawed any information conveying support to PATCO to be within the the Reagan attack on PATCO. Pan far as the labor officials are concerned, view or hearing of the passenger terminal and the control tower. American Chairman C. Edward Acker the P A TCO strike is over and best told Barron's magazine that: "I sup- forgotten . • St.· Louis rally slams new victimization By Harris Freeman pany charging political harassment. the four workers have won. Six other toward war in Central America. The ST. LOUIS - "I never believed the Curran told the audience that Jim lAM members from McDonnell Dou­ attacks on workers in the war industry, lengths our government would go to rep­ Garrison, a fourth member of the SWP, glas, including the president of Lodge she said, are closely tied to the govern­ el a group it disagrees with," said Vin­ had just been fired by McDonnell Dou­ 837B and another machinist who is on ment's threats against Cuba, Nicara­ cent Micciche, vice president of Profes­ glas, the day before his probationary pe­ the executive board of the St. Loui& gua, Grenada and El Salvador. sional Air Traffic Controllers Organiza­ riod ended. NAACP, attended the rally. Other speakers at the rally included tion Local 352. It was, Curran said, "a clear case of Over $2,700 was raised to support Walle Amusa, a leader of the National Micciche was a featured speaker at a political victimization." their fight, and the SWP's and YSA's Alliance Against Racist and Political November 14 emergency rally against Garrison is demanding a reason for other legal battles with the government. Repression; and Mel Mason, a leader of government and corporate witch-hunt­ his dismissal, and has joined Curran, Andree Kahlmorgan, a leader of the the National Black Independent Politi­ ing. The rally, attended by seventy-five David, and Freeman in a fight to win YSA who was fired by Lockheed in cal Party and the Socialist Workers Par­ people,was sponsored by the Political back his job. Atlanta, Georgia, in a similar political ty, and a city council member in Sea­ Rights Defense Fund (PRDF). The rally showed the broad support victimization, blasted Reagan's moves side, California. "Worst of all," said Micciche, "I've seen P A TCO members chained and handcuffed because they wouldn't work for an unfair employer. And that's why I'm here tonight." Detroit gains labor support for socialist suit Micciche praised PRDF for "being in By Matthew Herreshoff speaker at the rally. $106 million libel suit · against the the vanguard of the fight against Rea­ The Political Rights · Defense Kahlmorgan is one of seventeen so­ New York cops and Associated Press. gan's moves toward totalitarian govern­ Fund's (PRDF) fall campaign in de­ cialist leaders touring the country The rallies will help gain the mas­ ment." fense of civil liberties is winning this fall to build support for the So­ sive financial backing needed to win He said, "PATCO is proud to join the broad backing in the labor movement. cialist Workers Party's (SWP) and these battles. impressive and distinguished ranks In Detroit, Bob King, Financial Se­ Young Socialist Alliance's (YSA) le­ Pledges at the rallies will help dedicated to the goals ofPRDF. Even in cretary of United Auto Workers gal battles with the government. make PRDF's $125,000 fall fund our time of turmoil, PATCO will stand (UAW) Local 600 will headline a No­ The tours got off to a big start at a drive. So far, $43,000 has been re­ with you in solidarity." . vember 30 rally in support of political November 14 rally in St. Louis, re­ ceived towards that goal. The first Micciche gave his support to four St. rights. UA W Local 600 is the largest ported on this page, and at rallies in four rallies raised over $6,000 more. Louis unionists and members of the So­ union local in the country. Kansas City, Albany and Seattle. Pledges toward the $125,000 fund cialist Workers Party (SWP) and Young Robert Tyner, vice-president of the Rallies are slated in fifty cities are due by January 31 of next year. Socialist Alliance (YSA), who face a Allied Services Division, Brotherhood around the country. If you can help, please send in the modern day witch-hunt by the Pentagon of Railway and Airline Clerks; Rick They will help build support for the coupon below. and the giant war contractor, McDon­ Martin, unit chairman, Coke Oven Socialist Workers Party and . Young nell Douglas. and Blast Furnace Unit, UAW Local Socialist Alliance suit against the Jody Curran, one of the four, spoke at 600; and Harry Philo, past president government's political police. D Enclosed is my contribution. the rally. She, Barry David, and Harris of the American Trial Lawyers Asso­ They will win backing for socialist Name ______Freeman have received letters from the ciation, will also speak at the rally. workers facing victimization in the Defense Investigative Service, a spy The Detroit rally will be held at the war industry, like the Lockheed Address ______agency for the Pentagon, informing International Association of Machi­ workers and the four SWP and YSA them that a special security check is be­ nists Lodge, 2441 West Grand Blvd., members at McDonnell Douglas in St. City ______ing conducted that can result in the loss at 7:30 p.m. on Monday, November Louis. State ______ZIP ___ of their security clearances and their 30. They will answer the Immigration jobs. Andree Kahlmorgan, one of fi(teen and Naturalization Service's threat to Return to: Political Rights Defense Their union, International Associa­ socialist workers fired at Lockheed in outlaw the two groups. Fund, Box 649, Cooper Station, New tion of Machinists (IAMl Lodge 837B, Atlanta, Georgia, will be a featured And they will help boost the SWP's York, N.Y. 10003 has filed grievances against the com-

· NOVEMBER 27, 1981 THE MILITANT 9 By Stu Singer Armco Steel Corporation head Harry Holiday told the American Iron and Steel Institute last Ma.y that "we are at Steel: the industry s the beginning of a new dawn for Amer­ ican steel." His optimism was based on the poli­ cies of the Reagan administration and What's good for companies is n Congress. These include, he told the other steel bosses, changes in government tax poli­ cies that would encourage more invest­ ment, and lifting of environmental and safety restrictions that would be a big help to company profits. · Profits have shot up. For the third quarter of 1981, they were way ahead of last year for most major steel compan­ ies. But Holiday's optimistic projections have brought no cheer to steelworkers. Just when the profit figures for July, August, and September were an­ nounced, the steel industry was in a new round of layoffs and temporary plant shutdowns. The steel industry has been trying to juggle the same fundamental economic problems as other industries. Too much steel is produced for this economy to purchase. At the same time, not enough steel is produced to meet the real needs of society here and through­ out the world. Steel is the most impor­ tant metal for modern society. The closed steel mills in Youngstown, Ohio, are adjacent to old bridges that are closed to traffic. The steel bridges are not replaced because of public fund­ ing cutbacks. The steel mills remain closed. Competition from steel companies in the U.S. and in other countries is press­ ing on the giants of the steel industry to modernize their production facilities. But the enormous capital investments required to do this cut into their profits. The industry is in a continual battle to modernize to meet competition while trying to get higher barriers against im­ ports in order to keep steel prices high and avoid competition. In 1980 the American Iron and Steel Institute published a report called "Steel at the Crossroads," demanding exactly the programs Reagan is carry­ ing out. If they got them, they promised $7 billion a year investment to radically A Youngstown steel mill just before it was closed, 1979. Local union and community protests were opposed by companies and top un:, modernize the steel industry. They got Reagan, but new investment in steel is estimated at about $3.3 billion ment compensation will come through tors. head up the Steelworkers. this year, less than half their projection. with $140 a week maximum. The purpose is to work out a new Abel explained that Murray was And the investment will go down if the The Trade Readjustment Assistance Experimental Negotiating Agreement. ahead of his time. "Phil Murray was present layoffs and shutdowns continue. program was wiped out by Reagan's In reality, they are reopening the basic writing primarily about the develop­ The steel barons are shifting the focus budget cuts. That extra unemployment steel contract almost two years ahead of ment of more mature labor-manage­ of their "reindustrialization" plans. In­ compensation program was for workers schedule. ment relations." stead of more modern facilities, they who were certified to have lost their jobs No news has come out yet from these Those mature relations apparently are, at this time, emphasizing cutting because of foreign competition. meetings. But one thing is for sure. The were achieved by 1973. labor costs. A few years ago, some laid-off steel­ quarter-of-a-mililion workers covered Abel and the bosses agreed that con­ They are Quilding on the antilabor of­ workers took home as much from SUB, under the contract, and the hundreds of frontations every three years when the fensive of industry and the government. TRA, and unemployment compensation thousands of others whose contracts are contract came up were bad for the steel The steelworkers who are the victims as when they were working. Those days tied to the basic steel settlement, will industry. of the most recent layoffs are already are gone. come out losers. By labor agreeing on basic contract feeling the weight of this attack. provisions in advance and promising not Union history ENA, 'a better way'? to strike, the industry would supposedly No more cushions Forty-five years ago, the Steelworkers The Experimental Negotiating be in better shape to fight imports and The layoffs and shutdowns have hit Organizing Committee was started with Agreement, ENA, was signed in the avoid the "boom or bust" cycles. every part of the industry. The modern the backing of the United Mine spring of 1973 by union President I.W. They claimed this would end long iron ore mines built over the last twenty Workers. Today, the 1.2 million Abel after secret meetings with the ten overtime to build up inventories fol­ to thirty years in northern· Minnesota members of the United Steelworkers of basic steel companies. lowed by layoffs and shutdowns to use are suffering the biggest layoffs ever. America are suffering the biggest blows The ENA won Abel praise for his up overproduction. Mills around Pittsburgh have been in the history of the union. "statesmanship" from government and How has ENA worked out? shut; layoffs have increased .in Chicago­ The leadership of this powerful union big business. The Pittsburgh Junior Gary, Cleveland, Buffalo, Birmingham, is not fighting back against the com­ Chamber of Commerce awarded him the A weaker union and Baltimore. pany and government offensive. "Man of the Year." In the midst of the When Abel signed the ENA in 1973 The funds that temporarily cushioned Instead, it is working hand-in-glove Watergate scandals, Abel made the basic steel contract covered about the effects of layoffs have disappeared. with steel industry management. It puts speeches about ENA restoring faith in 400,000 workers. It now covers 286,000. The Steelworkers union won Supple­ the profit needs of the companies ahead the institutions of American society. ENA did not save jobs. mentary Unemployment Benefits of the interests of the union members. "The typical Steelworker today," he (SUB) from the companies after a four­ When times were good for the capital­ said, "is a concerned Steelworker-just week strike in 1956. The shutdowns and ist economy and the steel industry, the as the typical or average American is layoffs have used up the SUB funds at union officials, prodded by the member­ concerned. The 'concern'-some call it Timken defea most companies. ship, were able to grab some crumbs off despair-is over what has been happen­ Steelworkers District 27 Director The 1,500 miners laid offby U.S. Steel the bosses' table. Each contract was ex­ ing in this country." Harry Mayfield is basking in the glow on the Iron Range got a grand total of pected to be an improvement over the According to the February 1974 Steel of a new step in labor-management two $50 checks from the SUB fund. They last one. Today, basic steelworkers are Labor, Abel told the Pittsburgh Jaycees relations. were told the rest went to victims of the among the highest-paid industrial "that efforts are underway to restore our Mayfield told the Wall Street Jour­ two U.S. Steel mills closed in Youngs­ w6rkers. faith in our institutions. . .. As an ex­ nal that he doesn't believe the union town,Ohio. But now there are fewer crumbs. The ample, he cited the ENA. .. ." gave up too much. He helped the The 1,500 laid off from Bethlehem's economy is in deep trouble. And decades In a piece ofliterature, "ENA, a Better Timken Steel Company push 4,000 Sparrows Point mill near Baltimore will of a union leadership approach that Way," designed to sell the ENA in the workers at three plants to vote ten to get no SUB pay. Maryland unemploy- what's good for the companies is good for union, Abel explained that it grew out of one in favor of some contract conces­ the workers has paralyzed the United discussions with the industry starting sions. The company wanted them in Steelworkers. in 1967. He said the basic idea was sug­ Militant staff writer Stu Singer was an exchange for building a new plant in How bad is it? . gested by Philip Murray in a book print­ Ohio that would employ 800 workers. iron ore miner on the Mesabi Iron Secret negotiations began in Pitts­ ed in the 1940s. The Timken contract could become Range and a member of USWA Local burgh, October 6, between the top union Murray had been appointed by Mine a model for the new basic steer con- 6115 in Virginia, Minnesota. leadership and the top industry negotia- Workers President John L. Lewis to

10 THE MILITANT NOVEMBER 27,1981 · From mining the ore to running the has been enforced is that the union furnaces, coke ovens, and rolling mills, won't strike. the workers were in the same union un­ Every time the companies have asked ,nd the union der the same industry contract. the union for a break on the pay hikes, This basic strength is dwindling. the union officials have given in. Small steel rnills-"rnini-rnill.s"-are In negotiating the 1980 contract, in being built using relatively inexpensive spite of the ENA guarantee, the union Jt good for workers electric furnaces that melt scrap. They leadership generously gave away one compete with the large mills of the ma­ scheduled cost-of-living raise. jor companies by keeping the union out. When first Inland Steel and then U .S. And there are still some large mills Steel complained that their fabricating Steel profits owned by companies that have union and structural steel divisions were not contracts where· the union is kept out, making enough money and should be re­ 19~1 such as the Armco mill in Middletown, moved from coverage of the basic steel up for Ohio. contract, the union leadership helped Union organizing drives have · not push the workers to give up their con­ 3rd quarter made much of a dent in steel mills in re­ tract rights. • While the steel industry is crack­ cent years. When the union local at the U.S. Steel ing down on labor; they are enjoying American Bridge plant in Gary refused some improved profits. At least they Imports and shutdowns to accept the cutbacks, the top union of­ did for the third quarter (July, Au­ ENA was supposed to stop imports of ficials raised no objection to U.S. Steel gust, September) of this year. steel, which would supposedly save shutting the plant. U.S. Steel made $536.9 million for American jobs. The union leadership went along the three months, four times higher The union has thrown enormous when the management of Wheeling­ than last year. . energy into fighting imports. Union and Pittsburgh Steel demanded reductions The Wall Street Journal quoted a company publications are indistingui­ in incentive pay rates and deferring a Merrill Lynch analyst that, "To op­ shable in their attacks on Japan. COLA raise at all its plants. erate at 67% of capacity and have The . only political victories steel­ When the other companies threw earnings over $2 a share is amazing. worker lobbying efforts have won in the Wheeling-Pittsburgh out of the industry It shows a real turnaround. You can last few years have been helping the bargaining group for making this deal only do that when you're operating steel companies win tariff barriers so behind their backs, the union lt;Jadership much more efficiently." they can raise the price of steel (see box negotiated a new ENA agreement with The other steel companies did well on imports). Wheeling-Pittsburgh. also: The whole import hysteria is a hoax. The union boasts this new ENA is a Third quarter, 1981 profits (in It has nothing to do with keeping out victory. It has one guarantee. The union millions): imports or saving American jobs. The will not go on strike against Wheeling­ Wheeling-Pittsburgh $4.1 purpose is to keep prices high and set up Pittsburgh, even if there is a strike Republic 92.7 a scapegoat to blame for the problems against the rest of the steel industry. National 34.6 facing steelworkers. The company agrees only to meet the Inland 8.0 The union defeat in Youngstown was terms of the next.basic steel contract, ex­ Bethlehem 76.3 an example of what ENA represents. cept for whatever concessions it can get Armco 63.8 When the steel companies announced from the union on its own. In other they were closing the mills there, they words, the company promises nothing. ran into a storm of opposition from the All basic steelworkers are going to be floor. victims. forced to make concessions to the basic It's a standing joke that you can "file a The union bureaucracy carne down on steel industry. grievance." It means the same as the ex­ the side of the companies. At the 1980 Experience shows if you give the pression, "You can't fight city hall." Steelworkers convention, the Youngs­ bosses an inch, they take a mile. There has been one local-issues strike town district was dissolved. It was a Ford and General Motors are telling on taking advantage of this "right" un­ warning to anybody in the union with a the autoworkers their next contracts der the ENA. When the iron ore miners thought of fighting the companies. will follow the Chrysler model of wage went out for 137 days in 1977, the com­ The companies blamed increasing im­ and benefit cuts and work-rule conces­ panies and the union brass vigorously ports for the Youngstown mill closings. sions. attempted to smash the strike. They im­ Steel pipe was made in some of the The next basic steel contract will be mediately rewrote the ENA to make it Youngstown mills. U.S. Steel is filling worse than the concessions already harder to go on strike. demand for that pipe with imports from forced out of the union at American Militant/Stu Singer a company they own in Italy. Bridge and Wheeling-Pittsburgh. .officials. · But the fact remains that the only ad­ vance over the basic steel contract won The union leadership is not complain­ The new model contract may resem­ since the ENA went into effect was won ing about these imports. They are good ble the disaster shoved down the union's Get rid of boom or bust? by the iron ore miners through that for U.S. Steel profits. throat by Tirnken Steel in Ohio (see Right now, with all the layoffs and strike. box). ,hutdowns, there is still overtime for Concessions The next article will go into some ofthe those working. Productivity The ENA "guarantees" have been un­ gains steelworkers have won over the last Steady, guaranteed wage increases? The steel industry has achieved big dercut time and again. The quarterly two decades and how they were won. Al­ Wages have more than doubled since productivity gains under the ENA. But cost-of-living (COLA) raises and 3 per­ so, the opposition forces within the union 1973. Prices have more than doubled al­ steelworkers have not shared the cent-a-year pay hikes "have not been and the recent ENA referendum in Dis­ so. Steelworkers enjoying the benefits of prosperity. Today, 286,000 workers can maintained. The only guarantee that trict 31. .ne contract are no better off than be­ produce as much steel as 400,000 fore. workers did ten years ago. Local issue bargaining under EN A Each steelworker contract calls for was supposedly strengthened. "For the joint union-company productivity com­ Some imports better than others first time in the Union's history we have mittees. The 1980 contract called them The steel industry is in its annual union in Canada. established a separate right to strike "participation teams." Their only effect religious observance of the "threat of Canadian union members don't like ver such issues," Abel said. is to weaken the union. foreign steel. "Along with the loyal to see their dues spent to lobby for re­ (Once upon a time, steelworkers es­ A local leadership pushing production choir of Steelworkers union officials, strictions. against Canadian steel. tablished the right to strike by going on is in no position to defend members the industry is complaining they are The steel companies other loyal ;;trike. But those were the days before against the company. They end up de­ hurt by rising imports. All the new supporters, the politicians, sometimes mature labor-management relations.) fending the company against the layoffs are blamed on imports. The in­ get out of line on the issue of imports. Union control over local issues is members. dustry wants the Reagan administra­ When the layoffs were announced ·veaker today than in 1973, not The real strength of the basic steel tion to raise the trigger prices on from the iron ore mines in northern ,;tronger. The companies get away with contract was that the overwhelming steel. Minnesota, the local congressman murder and the local unions feel power­ majority of the workers who were direct­ The trigger prices prohibit import­ promised to fight against iron ore im­ less. Outside contractors do jobs sup­ ly involved in producing steel were ed steel to be sold in the U.S. below a ports from Canada. posedly protected by the local contract. covered by the contract. price supposedly set at the production This suggestion raised problems ·:;;afety violations are rampant. Foremen and shipping costs of steel from Ja­ with both the union and the compan­ •vork; workers get disciplined and it pan, which is said to be the most effi­ ies. ~oes unanswered. That's life on the shop cient producer. The Canadian steel industry is al­ Chrysler ENA But the higher the trigger price, the most entirely owned by Canadian The September issue of Steelabor higher the American steel companies capitalists. But the American steel ran an article headlined: "McBride raise their prices. companies, especially U.S. Steel, own : new model? talks to UA W Chrysler Council, In fact, four steel companies just a big part of iron ore production from tract. tells of ENA talks." announced 5-10 percent price hikes to Canada. And the Canadian miners, Strikes and picketing at the new The article does not mention that take. place January 1. who are mainly in Quebec, are plant are prohibited for eleven years. the UAW leadership forced Chrysler While the leadership of the Steel­ members of the United Steelworkers. There will be an eleven year mora­ workers to make wage concessions workers union prides itself on scream­ Their wages are similar, although a torium on grievances covering job as­ to help the company. ing as loud as the industry against little less than in the U.S. But the signments. But it does point out, "McBride imports, the union gets caught in wage difference plus the lower value The company will choose workers it paid tribute to the bargaining histo­ some awkward situations. of the Canadian dollar against the wants for the new milL Seniority and ry and strength ofthe Auto Workers One country that exports steel to U.S. dollar, gives U.S. Steel an advan­ bidding procedures will be dropped. and declared that the 'eyes of indus­ the United States is Canada. tage in using Canadian instead of New employees will start at 20 per­ trial management' are upon the The problem with the United Steel­ U.S. ore. cent less pay. UAWas it 'comes to bat' in bargain­ workers of America campaigning So the congressman's proposal had Mayfield pointed out, "whatever ing next year. against Canadian imports is that to be shelved. In the bible of the steel limitations we have here are very "The USWA president noted the Canadian steelworkers are members industry imports are only bad il they small in comparison to the benefits similarities betyreen the two of the same union. In fact, the steel­ don't profit American steel compan­ derived from the new mill." · umons. . ..." workers are the largest industrial ies.

NOVEMBER 27, 1981 THE MILITANT 11 By Margaret Jayko The Militants recent coverage of the fight for wom­ en's rights has been controversial among our readers. We've received a number of responses to articles 'Militant' answers readers' questions we've carried, questioning our emphasis and analy­ sis. The main questions raised can be grouped together as follows: • Is theMilitant's perspective on the fight for wom­ en's rights "pessimistic?" • Isn't it "sectarian" to concentrate so much of our How to advance coverage on criticizing the strategy of the leadership of the National Organization for Women (NOW) in­ stead of simply suggesting what we think should be done? • Souldn't we concentrate on arguing for demon­ strations and other actions in support of the Equal the fight for Rights Amendment.(ERA) as the best way to advance the fight for women's rights? These are important questions. They result from attempts to figure out how to respond to the stepped­ up assault on our rights and living standards under the Reagan administration. women's rights Reality, not 'pessimism' Is our perspective "pessimistic?" It's wrong to pose the question as "pessimism" ver­ sus "optimism." ERA are very slim. This leadership effectively prevented any alternative What we've tried to do is to soberly assess what's What would be demoralizing would be to lose the strategy from even getting a hearing. happening in this country in order to figure out what ERA, without such a fight having been organized. Or These women know from their own lives the tre­ to do next. worse, to spend the next seven months organizing the mendous blows we are suffering and they sensed in This means recognizing that the employing class, ERA fight on the basis that it can be won if enough the patriotic, prodraft, pro-imperialist propaganda of aided by the government, is waging a concerted drive capitalist politicians can be convinced tO support it. the NOW leadership, and in its electoralist orienta­ to lower the standard ofliving of working people and The NOW leadership also proposes that we leave oth­ tion, no solutions, only retreat. to weaken our capacity to fight back. Driven by the er issues, such as abortion rights, unattended with world-wide economic crisis, they are forced to deepen the excuse that we are going to "take care of the ERA Capitalism in crisis the offensive, and we can expect no let-up. It is in this first.". The number one priority for the NOW conference framework that the intensifying attacks on women And it will be especially demoralizing to lose the was to explain what's happening today. And on that, are occurring, including the decision to let the ERA ERA without understanding why it all happened. the leadership defaulted miserably. die. Facing up to this reality is not a self-fulfilling They didn't explain that "Reaganism" is the name prophecy; and far from demobilizing the women's 'Friends' and 'enemies' for the actions of a government that is trying to extri­ rights movement and hurting the fight for the ERA, At the ERA rally that wrapped-up the NOW con­ cate the capitalist system from the extreme crisis it is is a necessary prerequisite for figuring out what to ference, author Betty Friedan implied that the fail­ in. do. ure to ratify lay with the apathetic "me-gefleration" · Moreover, the NOW leadership refuses"to point out This is the opposite approach of the NOW leader­ who " ... take equality for granted, who think the the bipartisan nature of this offensive. The reason ship. world is their oyster. . . ." that both Democrats. and Republicans must lead this Here's what they say in an editorial in the October Smeal's speech to the conference focused on asking is because it's the necessary moves of their class­ National NOW Times, the official NOW newspaper, every individual to "sacrifice" and "to change our the capitalist class. describing NOW's recent national conference: "The lives" for the ERA. She said nothing about the Demo­ focus was all future-oriented on the remaining cratic and Republican legislators who have voted Sign of weakness months of the ERA Countdown Campaign and the ERA down in state after state, year after year. It is a sign of the capitalists' weakness that they struggle to hold our ground on all the issues key to at­ In fact, the latest mailing by NOW's Political Ac­ have been forced to embark upon this sharply con­ taining equality for women .... tion Committee expresses continued confidence in frontationist course with American working people. "No one evaded the reality that we are engaged in Democratic and Republican legislators. It says:". .. Because they know that there is a limit to how much an uphill struggle and yet there was a recognition of the outcome of the 1982 election will determine the victims will take before a powerful fightback be­ a gathering momentum, a volatile shift in the politi­ whether the New Right gains control of both houses gins to develop. cal climate, of small breakthroughs that might be­ of Congress. If they succeed they will then not only The acceleration of the bosses' and their govern­ come significant realignments that could make the control Congress, but an Administration friendly to ment's antiwoman propaganda is an essential part of difference between defeat and victory- if we gave it their anti-woman, anti-reproductive rights, anti­ trying to drive their offensive through. It is· a meas­ our all." equal rights mentality." ure of the deep support that the idea of women's There are several problems with this approach. In their pollyanna world, we can prevent this from equality has in this country. It narrows the fight for women's rights to whether happening by voting in "progressive" Democrats­ They want to divide workers by arguing that wom­ we can win the ERA by the June 30, 1982, deadline. like Edward Kennedy, despite the fact that he's anti­ en who work in "non-traditional" jobs are stealing The cynicism of this approach is shown by the fact abortion and was a key supporter of the recently­ them from men. And they try to convince us that that the NOW leadership uses this deadline to stam­ enacted "Teenage Chastity Act" which would punish women who have abortions are "murderers." pede NOW members into going along with their focus teenage sexuality by restricting access to contracep­ But the bipartisan offensive is being carried out de- on the November 1982 elections. The only "realistic" tion and abortion. spite the sentiment against it. · thing to do, they argue, is lobbying, electing Demo­ cratic and Republican "friends" of women, and de­ Demoralization Where do we go? feating our "enemies" in the elections. Trying to manufacture victories where they don't In this context, what forces can we look to for build­ They use the deadline to try to squelch serious dis­ exist, the NOW leadership hailed the appointment of ing a powerful, fighting women's rights movement cussion on why the ERA fight is .losing, and why we the antilabor, antiwoman, and racist Sandra O'Con­ that can advance the struggle of all working people? are suffering serious attacks on the right to abortion, nor to the U.S. Supreme Court. Two months ago, a half million working people affirmative action, and childcare. They downplay the deadly seriousness and scope of marched through the streets of Washington, D.C. in The fight for the ERA is very important. And how the attacks on abortion rights, which have already opposition to Reagan's cutbacks and moves toward this fight is conducted will make a great deal of dif­ been effectively limited for millions of women war. ference on how we can move forward after July 1. through the cut off of medicaid funds. Thousands of demonstrators - Black, Latino, and Along which political lines and in alliance with It's this perspective, that calls nothing by its right white; young and old; male and female; unionists and which class forces this fight is carried out will deter­ name, that misorients the women's rights struggle the unorganized- carried "ERA, YES!" signs. mine whether the fight for women's rights is ad­ and demoralizes women's rights activists and suppor­ September 19, Solidarity Day called by the AFL- · vanced or set back. ters. CIO, was the biggest pro-women's rights action in It is only by developing a perspective for an inde­ This was clear at the NOW conference, where U.S. history. pendent women's movement that looks to the work­ hundreds of young, militant women left frustrated It gave a glimpse of the fact that it's working people ing class, that we can advance the struggle for wom­ and angry because of the class collaborationist strat­ - united, politically led and organized - that have en's rights, even though our chances of winning the egy put forward by the NOW national leadership. the power to beat back this offensive, including the

Keynote speakers at October 12 ERA media event that closed NOW conference. From left to right: Eleanor Smeal, Betty Ford, Lady 131rd Johnson. 'Guardian' newspaper termed the rally 'combative,' ignoring the political content of it. This patriotic rally blamed defeat of ERA on everyone but the ruling class, £ ·:; whose representatives filled the ~ speakers list. Actions like these and the f rest of NOW's 'ERA Countdown ~ Campaign' tie women's movement closer lii to ruling class and its parties and divorce :E ~ it from working-class allies.

12 THE MILITANT NOVEMBER 27, 1981 attacks on women's rights. And they imply that the disagreements at the con­ tools to reach out to our allies, inspire our supporters, And it's working people - male and female - ~ho ference centered on the leadership's rejection of more give women confidence in our ability to struggle, and will take up this fight as part of their struggle for sur­ · militant tactics. teach us to rely on ourselves. vival. In the October 23 Militant, we editorialized, "The They also can let the ruling class know that wom­ rally was an appeal to legislators to pass the ERA so en's rights sentiment can be mobilized and so put Broaden our audience women can participate equally with men - not in pressure on them. Once you see the whole picture, it becomes clear changing this country into a force that fights for the Far from abstaining from these important activi­ that today we can't sit back and wait until things get interests of the oppressed - but in helping America ties, supporters of women's rights should advocate better. We can't "abstain" from the struggle. reach its 'greatest di~ension in the world.'" such actions. The most important and effective thing we can do to­ We pointed out that when speakers like Betty Ford But they are effective if their political line contrib­ day to advance the fight for women's rights is to ex­ and Lady Bird Johnson talk about "America" and utes to building a movement that takes on c;mr ene­ plain the stakes in the battle for women's equality; how "we," they mean the ruling rich that they represent, mies, not cozies up to them. it relates to the overall struggle of the working class not the majority of the American people. The women's movement to~ay is suffering from a against the rulers; and what strategy can move it for­ We said the rally "weakened rather than streng­ tremendous crisis of perspective, as is the union ward. thened the fight for women's rights." movement and the Black struggle. We must broaden the audience we talk to directly, But this is a crisis for which there is a solution. with a top priority on working people, who are the 'ERA Countdown Campaign' Never before in history have so many people, espe­ cially working people, seen the struggle for women's main targets of the rulers' offensive, and whose The entire ERA campaign laid out at the NOW co.n­ thinking is being shaken up by the blows they are ference cuts across the fight for the ERA. rights as part of their own fight. And more and more people are beginning to see taking. Two examples. that we have to look for collective solutions to our col­ We must reach out to the Black and Latino com­ The "ERA Message Brigade Campaign" whose goal lective problems. munities, to involve these staunch supporters in the is, according to the National NOW Times, "There­ fight for women's equality. It is these facts that should make us optimistic cruitment of one million people who will respond to about the potential for building a fighting movement action alerts from NOW by sending messages to key for wome!l's equality. Class .polarization leaders in unratified states." American politics are becoming more and more po­ In other words, it's a computerized, massive lobby­ larized as the ruling class pushes through its pro­ ing effort. gram, which conflicts with the demands and nee~s of The Guardian called the "ERA Missi.onary Pro­ the working class and its aHies. ject" a "grassroots educational drive. . . ." New from Pathfinder The NOW leadership has chosen closer collabora­ But an article in the November 8 New York Times tion with the capitalist class. They are tailoring the . makes clear the political nature of this campaign. demands of our movement to fit the needs of the rul­ They interviewed one of these "missionaries,'; ers' military and austerity drive. They openly seek to Deborah DeBare, about how she explains the link be­ mobilize our movement behind the draft and impe­ tween the ERA and the draft. rialist foreign policy. "NOW has an antiwar stand. We're against the This is hardly the road to liberation. Such abject draft for both men and women, but if there were a capitulation will only bring deeper oppression, and draft registration, then women should have a right to will make the women's movement an obstacle to the protect their country just as men do." struggle of workers and the vast majority of women. I>eBare went on to explain that she's against war "but if there were a war, it would probably be a tech­ More militant tactics? nological war and women would probably be used. We have to look at every tactical proposal in a pol­ Women can push buttons as well as men.'' itical framework. We have to ask: This unconscionable position comes straight out of Does it advance or detract from explaining this the NOW board's position paper on women and "the working class outlook and building a movement on draft. it? Does it tie the women's movement closer to the rul­ Politics, not tactics ing class or to the working class? The problem is not the NOW leadership's tactics; Does it give us more confidence in ourselves, or their emphasis on lobbying, letter writing, and giv­ does it make us rely more heavily on the parties of the ing money to polit,icians flows from their strategic re­ oppressors? liance on capitalist politicians. Tactics, by themselves, cannot be more or less mil­ That is why their wrong perspective cannot be ef­ itant. It depends on what strategy they advance. c fectively explained simply by criticizing this or that This is where the article in the October 21 Guard­ tactic. You must go to the source, where an entirely ian, a radical weekly, goes wrong. different perspective is posed. They discuss on the level of tactics, not strategy. Speaking tours, petitions, films, fund-raising, and

And it takes them politically far afield. even giving money to candidates (but not capitalist 95¢ pamphlet. from P•1thfinlt.•r It leads them to take the NOW leadership's "ERA ones) can be very useful if they advance the fight. West St., New York, N.Y. 10014. Enclose 75e for Countdown Campaign" for good coin. For example, We need other actions also for the ERA and to de­ postage and handling. Free catalog available on re­ they describe the ERA rally at the conclusion of the fend dther rights of women. Demonstrations, rallies, quest. NOW conference as "combative." picket lines, etc. These can be important propaganda Black party sued in affirmative-action fight By Malik Miah Black employees but said he could not sp1rmg to interrupt and destroy" these businesses during a civil rights "White Owner Sues NBIPP" reads a find apy 'qualified' for the job." Ralph's Sparkle's profits. boycott in Port Gibson in the late 1960s. banner headline of the October 23Buck- Over the summer no action was taken This attempt to turn the victim into A lower Mississippi court awarded dam- eye Review, a newspaper serving the by Ralph's Sparkle. The local chapter the criminal is similar to what occurred ages of $1.25 million, an amount which Youngstown, Ohio, Black community. decided to send the owner a letter re- during the civil rights movement in the would seriously harm the functioning of The Ralph's Sparkle Market is seek- questing more information on his hiring 1950s and 1960s. One of the tactics used the NAACP if they are forced to pay it. ing $300,000 in damages and a court practices. He agreed to meet. At that by the Southern Christian Leadership Like the NBIPP's boycott, the purpose order barring the Youngstown chapter meeting, Miller explained, "We pro- Conference, and the NAACP, and other of the Port Gibson action was to force of the National Black Independent Pol- posed he put on three positions _ two Black rights organizations then was to these racist outfits to hire more Black itical Party (NBIPP) from urging com- part-time students and a full-time per- call on Blacks to participate in selective employees and increase municipal ser- munity shoppers to not spend their mo- son_ and make a commitment to reach consumer boycotts against racist busi- vices in the Black comJ;Dunity. ney at Ralph's Sparkle in order to influ- a goal of 40 percent Black employees nesses. In many cases victories were In response to Ralph's Sparkle's at- ence that business to hire more Blacks. over a two-year period. won. In others, suits were filed by the tack, the Youngstown chapter is step- This racist suit against NBIPP is a racist store owners against the Black ping up its campaign against the store. culmination of an eight-month cam- Miller reported that "the owner said rights' organizations. The party chapter is canvassing the paign by the Youngstown chapter to he was sympathetic but was in no posi- Most recently, for example, the Rev. community to explain its demands and convince Ralph Sparkle and other busi- tion to implement such an action.'' Jesse Jackson, head of Operation is continuing to leaflet the store. nesses in the Black community to hire This inaction by the management led PUSH, got the giant Coca-Cola com- A lawyer has been retained. A first more Blacks. Back in March, according the party to stand outside the store and pany to hire a few more Blacks in top hearing date was postponed, and a new to Ron Miller, a co~convener of the pass out leaflets urging shoppers to shop management after threatening to or- one hasn't been set. Youngstown NBIPP and coordinator of elsewhere. This was in mid-October. ganize a consumer boycott. Miller told the Militant that those op- the chapter's Jobs Campaign, the party Miller said that only six party members That's an exception today in a period posed to this attempt to destroy the par- organized a survey to learn where the passed out the leaflets on a public side- of escalating attacks by the Reagan ad- ty should place immediate pressure on community shopped and the number of walk. ministration and the employing class on Ralph's Sparkle to drop their suit and Blacks working in the stores. In reponse to this leafleting, Miller Black gains won over the last two dec- meet the just demands raised by the Miller told the Militant that the main explained, "the management was ready ades. · chapter. "The owner,'1 Miller-explained, aim of this campaign was to get "more to talk. They said they were agreeable to A more typical example concerns a "has already hired two Blacks since we job opportunities for Blacks. This partie- our demands.'' suit filed against the NAACP in Missis- began our campaign in September, in ular market was one of several we sur- sippi, which the U.S. Supreme Court re- fact, since the filing of their suit. veyed. We found 85 percent of the shop- After meeting with the owner, a writ- cently decided to hear. "We plan to continue our fight until pers were Black, but only one of the ten agreement was to be drafted along The NAACP and ninety-one individu- our longterm goals are won-to get 40 eighteen employees was Black." the lines of the party's proposals. How- als were sued by white-owned busi- percent Black employees.'' Based on this information, "we de- ever, the store owner responded with,le- nesses in Port Gibson, Mississippi, for Telegrams of protest can be sent to: cided to focus on Ralph's Sparkle. gal action. organizing a consumer boycott. The Ralph's Sparkle Market, 2126 Market "Last spring when we first met with Miller told the Militant that the store Mississippi Supreme Court ruled that St., Youngstown, Oh. 44507 (with copies the owner," Miller explained, "he said management gave them no warning at the NAACP and others named were fi- to Ron Miller, 918 Granite St.; Youngs- he supported our demands for more all. They charged the party with "con- nancially liable for losses incurred by town, Oh. 44502).

NOVEMBER 27, 1981 THE MILITANT 13 U.S. gov't and Moscow: both warmongers? Where social democrats' Polish support campaign goes wrong By Suzanne Haig and landlords. They want to democrat­ NEW YORK - Five hundred people ize the current system in order to truly attended a November 8 meeting here in make it work in their interests. support of the struggle of the Polish We should stand with them and fight workers·. for what they are fighting for. Speakers included Tadeusz Kowalik, Polish economist and advisor for the Co-equal warmongers? independent union, Solidarity; Pete Whatever can be said about the Camaratfl, cochair, Teamsters for a oppressive nature of the Soviet politi­ Democratic Union; Sam Meyers, presi­ cal system, the fact remains that the dent, United Auto Workers Local 259; economic system of the Soviet Union Michael Harrington, national chair of - unlike U.S. imperialism - does not the Democratic Socialist Organizing drive it to expand and dominate the Committee; Barbara Garson, author of world. · MacBird; and others. In a system where goods are not Sponsored by an ad hoc group called produced for profit, there is no eco­ the Solidarity Support Campaign, the nomic drive to expand investments to meeting featured prominent social other countries, to find new markets democrats. The leaflet distributed by for goods, to seek out cheap sources of the meeting's organizers explained, "It labor and raw ·materials. is only right that we, not those who Nor is war production a source of create or are accomplices in America's profits. In fact, peace is a prerequisite reactionary domestic and foreign poli­ for the full development of the planned cies, defend Solidarity's survival and economy. Weapons expenditures - independence." which flow from defense against impe­ The meeting was seen as a way of rialism - weaken the Soviet economy. presenting a radical alternative to the It is the imperialist nations, espe­ AFL-CIO's pro-imperialist, anticom­ cially the United States, that are the munist campaign conducted in the main source of war and aggression name of Polish support work. today. " Within this framework, speakers Since the Russian revolution, the presented various viewpoints on the imperialist nations have attempted to meaning of the Polish revolution and crush any revolution that threatened how it can be supported in the United to overturn capitalism. This was the States. basis for the Korean and Vietnam Guest speaker Tadeusz Kowalik ef­ wars, and explains the current threats fectively refuted charges by Moscow against Cuba, Nicaragua, and Gre­ and Warsaw that Solidarity is antiso­ ..,,.,.r.,.•~r .. are not to return nes, s to capitalists. nada. After 1917, the United States cialist - an accusation not contra­ They recognize that nationalization of means of production is responsible for Po­ and thirteen other capitalist countries dicted, but reinforced, by the capitalist land's rapid development after World War II. They want to make the decisions on how invaded the Soviet Union trying to media, he added. the economy is run. overturn the revolution. Refute media lies Today, it is U.S. missile bases that Explaining what kind of aid Poland that U.S. and other imperialist banks the Caribbean and Central America circle the Soviet Union, Poland, and needs, Kowalik said, "The help from are playing in starving the Polish are being considered by Washington. Eastern Europe. And Washington's the left should be mainly intellectual. economy. Nor was the fact stressed strategy is based on attempting to Putting equal blame for the cause of achieve a first-strike capability against Western public opinion should be bet­ that the problem with the NATO mis­ war on imperialism and the Soviet the Soviet Union - not, as NATO ter informed about what is going on in sile bases in Europe is that they are Union is often referred to as a "third pretends, to respond to previous Soviet present-day Poland, and especially aimed directly at the masses in Po­ camp" position. It comes from a rejec­ missile deployments. better informed about changes not land, the rest of Eastern Europe, and tion of anything progressive in the In their attempt to present a radical only on the top - in the central au­ the Soviet Union. property relations in the Soviet Union alternative to Kirkland's Polish "sup­ thorities - but also in the factories, C.L.R. James, West Indian author of that resulted from the workers' and port" campaign, these social demo­ schools, and universities." The Black Jacobins and retired profes­ peasants' revolution of 1917. crats fail, for they end up giving cre­ Cheers and hearty applause went to sor, said that "the Russian army was According to James, the Soviet Un­ dence to the cold war rhetoric and Bruce Campbell, a striking member of supposed to march through Poland ion is capitalist. Sweezy stated at the the Professional Air Traffic Con­ and go to the Atlantic," but the Polish foreign policy positions that they want meeting that "the "soviet Union is not to take their distance from. trollers Organization (PATCO). Camp­ workers are keeping them occupied at socialist. It is not capitalist, but is a bell told the audience about the hard­ home. The best way to aid the Polish work­ new kind of exploitative class society. ers is not to give one ounce of credibil­ ships faced by the PATCO strikers. It is not ruled by a bureaucracy, not by After Reagan fired them on August 5, Superpower hegemony? ity to Washington's deceptions about an elite, but by a ruling class, which the causes· of war. Our job is as Ta­ many were denied food stamps and Paul Sweezy, editor of Monthly Re­ has its rule in the control of the state unemployment benefits. deusz Kowalik said: to get out the truth view, said regarding the United States apparatus." "People who paid FHA [Federal to the American people about what the and Soviet Union: "What the world Housing Authority] mortgages regu­ Giant step forward Polish workers are really fighting for needs more than anything is the end of and the dangers posed to their revolu­ larly on their houses, and then missed dual hegemony by the two superpow­ a payment, were foreclosed upon," There is a great distinction between tion - not only by the Soviet bureau­ ers. What it needs is to break up both the totalitarian Moscow and Warsaw Campbell said. Local ·businesses have cracy, but by the U.S. warmakers. of the superpowers' blocs." bureaucracies and the economic sys­ refused to hire many. Such positions, especially when pres­ tem over which they hold power. "But like the people in Poland," he ented in the name of socialism, serve to Failure to recognize this makes it added, "we will persevere. And with confuse and disarm activists who sup­ impossible to understand what the support like we see today at this meet­ port the Polish revolution and oppose Polish workers are fighting for, and is POLAND ing, we know that they cannot lose - Washington's war drive, by giving an obstacle to defending them. Over­ and neither can the controllers." Wodcers in Revolt backhanded support to Washington's turning the capitalists and landlords Twenty-five percent of the collection, foreign policy. in the Soviet Union and Poland repres­ taken for Solidanty, went to the strik­ Anti-Sovietism is the cornerstone of ented a gigantic step forward for the ing controllers. Washington's campaign to convince working class and all humanity. The As part of their attempt to differen­ working people of the need to reinstate tiate themselves from the AFL-CIO state now owns the means of industrial the draft, increase military spending, production and distribution and con­ bureaucracy, speakers emphasized the and intervene militarily around the need to follow the example of the trols finances. The state holds a mo­ world. Polish workers in labor's fight here nopoly over foreign trade. Production Once Washington's premise of Soviet against the Reagan administration's is not for profits: there is a planned aggression is accepted, then it's logical attacks. A few speakers addressed the economy. to accept its conclusion - despite importance of support to the antimis­ The Soviet Union and Poland are sile movement in Western Europe as statements to the contrary. neither capitalist nor imperialist, and C.L.R. James's unsubstantiated an aid to the Polish struggle. they don't have a new ruling class. charge that the Kremlin wants to drive They are states in transition from The meeting, however, failed to pres­ to the Atlantic, for example, justifies capitalism to socialism, deformed by ent a clear and effective alternative to stationing U.S. nuclear missiles in ruling, privileged, self-seeking bureauc­ AFL-CIO President Lane Kirkland's Europe. racies. fake Polish solidarity campaign. Confusing the source of aggression Those like Sweezy, James, et al, who In fact, many of the most prominent in the world, not putting responsibility don't think that the nationalized prop­ By Dave Frankel, speakers expressed a position on Po­ for war squarely where it belongs - on erty relations in Poland are worth DeAnn Rathbun, land and the Soviet Union that made U.S. imperialism- takes Washington defending put themselves at odds with and Ernest Harsch concessions to the basic premises of off the hook, leads to serious political what the Polish workers are really imperialist foreign policy. errors, and lays the groundwork for fighting for. 48 pp. $1.25. Order from Pathfinder Moscow, for example, was described legitimatizing some form of U.S. mil­ The Polish workers and farmers Press, 410 West Street, New York, not only as a threat to the Polish itary action. recognize the progressive character of N.Y. 10014. (Please include $. 75 for workers, but as a danger to world This is especially true considering their economy. They are not fighting to postage.) Write for a free catalog of peace - on a par with Washington. that the meeting occurred right at the return the nationalized · property to socialist books and pamphlets. Speakers failed to deal with the role time when serious military moves in profit-hungry industrialists, bankers,

14 THE MILITANT NOVEMBER 27, 1981 Morris Chertov: working-class fighter By Nelson Bla<;kstock SWP there. During a big General Motors strike they Morris Chertov died in Los Angeles November 2. recruited to the SWP the entire strike committee at He was seventy-three years oltl. one plant. Morris Chertov was a member of that generation of When the Cold War came and the anticommunist workers who were swept into political activity by the witch-hunt set in, Morris had his seaman's papers re­ Great Depression of the 1930s. A founder of the So­ voked by the Coast Guard. cialist Workers Party (SWP) and a member until his Now barred from working in maritime, Morris death, he devoted his life to the cause of the working turned to painting, finding jobs as bcith an industrial class. and a house painter. Chertov was born on December 30, 1907 in New In 1952 Morris and Pearl moved to Philadelphia. York City of Russian Jewisn immigrant parents. His He worked for twenty years at Westinghouse, where father was a scenic artist and a unionist. His mother he was a precision machine-tool operator. As a had been a garment worker in Russia and worked for member of the United Electrical Workers he estimat- a time in that industry here. ed he took part in twenty strikes. As a child he heard tales cif union organizing in Morris and Pearl brought up two daughters, Eva Czarist Russia and of repression by Cossacks and and Judy, both members of the SWP today. anti-Semites. When the victorious Cuban revolution came on the The oldest of three children, his younger brother, scene in 1960, Morris became active in its defense as Robert Chester, was also a founder of the SWP and a a member of the Fair Play for Cuba Committee. Later member until his death in 1975. he joined in the movement against the war in Viet­ In 1928 Chertov signed on as a messman on a ship nam, often working with his union on that issue. to Latin America. Conditions on board were so bad From his plant he brought one of the first bus loads of that he decided to get off in Buenos Aires, Argentina. unionists to march against the war in Washington. There he happened to land a job on an English lan­ guage newspaper as a cub reporter. His eight months Party builder in A:r:gentina proved to be an eye-opener. Over the years Morris served as an SWP branch or­ "I was profoundly disquieted by the role of Amer­ Morris Chertov (lett) with Farrell Dobbs, ganizer, field organizer, and was a delegate to almost ican capital in Argentina,. It raised fundamental date for president, during Chertov's campaign in 1948 every party convention for three decades. questions which I thought I would find answers to for governor of Connecticut on SWP ticket. In 1960-61 he attended a session of the party's na­ back in the U.S.A." tional leadership school. Chertov wrote those words in a brief biographical Morris ran for office under the SWP banner on at sketch he prepared in 1977 at the SWP's request. roles in strikes at Autolite that helped pave the way least three occasions, including for governor of Con­ He got back just as the depression hit. Having nev­ for the founding of the United Auto Workers and the necticut in 1948 and for U.S. Senate from Pennsylva­ er finished high school, he enrolled in night classes in CIO (Congress of Industrial Organizations). nia in 1964. Meanwhile, in Minneapolis members of the Com­ New York City. There he joined a student group led When asked once on a questionnaire if he had ever munist League of America (CLA) were leading by Communist Party members. been arrested for party or union work, his reply \\;as: • strikes that brought unionism to that city and "Their conduct and thinking made a bad impres­ "Never arrested- plain lucky." eventually led to the transformation of the Teamsters sion on me," Chertov wrote. "The leaders were semi­ fr~m a small craft outfit to a powerful industrial After retiring in 1974 Morris moved to Chicago, berserk individuals, who literally frothed at the union. where he and Pearl lived for two years before moving mouth exhorting us to undertake various wild pro- . The central leaders of the CLA had been expelled to New Orleans . jects." - from the Communist Party for supporting Leon In New Orleans they helped found a new branch of The Communist Party in those days was in an Trotsky's defense of Leninism against the Staliniza­ the SWP. When they opened their new headquarters ultra-left phase, the so-called third period, that lasted tion of the international Communist movement. and book store for the first time, a contingent of Ku until 1935. Chertov rejected it. In December of 1934 the A WP and the CLA fused Klux Klanners showed up to picket. A television "Shortly after this I got a job on a Ford final assem­ to form the Workers Party. Prior to the fusion Cher­ newscaster interviewed Morris and asked if this bly line in New Jersey," Chertov wrote. The demand­ tov had been among the A WP members pushing meant the new headquarters would be shut down. ing hours forced him to drop his night classes, and he hardest for it. He was a delegate from New York City With KKKers yelling in the background, Morris's an­ never finished high school. But his education was to the A WP convention that voted to fuse and to the swer still came through loud and clear to viewers that really just beginning. founding convention of the new party that followed. evening: "Hell no!" "To that time it was the greatest educational expe­ In 1936 the Workers Party's members joined the In the late 1970s Morris and Pearl moved to Los rience I had gone through," he wrote. "What I saw of Socialist Party to win over a growing left wing. In Angeles, where Pearl took on the assignment of how an individualistic body of:,300 workers were fi­ late 1937 the left wing was expelled and in January, branch organizer. nally disciplined into a smoothly functioning cooper­ 1938 it formed the Socialist Workers Party. Although after he retired Morris was not able to be ative organism recalled some little reading of Marx I as active as he once was, he kept a lively interest in had done, particularly of how industrial capital Socialist unionist party affairs and politics in general. taught workers how to organize themselves. In the late 1930s when socialists decided to send In Los Angeles a memorial meeting was held for "I wanted to see the plant unionized but it was an members into the maritime industry, Chertov was Morris Chertov on November 7. SWP leader Fred armed camp - armed guards everywhere. I con­ one of the first to go because of his earlier experience Halstead and Cathy Gutekanst, Young Socialist Al­ cluded it would take a revolutionary organization to in the industry. As a member of the Seafarers Inter­ liance organizer, spoke. do it. The Communist Party and the Socialist Party national Union he participated in many strikes and Gutekanst told how Morris was always ready to were out. I kept my eyes open for some other organi­ picket lines. listen to young people, always encouraging them, zation." In 1940 while shipping out of New York he met talking socialism to them. Pearl Spector. They were married and remained · Fred Halstead was a close neighbor and friend of Joins American Workers Party companions until his death. Morris in his last years. In April, 1934, Chertov ran across an announce­ "Morris was a worker, a person who had never fin­ ment for a meeting of a new organization. He decided During the war he sailed the Atlantic. At one point ished high school, but he had been a student all his to attend, and joined on the spot. his ship was blown out from under him. For a time he life," Halstead said. "He had a great respect for ideas The American Workers Party (AWP), which Cher­ also sailed on the Great Lakes while based in Detroit. and for literature. '. tov had joined, was headed by A.J. Muste, known to a At the close of the war he was among the seamen "Just days before he died he called me late one later generation as a leader of the antiwar movement who re-established contact with co-thinkers of the night and asked me to watch a television program of the 1960s. · SWP in Europe. The war had broken old links, and with hiin. It was on public TV, a program about phil­ At this time a movement was underway to organize now Morris sought them out anew, carrying docu­ osophy, the views ofSartre. Morris loved the program basic industry. Socialist-minded workers were among ments and addresses back and forth to the states. and we sat and talked about it when it was over," those fighting hardest for this goal. After the war Morris and Pearl moved to Connecti­ Halstead recalled. In Toledo, Ohio, A WP members played leading cut. They succeeded in setting up two branches of the "He was one of the great rank and file of the SWP."

• • • Nicaraguans brace for attack Continued from page 3 Cesar Sandino, who led a guerrilla war where he received assurances from the against the American people. "should have a book in his or her hand. against an invasion of Nicaragua by the presidents of Brazil, Ecuador, and Pana­ "Last week," the column said, "we A book and a rifle. This is going to be a U.S. Marines in the late 1920s and early ma, and from the foreign minister of Pe­ pointed out that the actions of the North revolution of books, rifles, and guitars." 1930s. ru, that their countries would not take American people themselves form one of Commander Dora Maria Tellez part in any invasion of Nicaragua. the crucial pillars for holding back the sounded the same theme the next day in International solidarity But Nicaraguans give special weight hands of the imperialists who want to a speech to a group of workers who will All demonstrations of international to expressions of solidarity and antiwar strangle us. And here we should repeat be trained to operate and maintain 600 solidarity and every repudiation of Rea­ sentiment on the part of the people of once again that our anti-imperialist po­ new tractors from the Soviet Union. gan's war drive are reported and wel­ the United States. Every picket line, sition is precisely that, anti-imperialist. "Our business is construction," she comed here in Nicaragua. Several thou­ demonstration, or challenge to Reagan's "Our position has much in common said. "What we want to do is build our sand people demonstrated in Lima, Pe­ saber-rattling is reported in the revolu­ with the democratic ideals and the de­ country. But we have to be soldiers too, ru, November 8, and 15,000 marched tionary press here. sire for peace and friendship on the part if we don't want our enemies to come through the streets of Quito, Ecuador, On November 10, Barricada pub­ of working people and intellectuals in and tear down what we build up." just before U.S. Assistant Secretary of lished a photograph of an anti war picket the United States and with those politi­ One thing is certain: any attempt by State Thomas Enders arrived November in New Orleans. An accompanying edi­ cal figures who do not want to see their U.S. or other forces to intervene in Nica­ 10. torial column explained that the Nica­ country plunged into a new quagmire ragua will be met by a fighting people. Foreign Minister D'Escoto recently raguans: opposition to recent U.S. gov­ like Vietnam." The FSLN takes its name from Augusto returned from a trip to South America, ernment moves was in no way directed From Intercontinental Press

NOVEMBER 27, 1981 THE MILITANT 15 Rail workers ~anel discusses Danger from transporting nuclear waste tion plans in case of an accident. Some­ of view of people who work for the rail­ times rail workers are not even told that roads, coal makes much more sense," trains they are working on carry nucle­ she said. "Full cars mean more jobs and ar waste. no one was ever radiated by coal." "The main purpose of the Safe Energy Rail workers in Lincoln first got in­ and Full Employment Committee is to volved in antinuclear activities after educate union members and their fami­ several members of the UTU attended. lies so they know . how dangerous this the first Conference for Safe Energy and stuff is," Bohlman said. "We want to see Full Employment in Pittsburgh last a moratorium on the transportation of year. They also organized a delegation nuclear waste. It can't be moved safely." to go to the national protest march on The vice-president of the United March 28, the second anniversary of the States Farmers Association, Merle Three Mile Island accident in Harris­ Hansen, talked about his travels with a burg. veterinarian through farm communities After many discussions with other around Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. The rail workers, the UTU Local 305 voted radiation released by the Three Mile Is­ to take their message to the Solidarity land plant is having a devastating effect Day demonstration in Washington D.C. on farm animals and wildlife in the on September 19. There, union members area. carried a banner demanding "No Nucle­ Militant/Jeff Hamill Ser~ous problems at the Ft. Calhoun ar Power and No Nuclear Weapons." United Transportation Union and Brotherhood of Railway and Airline Clerks partici- nuclear plant outside of Omaha were They reported many favorable com­ pated in panel on nuclear dangers. From left to right: Merle Hansen, Cheryl Porch, discussed by Terry Ford, an aide to State ments from other marchers. John Bohlman, Mike Lux, and Terry Ford. Senator Steve Witala. Ft. Calhoun has Plans have also been made by the Safe . been targeted by the Nuclear Regulato­ Energy and Full Employment Commit­ ry Commission because of the develop­ tee to send people to the second Confer­ By Mary Nell Bockman (UTU) Local 305 and Nebraskans for ing "embrittlement" of the containment ence for Safe Energy and Full Employ­ LINCOLN, Nebraska- A broad pan­ Peace. vessel. An accident such as the one that ment in Gary, Indiana, November 20- el on the Dangers of Nuclear Power held John Bohlman, chairman of the UTU occurred at Three Mile Island could eas­ 23. Two union locals, the UTU and the here November 2 brought rail workers, Local 305 Safe Energy and Full Employ­ ily crack the vessel, causing a melt­ Brotherhood of Railway Carmen, and farmers, and community organizations ment Committee, took up the issue of down. the Lincoln Coalition of Rail Crafts will together to discuss the unchecked transportation of nuclear waste. He ex­ Another rail worker on the panel, be sending official delegates. The rail­ growth of the nuclear industry. About plained that often special trains are Cheryl Porch, a tnember of the Brother­ road workers hope to get out more infor­ forty people, mostly rail workers, at­ used to carry radioactive waste. These hood of Railway and Airline Clerks mation by printing a brochure on the tended the meeting which was co-spon­ trains move through highly populated Lodge 4 71, talked about the alterna­ nuclear power issue after the Gary con­ sored by United Transportation Union areas that rarely have effective evacua- tives to nuclear power. "From the point ference. Protests hit killing of-union member by rent-a-cop By Paul Montauk McKinzy was employed by Deleon Se­ was doing what he was supposed to do. Saturday, October 3, in memory ofLab­ BERKELEY - It would appear that curity, a rent-a-cop firm. Among the The ILWU issued an angry statement uzan. All the store employees were paid almost every store you walk into these growing number of firms like this, Del­ to the press protesting the killing. It de­ for that day and a sign was posted in the days has a private cop or two, armed, pa­ con is known as being particularly irres­ manded that Pay 'N Save accept full re­ window explaining why the store was trolling the aisles. ponsible. sponsibility for the killing, that it dis­ closed. This can lead to tragic consequences. Last year, it was fined $1,000 for arm all its security personnel, and that Sales receipts for an average Satur­ A few weeks ago, at a large Pay 'N twenty-two violations of the laws re­ it take the initiative in getting all Ber­ day are to be donated to the Labuzan Save store here, Robert Labuzan, a garding security companies. Deleon keley businesses to disarm their securi­ family. Pay 'N Save agreed to terminate member of the International Longshore­ guards did not possess permits to carry a ty guards. its contract with Deleon and to not use men's and Warehousemen's Union firearm, or were not registered with the Local citizens and ILWU members be­ armed guards in its 200 stores. Pay 'N (ILWU) Local10, was shot and killed by state as required by law. gan picketing the store and urging Save saKI it would take out ads stating armed private cop Robert McKinzy. At least five of Deleon's guards had everyone to boycott it. its opposition to armed guards and urge Labuzan was accused by McKinzy of never been trained in the powers of ar­ After ten days of a successful boycott, •other businesses to do the same. shoplifting a $4.50 package of cold tab­ est granted security guards. Pay 'N Save agreed to talk to the boycott Some leaders of the boycott committee lets and ·then detained for booking. McKinzy only received six hours of organizers. have indicated that they are now going When Labuzan attempted to leave, training before going to work as an McKinzy was arrested for killing Lab­ to visit merchants throughout the East McKinzy shot him in the back. He died armed guard. When asked why he shot uzan. Bay area and demand the disarming of twenty minutes later. Labuzan, he replied that he thought he Pay 'N Save agreed to close its store private cops patrolling the stores.

A military coup 'the best we could hope for'? John Schmitz, an ultrarightist and foul­ But why, an easterner might enquire. He sounds In laying all this out, the Times observes, mouthed racist, has been getting quite a bit of me­ like just another right-wing nut. "Schmitz treads carefully over the minefield of ad­ dia in California recently. According to the Octob­ No. Besides the Birch Society and McCarthy vocacy. As a legislator, he has taken an oath to de­ er 30 Los Angeles Times, he "has been working the foundation, Schmitz has added ·credentials. For fend the Constitution and government against talk shows, the panel interviews and the celebrity one thing, he teaches political science at Santa overthrow by force or violence." circuit for the last two weeks." Ana College in Southern California. Schmitz candidly adds, ''I'm just predicting. I'm Also, the Times featured a half page interview For another, he's a colonel in the Marine Corps stuck with an oath of office." with Schmitz by staff political writer Richard reserve and is currently preparing classified "war Quite a few Californians were properly dis­ Bergholz. games" material. turbed by this poisonous business. An issue of the Schmitz is definitely a hard-core right-winger. A Also, Schmitz is an elected member of the Cali­ Times devoted half its letters column to it. member of the national council of the John Birch fornia state senate. One reader ironically enquired why the Senate Society, he says he agrees with Birch society Previously, he served in the U.S. Congress. His committee on terrorism wasn't there to grill current aim is to take the Republican senatorial. Schmitz. nomination in California. Others wanted to know why there was no move His present spate of publicity began when he for impeachment, no official suggestion that per­ publicly advised that if Reagan was unable to car­ haps he had violated his oath of office. ry through his program, a military coup "might be One thing seemed obvious to a lot of people. If As I see it the best we could hope for." Schmitz were a left-winger of some kind, it would The Times assures that Schmitz "is dead serious have really hit the fan. about the prospects of a military coup. It's no joke." They certainly have a point. The government founder Robert Welch that former president Ei­ The interview outlines his scenario: "Reagan's spends a lot of time trying to frame Marxists as ad­ senhower was a "conscious, dedicated agent of the programs fail, the economy disintegrates, people vocating the overthrow of the government by force Communist conspiracy." are rioting in the streets, the Russians plan an in­ and violence. But when a right-winger talks about Schmitz is also a board member of Sen. Joseph vasion to take advantage of the domestic strife, the a military dictatorship he simply gets extra media. R. McCarthy Foundation, assertedly dedicated to military recognizes the threat and the coup oc­ A few years back, a paper like the L .A. Times providing the "truth" about the late would-be curs." would have ignored Schmitz or simply poked fun fuehrer. Schmitz nails it down a bit further. "You can't at him. But the Times is a sober-minded capitalist Schmitz believes this country may have a mil­ fight an external enemy while your home front is paper. It recognizes the depth of the crisis that itary coup in the next few years. "Definitely by seething," he explains. "And so the combination of grips the social system and the fierce struggle this 1986," he says. the external threat and the breakdown at home will inevitably spark. Right-wingers talking about His coup statement won him his present media calls for martial law ... if Reagan were still in of­ military coups are no longer treated as oddballs. fling, L.A. Times and all. fice, he'd probably invoke martial law." -Harry Ring

16 THE MILITANT NOVEMBER 27, 1981 Drive to get out truth Subscription scoreboard meets with big success As of November 14, 1981 By Nancy Rosenstock cruise up and down Houston Street MILITANT SUBS PM SUBS TOTAL TOTAL From Boston to San Diego. from Mia­ every Saturday - mostly airmen from AREA GOAL REC'D GOAL REC'D GOAL REC'D % mi to Seattle. socialists hit the streets on Lackland Air Force Base a nd GI's from November 14 armed with piles of the Fort Sam Houston. I'd hold up the Mil­ **Cleveland 55 67 5 6 60 73 122 Militant headlined "U.S. readies attack itant and ask a group, 'Want to buy a pa­ *Lincoln 40 41 0 2 40 43 108 on Central America." per, before Reagan starts a war?' That Denver 95 93 5 6 100 99 99 Socialists are on an emergency effort would turn three of four heads. Then I *Portland 75 73 0 1 75 74 99 to get out the truth about Reagan's mil­ would continue, 'You don't want a war, New Orleans 110 103 0 2 110 105 ~5 Atlanta 165 164 10 0 175 164 94 itary threats in Central America and do you?' "There were different responses, but Detroit 200 186 15 9 215 195 91 the Caribbean. They are helping to *Piedmont 180 . 162 0 1 180 163 91 the overwhelming one was a long drawn build protest activities and informing as Louisville 125 111 0 0 125 111 89 many people .as possible about the out, 'No!' One GI asked me for directions Salt Lake City 140 132 20 10 160 142 89 danger of these threats through sales of to the local Militant Bookstore after I *San Antonio 130 115 35 28 165 143 87 the Militant. told him it had a stock of Malcolm X's *Washington D.C. 235 213 40 23 275 236 86 The response highlights the antiwar books." San Diego 90 87 30 15 120 102 85 attitudes of many people in this country. In St. Paul, Minnesota, where forty­ *Philadelphia 130 119 40 21 170 140 82 On November 14, in the New York/ nine copies of the Militant were sold, Jay St. Louis 115 96 5 1 120 97 81 Northern New Jersey area, socialists Ressler found a similar response. While *Boston 200 174 25 6 225 180 80 sold close to 700 copies of the Militant and selling at the Unidale Shopping Center, Twin Cities 180 143 0 0 180 143 79 Perspectiva Mundial, our Spanish-lan­ he met a disabled Vietnam vet who *Harrisburg 130 99 0 0 130 99 76 guage bi-weekly. They found an eager­ stopped his truck when he saw the head­ Capital District 90 70 5 1 95 71 75 Newark 275 244 75 18 350 262 75 ness to discuss the military moves·being line of the Militant. ''I'm very much afraid that there is going·to be another *Birmingham 200 141 0 3 200 144 72 prepared by Washington and fear that *Iron Range 110 79 0 0 110 79 72 Vietnam and we must do everything we Reagan may take the U.S. people into a *Brooklyn 475 355 75 32 550 387 70 war. can to stop it," he told Ressler as he Kansas City 125 94 25 11 150 105 70 Top salesperson, with fifty papers, bought a copy of the paper. was Phil Bustin, an auto worker at A Black steelworker in East Chicago, *Pittsburgh 290 202 10 3 300 205 68 Ford's Metuchen, N.J. plant. Indiana, described it this way to Manuel Tucson 20 20 15 3 35 23 66 Wells Todd, who ran in the recent Barrera, "This has been going on for Los Angeles 325 228 75 30 400 258 65 Phoenix 75 51 25 14 100 65 65 election on the SWP ticket for mayor of awhile .. It's about time someone is re­ Oakland 170 124 30 2 200 126 63 New York City, works at the giant Gen­ porting it. We should not fight a war. Milwaukee 150 102 25 5 175 107 61 eral Motors plant in Tarrytown, N.Y. The U.S. has no right interfering in the Morgantown 120 71 0 0 120 71 59 While discussing the recent war moves affairs of other countries." A total of Seattle 140 81 10 7 150 88 59 at work, one worker commented, "I'd sixty Militant's and twenty-five copies of Chicago 215 134 35 11 250 145 58 thought they would take us to war, eith­ the Young Socialist, the monthly news­ Baltimore 130 71 5 1 135 72 53 er in the Caribbean or in the Middle paper of the Young Socialist Alliance, Gary 115 64 10 0 125 64 51 East." Todd also found many young peo­ were sold in the northern Indiana area, Indianapolis 12~ 62 0 0 125 62 50 ple who said just simply, ''I'm not go­ mainly to steelworkers. San Francisco 150 88 50 6 200 94 47 ing." Our efforts to get out the truth and **Cincinnati 70 32 0 0 70 32 46 Interest was also high among Black sound the alarm about the war prepa­ **Toledo 50 23 0 0 50 23 46 workers in the current wave of FBI ram­ ratins must continue. Protest activities Albuquerque 60 30 25 6 85 36 42 Dallas 110 47 17 160 64 40 pages against Black activists and in the are mounting. More and more people 50 *Manhattan 705 327 245 56 950 383 40 article on the release of Fulani Sunni are becoming aware of the real inten­ Miami 90 35 10 3 100 38 38 Ali (Cynthia Boston) featured on the tions of the Reagan administration in San Jose 90 32 40 9 130 41 32 back page of the last issue of the Militant. Central America and the.Caribbean. Tidewater 120 37 0 0 120 37 31 In San Antonio, sixty Militant's were The momentum established with Charleston 125 22 0 0 125 22 18 sold. Steve Marshall, who sold eleven sales of the last issue of the Militant Houston 135 15 40 0 175 15 9 papers to soldiers, described his expe­ needs to be maintained as long as there riences: "I aimed my pitch at the is an immiment danger of new military Miscellaneous 226 37 263 hundreds of close-cropped young men moves. TOTAL 7250 5285 1110 406 8360 5691 68 and women, in and out of uniform, who This issue marks the end of our ten­ SHOULD BE 5075 n1 5852 70 week drive to win 8,000 new readers to the Militant and Perspectiva Mundial. ·indicates area that has raised goal Election returns The accompanying scoreboard reflects **indicates area petitioning to put' SWP on ballot We have just begun to receive in­ results at the end of the seventh week of formation on votes cast for Socialist the drive. For the first time since the be-· Workers Party candidates in vari­ ginning of the drive, the scoreboard ous parts of the country. shows that we are behind schedule. A fi­ In Phoenix, Ellie Garcia, candi­ nal scoreboard and an article assessing date for mayor, received 5,083 votes. the drive will appear in an upcoming 6.3 percent of the total cast, with a issue of the Militant. low voter turnout. As part of our emergency effort to get In Cincinnati, Robert · Connoly, out the truth and defend the Cuban, candidate for city council, polled Grenadian, and Nicaraguan revolutions 7,520 votes, 1.1 percent of the total. and the revolutionary fighters in El Sal­ Connoly placed eighteenth in a field vador, there will be many opportunities of twenty, ahead of the right-wing to sell subscriptions, in particular to ac­ Libertarian Party and the candidate tivists in the solidarity movement. The of an anti-abortion party. Militant and Perspectiva Mundial will Betsy Soares, candidate for mayor be especially attractive and useful as we of Winston-Salem, North Carolina, . continue to carry first-hand report-s was credited with 252 votes, 1.3 per­ from Cuba and Nicaragua, and to print cent of the total. speeches by Fidel Castro and other revo­ As returns become available in lutionary leaders as well as articles and other cities, they should be promptly editorials from Cuba's Granma, Nicara­ forwarded to the Militant so that we ~ua'sBarricada, and the Free Westlndi­ can report them. an from Grenada. Young Socialist Alliance Convention A paper that takes sides - Your side. • ------Special 'Militant' subscription offer $3 for 12 weeks·

Send to: Militant, 14 Charles Lane, New York, New York 10014

0 $3 for twelve weeks 0 $15 for six months 0 $24 for one year 0 New 0 Renewal Militan·I/Br•b Broce 0 Enclosed is a contribution to the Militant. A Young Socialist Alliance convention building team sold 'Militants' and talked to people about the upcoming YSA national convention at the Ford plant in Sheffield, Al­ Name ______Address ______abama. For more information about the convention to be held in Philadelphia, De­ City ______State ______Zip ______cember 31 to January 3, write YSA P.O. Box 471 ·cooper Station, New York, N.Y. 10003; or see page 19 for the YSA chapter near you. Union / Organization --~------

NOVEMBER 27, 1981 THE MILITANT 17 The Great Society Harry Ring

Onward Christian soldier - After Un-Brazilian - Operators of the electrically heated towel bars. Total es­ we're assured, it takes a keen eye to spot nearly a decade, the army has reinsti­ numbers game in Rio de Janeiro threat­ timated cost, $3.1 million. the difference. tuted training in bayonet fighting. At ened a strike to protest a crackdown by Ft. Benning, Maj. Finney D. Stafford, military police. This was unsettling to No bloopin' good - The White Almost reasonable - With· the Jr. philosophized, "I think the spirit of the local cops, who enjoy a substantial House said no to a TV feature including county jail filled to overflow, the Des killing that you develop with the bay­ cut of the numbers take. The city chief bloopers by Reagan during his film ca­ Moines area sheriff urged county cops to onet is going to pay off." ot police was sure there'd be no strike. reer. Instead, they did the one of Ford keep arrests to a minimum. He said He said, "I don't think their lack of pa­ stumbling down the steps of Air Force 1, drunk drivers would probably be driven triotism will reach that point." and Carter at the Democratic conven­ home instead of booked, and that other Tell it to the judge - "Honest, fel­ tion referring to the late Hubert H. offenses which normally brought a lows, I have no idea how the money got Humphrey as Hubert Horatio Horn­ night in the pokey would rate a citation. there. Someone must have stuffed it in . Cabin by the sea-Jaqueline Onas­ blower . my pocket."- A New Jersey judge ar­ sis is completing a vacation retreat at She's going to buy more?- Nancy rested in front of the courthouse and Martha's Vineyard. The main house has Shopping tip -The tab for a full­ Reagan's press secretary said White charged with taking a $12,000 bribe three bedrooms and five bathrooms. The length Russian sable coat will run House mail was running three to one in from a defendant he was scheduled to guest house has two bedrooms and four $60,000 this · year. But an equivalent favor of the new $209,000 set of dish­ sentence the next day. bathrooms. All the bathrooms have Canadian sable is only $15,900. And, ware. What's Going On

NEBRASKA OREGON LINCOLN PORTLAND Protest U.S. military threat AN INTRODUCTION TO THE IDEAS OF MARX­ AFTER SADAT: THE FUTURE FOR PALESTINI­ ISM. A class series. Sat. , Nov. 14-Dec. 12, 1 p.m. UNL AN LIBERATION. Speaker: Joel Aber, former staff Ed Berger, Socialist Workers Party; Bonnie Macri, MICHIGAN East Campus Union. Ausp: Young Socialist Alliance. writer for the Militant. Sun., Nov. 22, 7:30 p.m. 711 president, Women's International League for For more information call (402) 483-6236. N.W. Everett. Donation: $1. Ausp: Militant Bookstore DETROIT Peace and Freedom; Michael Moody, Utah State Forum. For more information call (503) 222-7225. THE NEW THREAT OF WAR IN THE CARIB­ Committee in Solidarity with the People of El Salva­ BEAN. Speakers to be announced. Sun., Nov. 22, dor; others. Sat., Nov. 21 J p.m. 677 S. 7th St. E., 7 p.m. 6404 Woodward. Donation: $2. Ausp: Mil­ 2nd Fl. Donation: $1.50. Ausp: Militant Forum. For NEW YORK itant Labor Forum. For more information call (313) more information call (801) 355-1124. TEXAS 875-5322. MANHATTAN DALLAS STOP U.S. WAR THREATS AGAINST THE CAR­ STOP REAGAN'S ATTACKS ON DEMOCRATIC NORTH CAROLINA IBBEAN AND CENTRAL AMERICA! Speakers: Ma­ RIGHTS. Rally for Political Rights Defense Fund. Sat. , tilde Zimmermann, Militant correspondent in Mana­ Dec. 5, 7 p.m. Martin Luther King Center, 2922 M.L.K. WINSTON-SALEM WASHINGTON gua, others to be announced. Fri., Nov. 20, 7:30 p.m. U.S. HANDS OFF CENTRAL AMERICA! Blvd., Library Coni. Room. Donation: $2. Ausp: Politi­ 108 E. 16th Street. Donation: $2. Ausp: Militant Forum. cal Rights Defense Fund. For more information call Speakers: Jim McNamara, Socialist Workers Party;. SEATTLE For more information call (212) 260-6400. (214) 823-6279. others to be announced. Sat. , Nov. 21 , 7 p.m. , 6 WAR CLOUDS OVER CENTRAL AMERICA: p.m. dinner. 215 E. 6th St. Donation: $3, $1.50 fo­ WHY WASHINGTON IS, THREATENING CUBA, rum only. Ausp: Militant Labor Forum. For more in­ NICARAGUA, ANDEL SALVADOR. Film: Revo­ HOUSTON formation call (919) 723-3419. lution or Death. Panel presentation, including Mar­ OHIO HOW SLAVERY WAS ABOLISHED. Film : Harriet tin Gonzalez, Seattle Committee in Solidarity with Tubman and the Underground Railroad. Speaker: UTAH the People of Ef Salvador. Sun., Nov. 22 , 7:30p.m. CINCINNATI Laura Moorehead, 1981 Socialist Workers Party can­ 4868 Rainier Ave. S. Donation: $1.50. Ausp: Mil­ SOLIDARITY RALLY TO PROTEST REAGAN didate for mayor of Houston. Fri., Dec. 4, 7:30 p.m. SALT LAKE CITY itant Forum and Young Socialist Alliance. For more VISIT TO CINCINNATI. Mon .. Nov. 30, 5-7 p.m. Foun­ 6333 Gulf Freeway. Donation: $2. Ausp: Friday Night HANDS OFF CENTRAL AMERICA! Speakers: information call (206) 723-5330. tain Square (downtown). Ausp: November 30 Solidar­ Militant Forum. For more information call (713) 924- ity Coalition. For more information call (513) 751-2636. 4056.

CALIFORNIA Sun. , Nov. 22, 7:30 p.m. 46 Y2 Race St. (near the RALLY FOR IRISH Alameda). Donation: $2. Ausp: Militant Labor Forum. CUBALIBRO HOLlO A Y FAIR LOS ANGELES For more information call (408) 998-4007. Gala opening, Fri., Dec. 4, 8 p.m. to midnight. POLITICAL PRISONERS WHERE THE AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS Slide show on Cuba 7:30 p.m., followed by food Speaker: Bernadette Devlin McAiisky. Sat., STAND TODAY. Speaker: Dave Evans, president, and drink and the first look at our new gift items. Nov. 21, 7 p.m. Holy Name School, 200 W. 97th Professional Air Traffic Controllers Organization Local COLORADO Ausp: Center for Cuban Studies. 220 E. 23rd St., (corner of Amsterdam Ave.), New York. Do­ 502. Sat., Dec. 5, 7:30 p.m. 2211 N. Broadway (2 Street (8th floor), New York City. For more infor­ nation: $5. Ausp: N.Y. H-Biock/Armagh Commit­ blocks north of Broadway off Golden State ramp). Do­ DENVER mation call (212) 685-9038. tee. For more information call (212) 436-4770 or nation: $2. Ausp: Militant Forum. For more information SOCIALIST EDUCATIONAL CONFERENCE: DE­ 243-1759. call (213) 225-31'26. MOCRACY AND REVOLUTION. Two days of class­ es. Fri., Nov. 27: Nicaragua- workers and farmers in OAKLAND power (11 a:m.); People's power in Cuba (2 p.m.). CLASS SERIES ON 'COMMUNIST MANIFESTO': Sat. , Nov. 28: Poland- an unfinished revolution (11 THE RELEVANCE AND IMPORTANCE OF THIS a.m.); The future of democracy in the U.S. (2 p.m.). HISTORIC DOCUMENT TODAY. Speaker: Young Washington Park Community Center, 809 S. Wash­ Militant/Perspectiva Mundial/Young Socialist Tours Socialist Alliance member. Mon. Nov. 23, 30, 7 p.m. ington. Donation: $5 for weekend. Ausp: Young So­ invites you to visit 2864 Telegraph Ave. Ausp: Young Socialist Alliance. cialist Alliance. For more information call (303) 534- For more information call (415) 763-3792. 8954. SAN DIEGO RALL'(TO DEFEND CIVIL LIBERTIES. Speakers: GUATEMALA: U.S.-BACKED DICTATORSHIP Andree Kahlmorgan, Political Rights Defense Fund; STEPS UP REPRESSION. Speakers to be an­ Walter Carmen, American Friends Service Commit­ CUBA nounced. Sat. , Nov. 21, 7:30p.m. 1053 15th St. Ausp: tee; Trish Gallegos, Denver National Organization for Militant/Perspectiva Mundial Forum. For more infor­ Women; Jim Reynolds, American Civil Liberties mation call(714) 234-4630. Union; representative of Kiko Martinez Defense Com­ mittee; representative of El Salvador Legal Defense SAN JOSE Committee. Fri. , Nov. 27, 7 p.m. Executive Tower Inn, 1405 Curtis St. Ausp: Political Rights Defense Fund. NICARAGUA REAGAN'S ATTACKS ON WOMEN'S RIGHTS: HOW WOMEN ARE FIGHTING BACK. Speakers: For more information call (303) 534-8954. Maxine Jenkins, negotiated Hay Study for American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employ­ ees (AFSCME) 101 city workers; Ann Menasche, So­ GEORGIA cialist Workers Party; Julie Moore, chair, Reproductive GRENADA Rights Task Force San Jose South Bay National Or­ ATLANTA ganization for Women ; representative, AFSCME 101. 'THE WAR GAME.' Film on madness of nuclear war. Speaker: Jeff Rogers, Socialist Workers Party, Teamsters Local 528. Sun., Nov. 22, 7:30 p.m. 509 Peachtree St. NE. Donation: $2. Ausp: Militant Labor Forum. For more information call (404) 872-7229. Cuba By V.I. Lenin Rail and Miners Tour - February 14-21, 1982 - eight days, $610 INDIANA Workers Democracy/May Day Tour- Aprii18-May 2, 1982 - fifteen days, $960. Lenin on the United States May Day Tour - Aprii25-May 2, 1982 - eight days, $640 674 pp. , $3.65 GARY SOCIALIST CAMPAIGN OPEN HOUSE. Meet Indi­ Youth Economy Tour - August 8-15,1982 - eight days, $425 On Trade Unions ana's socialist candidates: Jesse Smith for U.S. Con­ pp .• gress. 1st C.D.; Dave Ellis for U.S. Congress, 10th 540 $2.95 C.D. Sun ., Nov. 22, 12-4 p.m. 3883 Broadway. For State and Revolution more information call (219) 884-9509. Nicaragua 103 pp. , $1.25 Nicaragua and Cuba Tour- July 17-31, 1982 - fifteen days, $1150 Two Tactics of Social Democracy in DEMAND AN END TO U.S. the Democratic Revolution INTERVENTION IN THE 132 pp., $1.25 Grenada MIDDLE EAST Third Anniversary Tour - March 7-14, 1982 - eight days, $850 What is to be Done? NEW YORK CITY 199 pp. , $2.25 Demonstration: Saturday, November 28, 12:00 noon, Broadway and 34th St. The United Nations Prices include round-trip airfare from Miami, hotels Mllltant/Perspectiva Mundial Tours has declared Nov. 29 to be International Day of Sol­ (double occupancy), three meals (except for August 410 West Street, New York, NY 10014 Order from Pathfinder Press, 410 West idarity with the Palestinian People. Demands: Sup­ 8-15 tour) , transfers, and guide service. (212) 242-5530 port for the Palestine Liberation Organization; Con­ St., New York, N.Y. 10014. Please demnation of Zionism; Demand that U.S. military include $. 75 postag~ and handling. aid to Israel be stopped. Ausp: Nov. 29 Coalition. For more information call (212) 625-9858.

18 THE MILITANT NOVEMBER 27, 198-1 .Letters

bombings that had occurred. designed to protect all existing all of them, including a and terrorism that is Begin's Grathwohl took the initiative rights of use in land swapped. $10,000 out-of-court settlement Israel. But I shall defend to the as was his wont and began As for improving in La Clinica's suit. These are utmost his striving for peace. castigating people for talking noncommercial management, very similar to the one the when most Arab leaders can about the destruction of the state is considering letting Socialist Workers Party has think of nothing but shedding bombings. 'True local governments manage against the government, except blood. revolutionaries,' he said, 'had what are now state parks on a smaller scale. You can't defend Khomeini, to be ready and anxious to kill "during the next few austerity In addition to patient fees, who slaughters scores of leftists people.'" years." we rely for survival on general daily, or Khadafy murdering Your readers might like to This bipartisan attack on the fund appeals. This allows us to all who don't bow down to his , know this side of the FBI's land shows the futility of remain politically without any tyrannical regime. nature. looking to Democrats to shield strings attached. I feel that true socialism has Ira Wacher us from Reaganism. The communities here are 95 to go hand in hand with East Orange, New Jersey Shawn Gillard percent Spanish-speaking, pacifism, and to demand social Salt Lake City, Utah some of them over 300 years reform at the tip of a bayonnet old. Our main organizing (as Khomeini, Khadafy, and efforts have been in stopping other "revolutionary" leaders the uranium companies from do) is to lower oneself to the Request for help coming into our mountains and level of the capitalists that La Clinica extracting uranium from them. control our lives. For biographical, critical, We have been very Sadat lived only for peace. We are appealing to your and political monographs about successful. In 1979, we were He sought to compromise with readers for support to La deceased Socialist Workers able to keep Anaconda from both ends of a radical Clinica del Pueblo, an Party members Duncan obtaining a patent to the land spectrum. important project we maintain Ferguson, Laura Gray, and for the purpose of mining and Ralph Welton here in the mountains of Joseph Vanzler (who used the we were also able to keep Westland, Michigan northern New Mexico where pseudonym John G. Wright), I ARCO out of here the same the land grant movement was would like to hear from anyone year. In 1980, we fought and born. with papers, letters, won against Phillips Uranium, La Clinica was founded in ·reminiscences, works of art, and this year we were effective FBI's nature 1969 for the purpose of Succinct analysis copies of publications, in keeping SOHIO out. The Militant inexplicably providing quality medical and Bill Gottlieb in the October 2 information about living family Any contribution you are failed to mention the most dental care for the residents of issue of the Militant has members, or any other able to send will help greatly. important facts about Larry the Chama'Valley. written an admirably succinct material that would assist in Contributions should be sent Grathwohl, who is now being Before La Clinica was analysis of "Why Higher making these studies as to La Clinica del Pueblo de Rio put forward by the press as a established, the nearest Wages Won't Cause Inflation." complete and accurate as Arriba, Post Office Box 104, former member of the Weather medical facility was seventy­ But I would hasten to add the possible. Tierra Amarilla, New Mexico Underground with the five miles away. Since we observation that inasmuch as Alan Wald 87575. "evidence" to prove that Cuban started, we have dz:astically employers enjoy an edge of English Department, 7607 Antonio De Vargas intelligence was behind the reduced the infant mortality monopoly over the sale of their Haven Hall, Tierra Amarilla, New Mexico operations of the University of Michigan, rate and improved availability product, they may choose to Weatherpeople. (See Militant, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109 of medical care for our elderly pass on to the consumer even November 6). population. more than their increase in Grathwohl was more than an This part of New Mexico is wages, which opportunity may FBI stool-pigeon. He was a an extremely high insure to their benefit as well classical agent-provocateur. unemployment area, forcing as to labor's. This kind of The story was revealed by Swapping land the migration of the young market power is inflationary - Seymour Hersh in the May 20, Interior Secretary James people in search of jobs, leaving at the expense of the consumer. 1973, New York Times. Watt and his good buddy a predominantly elderly Again, why if the employer Grathwohl provided the Democratic Governor Scott population. had monopoly power in the Weatherpeople with technical Matheson are trying to pull a The only help we get is from first place, wouldn't he knowhow for their bombings. fast one in Utah. Project BOLD the National Health Service arbitarily raise prices at his He had had demolition and is a proposal to swap state land Corporation and Medicare. The discretion? Because at any one munitions training in the for federal land ·with the aim of rest of our income is generated time he is bent on maximizing Army. According to Hersh, "blocking up scattered state from direct patient fees. The profit on the basis of his costs. "Sources said Mr. Grathwohl lands into more logical and government has never been Besides, the price level is also immediately began giving manageable units." helpful and now we are being keyed to targeted income lessons in bomb-making and Sounds reasonable. The attacked by .Ronnie's budget brackets, as you imply. the use of delayed fuses to his Wilderness Society supported plans. J.A. Billings Weathermen associates, and - the concept, but became La Clinica has always been a Landover, Maryland utilizing a special munition he alarmed when the real purpose very political organization, manufactured - participated became apparent. community-based and Sad at in the bombing of a public Lands the state wants to give governed. We have consistently It must seem strange that an school in a suburb of up are mostly in bombing organized our communities to avowed socialist and The letters column is an open Cincinnati in the fall of 1969." ranges, Indian reservations, . fight against repression and communist would mourn for forum for all viewpoints on One former Weatherperson and National parks. A list of the other problems of police . Anwar Sadat. I mourn. Sadat subjects of general interest to recalled, according to Hersh, "I lands the state wants to brutality. was a man of many our readers. Please keep your can remember one meeting in acquire includes areas with As a result of these efforts, in perplexities and contradictions, letters brief. Where necessary Cincinnati where there was a coal, gas, oil, potash, tar sand, 1975 La Clinica was raided by as are all men. I would never they will be abridged. Please - discussion going on about the mineral, energy, livestock, and the sheriffs department and all defend his allowing Shah indicate if you prefer that your question of armed political commercial potential. our activists framed. We filed a Pahlavi into Egypt. I could initials be used rather than resistance and the various Furthermore, the project is number of civil suits and won never defend the militarism your full name.

If You Like This Paper, Look Us Up Where to fmd the Soc1al1st Workers Party Young Soc1al1st All1ance and1soc1al1st books and pamphle!s

ALABAMA: Birmingham: SWP, YSA, 205 18th St. S. YSA, 4850 N. College. Zip: 46205. Tel : (317) 283- Z1p. 07102. Tel {201) 643-3341 . RHODE ISLAND: Providence: YSA, P.O. Box 261, An­ Zip: 3!?233 . Tel: (205) 323-3079. 6149. NEW MEXICO: Albuquerque: SWP, YSA, 1417 Cen­ nex Station. Zip: 02901 . ARIZONA: Phoenix: SWP, YSA, 1243 E. McDowell. IOWA: Cedar Falls: YSA, Box 352. Zip: 50613. tral Ave. NE. Zip: 87106. Tel: (505)) 842-0954. TEXAS: Austin: YSA, c/o Mike Rose, 7409 Berkman Zip: 85006. Tel : (602) 255-0450. Tucson: SWP, P.O. KENTUCKY: Louisville: SWP, YSA. 131 W. Main NEW YORK: Capital District (Schenectady): SWP, Dr. Zip: 78752. Tel. (512) 452-3923 Dallas: SWP, Box 2585. Zip: 85702. Tel: (602) 622-3880 or 882- #102. Zip: 40202. Tel: (502) 587-8418. YSA. 323 State St. Zip: 12305. Tel : (518) 374-1494. YSA, 5442 E. Grand. Zip: 75223. Tel: (214) 826-4711 . New York, Brooklyn: SWP; YSA. 335 Atlantic Ave. Houston: SWP, YSA. 6333 Gulf Freeway, Room 222. 4304. LOUISIANA: New Orleans: SWP, YSA, 3207 Dublin St. Zip: 11201. Tel: (212) 852-7922. New York, Manhat­ Zip: 77023. Tel: (713) 924-4056. San Antonio: SWP. CALIFORNIA: Oakland: SWP, YSA, 2864 Telegraph Zip: 70118. Tel : (504) 486-8048. tan: SWP, YSA, 108 E. 16th St. 2nd Floor. Zip: 10003. YSA, 337 W. Josephine. Zip: 78212. Tel: (512) 736- Ave. Zip: 94609. Tel: (415) 763-3792. Los Angeles: MARYLAND: Baltimore: SWP, YSA, 2913 Green­ Tel: (212) 260-6400. New York: City-wide SWP, YSA, 9218. SWP, YSA, 2211 N. Broadway. Zip: 90031 . Tel: (213) mount Ave. Zip: 21218. Tel: (301) 235-0013. 108 E. 16th St. 2nd Floor. Zip: 10003. Tel: (212) 533- 225-3126. San Diego: SWP, YSA, 1053 15th St. Zip: UTAH: Salt Lake City: SWP, YSA, 677 S. 7th East, 2nd MASSACHUSETTS: Amherst: YSA, P.O. Box 837. Zip: 2902. 92101. Tel: (714) 234-4630.San Francisco: SWP. Floor. Zip: 84102. Tel: (801) 355-1124. 01004. Boston: SWP, YSA, 510 Commonwealth NORTH CAROLINA: Piedmont: SWP, YSA, 216 E. 6th YSA, 3284 23rd St. Zip: 94110. Tel: (415) 824-1992. VIRGINIA: Tidewater Area (Newport News): SWP, Ave .• 4th Floor. Zip: 02215. Tel: (617) 262-4621 . St., Winston-Salem. Zip: 27101 Tel: (919) 723-3419. San Jose: SWP, YSA, 461/2 Race St. Zip: 95126. Tel: YSA. 111 .28th St . Zip: 23607. Tel: (804) 380-0133. MICHIGAN: Ann Arbor: YSA. Tel : (313) 663-7068. De­ OHIO: Cincinnati: SWP, YSA, 2531 Gilbert Ave. Zip: (408) 998-4007. WASHINGTON, D.C.: SWP, YSA, 3106 Mt. Pleasant St. troit: SWP, YSA. 6404 Woodward Ave. Zip: 48202. 45206. Tel : (513) 751-2636. Cleveland: SWP, YSA. NW. Zip: 20010. Tel: (202) 797-7699. Baltimore­ COLORADO: Denver: SWP, YSA, 126 W. 12th Ave. Tel: (313) 875-5322. • 2230 Superior. Zip: 44114. Tel: (216) 579-9369. Tole­ Washington District: 3106 Mt. Pleasant St., NW., Zip: 80204. Tel : (303) 534-8954. MINNESOTA: Mesabi Iron Range: SWP, YSA, 1012 do: SWP, YSA, 2120 Dorr St. Zip: 43607. Tel : (419) Washington. D.C. Zip: 20010. Tel: (202) 797-7021. FLORIDA: Gainesville: YSA, c/o Bill Petersen, 1118 2nd Ave. South, Virginia, Minn. Send mail to P.O. Box 536-0383. . NW 3rd Ave. Zip: 32601 . Miami: SWP, YSA, 1237 NW 1287. Zip: 55792. Tel : (218) 749-6327. Twin Cities: OREGON: Portland: SWP, YSA, 711 NW Everett. Zip: WASHINGTON: Olympia: YSA, Room 3208, The Evergreen State College. Zip: 98501 . Tel: (206) 866- 119th St. . North Miami. Zip: 33167. Tel : (305) 769- SWP, YSA, 508 N. Snelling Ave., St. Paul. Zip: 55104. 97209. Tel : (503) 222-7225. 7332 Seattle: SWP, YSA. 4868 Rainier Ave. South. 3478. Tel : (612) 644-6325. PENNSYLVANIA: Edinboro: YSA. Edinboro State Col­ GEORGIA: Atlanta: SWP, YSA, 509 Peachtree St. NE MISSOURI: Kansas City: SWP, YSA, 4715A Troost. lege. Zip: 16444. Tel: (814) 734-4415. Harrisburg: Zip: 98118. Tel : (206) 723-5330. Zip: 30308. Tel : (404) 872-7229. Zip: 64110. Tel: (816) 753-0404. St. Louis: SWP, SWP, YSA, P.O. Box 3255. Zip: 17105. Philadelphia: WEST VIRGINIA: Charleston: SWP, YSA, Box 3761. ILLINOIS: Champaign-Urbana: YSA, 1301 W. Green, YSA, 6223 Delmar Blvd. Zip: 63130. Tel : (314) 725- SWP, YSA, 5811 N. Broad St. Zip: 19141 . Tel : (215) Zip: 25337. Tel : (304) 345-3040. Morgantown: SWP, Room 284. Zip: 61801 . Chicago: SWP, YSA, 434 S. 1570. 927-4747 or 927-4748. Pittsburgh: SWP, YSA, 1102 YSA. 957 S. University Ave. Zip: 26505. Tel : (304) Wabash, Room 700. Zip: 60605. Tel: (312) 939-0737. NEBRASKA: Lincoln: YSA. P.O. Box 30221. Zip: E. Carson St. Zip: 15203. Tel: (412) 488-7000. State 296-0055. INDIANA: Gary: SWP, YSA, 3883 Broadway. Zip: 68503. Tel: (402) 483-6236 College: YSA, P.O. Box 464, Bellefonte. Zip: 16823. WISCONSIN: Milwaukee: SWP, YSA. 4707 W. lisbon 46409. Tel: (219) 884-9509. Indianapolis: SWP. NEW JERSEY: Newark: SWP, YSA, 11 -A Central Ave. Tel: (814) 238-3296. Ave. Zip: 53208 Tel : (414) 445-2076.

NOVEMBER 27, 1981 THE MILITANT 19 THE MILITANT U.S. teach-ins hit nuclear weapons danger By Margaret Jayko news conference the day after Secretary It's clear that the movement in Eu­ bomber and the MX missiles. The movement against U.S. threats of of State Haig explained that a nuclear rope against the deployment of NATO Sponsors of the teach-ins included: nuclear war is spreading from Europe to weapon could be exploded in Europe "as missiles was on many people's minds. National Council of Churches, Federa­ this side of the Atlantic. a warning" to the Soviet Union. Reagan Carl Sagan, well-known astronomer tion of American Scientists, Coalition On Veterans Day, November 11, over echoed Haig's advocacy of "limited" nu­ and author, addressed the nearly 2,000 for a New Foreign and Military Policy, 160 college and university campuses clear war the next week. people gathered at Cornell University International Physicians for the Prev­ across the United States were the scene The call for the teach-ins also oc­ in New York State. Referring to the re­ ention of Nuclear War, Physicians for of day-long discussions - teach-ins - curred amidst the recent U.S. military cent massive European antimissiles Social Responsibility, National Com­ against nuclear war initiated by the threats against the revolutions in El demonstrations, he said November 10 mittee for a SANE Nuclear Policy, and Union of Concerned Scientists (UCSJ. Salvador, Nicaragua, and Cuba. that he sensed "the same kind of change William Winpisinger, president of the Thousands of students, faculty According to Kendal, what began as a is about to happen in this country." International Association of Machi­ members, and community people partic­ modest effort three months ago on sev­ At Harvard University more than nists. ipated, in forty-one states, in this na­ eral campuses quickly mushroomed 1,000 people gave loud applause to Yuri Initiators of thE) teach-ins see them as tional "Convocation Against the Threat throughout the nation in response to Kapralov, an official of the Soviet the beginning of a mass movement in of Nuclear War." There were also a cou­ Reagan's war threats. Union's embassy in Washington. this country against nuclear war, and ple of teach-ins in Canada. Speakers included politicians, promi­ He explained that "there is no system are planning follow-up activities. UCS chairman Henry Kendall an­ nent scientists, and former government of weapons we are not prepared to elimi­ nounced the protests at a November 5 officials. nate, provided it is done on the basis of equity and equal security." In Groton, Connecticut, more than In Europe ... 150 demonstrators protested the Meanwhile, huge protests continue launching of the first Trident nuclear in Europe against the nu~lear threat submarine. Five demonstrators were ar­ posed by the North Atlantic Treaty rested when they tried to block passage Organization (NATO). of a bus carrying dignitaries. In Spain, on November 15, nearly Bishop Leroy Mathiesen spoke to half-a-million people rallied at Mad­ more than 300 students in Sim Antonio, rid University to protest the Spanish Texas, a city that has a con~entration of government's plans to join NATO. major military installations. It was one of the biggest demonstra­ He advocated a nationwide movement tions in Spain in several years. to educate people against nuclear war A subtheme was condemnation of and the illusion of a limited nuclear war impending coup attempts by the mil­ "as promoted by President Reagan." itary, which are r-umored to be in the The Bishop caused an uproar among offing. pro-war and business people when he On the same day in Greece, 200,000 called on his parishioners at the Pantex peope marched past the U.S. embassy nuclear weapons plant to stop making in Athens protesting nuclear weapons bombs. and NATO. It was also a commemora­ At the University of California in Los tion of the eighth anniversary of the Angeles, more than 3,000 people packed 1973 student uprising against the the student union auditorium. then-ruling military junta. Governor Brown, the keynote speak­ On November 14, 100,000 environ­ er, was greeted at the entrance by a mentalists and opponents of nuclear mass picket line which protested cuts in weapons marched in Germany to op­ education and social programs. Partici­ pose construction of a third runway at pants carried signs reading "Funds for the Frankfurt International Airport. Brains- Not Bombs." The runway would increase the More than 500 people heard Herbert military potential of the airport, Scoville, chairman of the Arms Control which is used by U.S. Air Force units Association, and former deputy director assigned to NATO, as well as destroy of the CIA. extensive forests. He said that there is a "growing pub­ The next day, thousands more dis­ lic protest in Europe against the deploy­ rupted automobile traffic near the ment of nuclear weapons" and called for runway, and were attacked by police. Antimissile march in Britain. U.S. teach-ins signal depth of opposition in similar protests in the United States to -M.J. ar weapons. counter Reagan's decision on the B-1 Socialists file suit ·against AP, cops By Matthew Herreshoff. tributed the information to Police Com­ The government has tried to frame tional Black Independent Political Par­ On November 16, the Socialist missioner McGuire. Both the cops and Black groups like the Republic ofNew ty, which issued ·a statement blasting. Workers Party filed a $106 million law­ the FBI now deny having made the Africa, as part of a gigantic terrorist the wave of terror against Black acti­ suit against the Associated Press and statement. "conspiracy" around the Brinks hold-up. vists following the Brinks hold-up. New York City Police Commissioner Who's lying? The cops? The FBI? As­ Both the government and the press The SWP's libel suit is closely tied to Robert McGuire. The suit charges that sociated Press? Or all three? are also attempting to establish that al­ the SWP's and Young Socialist Allian­ the socialists were libeled by a false AP The SWP's suit will help uncover the leged "terrorists" in the U.S. have for­ ce's lawsuit against government spying, story linking the SWP with the hold-up answers to these questions. eign connections, especially with revo­ harassment, and disruption. That case of a Brinks armored car in New York. In the discovery process opened by the lutionary Cuba. The November 15 Sun­ is now awaiting a decision in Federal The complaint charges that the New suit, AP, the cops, and the FBI will be day newspaper magazine Parade asserts District Court in New York. York police aimed to "disrupt the lawful forced to reveal the sordid details. in a major article headlined "How safe In the lawsuit, the socialists proved political activities of the SWP and its This malicious slander has all the ear­ are we from terrorism?" that "the trig­ that the FBI, CIA, and other govern­ members and for the purpose . . . of in­ marks of an FBI "Cointelpro" disruption ger for a sustained terror campaign in ment spy agencies have waged a forty­ terfering with plaintiffs' ability to fully operation. Planting false stories in the the United States could be an interna­ year-long campaign to disrupt the two participate in the electoral process, at­ media is standard operating procedure tional crisis such as a new Middle East organizations. tract members and supporters, and free­ for the secret police. war, ur a sharper confrontation with "The slander attack on the SWP aims ly exercise their rights of freedom of This is a conscious attempt to smear Fidel Castro. Terrorism might be used to affect the outcome of this lawsuit," speech and association without fear of the SWP. It aims to misrepresent the to publicize a foreign cause,·or to deepen said John Studer, Executive Director of governmental reprisals." party's political views. And its goal is to social frictions." the Political Rights Defense Fund. The October 22 AP story claimed that justify further disruption operations The SWP suit against the New York "It is exactly the kind of crime against "FBI spokesman Joe Valiquette . . . against the party. cops and AP is an important response to democratic rights that this lawsuit is said the bureau had determined" that The SWP is not the only target of this this government attack on democratic challenging. The Political Rights De­ Judith Clark, one of those arrested in disruption plot. Activists in the Black rights. It is an example for all those who fense Fund, which has been building the Brinks hold-up, "is now a figure in movement have been singled out in a want to fight back. support for the socialists' suit, will the Socialist Workers Party." A "correc­ wave of police round-ups and massive Other organizations have begun tore­ throw its resources into combatting this tive," issued by the AP the next day, at- media publicity. spond to this attack. Notably, the Na- new goverytment slander."