• Oil War Spills Into Somalia, page 5, • Chavez Spreads Liberal Brand of This Week: Capitalism in Venezuela, page 5 • Deserter Exposes U.S. Warmakers, page 8

January 17, 2007 Volume 39, No. 49 Suggested Donation US$0.50

assassinate Qasim. The killing failed and Saddam was wounded in the attempt. Middle East WORKERS REJECT expert Adel Darwish said the move was done “with the full knowledge of the CIA,” and that Saddam’s CIA handler was an PLEA FOR SILENCE Iraqi dentist working for the CIA and Egyptian intelligence. Saddam then fled to Cairo, and was put on a stipend by the agency. In February, 1963, the military wing of the Baath Party (which Saddam had joined) overthrew and killed Qasim. Roger Morris, a former U.S. National Security Council staffer, said that the U.S. (during the Kennedy administra- tion) played a significant role in this coup and that it was mostly funded “with American money.” Historian Hanna Batatu reported that the CIA cooperated in this coup and gave the Baathists lists 50,000 MARCH AGAINST RACIST KILLER COPS of Iraqi communists.The Iraqi CP NEW YORK CITY, Dec. 16 — A PLP contingent of 40 had organized one million May members and friends turned a liberal misleaders’ “silent march” Day marchers in 1959 and was protesting the NYPD’s recent racist murder of a young black the largest communist party in man, Sean Bell, into a militant, chanting outcry by thousands the Mid-East, but made the mis- against police brutality. take of allying with a “progres- Tens of thousands of workers and students disrupted the sive” nationalist (Qasim), which usual holiday shopping as demonstrators filled Fifth Avenue from helped lead to its downfall. 58th to 34th Streets. The march was organized by former FBI Saddam was brought back from informer Al Sharpton and endorsed by dozens of other liberal Cairo as an “interrogator” and misleaders. It was part of the Democratic Party’s long-standing soon rose to the head of Baath effort to pacify the working class.This time they tried to muzzle Intelligence. Thousands of com- the demonstrators’ anger with a silent protest labeled, Donald Rumsfeld greeting in munists named by the CIA were “Shopping for Justice.” But workers and students weren’t buying 1983 as envoy of the Reagan Administration. killed. this strategy.While the liberals at the front of the march tried Then, after that government moving the demonstration down a slippery slope of , the Amid all the thousands of words spewing forth from was overthrown by Qasim officers, the Baathists came to Progressive Labor Party steered it in a militant direction from the U.S. press and TV about the life and times of the exe- power again in another coup, orchestrated by the CIA the inside. cuted butcher Saddam Hussein, there’s one little item (during the Johnson administration). Reuters reporter The PLP contingent distributed over 1,200 CHALLENGES and missing: before Saddam became a threat to U.S. oil prof- David Morgan wrote: “In 1968, Morris says, the CIA over 2,000 leaflets to workers hungry for revolutionary ideas. its and to their Saudi- lackeys, he was the virtual encouraged a palace revolt…led by long-time Saddam We boldly put forward a communist analysis of the cops’ racist creation of U.S. rulers and its CIA (just like the CIA- mentor Ahmed Hassan al-Bakr, who would turn over the murder, linking it to the millions of others slaughtered by the sponsored Osama bin Laden later became a U.S. enemy). reins of power to his ambitious protégé in 1979. ‘It’s a very system that produces these KKKiller cops, from Queens, The story begins in 1958 when Abdul Karim Qasim led regime that was unquestionably midwived by the United NY to South Africa.One demonstrator agreed,“You’re right, get- a coup that year to overthrow the British-installed States, and the (CIA’s) involvement there was really pri- ting rid of Kelly [NYPD Police Commissioner] isn’t gonna’ stop monarchy. U.S. rulers viewed him as a threat to reliable mary,’ Morris says.” these racist cops! The whole system’s gotta’ go!” (See Red Eye on oil exports, because he was pro-Soviet and would upset The U.S. specifically promoted the Tikritis to domi- the News, page 7, item 2) He then took eight CHALLENGES and the U.S.-organized anti-Soviet Pact — an nance among the coup-makers, which included al-Bakr distributed them to all his friends waiting to march. alliance of Turkey, Iran, , Pakistan, Britain and the U.S. and his cousin, Saddam Hussein, who quickly became the After passing out most of our literature, we began to lead In 1959, the UPI reported that Saddam, then in his power behind the throne. When the Khomeini forces chants:“Black cop! White cop! All the same! Racist murder is the early twenties, became part of a U.S.-directed plot to overthrew the U.S.-backed Shah of Iran in 1979, the CIA name of the game!”; and,“Asian, Latin, black and white! To smash and U.S. rulers had one more reason to turn to Saddam police terror we must unite!” Soon one of the liberal demon- Another Fiasco — Execution Backfires to counter this new “enemy.” stration’s organizers tried to silence our bullhorn by accusing us Everything the U.S. bosses do in Iraq is turning Saddam invaded Iran in 1980. In December 1983, the of “disrespecting” the leadership’s request for a silent protest. into its opposite. While Saddam’s execution was Reagan administration sent Donald Rumsfeld to Baghdad Just then another demonstrator, 20 feet ahead of us, began timed for the beginning of a Muslim holiday to to meet with Saddam and his foreign minister Tariq Aziz. yelling, “No more silence! We’ve been silent for too long!” exacerbate the growing chasm between Shiites and A U.S. State Department summary of that meeting stat- PLP’ers and other demonstrators then began to join our chant- Sunnis (Saddam was a Sunni), it has mainly trans- ed that, “The two agreed the U.S. and Iraq shared many ing,“No more silence! No more silence!” formed Saddam into a martyr in the . common interests: in the Gulf, keeping and This was a pivotal point in the demonstration and there was The execution has caused so much repulsion Iran off balance and less influential, and promoting ’s no turning back! From beginning to end, thousands of demon- worldwide that the Bush administration is now reintegration into the Arab world.” strators began to chant all the way down Fifth Avenue. PLP’ers trying to blame its Iraqi puppet government for This meeting had come after Saddam had used chem- had changed the nature of the demonstration for the rest of the hurrying the hanging — as if the U.S. occupation ical weapons to kill tens of thousands of Iraqi Kurds, day. These liberals weren’t going to silence the anger of the forces don’t control that regime. Meanwhile, while which obviously was no bar to the developing U.S.-Iraqi working class! many in the U.S. thought they “voted for troop relationship. In fact, the Reagan administration worked to Our ability to influence thousands of demonstrators with withdrawal” from Iraq, the opposite is looming. prevent the UN from censuring Saddam for his use of the idea of fighting back inspired both us and our friends. Other Bush is planning to send 30,000 more troops.And these WMDs. groups took up our chants and a high school student in our con- the Democrats will surely vote for the extra bil- It was during the Iraq-Iran war that U.S. rulers went all tingent realized this and enthusiastically yelled, “Hey, that’s our lions the Bush gang is asking for the fiasco there.! continued on page 2 continued on page 2 Page 2 • CHALLENGE • January 17, 2007

2006: Workers Fight Back Against Bosses’ Attack Last year began with the tragic deaths of making alliances that could endanger U.S. from the West Coast to the East Coast. In Mexico, sparked by a teachers’ strike, work- 11 miners in Sago, West Virginia, victims of dominance. Farmingville, Long Island, we openly fought ers and their allies rebelled and took over their bosses’ criminal negligence. The year Amid looming threats to their worldwide our battle against anti-immigrant racism in the city of Oaxaca for six months, and ended with the racist assassination of Sean supremacy, U.S. rulers have been retooling the courtroom after arrests at a street rally fought local and federal cops. But the Bell by the New York City police, who serve tactics at home as well as abroad. in defense of migrant workers harassed by reformism of the struggle’s leadership mis- to protect capitalist property and terrorize Democratic Party politicians have taken racists. led it, calling for a “lesser-evil” governor to workers. Between the bookends of these office with the hope of being able to win Mass participation in immigrant rights ral- replace the hated repressive governor murders, the year was filled with evidence workers’ loyalty and better enable the lies is one among several examples of the Ulises Ruíz. Many also have illusions that the of the system putting its rulers’ needs above rulers to control the growing chaos in Iraq anger of workers fighting back against the social-democratic opposition party of the workers’ lives. But we also witnessed a and prepare for increasing inter-imperialist injustices of the system this year and of “legitimate President” of Mexico, López glimpse of the fact that not only do work- rivalry. Workers are being asked to accept what communists can learn and accomplish Obrador, is the answer to the pro-U.S. ers fight back but that they can be won to more police-state conditions governing our within those struggles. This year’s May Day National Action Party which succeeded run the world for the good of those who daily lives. Bags are searched on subways, celebration took place inside massive anti- (and is now allied with) the PRI, rulers of produce all value. surveillance cameras have been installed on war marches in U.S. cities, bringing a revolu- Mexico for 60 years.. PLP brought ideas U.S. rulers’ problems mounted to new street corners and “universal service” is tionary communist message to those about turning the battle into a school for heights in 2006: outright civil war in the Iraq being proposed to solve the crisis of the all- protests. Some GI’s in Iraq have refused to communism and forging a mass revolution- quagmire, a resurgent Taliban in Afghanistan, volunteer military. simply accept their roles as killers, petition- ary party to eliminate all the bosses. a defeat for U.S. ally against ’s Inside the U.S., rulers attempted to ing Congress with a statement against the We also learned a great deal from the Hezbollah, a defiant Iran gaining strength “reform” immigration. As blatantly racist .However,we must struggle sharply struggle of our class brothers and sisters in and now an emerging war in Somalia.Wars organizing by anti-immigrant groups like the with these anti-war soldiers over the peti- New Orleans this year. Comrades traveled like these, with their ever-growing death Minutemen spread nation-wide, some tion’s call for patriotism — allegiance to the from all over the U.S. to the hurricane-dev- tolls for workers — over 650,000 Iraqis and politicians favored keeping immigrants out bosses’ government — and apparent readi- astated city.We saw first hand the destruc- over 3,000 GI’s killed and tens of thousands of the U.S. But the more dangerous reform- ness to fight in other imperialist wars. tion caused by the historical and on-going wounded and maimed — are always part of ers were the ruling-class liberals who plan While the rallies, marches and petitions racism of the capitalist system. We learned capitalism, but this level of instability in the to “legalize” undocumented immigrants by all put forth liberal, patriotic politics in gen- about serving our class by collectively help- Mid-East also indicates a major challenge to putting their youth into the military to fight eral, PL’ers were still able to join with work- ing in the gutting and rebuilding process. continued U.S. control of oil profits. The and die for imperialism. The danger of the ers in struggle to build a base for interna- And we gained experience fighting for com- U.S. position as the top imperialist power in liberal bosses comes from their ability to tionalist, anti-imperialist politics and at the munist ideas in the middle of reform move- the world is being threatened by expan- win workers to “work with the system,” same time expose the pro-capitalist politics ments. PLP is continuing to send members sionary rivals like China and Russia who are and in this case they did. Millions of work- of the leadership of these movements. In a and friends to work with these embattled ers in every major city marched for immi- positive indication that this kind of struggle workers. grant rights behind the red, white and blue. for communist ideas moves our class for- The events of this year have shown us the WHAT WE Progressive Labor Party brought CHAL- ward, several Metro transit workers in deadly logic of a system driven by profit, the LENGE and its internationalist, revolution- Washington D.C. joined our Party amid a danger of the liberals’ false promises and FIGHT FOR ary ideas to these liberal politician-church- comrade’s re-election campaign for the the potential of our class when roused by led events, just as we took on the disgusting union presidency. anger. As communists, we know that while !Progressive Labor Party (PLP) racism of the Minutemen and their kind We have seen inspiring evidence of how anger is necessary, it is even more impor- fights to smash capitalism — wage slav- workers and students will fight back against tant that we bring communist ideas of col- ery.While the bosses and their mouth- capitalist oppression. In the state of Oaxaca, lectivity and anti-racist internationalism to pieces claim “communism is dead:” cap- every struggle. Capitalism cannot be italism is the real failure for billions all reformed, but must be destroyed by com- over the world. Capitalism returned to munist revolution that will build a new the Soviet Union and China because future where workers control their own socialism failed to wipe out many labor for the benefit of their class. We call aspects of the profit system, like wages on all our readers to join our fight to and division of labor. change the world.! !Capitalism inevitably leads to wars. PLP organizes workers, students and soldiers to turn these wars into a revo- lution for communism — the dictator- Workers in Oaxaca Mexico fought a furious battle with the bosses ship of the proletariat. This fight and their goons. requires a mass Red Army led by the communist PLP. Saddam: Born in the CIA !Communism means working col- 50,000 MARCH AGAINST RACIST KILLER COPS continued from front page CHALLENGE, 1/3/07).Thousands took to the lectively to build a society where shar- continued from front page out to help Saddam. Former National ing is based on need.We will abolish streets in a militant fight-back, not only chant!” Another student declared,“People are Security Council staffer Howard Teicher work for wages, money and profits. against cops and their brutality, but also really feeling what we have to say!” Towards affirmed that, in a secret National Everyone will share in society’s benefits against racist living conditions and rampant the end of the march we were surrounded by Security Directive, “The United States and burdens. unemployment. Thousands of workers and approximately 200 people marching and actively supported the Iraqi war effort by youth have the same anger today, but it’s con- Communism means abolishing chanting with their fists in the air. supplying the Iraqis with billions of dollars ! stantly misdirected by the liberal Democrats This was exactly what Sharpton and the of credits, by providing U.S. military intel- racism and the concept of race. and Sharpton-like sellouts. Democrats didn’t want.They want to silence ligence and advice…and by closely moni- We must expand our efforts to win work- working-class anger, hoping to win thousands toring third country arms sales to Iraq to Communism means abolishing the ers and students in mass organizations away ! of young workers and students to die for the make sure that Iraq had the military from the liberal message that capitalism can special oppression of women workers. U.S. oil empire in the Middle East.These liber- weaponry required.” This included cluster be changed by supporting and voting for the als know that racist terror at home will make bombs. “right” politicians. With this long-term per- !Communism means abolishing young black men even less willing to fight and UPI reported that,“During the war, the nations and nationalism. One spective, such efforts can lead thousands of die in the rulers’ endless wars, so they use CIA regularly sent a team to Saddam to International working class, one world, workers to embrace communist ideas and “safe” methods of “civil disobedience” and deliver battlefield intelligence obtained one Party. take leadership in future struggles opposing blame some “bad cops” instead of the entire from Saudi AWACs surveillance aircraft racist outrages against our class. !Communism means the Party racist system.We must counter this with the to aid…Iraq’s armed forces….According If we patiently develop that kind of leader- leads every aspect of society. For this message of a fight for workers’ power! to Darwish, the CIA and DIA [Defense ship, these thousands of workers on Fifth to work, millions of workers — even- Although many marchers thought disrupt- Intelligence Agency] provided military Avenue could not only shut down all the tually everyone — must become com- ing the profits of these multi-million-dollar assistance to Saddam’s ferocious stores in mid-Manhattan, but also paralyze the munist organizers. Join Us! Fifth Avenue shops was a good idea, the February 1988 assault on Iranian posi- entire city with a massive anti-racist strike, premise of seeking justice under capitalism tions in the al-Feo peninsula by blinding Contact us sending a message to masses of workers and pacifying workers’ anger only perpetuates Iranian radars for three days.” worldwide that the idea of workers’ power is CHALLENGE PERIODICALS fear and a cynical attitude towards the only This is not even the complete story alive and well! Towards that goal, PLP will con- P.O. 808 Brooklyn NY 11202 true fight for justice — the struggle for com- but there would have been no Butcher of tinue to call on workers and youth to channel www.plp.org munism. Baghdad without the three decades of their anger against the very system — capi- email:[email protected]; We should not underestimate the power of nurturing by U.S. rulers and the CIA. (For talism — that breeds these racist killer cops phone: 718-630-9440 the working class.We can draw important les- more see and spills the blood of workers like Sean Bell. CHALLENGE/DESAFIO (ISSN 0009-1049) published sons from history.A racist cop’s murder of a http://www.plp.org/comm03/1saddamn- bi-weekly by Challenge Periodicals. 1 issue $.50. March with us under the red flag in the strug- Subscription: $15. Six months: $10. Send address 15-year-old unarmed black high school stu- cia.html)! changes to CHALLENGE Periodicals, GPO 808 gle for a better world, the fight for commu- Brooklyn, NY 11202. January 17, 2007 dent led to the 1964 Harlem Rebellion (See Volume 39, No. 49 nism!! January 17, 2007 • CHALLENGE • Page 3 this will restructure instruction to and science, their curricula pushes their ideology, not serve the ruling-class agenda, sacrific- critical thinking. PL Teachers Lead Fight ing the study of science and history, In the union, we explained that focusing on remedi- shifting resources so any student al reading and math while shortchanging science and below grade level takes double blocks history was part of the rulers’ plans for war. We vs. Bosses' School of English and math. Bill Gates’ argued for standing firm on teachers having schedule “Second-to-None” grants require this choice in local schools. Teachers nodded as we “4x4” schedule.Two schools’ teachers showed that the same ruling class which has been fast- 'Reform' for War here have fought this corporate take- tracking kids from schools to prisons now wants to over, rejecting this new schedule. It’s give them just enough skills to function in the military LOS ANGELES, Dec. 13 — “What! Take away been forced on other schools. or war production. An elementary school teacher our right to vote on schedules? I’m walking out now. Teachers at our school have battled 4x4, but the said, “This is what scripted instruction has done to I’m not even waiting for a strike vote!” declared a principal pushes it, winning many teachers to feel this elementary. They don’t care if kids know history or teacher at an area-wide union meeting about the dis- is the only way to teach reading and math. But if the can analyze problems scientifically — they just want trict’s give-back demands.“And they want to eliminate bosses mainly wanted to improve basic skills, they them to read well enough to follow instructions and shared decision-making if our test scores are too would fund smaller classes. Teachers have fought for know enough math to operate the machines.” low!” said another.“This is part of what I would call The bosses’ agenda means reorganizing society growing fascism,” a comrade explained later to col- “The bosses’ agenda means for the long-range fight to maintain U.S. suprema- leagues, “consolidating control in the hands of the cy over their capitalist rivals. PLP teachers’ victo- state as the capitalist class prepares for war.” reorganizing society for the ries come when we show our colleagues that After five years of No Child Left Behind, inner- inter-imperialist rivalry is driving these changes. city schools like ours are in dismal condition, with long-range fight to maintain Without this perspective, workers can believe vast numbers of kids not learning basic skills that the bosses really want to improve education. because of years of racist mis-education. PL teach- U.S. supremacy over their Our sharper political discussions lay the basis for ers are dedicated to the principled struggle for all more CHALLENGE sales and recruitment. kids to learn. But the ruling class is reforming edu- capitalist rivals.” Even more important is the political prepara- cation to meet their need for patriotic soldiers and tion of our students. The bosses need young workers with the bare minimum math and English decades to get 15-student maximum class size for industrial workers and soldiers for their war machine. skills. remedial students. The district, however, increased The working class needs young comrades in those While teachers still have the right to vote on sched- average class size to 38.5 students. exact strategic locations to organize to take state ules, we’ve been fighting against the bosses’ school A social studies teacher remarked, “What all these power.As we expose the bosses’ use of school reform “reforms” and their attempt to impose a schedule unsavory forces want is to eliminate a broad-based, to prepare for wider imperialist war, we’re preparing forcing students to take four classes at a time over well-rounded education. They want basic skills, and our young comrades to play the historic role of turn- four eight-week “semesters.” This means more classes nothing more…. Encouraging students to think about ing imperialist war into a revolutionary struggle for a in every school year but fewer hours in each class. history…will be out the window.” Even when the rul- communist society.! We told the union’s city-wide House of Reps that ing class allows the teaching of more social studies

Welcome CHALLENGE Winning Young Workers to Turn at Rally Opposing Bosses' Recruiting Upside Down Anti-Immigrant Raids “Only twelve more hours to go Tony.” cle says he will earn $58,000 annually upon complet- “Yeah I know, tomorrow and Friday too.” Tony ing his training, “more than his college-educated replies. brother…” In reality, most production workers usual- WASHINGTON, D.C., Dec. 19 — Over 30 “I wonder what the hours are like for the workers ly make around $9 to $10 per hour — $20,000 per spirited demonstrators organized by the new D.C. in the factories in China,” Joe asks. year — and that’s with some schooling.This article is Committee for Immigrants’ Rights picketed Walter interrupts,“Hey you guys know all that work a clear recruiting call from U.S. bosses for high school Homeland Security’s Immigration and Customs that is going to China is coming back don’t you?” and college students to re-think their future and join Enforcement (ICE) office here. On December 12, “Oh yeah, how come?” asks Joe. the industrial workforce. ICE agents raided Swift Company sites in six states “Because, man, the U.S. isn’t stupid,” Walter The ruling class has also begun its recruitment cam- and arrested 1,286 workers, claiming they “stole answers. “Believe me, we’re the middle class and they paign for immigrants to join the military and/or work people’s identities.” Workers were arrested and can’t survive without the middle class.” in factories. Its call for “immigration reform” actually detained; many face deportation. These raids signals increased exploitation and use as cannon fod- resemble those in the 1930’s Nazi Germany when Of course that’s what the ruling class would like us der. the fascists criminalized entire groups, rounding to believe. However, it’s the manufacturing industries A PL club of young industrial workers has taken an them up at their homes and jobs and blaming them that are vital for a capitalist nation bent on war. The aggressive approach to winning young workers to use old model of high concentrations of workers in a few this rulers’ campaign as a vehicle to win workers and giant factories is declining.The new trend for war pro- youth to the Party’s ideas, including a Weekend ‘Despite some hesitation, duction here is smaller sub-contracted shops. So Workshop on getting these types of jobs. With con- when the liberal press talks about Boeing’s plant clos- tinued effort and leadership, these young workers can many ICE workers took fliers ings, those jobs aren’t disappearing; they’re simply learn how to turn the factory reform struggles into being moved to a cheaper production site. In fact “7 schools for communism. Join us!! and agreed with the need for out of 10 outsourced production jobs stay in the U.S.” (L.A.Times) and 96% of military production remains in workers from all countries to the U.S. Right now the ruling class can’t expand pro- unite for common goals.’ duction fast enough because these sub-contracted shops can’t keep up. The bosses’ increasing depend- ence on these shops makes them key areas in which PLP can plant the seed of revolution. These workers for Germany’s problems. have the most power to affect the ruling class’s prof- Demonstrators chanted, “Stop Racist its, since they can halt the production that is the Deportations, Working People Have No Nation!” source of capitalist wealth and imperialist wars. and, “Deportaciones, No! Amnistia, Si!” Workers A pamphlet — “Surge” — published by the gave speeches in English and Spanish. International Association of Machinists, a major war Despite some hesitation, many ICE workers took industry union, presents the U.S. rulers’ assessment of fliers and agreed with the need for workers from their “War Production Capacity and Military Power.” all countries to unite for common goals. Latino One of its main points is recruitment of young work- construction workers from a site across the street, ers and students to “loyally serve their country” by inspired by the rally, joined the picket line, wel- working in these factories. comed CHALLENGE and the Committee’s fliers A front-page article entitled, “Factory Shift: and spoke out. Manufacturers struggle to fill highly paid jobs,” We should all be in the streets demanding an end describes how a university student rejects a scholar- to these raids and the profit-driven system that ship and instead attends a community college’s “two- benefits from exploiting immigrant workers.! year technical training program” sponsored by the company to which he applied.The big carrot? The arti- Page 4 • CHALLENGE • January 17, 2007

fascism must discipline all ranks of society, including Cop's Vietnam Torture Tactics sections of the ruling class and their police death squads who don’t toe the Used on Chicago's Black Men line. CHICAGO, IL, Dec. 16 — As the war in Iraq This is nothing new. From the 1970’s to the 1990’s, spins more violently out of control, the racist police Jon Burge terrorized the black South Side community. here at home are on a killing spree. Two weeks after Electrical shocks to the genitals with home-made tor- the Chicago police killed 22-year-old Michael Smith, ture devices, being shocked with cattle prods, burn- the NYPD executed 23-year-old Sean Bell in a barrage ings, mock executions, pistol whippings and beatings of 50 shots. Both men were unarmed, but capitalism with flashlights were just some of the ways that Burge treats the unprovoked murder of young black men as and his cops tortured black men in police custody. “collateral damage” in the war against the poor and Long before Abu Grahib, Burge learned his torture black section of our class. Capitalism in crisis has to tactics while serving U.S. imperialism in Vietnam, tor- resort to more fascistic brutality to keep our class in turing information out of Vietnamese workers and line. So the “first black President,” Bill Clinton put peasants. Burge and his Gestapo tortured “confes- 100,000 more cops on the streets while the prison sions” out of over 100 black men and a 13-year-old population doubled, 70% of whom are black and boy, also a victim of electric shock to his genitals, dur- Latino. ing this twenty-year terror spree. The police murder of Michael Smith comes just Jon Burge will not be prosecuted for his crimes. He months after four Chicago cops were indicted on continues to live comfortably on his police pension. charges of home invasion, drug dealing, kidnapping and Former state’s attorney and current mayor Richard a long list of other charges.They were part of an elite Daley prosecuted many of the torture victims, to police unit, similar to those involved in the killings of build his reputation and lay claim to City Hall. Burge’s Smith and Bell, who shake down drug dealers for racist outrages were “justified” because he did his job NYC, NY Dec.16 — PLP during the march against police money, tip them off when a bust is coming and take to control and terrorize the working class. terror out rival dealers. These racist terrorists are being As fascism increases in the U.S. and the inter-impe- more 50-shot killings in NYC. But if we do our job, charged for their attacks on black working-class youth rialist rivalry shifts into high gear, we will see more the new Nazis will end up like the old ones. However, only because their out-of-control corruption doesn’t Jon Burges in Chicago, more Ramparts in L.A., and this time we must make sure they never come back.! serve the ruling-class’s police-state agenda. Growing Students Tie War in Youth Spread Internationalist, Anti-Racist Pledge Among Marines Iraq to War on “The war is wrong. That’s why I got out. I oil profits. Class-conscious soldiers, influenced by believed the recruiter that I would be a cook—I PLP,can play a crucial role in exposing the dangers ended up as a combat escort in a Humvee. of patriotism, the lie that U.S. Marines have more New Orleans Nobody should be over there,” a black ex-marine in common with U.S. bosses and their politicians told visiting students. than with Iraqi soldiers and workers. We told The response to our revolutionary ideas was everyone that the oil companies’ profits were not better than a year-and-a-half ago. We students worth a drop of their blood, their lives or the lives Workers went to a town near a Marine base to talk to over of Iraqi workers. Recently, a group of students on surrounded by levees larger than 50 young marines about the imperialist war. We The students on this trip saw that they can talk a Southern California college cam- football fields consisting of steep brought a pledge that called on soldiers to act in to young soldiers and Marines. One student noted pus held a forum commemorating slopes and remote-controlled anti-racist, international solidarity against the about a Marine, “He just graduated from high Katrina’s first anniversary. Both flood gates. Students emphasized imperialist war in Iraq. Although nervous at first, school; he’s only 19 years old.” After overcoming students and faculty attended this that the levees are only a painful we quickly got into serious conversations. shyness and some feelings of intimidation, the stu- student-led event. Some speakers and shocking symbol of the gross There were two groups of marines.Those who dents had many conversations with marines. We were students who helped with racist inequalities existing between had been in longer and had experienced Iraq were included many points, always trying to approach the reconstruction for working- the workers who produce wealth more open to conversation and agreement. The the idea that the soldiers, if organized, have the class families in New Orleans last and the bosses who for centuries newer recruits agreed less, still believing the patri- power to help lead a movement to end imperial- summer. have exploited the labor of our otic indoctrination they undergo. However, they ist war with revolution for workers’ power. The students offered a sharp class to fill their own pockets. listened to us with interest. Every one (except the guy who wanted to kill class analysis of the situation in A black student from Louisiana One marine said,“Do I feel like being over there ‘em all) took the pledge and promised to think New Orleans.They contrasted the participated actively in the discus- is worth it? No!? [The Iraqis] have been living this about it.The students plan to continue these vis- government’s utter neglect of the sion, expressing his respect for the way for a long time. [We] don’t have the authori- its, bringing communist ideas and building rela- working class’s attempt to recover group for holding such a sharp ty to go over there and tell them their way of life tionships with individual marines, in order to have their houses with the immediate event. He said that everything pre- is wrong.” a real impact on the long-term fight for commu- reconstruction and improvement sented was accurate, and reiterat- Another said, “We are there to protect the nist revolution. ! of the profit-producing hotel and ed that although most people freedom of people.” We responded, “There are tourist industries, among others. affected by Katrina are black, there many regions from Africa to Asia lacking freedom. The students stressed that one are white, brown and Asian work- A lot of that misery is caused by U.S. rulers. The reason why the workers in New ers who are still suffering. “You’re only reason the U.S. has troops in Iraq is to con- Orleans (and just about any city) right,” he said.“This is an attack on trol its oil.” We compared this war to Vietnam, are unable to meet their basic the working class by the govern- adding that politicians are talking about needing a needs is because the ruling class ment.” He took leaflets to share draft to win this seemingly endless war for oil must invest in controlling the vast with his friends in both California profits. “The draft will never happen,” answered Middle-Eastern oil reserves and Louisiana. the young marine, “because they don’t want peo- through imperialist wars in compe- The working class is hungry for a ple that don’t want to fight.” tition with their rivals. class analysis. However, if such A Latino marine, walking hand-in-hand with his The students exposed the capi- events do not make communist five-year-old son, stopped to talk: “I have been in talist drive for profits in Baghdad politics primary — both in the the Marines for many years, but I’m not going to and in New Orleans. They also process and ultimately — it’s reenlist because I have been treated in a racist way condemned the government for impossible to sustain a winning by my superiors.” sending Blackwater mercenaries long-term plan for our class. With Another showed us his bandage-covered arm, and the National Guard into New expansion of CHALLENGE net- saying, “I was injured by a bomb in Iraq. I’m Orleans to terrorize working-class works and a commitment to build- ambivalent: I think we should be there, but I also youth, beating back righteous class ing relationships based on commu- think we shouldn’t because of all the deaths and anger. nist politics, it is possible to win everything that has happened.” An impressive presentation was workers to the long-term fight to Not everybody thinks the same. One marine a “virtual levee tour,” a slide show destroy capitalism once and for all said,“If you want to know what it’s like, you should taking the audience through the and create a communist society go over there. The Iraqis killed my friends. They The new issue of The Communist Magazine city’s two different levee systems. that fulfills workers’ needs.! should all die.” He was in the minority, but we is available: Please send $3 to Challenge The audience was horrified to see saw how the bosses use racism to misdirect sol- the working class being “protect- diers’ anger. When your friends are dying, you’re Periodicals, PO Box 808, Brooklyn, NY ed” by short and weak brick walls going to be angry either at the Iraqis or at the U.S. 11202 while the rich neighborhoods are bosses who put you in harm’s way for their bloody January 17, 2007 • CHALLENGE •Page• 5 U.S. Oily Fingers Behind War in Somalia Thousands of Ethiopian troops using MIG fighter sits on an unexploited gas field. The Malaysian oil giant China’s big investments in ’s lucrative oil fields. planes, tanks, artillery and helicopters invaded Somalia, Petronas has bought three concession blocks there. Ethiopia’s Prime minister Meles Zenawi also has his sights routing the Union of Islamic Courts (UIC) from Ethiopa’s rulers fear a resurgent Somalia will seek to set on attacking Sudan. When Eritrea seceded from Mogadishu, the capital city. Thousands have died in the annex Ogaden.The area’s likely coming war is, in part, gas- Ethiopia, it left the country landlocked. Eritrea now has a fighting. One of the Ethiopian troops’ first acts was to powered.” strategic port on the Red Sea.That port’s closing would secure the compound of the former U.S. embassy — the But this is much more than a holy war or a proxy war affect , Egypt, Germany and France, Eritrea’s leading biggest in Sub-Saharan Africa before 1993 when the U.S. among local ruling classes; it’s mainly part of the inter- commercial traders. was forced to leave Somalia. They were preparing the imperialist dogfight shaping world events. In the past this The current battles in Somalia might become a pro- ground for the U.S. return here. The U.S.-backed area has been ruled by France, Britain and Italy. When tracted war as the UIC and Jihadists turn to guerrilla war- Ethiopian invaders have now returned to power the weak U.S. rulers tried to take control in 1993, under the guise fare.Again, the U.S. and its allies — in this case, Ethiopia’s warlord-supported interim government which had only of sending “humanitarian” aid to hungry Somalians, they rulers — might descend into a quagmire á la Iraq. controlled the city of Baidoa after the UIC routed it last were routed, following the famous “Blackhawks down” Even thought the Islamists are in retreat, contradictions June10. incident when two U.S. copters were shot down during a in the region are now worsening. The Ethiopian army The UIC is aided by Eritrea, which from 1998-2000 fierce battle in Mogadishu, Somalia’s capital.Their captors wants to leave Somalia as soon as possible to avoid a waged a bitter war with Ethiopia over a still-disputed paraded the chopper’s 18 U.S.Army Rangers through the guerrilla-type quagmire, but Ali Mohamed Ghedi, the border.Thousands of Eritrean troops are in Somalia help- city’s streets. Prime Minister of the weak interim Somalia government, ing the UIC. (a “staunch” U.S. ally financing The strong imperialist interest in Somalia involves its "says that heavily-armed soldiers from Ethiopia would be the Sunni insurgency in Iraq), Sudan and Yemen are help- coastline, which lies along the maritime routes taken by needed for months." (BBC World News, 1/2/07) ing the UIC, along with Jihadists from across the Middle oil tankers crossing the Horn of Africa;15% of the world’s The fact remains it’s Ethiopian soldiers and the youth East who see the struggle here as part of their “holy war” maritime traffic passes along that coastline. NATO had of Somalia who are dying. (The UIC shut Mogadishu’s against the U.S. and its allies (in this case, Ethiopia). sent boats in the recent past to protect oil tankers from schools to recruit young fighters.) Many Ethiopian work- The UIC is also allied with Ethiopian insurgents of the pirates based in Somalia. ers and youth hate their rulers, who have imprisoned and Ogaden National Liberation Front — from the ethnically As this series on Africa has stated, all this continent’s killed anti-government protestors.The potential exists to Somali Ogaden region — and the Oromo Liberation conflicts are shaped by inter-imperialist rivalry. China is turn the war into a massive revolutionary struggle to Front, which represents Ethiopia’s largest ethnic group now becoming a major player there, investing heavily in all oust imperialism and the local bosses, but only if there is and is fighting for independence. As CHALLENGE areas, particularly in the key energy industries.The U.S. is communist leadership to carry that out.! (11/29) reported:“The Ogaden region bordering Somalia exploiting human rights violations in Darfur to counter

U.S. Imperialists Follow 'Social Programs' Aim to Win Nazi Footsteps…Again Workers' to Capitalism á la

CHALLENGE has reported how U.S. rulers have used Nazi per- sonal and organizational models to staff and organize their govern- Chávez ment after World War II. Now faced with preparing for a “long war,” As pointed out in CHALLENGE (1/3), the inter- levels of education.Venezuela’s poverty rates have U.S. rulers are again looking to Nazis for lessons. In the Joint Force imperialist struggle over South America is sharp- declined from 49% to 37% under Chavez.This still Quarterly (JFQ), a magazine published by the Department of ening. Venezuela’s Hugo Chavez is a creature of leaves over ten million poor, while many bosses Defense for the Joint Chiefs, U.S. rulers examined the battle for this rivalry. He has tremendous popularity among and hacks in his movement have become fabu- Stalingrad to find its enduring lessons. However, they failed to study the world’s oppressed masses because he spits in lously rich — the stock market gained 129% in the political will and military organization of the Red Army. Instead the eyes of U.S. bosses. 2006, one of the world’s highest. they turned their attention to the Nazis and how they would have Many view his Bolivarian revolution as an Nevertheless, with these crumbs and a revolu- been victorious if only they followed U.S. rulers’ strategies. answer to the hell imposed by free-market capi- tionary-sounding program for construction of Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Brian Hanley argues,“The Germans talism, pushed mainly by the U.S. and its junior “socialism in the 21st century,” Chavez hopes to could have succeeded at Stalingrad if they had some of our ideas of partners. They believe the alternative is the “new win the loyalty of the Venezuelan workers, similar joint operations and, of equal importance, our high standards in ideology” of Chavez and the local anti-U.S. rulers. to Castro in Cuba. But Chavez also wants to regard to professional integrity.” In particular, the article notes the Phony leftists, who never fought for communism, assure the bosses and imperialists who support collection of battle-tested divisions of the Nazi army and asks, have embraced this ideology and wind up allying him that this is just rhetoric to fool the masses. “Where did this collection go wrong? How could talented leaders with anti-neoliberalism politicians like Chavez, Shortly after his re-election he declared,“There blunder on such a massive scale?” Lt. Col. Hanley makes it clear that Brazil’s Lula, Mexico’s Obrador and their imperial- is no space in Venezuela for any other project that U.S. rulers need to heed the lessons of the Nazis’ defeat so as to ist backers.This strategy is lethal for the working is not the Bolivarian Revolution,” and, “We don’t ensure the U.S. will not make the same mistakes.“We study the bat- class. For workers to smash all our enemies — want the dictatorship of the proletariat that Marx tle for Stalingrad from the German point of view so that 50 years local bosses, all the imperialists and their pseudo- spoke of.” During his last visit to Russia he stated, hence, students of military campaigns will not be asking similar left agents — communist politics must become “We need to bring the invisible hand of the mar- questions about U.S. performance in whatever major clash of arms primary. ket and the visible hand of the state together in an awaits us.” Chavez also understands that politics is essential economic system where there is as much of the In the same issue of JFQ, Army Lieutenant Colonel Stephen R. to motivate Venezuelan workers because opposing market as possible and as much of the state as Dazell helps guide U.S. rulers’ preparations for future combat oper- the U.S. and allying with other imperialists eventu- necessary.” ations.The colonel emphasizes that, as in Iraq, future U.S. conflicts ally means war. He knows that his “window of His hero is Simon Bolivar — a rich Venezuelan will likely be in cities, especially shantytowns and urban slums in opportunity” is based on the U.S. disaster in slave-owner who, in the early 19th century, fought developing countries, where the military will have to learn how to Iraq/Afghanistan and on the fact that, as Elliot Spain on behalf of South American bosses’ inde- fight “three-block wars” similar to the battle of Stalingrad. The Engel, the high-ranking Democrat on the subcom- pendence and dreamt of Latin America’s unity. On author explains, “It will no longer be possible to think of cities as mittee of Western Hemisphere affairs, says “…it is this ideological basis, plus phony anti-racism, obstacles to be by-passed or key terrain to be seized in a single counterproductive to try to punish countries with Chavez is building a 300,000-soldier army and a move. In the course of a conflict, a series of three-block wars will populist leaders, especially with China and other two-million citizen militia. extend incrementally over the region, with low-level conflict flaring countries making inroads in the region.” (“Latin No capitalists or imperialists will ever serve up repeatedly in areas behind the ‘front line’ on our tactical maps.” American Advisor,” 12/04/06). workers’ needs. Neither will patriotism/national- The military will have to handle civilian and reconstruction oper- But these conditions won’t last forever, so ism in any form. Mountains of workers’ corpses ations. The chain of command will have to rely more on working- Chavez is arming.Also, Brazilian bosses want MER- have been piled high under these banners. Our class troops to think strategically in combat while making tactical COSUR members (the South American common class must reject patriotism, nationalism and any decisions.While still wielding a powerful grip on U.S. troops’ minds, market) to form an “anti-imperialist” shield — a type of socialism. they will never learn lessons to defeat communist movements.The NATO-like group — in 2007 to defend the Communism must be our goal. Masses of bosses are seeking Nazi-like commitment from vast numbers of region’s natural resources and prevent foreign mil- Venezuelan workers desiring and even fighting for troops.The longer the Iraq fiasco continues, the more problematic itary intervention. change will not in and of itself make such a revo- such commitment becomes. lution. Communists who see the need to build The ruling class has been forced to turn to “new liberal” argu- CHAVEZ’S SHOPS FOR LOYALTY such a red-led party must introduce these ideas as ments to shore up soldiers’ patriotism, even couching it in anti-Iraq FOR WAR their primary duty to their class.Venezuelan work- war rhetoric, masking their fascist intentions. Exposing their plans ers need to join and build the PLP!! and winning soldiers to fight for their class interests is crucial, now Using part of Venezuela’s oil profits, Chavez has more than ever.As rulers depend more on the working class, PLP’s created social programs in health care and educa- ability to influence events on the battleground can have a greater tion and Mision Mercal provides food at a discount impact in building a red army for a class war.What we do counts.! of 20% to 70% to nearly half the population. Primary-care clinics and 30,000 Cuban doctors attend to the poor. Some also have access to all Page 6 • CHALLENGE • January 17, 2007 Western part of the Middle East. RED EX-KIBBUTZ MEMBER Airport Workers Fight Anti-MMuslim Racism On November 21, six Muslim clerics were profiled as possible terrorists and thrown off a US Airways flight at Minneapolis-St. Paul airport. They were handcuffed and interrogated for five hours by Homeland Security, the FBI, the Secret Service and other police agencies, all for the "crime" of speaking Arabic and looking Collectivity, Not Capitalism, added.The storm showed once again that Cortright’s appeal for redress or tailing his like they were from the Middle East! Worked in Seattle Storm fighting for communism is a life and death politics. Every avenue has to be aggres- This incident sparked outrage among question. sively pursued to build an anti-racist, anti- anti-racists. At the airport where we After midnight December 15th a wind- SHIVERING IN SEATTLE imperialist alliance between workers, stu- work, union members wrote, distributed storm in Seattle knocked down an esti- EU Bosses Extend Beyond dents and soldiers that can lead to turning and supported a union resolution con- mated 1,000 trees and took out power for the bosses’ wars into a war for workers’ demning US Airways' racism, and sent nearly half the 3.5 million residents. At Western Europe power.There are many ways to do this. them a copy. Those working in Cortright’s move- least 13 died mostly from carbon monox- The CHALLENGE article (1/3/07),“Iraq At the same time, over the Thanksgiving ide poisoning as they tried to keep warm ment have the job of winning their friends weekend, Northwest Airlines ramp work- Study Group Shows ...” says, “These away from the dangerous politics of the with propane or generators during the nations are part of growing anti-U.S. ener- ers at Minneapolis-St. Paul participated in twenty-degree nights. A 28-year-old and a imperialists and the brass, some of whom job actions against the threatened out- gy and arms alliances, including China, — for example, Ohio Democrat family of four with two small children Russia and French-led Western Europe.” sourcing of their jobs. Daily work stop- were among the casualties, while over a Congressman Kucinich — support this pages lasted for a few hours with workers Europe hasn’t been split into East and petition. During the last presidential cam- hundred were treated in emergency West since around the time of the fall of rallying on the tarmac. Again, workers at rooms for inhalation of toxic fumes.What paign, this “anti-war” politician urged his our airport endorsed a resolution sup- the Berlin Wall on November 9, 1989 — supporters to back Democrat John Kerry, a condemnation of capitalism’s anti-collec- 17 years ago. porting the Northwest workers, the tive nature! There was no need for any- who argued for national service and patri- immigrant Modelux workers at DeGaulle With the European Union already otism in the interests of the U.S. imperial- body to die like this in a crowded city. including Poland, the Czech Republic, International Airport in Paris, and the When a falling tree brought down our ists. ongoing battle in Oaxaca, Mexico.The res- Slovakia and Hungary,and planning to gob- Our tactics in the reform movement do electric lines, we were forced to spend 8 ble up Romania, the reference to olution was distributed to the workers nights at friends and comrades. We matter. However, they must be consistent and copies are being sent to the “Western Europe” is not just an anachro- with, not contradictory to our strategy to became unexpected guests at extended nism but underestimates the threat Northwest and Modelux workers. A PLP family birthdays and other social occa- build the fight for internationalism and leaflet linking all these struggles to the European bosses represent for U.S. boss- communism. Underestimating the dangers sions, where everybody talked about the es. attacks against African immigrant workers storm. of nationalist reformists undermines the A READER IN EUROPE at our airport was circulated by CHAL- It wasn’t long before people began to fight for communism and gives a longer life LENGE readers and distributors. It said complain and their anger grew when they Sharpen Political Struggle to the deadly imperialism we seek to that from Paris to Oaxaca to Minneapolis- thought about Katrina or Iraq. The utility in GI Appeal Movement destroy. St. Paul, the international working class companies were arguing over who was A COMRADE needs communist revolution. going to pay for repair work while thou- A letter — Link GI Petition Campaign Israeli Kibbutz: Socialism or AIRPORT RED sands remained without power or phones. To Red Ideas — in the last issue of CHAL- “Imagine going through this for years in LENGE characterizes Cortright’s solu- Fascism? Use the Internet to Iraq while bombs were dropping,” said a tions as “reformist” and asserts that, while Much has been made for almost 100 Spread PLP’s Ideas bakery worker. the line in the Campaign to Appeal for years of the alleged socialist experiment in Some reminisced about the tighter Redress is “weak,” we must work in this CHALLENGE seems to be embracing Israel — the Kibbutz.This has been an ide- the internet. In addition to citing the PLP neighborhoods of their youth. Others movement. This characterization of the alist experiment, without private property pointed to workers who spontaneously appeal for redress and of Cortright’s poli- website (www.plp.org) in the masthead, on a given farm and where the children more articles refer readers to other web- helped out.We saw some of this collective tics significantly understates the danger of are raised collectively by Kibbutz mem- potential in our neighborhood. Our neigh- both. sites. In the November 29 issue, the arti- bers, not just by their own individual par- cle on Metro transit from D.C. ends with bors drove us around and lent us cars In this period of expanding war leading ents. Sounds good? In some ways, it could (ours were crushed by the tree). They to World War III, any appeal to soldiers a reference to the Local 689 website.The be. However, this system has two major letter on medical fascism under the Nazis warmed us and ran extension cords from based on patriotism and reliance on the flaws. their houses so we could dry our flooded U.S. government is a serious danger to the cites an online version of a museum exhi- (1) However economically progressive bition. In the November 15 issue the edi- basement since their power was restored working class. Such patriotism sets sol- it appears, those Kibbutzin that have had before ours. We met even more of our diers and the working class up for more torial page refers readers to PLP's analysis collective farmland could only sell their of the 1956 anti-communist Hungarian neighbors during the first days as it was wars, and blinds both to its potential as products in the capitalist system, charac- warmer in the street — where small one international working class able to revolt. terizing Israel’s economy, and, of course, The editors are to be commended for multi-racial groups congregated — than in fight for their own interests.The Appeal is Israel is part of world capitalism. our individual homes. based on nationalism, with not a word of linking the print version of CHALLENGE (2) The Kibbutz movement has always with the internet, which is increasingly A young comrade got more to the anti-racism or internationalism. been a major contributor to the Israeli heart of things when he criticized the ide- The Ford and Rockefeller foundations used by many younger workers, students, Army (IDF). Of course, Jews worldwide professionals and soldiers worldwide to ology of the “me generation.” It’s really a have funded Cortright because they fear have viewed the IDF as bastion of defense question of communist political leader- an anti-imperialist, anti-racist movement in get all or most of their news these days. In for themselves, especially in Israel as well addition, many periodicals and profession- ship. the military, especially at this time when as the world over. When the technological infrastructure the Iraq invasion has been labeled a failure. al journals now have a section that sum- “Never Again!” certainly has been the marizes online articles that might be of collapsed, what was true all along became He is a paid analyst for the Chicago voice of reassurance for Jews that the crystal clear.The organization and politics Council on Foreign Relations and the interest to readers. Holocaust will never happen again. But in CHALLENGE should consider a regular of the working class is key.This holds true Rockefeller Brothers Fund reality, Israel is so closely allied with U.S. be it the imperialist army in Iraq or Communicators’ Task Force on U.S. section or box that contains internet ref- economic and political interests, that it has erences to websites, , You-Tube Seattle’s freezing citizens. Global Leadership. He cannot be dis- become a violent military state vis-à-vis its The spontaneous outpouring of help missed as a run-of-the-mill reformist. videos and other online material that can neighbors, especially toward the help communicate the Party's ideas and from workers, past and present, shows the Communists should work in the move- Palestinians. The story of David (a Jew, potential for communist motivation, but ments the bosses are using to win our spread the truth about capitalism and according to the Bible) and Goliath (a workers' struggles around the world.Also, not the actual fact. We need a “political class to the imperialists’ side. But we must Palestinian), has been reversed, with David general staff” for our class to reach its be sharply critical of the danger of patri- we should consider posting articles as now the pitiless aggressor,and Goliath, the they come in, especially around timely potential.We need a Party to lead a com- otism in these movements. Reformist intended victim. Gaza, one of the munist revolution. movements built and publicized by the events like strikes, upheavals, AIDS Day, Palestinian territories, has become a giant etc., rather than waiting until they appear Once the question was presented in bosses historically are meant to tie the prison, and the West Bank constantly suf- this way, the electrical maintenance work- working class to the imperialists. Struggle in the print version. fers one Israeli military incursion after A READER ers at my job designed life-saving, reason- is primary over unity.The most important another. ably-priced solutions. “Why not have challenge we face is sharpening the strug- There’s nothing rational about Israel’s GI ‘Appeal’ Fails to Indict gle against the enemy ideas in the mass neighborhood centers that are wired fear for its own survival. The children of Imperialists underground with well-ventilated backup movement. We should not critically sup- the Kibbutz, who leave home to first join generators,” they proposed. “Under com- port their leaders or line. the Army and then afterwards pursue The Washington D.C. Peace Center — a munism, the Party would organize neigh- Also, it would be wrong to conclude their careers, have unwittingly been Quaker-led pacifist anti-war and anti- borhood and worksite political commit- that the main, or only, way to work with manipulated by historical events into racist organization — decided to honor tees that could check on everybody and GI’s or to build an alliance between GI’s, oppressing all working people in the continued on page 7 get them to these shelters if necessary,” I students and workers, is by using January 17, 2007 • CHALLENGE • Page 7

LETTERS CONTINUED Paraguay: Electing Reformist Bishop continued from page 6 No Solution for Workers the GI's who started the Campaign to Appeal for Redress Paraguay is the center of many struggles and of a from the Iraq War. A co-worker of mine who is heavily growing U.S. military presence to counter its rivals in involved in the Veterans for Peace Organization suggested South America. Some of us are struggling to win people the name of one of the Appeal's organizers (also a friend of to the idea of one international working class, fighting mine) to attend to get an award. But he couldn't go, so he for the needs of our class under one Progressive Labor sent a Marine buddy, Marcus, instead. I organized some co- Party. We distribute some CHALLENGES, have a PLP workers to attend to show him support. study group and engage in some struggles. I also prepared a flyer explaining the Appeal, to encourage Paraguay is South America’s second poorest country discussion and to remind workers and GI's that the U.S. gov- and one of the most corrupt in the world. But there is ernment is the enemy of both of them and the Iraqi people, a lot of fight-back against the bosses. Recently nurses while outlining things people attending the event could do to and doctors struck; the National Farmers Front (Frente help. Marcus knew no one there other than me and didn't Campesino Nacional) frequently occupy land and block Those opposed to the current rulers have mounted know what to expect. He was very touched that we organ- major highways in demanding more land; and retired an “anything-but-Colorado” campaign against current ized the flyer and the support. teachers are fighting for their well-deserved retirement President Nicanor Duarte Frutos for the 2008 presi- I was disappointed in the affair itself. The Peace Center pay. dential election. The main opposition candidate is for- gave awards to about 24 groups and individuals. Few could Last November, the owners of supermarket Ycua mer Catholic bishop Fernando Lugo, who has launched speak and they were quickly shuffled on and off the stage. In Bolanos were tried for the August 2004 deaths of 400 a social-democratic movement (Tekojoja in Guaraní, the fact, a group of awardees (including Marcus) were not even people.These workers were burned to death when the language spoken by most people, along with Spanish ). given their certificates on stage, being told, "OK, now get off owners locked supermarket doors during a fire. Their Workers are already organizing protests and fight-backs the stage, we're running behind schedule." only defense? Preventing looting! against Frutos and the Colorado Party. I was pleased that a group of my co-workers felt it impor- These vicious capitalists received sentences of only Is this reformist movement the answer to the tant enough to give up their Saturday night to attend. One five years, about 4½ days for each murder. Workers Colorado fascists? Our revolutionary communist poli- read the Appeal and was disappointed to see how reformist rebelled against this injustice and for an entire day tics have stimulated debate. Some progressive youth and it was. (The Appeal stated that its signatories were "patriot- clashed with police, liberating the entire inventory of some workers have bought CHALLENGE.A PLP Study- ic Americans" who were proud to serve their country, and, two other supermarkets owned by the murderers.The Action Group has begun, focusing on the need to build while calling for the troops to be brought home, offered no battle was so intense that police were left throwing a mass communist movement. insight into the cause of the war, such as U.S. imperialism, rocks at the protestors. However, Bolivia’s Movement Towards Socialism control over the oil, etc.). Electoral struggles are intensifying contradictions (MAS) has recently expanded to Paraguay (PMAS), and I agreed that sharpening the political struggle among these within the reform movement. Voter fraud was wide- claims that Bolivian-Venezuelan socialism, not commu- anti-war GI's was needed, along the lines suggested in the spread in recent elections for mayors and city councils, nist revolution, is the solution. Several PMAS members flyer. Marcus enjoyed the conversation with my co-workers; enabling the right-wing Colorado Party to triumph have become frustrated with this socialist reform strat- all received CHALLENGE. nation-wide.This party has ruled Paraguay for 70 years, egy and like PLP’s revolutionary communist message. Our next step is to get a resolution passed at the next led by dictator Alfredo Stroessner from 1954-1989, who Paraguay has a rich history of struggle under the lead- union meeting calling for participation in the Jan. 27th Anti- gave asylum to Nazi war criminals, like Joseph “The ership of the old communist movement in the 1960’s War March in Washington, D.C. and assembling a contingent Angel of Death” Mengele, after the Red Army crushed under Oscar Creydt and the famous guerilla leader of my local to attend. the Nazis. Stroessner was supported by the U.S. bosses Agapito Valiente, as well as the armed struggle of the because he was a staunch anti-communist. M14 Movement and FULN. Marxist ideas are not new to D.C. RED Continuing this fascist tradition, Paraguay has begun Paraguayans.We hope to add a new chapter by putting military exercises with U.S. help to counter Venezuela’s the fundamental principle of Marxism — revolution for agreement to support Bolivia militarily on its border communism — into every struggle we enter.The work- with Paraguay,should Bolivia need assistance. U.S. troops ing class in Paraguay is ready for change. are stationed in the Chaco Desert, site of the Mariscal RED GUARANI Estigarribia Airport.

Below are excerpts from mainstream newspapers that may be of use for our readers. ‘New’ Iraq Plan: Stay in and grab oil offered by the officers who fired their guns in the Bell case. But we do know that before they utter a single The Iraq Study Group report….was hardly a prescrip- word on the record, they will have had the opportuni- tion for abandoning the U.S. military project in Iraq…. ty to…review every finding of the crime scene unit…. James Baker was at pains to repeatedly point out….that (NYT, 12/24) the report “makes clear we’re going to have a really robust American troop presence in Iraq and in the region for a The Real Global Threat is Profit System long, long time….” And…it said:“The United States should assist Iraqi lead- To the Editor: could take 100 years.Today, President Bush warned against ers to reorganize the national oil industry as a commercial ….Faced with the prospect of environmental catastro- setting these time-tables. (Jay Leno) enterprise.” phe,... In short, the Baker-Hamilton report was a fall-back posi- There is no point in throwing money at the symptoms Many Chinese remain proud of tion for U.S. military intervention — and for using while the disease goes unchecked….And the problem, the revolutionary surges American firepower on behalf of U.S.-based oil companies disease…is…an economic system whose one yardstick is During the Cultural Revolution, many, many citizens … (Norman Solomon, Creators Syndicate, 12/18) profit. (GW, 12/21) rushed to join in voluntarily. Indeed, many Chinese today Killer cops given every chance to fix a Gov’t wants a whiter, richer New Orleans can still recall the initial sense of euphoria, liberation, and story exhilaration that accompanied their participation in the Sixteen months have passed since the apocalyptic flood movement…. In a typical shooting incident where the police know that followed Hurricane Katrina. More than 13,000 resi- It is, in the sense, their event — not something they sim- who was involved but not how the shooting happened, dents who were displaced by the storm are still living in ply suffered through, but rather something they own…. investigators are trained to immediately separate and trailers provided by the Federal Emergency Management As outsiders,…it becomes very easy for us at once to question suspects and participants, preventing those Agency.Another 100,000 to 200,000 evacuees — most of view contemporary China as a repudiation of the past and involved from getting together and devising a shared whom want to return home — are scattered throughout to wait expectantly for the citizenry to cast off the gov- story…. the United States. ernment that victimized them in the past and still lionize In the 1997 Abner Louima case, preferential treatment The undeniable neglect of this population fuels the sus- Mao Zedong in the present.Yet for Chinese citizens, just as bought time for the few bad officers to meet in the base- picion among the poor and the black, who constitute a the Cultural Revolution is their own, so, too, is Mao ment of the precinct and concoct a story…. In 1999, majority of the evacuees, that the city is being handed over Zedong and the Chinese Revolution more broadly. Their immediately after Amadou Diallo was shot 41 times, to the well-to-do and the white…. revolution’s track record is undoubtedly ambivalent, instead of isolating the four officers, their union delegates The federal government has not come close to meeting encompassing the full gamut from exhilarating liberation to accompanied them — as a group — to the hospital so they the challenge of this overwhelming humanitarian crisis. grotesque calamity, but — still in the process of unfold- could be treated for ringing in their ears. They spent the (NYT, 1/1/07) ing…. (Harvard Magazine, January) next several hours together. Eventually a narrative emerged…. (No headline needed) Of course, we don’t know yet what narrative will be A top strategist at the Pentagon says the war on terror Page 8 • CHALLENGE • January 17, 2007 DESERTER’S BOOK EXPOSES BRUTAL RACIST U.S. WARMAKERS BUT MISLEADS ANTI-WAR SOLDIERS

U.S. Army private Joshua Key, who fled policy of U.S. military officers and the INSTEAD OF DESERT- to rather than return to Iraq, has politicians directing them. While GI’s ING, GI’s SHOULD written a moving and politically instructive should have refused orders to murder and ORGANIZE TO SMASH account of his experiences. Key’s memoir, torture in Fallujah, Haditha, Abu Ghraib IMPERIALIST “The Deserter’s Tale” (as told to Canadian and Guantanamo, nevertheless those WARMAKERS journalist ), shows a poor, orders came from the top. white, working-class young man from Says Key:“Our commanders told us that Granted a brief leave back to Oklahoma practicing anti-racism and Americans were the only decent people the U.S., Key makes up his mind internationalism while defying the brass in on the planet and that Muslims and ter- to move with his family to the midst of war. rorists all deserved to die. One day, all Canada. At this point, the story Unfortunately, however, Key’s admirable three hundred of us lined up within the sours politically. Although Key conscience and courage wind up down bayonet range, each facing a life-sized bravely faces the risk of prison the drain. Blaming the war on Bush & Co. dummy that we were told to imagine was as he eludes the Army officers and not on the profit system, he mistaken- a Muslim man.As we stabbed the dummies tracking him, his individualistic ly thinks he can hide out in Ontario until with our bayonets...one of our command- solution offers no help to the things blow over. History shows that indi- ers shouted into a microphone: ‘Kill. Kill. Iraqis he once befriended. The vidual do nothing to limit capi- Kill the sand n——-s.’” Pentagon reports over 8,000 talism’s endless parade of wars. However, Key recalls a favorite marching chant of desertions since the war began. organized armed mutinies, rebellions, and the drill instructors, “One shot. One kill. But the killing only accelerates. mass fraternizations between “enemy” One Arab. One Asian.” It reveals U.S. Key also errs in counting on armies can prove tremendous advances rulers’ early attempts at motivating troops Canada to take him in. It may towards communist revolution. for racist slaughter beyond the Middle yet return the Key family to the Key destroys the liberals’ “white privi- East. U.S. Long gone are the days lege” myth as he starkly describes growing When Key arrives in Iraq, he sees that when Canada’s Trudeau govern- up destitute in a two-room trailer. The racist terror is indeed the Army’s standard ment, cozying up to Western homes he later raids in Iraq are “far more operating procedure.The brass tell GI’s to European and Soviet bosses, attractive, spacious, and comfortable.” He treat every Iraqi as an enemy. Key’s squad welcomed thousands of desert- Syndrome still haunts the U.S. bosses. manages to hold off “a string of Army has the job of raiding houses in search of ers from the Vietnam War.The imperialist There are reports that Robert Gates’ recruiters” until after high school. But terrorists and rounding up every male tide has since turned. Today, Canadian recent visit to Iraq included dealing with a when Key and his wife, working as pizza over five feet tall for detention and likely Navy destroyers police the Persian Gulf military mutiny by the U.S. Army VI deliveryman and waitress, can’t feed their torture. Key does his best to avoid the for the benefit of Exxon Mobil and Battalion in Anbar province, where they children, he finally falls prey to the “pover- worst abuses. Under orders, he beats Chevron, while Canadian troops fight refused to obey orders, preferring not to ty draft.” The lying recruiting sergeant some Iraqis but kills none himself. He even under U.S. command in Afghanistan. leave their base in Ramadi, the provincial assures Key that the Army will assign him makes friends and shares his rations with Sad to say, Key’s tale does not serve the capital * (see webpage below for more info). to a “non-deployable” unit that builds a few locals. Officers reprimand Key for working class, despite its sincere anti- There is great potential for PLP’ers to win bridges at bases in the U.S. Shortly after “fraternizing with the enemy.” But other racist, anti-officer views. In fact, it aids the many black, white, Latin and Asian GI’s to enlisting, however, Key finds himself in GI’s fall for their commanders’ racism.Two ruling class in several ways. Key never anti-racist, internationalist and anti-imperi- Colorado preparing for combat in Iraq. outrages stand out. They disgust Key and indicts imperialism — that is, the need of alist ideas through our communist politics. help him decide to run. A U.S. soldier U.S. rulers to control the Mid-East and its (NOTE: “The Deserter’s Tale” is due to be SAVAGERY IN ABU GHRAIB AND decapitates four innocent Iraqis with oil at all costs — as the root cause of the published by Atlantic Monthly Press next FALLUJAH: OFFICIAL U.S. POLICY, machine-gun fire and then kicks the heads Iraq war. By portraying Key as a sympa- month. CHALLENGE obtained an advance NOT ‘BAD APPLE’ ABERRATION around like soccer balls. Later, a soldier thetic hero, it steers others down his copy, on which this article is based.) dead-end road. Key examines but one side Before shipping out, Key receives a shoots to death a seven-year-old girl of the all-important question of ideology. *http://globalresearch.ca/index.php?con- thoroughly racist indoctrination: “Our whom Key has been providing with food. He knows that the bosses use racism to text=viewArticle&code=20061225&articleId commanders taught us to demonize and get GIs to do their dirty work. But he =4261 hate Iraqis and Muslims.” Key’s training ignores the opposite: The Vietnam shows that racist brutality is the official PLP History: Harlem Rebellion Grand Jury and Reform vs. Revolution on the Railroad The PLP history column on the Harlem Rebellion ized the enormity of my mistake in not trying to (CHALLENGE, 1/7) reminded me of my own partici- raise communist ideas with my co-workers. Had I pation in that struggle, especially its reference to done so, over a ten-year period, there’s a good “daily picket lines” of the Grand Jury that had been chance I would have been able to recruit some convened to conduct a witch-hunt against the number of them. And now, after we had all been Progressive Labor Movement (PLM). laid off, and many had found other jobs, we would Whenever a PLM member was subpoenaed, he or have had “ready-made” communists at GM, the she would ask friends and co-workers to join the Transit Authority, Ford and other places where picket line on the day we were to appear. I had many of them now worked. worked on a railroad for ten years before our entire In fact, this is the way the bosses help us spread roster was laid off when our jobs were subcontracted communist politics: bring us together into one Ex-railroad workers out. Many found work elsewhere. When the Grand work situation, give us the basis to recruit, then lay join PL picket line Jury subpoenaed me, I contacted many of my ex- us off and force us to go elsewhere where we can coworkers, explained the circumstances to them repeat the process.Thus, if we do our job as com- (including being a communist in PLM) and asked them munists, the bosses help our Party grow! This is part when we couldn’t convince them. (Of course, there to join the picket line. of what Karl Marx referred to when saying that “the are limits, such as refusing to scab to help break other These workers had known me as an organizer of capitalists create their own gravediggers.” workers’ strikes.) But when workers take actions militant, anti-racist rank-and-file actions, for which But there is also the other side to this process.We which contradict their class interests, we will not be they had elected me Local president. But throughout must immerse ourselves in these workers’ day-to-day in position to wage a struggle with them against such those ten years they had not known (so I thought) reform struggles, fighting for many demands which we actions — they are less likely to listen to us — if we that I was also a member of the “Communist” Party know capitalism will either deny us or, if we manage to haven’t been involved in those daily reform fights. (“C”P).That Party had instructed us not to tell anyone win them, will eventually take away.After all, they have If we don’t stick with them and participate in the we were members or discuss communist politics with state power. But if we don’t, as Lenin said, get down in struggle they have chosen — even though we disagree them because it would “isolate” us.This was the era of “the muck and mire” of the class struggle, then we will and express those disagreements — we will end up “in the Cold War and McCarthyite witch-hunts. (This, of not have laid the basis for them to listen to us and our glorious isolation.” And if we take part in the daily course, was one of the reasons many of us left the ideas and eventually become communists themselves. reform struggle, even very militantly, but do not “C”P and formed PLM and then PLP.) So we must do both — spread our red ideas amid spread our communist ideas and attempt to recruit The day of my appearance arrived and I was participation in the daily struggle, even if we disagree them, we will end up without a Party. shocked to see about 20 of my former co-workers with the reform road the workers may have chosen. In OLD-TIME COMRADE had responded to my calls.They had taken the day off my case, it meant, for instance, warning the workers from their new jobs to join a communist picket line that going to the Labor Board for a “neutral” decision for the first time in their lives. It was then that I real- in our fight is an illusion, but still going with them