· AUSTRALIA $1.50 · canada $1.00 · france 1.00 euro · new zealand $1.50 · sweden kr10 · uk £.50 · u.s. $1.00 INSIDE Cuba, Africa, and the fight against racism, 1959–today —PAGES 8–10

A SOCIALIST NEWSWEEKLY PUBLISHED IN THE INTERESTS OF WORKING PEOPLE vol. 72/no. 9 MARCH 3, 2008 Donate tax Washington ‘If elected, we will stop rebate ‘blood lauds Pakistan money’ to the elections, raids, deportations’ pushes ahead SWP vice presidential candidate protests ‘Militant’! arrest of 150 workers near Los Angeles Dear Reader, on ‘terror’ war The tax rebate many workers will BY Cindy jaquith receive later this year as part of the February 19—Washington wel- government’s stimulus package is comed the results of yesterday’s parlia- nothing more than “blood money.” mentary elections in Pakistan, hoping It’s a paltry bribe to make it look as if they will lead to a stable capitalist gov- something is being done to avert the ernment with popular backing. Such economic crisis, and a way to try to buy the silence of working people. stabilization could make the escalation We urge readers of this paper to of the imperialist war in northwestern contribute your 2008 tax rebate to the Pakistan and Afghanistan easier. tribune of workers’ struggles—the President Pervez Musharraf was Militant. resoundingly defeated. The Pakistan It has been a long and proud tradi- Peoples Party (PPP) won 80 seats; tion of many readers of the Militant the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz to contribute company “production” (PML-N), 66; and Musharraf’s party, and “safety” bonuses to the socialist only 38. Musharraf conceded. Shares movement. When a boss gives out a rose 3 percent on Pakistan’s main stock production bonus in exchange for market. intensifying the speed of labor, or a In the northwestern part of the coun- safety bonus for not reporting acci- try near the Afghanistan border, where dents, these are truly paid for in blood. Taliban and al-Qaeda forces are active, Militant/Mike Ortega The best use of the money, whether it secular, anti-Taliban parties had won Socialist Workers Party vice presidential candidate Alyson Kennedy (left) campaigns at be a company bonus or a tax rebate, is about two-thirds of the vote with half shift change at the American Apparel garment factory in Los Angeles February 18. to turn it over to the fight against the the tally in. The results were an upset By Naomi Craine The action was a response to a Febru- Continued on page 6 Continued on page 11 and Arlene Rubinstein ary 7 raid at the Micro Solutions Enter- LOS ANGELES—“If my running prises printer cartridge plant in nearby mate Róger Calero and I are elected, we Van Nuys, California. A busload of the Workers rally against raids will enact legislation to immediately end workers from the plant, including some immigration raids and deportations,” who were arrested during the raid, par- Alyson Kennedy, Socialist Workers ticipated. in California factory, homes Party candidate for vice president, told “What you are doing is very impor- by Arlene Rubinstein Alma Ledezma. “They put him in the workers at a February 14 protest here. Continued on page 6 LOS ANGELES, February 14—A detention center in this building. But busload of workers from the Micro So- he is back to protest and his family is lutions Enterprises plant in Van Nuys, here to support him. He is wearing the Havana fair features books on California, was greeted by cheers bracelet they put on his foot.” The ma- when they joined a protest against im- jority of workers arrested have been Cuba’s revolutionary battles migration raids at the Federal Build- released pending immigration hear- ing here today. One week before, 100 ings. But many are forced to wear BY martín koppel ba’s internationalist missions of aid to Bureau of Immigration and Customs electronic tracking devices. HAVANA, February 18—Among anti-imperialist struggles across Latin Enforcement (ICE) agents raided the “They try to intimidate you,” said the dozens of books being introduced at America and Africa. printer supply plant at the afternoon Manuel Ledezma, who worked at Mi- this year’s Havana International Book Three of these titles, presented dur- shift change. cro Solutions. “They told us, ‘If you Fair are several firsthand accounts of ing the opening days of the February “My brother was arrested,” said Continued on page 4 Cuba’s revolutionary battles—from the 14–24 fair, were Pombo: A man of struggle to overthrow the U.S.-backed Che’s guerrilla by Harry Villegas; Con- Batista dictatorship in the 1950s to Cu- trolling the Air: Memoirs of a Combat Pilot, 1943–1988 by Enrique Carreras; and From the Escambray to the Congo: Pentagon seeks In the Whirlwind of the Cuban Revolu- tion, by Víctor Dreke. military trials Editora Política, the publishing house for six ‘enemy Continued on page 7 combatants’ Also Inside: BY Doug nelson N.Y. cop ‘terror’ squads, The Defense Department announced February 11 that it has charged and is dogs to patrol subways 2 seeking the death penalty for six prison- ers held at the prison camp at the U.S. N.Y. picket demands naval base in Guantánamo, Cuba. After Puerto Rican’s release 2 holding the men for five years without charges, the government is pressing to Exxon Mobil wins ruling to try them by military commission. freeze Venezuelan assets 3 The Pentagon-appointed convening Militant/Arlene Rubinstein Minnesota meat packers Workers from Micro Solutions Enterprises and others rally outside the Federal Building in authority for military commissions, Su- Los Angeles February 14 to protest February 7 raids by the immigration police. Some 150 san Crawford, will now decide whether fight harassment 5 workers were arrested in raids at the plant and workers’ homes. Continued on page 6 N.Y. cop ‘terror’ squads, N.Y. picket demands Puerto Rican’s release dogs to patrol subways by Maura DeLuca chael Chertoff, and New York gov- NEW YORK—Beginning in March, ernor Elliot Spitzer announced the the New York City subways will be pa- funding at a February 1 news con- trolled by cops with automatic weap- ference where Police Commissioner ons and dogs. The Department of Raymond Kelly announced plans for Homeland Security is giving the New “Operation Torch.” York state transit system $153 million “This is great news for New York,” this year, $30 million of which will go said New York Senator Hillary Clin- directly to the New York City police ton, a leading contender for the Dem- department. ocratic Party nomination for U.S. The heavily armed cops and dogs president, in a February 1 statement. are part of “Operation Torch.” The Dan Fein, Socialist Workers Party cops will board trains and patrol plat- candidate for U.S. Congress in New forms focusing on heavy-traffic sub- York’s 10th Congressional District, way stops like Pennsylvania Station, denounced the plan in a February 8 Columbus Circle, Rockefeller Center, speech. “This is a further militariza- and Times Square in Manhattan, and tion of society,” he said. “The ruling Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn. class wants us to get used to the pres- Militant/Emily Paul Each team will include a bomb- ence of the armed forces and heavily NEW YORK, February 11—About 25 people picketed at Federal Plaza here sniffing dog and six cops: a dog han- armed cops on the streets and sub- today to protest the arrest of Puerto Rican independence fighter Avelino dler, a sergeant, and four officers from ways. This is an attack on the rights González Claudio by the FBI. The FBI claims that González is a member of the Emergency Service Unit. The po- and political space of the working the proindependence group Popular Boricua Army-Macheteros. He was lice officers will be outfitted in heavy class.” arrested in Puerto Rico February 7 on charges of involvement in a 1983 bullet-proof vests and Kevlar helmets In 2005, the NYC cops began ran- bank robbery. Protesters called for the release of González and all Puerto and will carry either M4 automatic dom searches of subway riders’ back- Rican political prisoners, and for independence for Puerto Rico. rifles or MP5 submachine guns. packs and bags, a practice that contin- —Emily Paul Homeland Security secretary Mi- ues to this day. For Further Reading Grand jury hearings against Puerto Rican Workers’ Rights independence fighters postponed indefinitely versus the Secret Police By Maura Deluca took place in New York and other independence activist groups com- NEW YORK—Federal grand jury by Larry Seigle U.S. cities, and in San Juan, Puerto mit criminal acts in Puerto Rico. How the ruling hearings for Puerto Rican inde- Rico, around that date. Defense law- Many Puerto Rican independence classes have used pendence activists Tania Frontera, yers were granted a postponement supporters say there has been an police spies, Christopher Torres, and Julio Pabón of the grand juries until February ongoing investigation into the PBA- agents, and frame- have been postponed indefinitely. 1, giving them time to challenge the Macheteros by the FBI. A reflection ups against the workers’ movement. The three were issued subpoenas subpoenas. of this is the February 7 arrest of $5.00 last December to testify in front of A few days before February 1, the Avelino González Claudio, an inde- www.pathfinderpress.com a grand jury on January 11. Protests grand jury hearing was postponed pendence fighter, for his alleged par- again. Still, 100 people demonstrat- ticipation in a 1983 Wells Fargo bank ed in different parts of Puerto Rico robbery in Hartford, Connecticut. against the attack on democratic If convicted, he can face up to 275 rights February 1. Protests took place years in prison. in Mayagüez, at the University of A February 11 action in New York Puerto Rico, and in shopping areas. City protested the arrest (see photo Ema Beatriz Rosado, widow of Fi- story above). Support the Socialist Workers campaign! liberto Ojeda Ríos, a longtime inde- The ‘Militant’ brings pendentista and leader of the Popular Boricua Army-Macheteros (PBA- you weekly coverage of the Machateros) who was fatally shot by Order revolutionary 2008 elections—from the FBI agents in 2005, addressed one of books on the Internet! debates on the economy the rallies in Puerto Rico. She said and wars abroad, to how she does not believe anything the pathfinderpress.com Socialist Workers candi- FBI says regarding allegations that dates are joining the issues subscription send $65, drawn on a U.S. and championing workers’ The Militant bank, to above address. struggles. Vol. 72/No. 9 Africa, Asia, and the Middle East: Send Militant/Angel Lariscy $65 drawn on a U.S. bank to above address. Róger Calero speaks at February 7 rally Closing news date: February 20, 2008 Don’t miss a single issue! Canada: Send Canadian $45 for one-year against closing of hospitals in New Jersey. 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2 The Militant March 3, 2008 Exxon wins Venezuelan asset freeze BY Cindy jaquith tional Energy Agency, told reporters he the widespread shortages U.S. oil giant Exxon Mobil has won thought the affect of Venezuelan cuts to in the country. court rulings freezing more than $12 Exxon’s supplies would be “very lim- The big-business in- billion in assets belonging to Venezu- ited” and not require drawing on other telligence news agency ela’s state-run oil company, Petroleos oil stockpiles. Stratfor noted that Ven- de Venezuela SA (PDVSA), in retalia- Following Exxon’s initial victory ezuela produces heavy tion for last year’s takeover of foreign- in getting courts to freeze PDVSA as- crude oil and is de- owned oil facilities by the government sets, Venezuelan president Chávez an- pendent on the United of President Hugo Chávez. The freeze nounced in a February 10 televised States to refine it. “Ap- prompted the Venezuelan government speech that Venezuela would end oil proximately 90 percent to announce February 12 that it would shipments to the United States if Exxon of Venezuela’s 2 million cut oil shipments to Exxon. won its legal case. But in a statement barrels per day (bpd) in On May 1, 2007, the Venezuelan broadcast on television February 17 crude exports either goes government took over majority con- Chávez said, “We don’t have plans to to U.S. refineries that trol of oil companies operating in the stop sending oil to the U.S. All I’ve said are explicitly designed Orinoco Oil Strip. Most of the foreign- is that if the U.S. attacks us, we’ll have to process Venezuela’s owned companies affected accepted to decide not to send one drop of oil to poorer grade of crude the takeover, but two, Exxon and Phil- the U.S.” or is refined into prod- lips-Conoco, did not. Negotiations over The Economist noted that 75 percent ucts subsequently sold compensation with Exxon broke down, of Venezuela’s export earnings comes to the United States,” the while talks with Conoco are proceed- from U.S. oil sales. PDVSA earnings are agency said. “Only U.S. ing. Exxon won a British court ruling 50 percent of the government’s revenue. refineries are specifically in January that froze $12 billion in PD- Loss of that revenue would seriously geared toward Venezu- VSA assets in the United Kingdom, the impact social programs initiated by elan crude, and configur- Netherlands, and Netherlands Antilles. the Chávez government that have been ing specialized refiner- The company claimed the assets freeze funded in large part by PDVSA. Recent- ies in countries capable Rueters was necessary to guarantee Venezuela ly, the president ordered PDVSA to set of refining Venezuelan February 12 rally in Maracaibo, Venezuela, outside Mobil gas would pay compensation should Exxon up a subsidiary to distribute food due to crude would be costly.” station protests Exxon Mobil’s moves against nationalization. prevail in arbitration over the Orinoco Strip. On February 14, a U.S. District Court extended a freeze that the oil gi- ant had already won on $315 million in Kenya: imperialists push power-sharing PDVSA funds in the United States. BY willie cotton of the African Union. Bush will also flict is not resolved soon. Nairobi’s East Venezuela’s oil minister, Rafael At the start of a six-day visit to five Af- visit Rwanda, Ghana, and Liberia. He African Standard quoted Harvey Rouse, Ramírez, said Exxon was demanding 10 rican countries President George Bush will not visit Kenya. the EU’s head of political and trade sec- times what its losses were from the take- dispatched Secretary of State Condo- Before departing for Africa Bush tion in Kenya, saying, “Until there is a over. PDVSA lawyer Joseph Pizzurro leezza Rice to Nairobi to press Kenya’s said that Rice would “deliver a message willingness in the two opposing factions said Exxon demanded only $5 billion president and the main opposition leader directly to Kenya’s leaders and people: to work things out together, it will not be during negotiations over compensation, to agree to a power-sharing government. there must be an immediate halt to vio- business as usual as regards EU mem- not the $12 billion it has now frozen in Washington seeks to resolve a crisis that lence, there must be justice for the vic- ber countries.” UK high commissioner the oil company’s bank accounts. sparked widespread violence beginning tims of abuse, and there must be a full to Kenya, Adam Wood, said London did The U.S. government stood firmly last December following a disputed return to democracy.” not recognize the current government. on the side of Exxon. “We fully support presidential election. The day Bush departed for Africa Kenya’s foreign minister, Moses the efforts of Exxon Mobil to get a just “Mediators” led by former United Jendayi Frazer, the top State Department Wetangula, took issue with the impe- and fair compensation package for their Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan official for Africa, said that the Bush rialist pressure. “We encourage our assets according to the standards of in- met with rivals President Mwai Kibaki administration is considering targeted friends to support us and not make any ternational law,” said State Department and challenger Raila Odinga. sanctions against anyone who stands in mistake of putting a gun to anybody’s spokesman Sean McCormack. Sen. Kibaki and Odinga have come un- the way of a power-sharing deal. head and saying ‘either/or,’ because that Richard Lugar, the ranking Republican der pressure from imperialist powers to The European Union has also threat- cannot work,” he said, according to the on the Senate Foreign Relations Com- solve the nearly two-month old conflict ened sanctions against Kenya if the con- New York Times. mittee, also attacked the Venezuelan that has left more than 1,000 dead and government, demanding it resolve the displaced at least 600,000. Riots broke dispute with Exxon “within the legal out after Odinga narrowly lost to Kibaki U.S. Senate approves spy bill framework” and not disrupt oil mar- in December 27 elections. Odinga’s sup- kets. porters charged Kibaki with stealing the By Ved Dookhun ments’ foreign spying program was The day after announcing the cut in election. A bill broadening the government’s placed under the supervision of the For- sales to Exxon, Rafael Ramírez said A preliminary deal signed February surveillance and eavesdropping pow- eign Intelligence Surveillance Court. PDVSA would complete its current con- 14 calls for an independent investigation ers was approved by the U.S. Senate This secret court was set up in the Jus- tractual agreements with Exxon. The of the election and a report within three February 12. The 68–29 vote reflects tice Department under the 1978 Foreign government also explained that ship- to six months. Both sides would work to the bipartisan support for government Intelligence Surveillance act sponsored ments would continue to a refinery in draw up a new constitution within a year spying. President George Bush called by Sen. Edward Kennedy. In 26 years, Chalmette, Louisiana, that PDVSA and that could also provide for a prime min- on the Democratic-led House to also the court has rejected only five of 19,000 Exxon jointly own. PDVSA sells 78,000 ister post or another way to share power. approve the bill before wiretapping government requests for wiretaps or barrels a day to the Chalmette facil- Kibaki’s Party of National Unity is powers temporarily granted the gov- searches. ity and another 50,000 a day directly to based on Kenya’s largest and dominant ernment last year expired February For months the White House had been 15. Exxon. ethnic group, Kikuyu, which makes pushing for legal immunity for phone House Democratic leaders tried to companies that aided government spy- Venezuelan oil amounted to 5 per- up about 22 percent of the population. obtain a 21-day reprieve to negotiate ing on U.S. citizens without warrants cent of Exxon’s imports in November. They were favored by the British dur- before the deadline but were defeated. after Sept. 11, 2001. This provision is Nobuo Tanaka, the head of the Interna- ing colonial rule and ran many shops, restaurants, banks, and factories. They Democrats insisted that the lapse would contained in the Senate bill. Some 40 have dominated the government since have no impact on eavesdropping. Cur- lawsuits have been filed by custom- militant independence in 1963. rently intelligence officials can spy on ers against AT&T, Verizon, and Sprint Odinga’s Orange Democratic Move- communications of “terrorist” groups Nextel for violating the law and privacy labor ment gets its support primarily among for a year after winning initial permis- obligations. the Luo, who make up about 13 percent sion. Until the new legislation is passed “This, I believe is the right way to forums of the population. the government will have to get a war- go for the security of the nation,” said illinois Kenya’s transportation system, in- rant through the Foreign Intelligence Senator John D. Rockefeller, the West Chicago cluding its Mombasa port, a vital trans- Surveillance Act (FISA) to spy on any Virginia Democrat who leads the intel- Union Victory at Minnesota Packinghouse: port hub for East Africa, has been para- additional groups. ligence committee and supports the im- A Boost to Efforts to Organize Other Work- lyzed by the crisis. The Senate bill increases many of the munity provision. ers. Sat., March 1. Dinner, 7 p.m.; program, 8 p.m. 3557 S Archer Ave. Tel: (773) 890-1190. Washington sees Kenya’s stability as surveillance powers granted under the In the Senate Republican presidential important to its “global war on terror- FISA amendment act passed by Con- contender John McCain voted in favor of texas ism” in the region and has given mil- gress last August. It gives the govern- the final measure, while the two leading Houston lions to Kenya’s military. ment broader power to eavesdrop on Democratic candidates, Barack Obama Current Crisis in Kenya: Record of Brit- Bush arrived in Dar-es-Salaam, foreign communications without a war- and Hillary Clinton, did not vote. The ish, U.S. Imperialist Domination. Speaker: Tanzania, from Benin February 16. rant as long as American citizens are not Clinton campaign issued a statement Jacquie Henderson, SWP candidate for U.S. Senate. Fri., Feb. 29. 7:30 p.m. 4800 W 34th He will meet with Tanzanian president targets. that she would have voted against the St., Suite C-51A. Tel: (713) 688-4919. Jakaya Kikwete—the new chairman Under last year’s law, the govern- final measure.

The Militant March 3, 2008 3 Minnesota: YS joins Immigrant workers rally in Minnesota meat packers’ struggle This column is written and edited by The Young Socialists have also got- members of the Young Socialists, a ten word out about the Dakota victo- revolutionary socialist youth organiza- ry on college campuses, and through tion. For more information contact the campaigning for Socialist Workers YS at 306 W. 37th St., 10th floor, New candidates, led by a national ticket of York, NY 10018; tel. (212) 629-6649; e- Róger Calero for president and Aly- mail: [email protected]. son Kennedy for vice president. When Calero, who was part of the initial fight that won the union at Dakota, Young Socialists was in Minnesota, the Young Social- IN ACTION ists sponsored a meeting for him at the University of Minnesota’s Minneapo- BY ROBERT SILVER lis campus. The presidential candidate SOUTH ST. PAUL, Minnesota— explained that workers, through their The air inside the United Food and own struggles, can fight against their Commercial Workers Union (UFCW) declining standard of living in the face Local 789 hall was thick with excite- of unending attacks by the bosses and ment January 25. Workers there had their government. just defeated a drive by the bosses at Speaking with Calero at a January Militant/Robert Silver Dakota Premium Foods, a beef slaugh- 26 Militant Labor Forum in Minne- MINNEAPOLIS, February 16—Many drivers honked in support as 200 terhouse here, to decertify the union at apolis, Rebecca Williamson, SWP people marched along East Lake Street here today protesting recent attacks their plant. candidate for Congress in the 5th Con- against undocumented immigrant workers. Last month Minnesota governor Dozens of Dakota workers, union of- gressional District and a worker in the Timothy Pawlenty issued an executive order allowing law enforcement offi- ficials, and their supporters, including boning department at Dakota, invited cers to work with the Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement and members of the Young Socialists, went those present to campaign with the ordering the review of driver’s licenses to look for duplicates. Pawlenty also to the hall for an impromptu celebra- Young Socialists for Calero and Ken- reintroduced bills proposing the prohibition of local sanctuary ordinances tion. Since a company-backed effort to nedy. “In the next 10 months we will and increasing penalties for those who used false IDs. decertify the union began, members of continue talking with working people, —ROLLANDE GIRARD the Young Socialists have been active youth, farmers, and anyone else who in the fight both as workers in the plant is interested in revolutionary politics. and as supporters outside. This includes going door to door in the For the past several weeks, Young working-class neighborhoods and set- Volunteer joins ‘Militant’ staff Socialists have been selling the Mili- ting up campaign tables on campuses BY paul pederson tant at Dakota Premium Foods as and elsewhere,” she said. With this issue, Ved Dookhun, 37, workers finish their shift. YS members Williamson said the Young Social- is joining the Militant’s team of edito- have learned first-hand about the con- ists for Calero and Kennedy will con- rial volunteers. ditions on the job and the latest skir- tinue to support and join fights like Over the past decade, Dookhun mishes with bosses. Workers also stop those at Dakota Premium Foods and has been a leader of Socialist Work- to discuss recent articles in the paper, continue to reach out to youth and ers Party branches in New York, Bir- the importance of keeping the union, others interested in the working-class mingham, Alabama; Newark, New and world politics in general. Workers alternative to the Democrats and Re- Jersey; Price, Utah; and most recent- pick up the Militant for its coverage of publicans. Get involved! E-mail us at ly, Pittsburgh, where he worked in a their fight for a contract, and many re- [email protected] or con- pillow factory. late their struggle to struggles by work- tact the nearest Militant distributor, Dookhun joined the Young Social- ers elsewhere covered in the paper. listed on page 10. ists in 1993, a year after moving to the United States from South Africa, where he had participated in a mass Workers protest California raid struggle to overthrow the system of Continued from front page false information to get hired, more than apartheid, or white minority rule. In don’t talk it’s going to be worse for 150 have been arrested. These include South Africa, Dookhun was a mem- you.’ I think they think we don’t have 130 workers at the plant, a woman who ber of the African National Congress Militant/Sam Manuel (ANC) Youth League. Ved Dookhun, 37, is joining the Militant’s any rights. sells tamales who was in the building at team of editorial volunteers. “The company has graciously offered the time of the raid, and workers grabbed In 1996 and 1997, Dookhun helped me my job back—until my deportation,” in raids at the homes of Micro Solutions organize large delegations of youth to the Crandall Canyon mine near Hun- he added. workers who missed work the day of go to Cuba for a U.S./Cuba Youth Ex- tington, Utah, last August, Dookhun Although ICE alleges it had warrants the raid. The American Civil Liberties change and for the World Festival of was part of the team of Militant re- for eight workers accused of providing Union has filed a lawsuit charging that Youth and Students. porters providing on-the-scene cov- the raid was illegal. Dookhun ran for U.S. Senate on erage. He also helped get the paper Workers at the plant, the Socialist Workers Party ticket in out broadly to miners in the region, family members, and New Jersey in 2002 and Pennsylvania exchanging experiences with fellow supporters have been in 2006. As a candidate for U.S. Con- workers on how to organize to use holding weekly meet- gress in 2004, he helped lead efforts union power to defend life and limb ings at the Our Lady nationally to get the socialist presi- on the job. of the Holy Rosary dential ticket on the ballot in a num- Dookhun has also written on inter- Church in nearby Sun ber of states. national developments for the paper, Valley. The defense Dookhun worked as a coal miner including the national elections in In- fight is being orga- in Utah and Pennsylvania. After a dia in 2004 and struggles among min- nized by a coalition mine collapse killed six miners at ers in South Africa. of groups, including New edition now available! the garment and hotel workers union UNITE Cuba and the HERE and the Coali- Coming American Revolution tion for Humane Im- by Jack Barnes migrant Rights of Los Angeles. This is a book about prospects for revolution in “They are very the United States, where the political capacities of workers and farmers are today as utterly discounted lucky” in contrast to by the ruling powers as were those of the Cuban many workers arrested toilers. It is about the example set by the people of by la migra, said Alex Cuba that revolution is not only necessary—it can be DeLeon, a truck driver made. Second edition, with new foreword by Mary- Militant/Arlene Rubenstein whose cousin works Alice Waters. José Luis was one of more than 100 workers at Micro Solutions at Micro Solutions. Enterprises in Van Nuys, California, arrested in a February 7 $10. Special offer for members of the Pathfinder Readers Club: $7.50 “They have an oppor- raid. He attended a February 14 protest wearing the elec- www.pathfinderpress.com tronic tracking bracelet immigration cops put on him (inset). tunity for a fight.”

4 The Militant March 3, 2008 on the picket line Movie and TV writers end strike, try’s airports and public services, and will vote on contract crippled rail transport. After more than three months on The Financial Times described the strike, movie and television writers details of the plan, which the govern- represented by the Writers Guild of ment had not yet made public at the America voted February 12 to return time of the strike. “About 170 state to work. The union negotiated a tenta- pension funds are to be merged into tive three-year contract with the Alli- five or six large units that would be ance of Motion Picture and Television handed over to professional man- Producers. agers,” the London paper reported. Union members are set to vote on “Benefits for current workers are like- the contract February 25. According ly to be reduced.” According to BBC to the New York Times, the proposed News, the retirement age, which is pact includes compensation for work currently 65 for men and 60 for wom- that is shown on the Internet and en, may be increased for some jobs, through cell phones and other devices, and the plan would include incentives a key demand of the Writers Guild. for workers to continue working past —Paul Pederson retirement. —Paul Pederson Striking writers picket February 8 in New York. They voted February 12 to return to work. Two million workers strike in Greece against pension cuts More than 2 million workers across Minnesota meat packers fight harassment Greece participated in a February 14 By Julian Santana work conditions, as reported in the on to the platform. Besides Julian at 24-hour strike to protest a govern- SOUTH ST. PAUL, Minnesota, February 18 edition of the Workers’ least four other workers on the kill are ment plan to cut pensions and raise the February 18—Bosses at the Dakota Voice, a newsletter put out by workers on work restrictions due to on the job retirement age. The strike was called Premium Foods slaughterhouse here in the plant. injuries, 3 hurt just last week alone!” by the country’s two largest unions. are stepping up harassment after “The harassment and pressures In response to these conditions Some 8,000 workers demonstrated workers defeated a company-backed we face contribute to the high injury workers are explaining the need to use in Athens in front of the parliament effort to decertify their union, the rate on the job,” says the newsletter. the strength of the union. “To stand up building, Reuters reported, while United Food and Commercial Work- “Last Wednesday Julian Santana, an- to these every day conditions on the dozens of rallies took place in other ers (UFCW) Local 789. The workers other kill worker, was made to work job we need to defend each other and cities. The strike shut down the coun- are organizing to stand up to company the jobs of two people. His finger use our union stewards to back us up,” attacks and to win a new contract. got caught in the shackle around the says the Workers’ Voice. “Whenever the Militant Stepped-up firings are accompa- cow’s leg and he was pulled off the we are injured, harassed or called to nied by speed-up and worsening safe- platform where he works. A coworker the office we need to call on our union www.themilitant.com ty conditions on the job. This reporter hit the button to stop the line and re- stewards.” had direct experience with unsafe versed the shackle to pull Julian back Since their January 25 union elec- tion victory, Dakota workers have online been meeting at least once a week to Gov’t retries Liberty City 7 on ‘terror’ charges discuss how to take on the company attacks and contract demands they BY BERNIE SENTER tinians who lived in Los Angeles. They an immigration judge appointed by will be raising in upcoming negotia- MIAMI—Seven men accused of were among six others, dubbed the Los the government, and lax rules of evi- tions. At their next meetings they will terrorism charges based on the testi- Angeles 8, who the government was dence.” choose shop stewards and members mony of agent provocateurs are back trying to deport solely for distributing The other six defendants, on whom of the negotiating committee. in federal court, facing new trials on pro-Palestinian material and allegedly the jury was deadlocked in the original Workers at Dakota have been work- the same charges a jury was unable to being supporters of the Popular Front trial, are being retried in Miami. They ing under an old contract since it ex- convict them on last December. for the Liberation of Palestine. face up to 70 years in prison based on pired in June. According to Local 789 The men, known as the Liberty City Marc Van Der Hout, an attorney the actions of FBI informers who tried representatives, contract talks are Seven, are accused of conspiring to with the National Lawyers Guild, to coax them into going along with tentatively scheduled to begin Febru- blow up the Chicago Sears Tower and pointed out, “You have a situation in fabricated plans to commit sabotage. ary 29. Among the demands workers bomb Federal Bureau of Investiga- the L.A. 8 case where the government The case is constructed exclusively are discussing are wage raises, open tion headquarters in several cities. The admitted they did nothing criminal and around incriminating statements that access to the plant for union represen- charges are based on the testimony of wanted to use the immigration laws to were secretly taped by the government tatives, control of the line speed, and FBI agents who posed as representa- get rid of them because they didn’t like agents. FBI deputy director John Pis- more. tives of al-Qaeda. what they were doing politically.” He tole called the alleged plan “more as- The seven are members of a reli- said that Lemorin’s situation is similar. pirational than operational” since no Julian Santana is a kill floor worker gious group, Seas of David, that held “It’s a much tougher row to hoe for the weapons, ammunition or bombs were at Dakota Premium Foods and a meetings in Liberty City, a large Black defendant because you have no jury, involved. member of UFCW Local 789. community in Miami. One of the seven, Lyglenson Lem- orin, was found innocent of all charges 25, 50, and 75 years ago in the previous trial. After the trial, the government rearrested him, locked him up in prison, and leveled the very same charges against him in an Atlan- ta immigration court. The government March 4, 1983 March 3, 1958 March 3, 1933 is trying to deport him to Haiti even PUERTO CABEZAS—If the week- Indignation was spreading in the lo- Every day brings the report of a new though he has no prior criminal record long U.S.-Honduran show of military cal labor movement this week with the blow dealt the German working class and is a legal U.S. resident. forces just north of here was intended shocking story of physical beating of movement by the Hitler regime. No “I feel I’m being treated unjustly,” to spread fear and demoralization, this Eric Reinthaler, a defendant in the Taft- half-sane person above the age of six has Lemorin said in an interview after a correspondent can personally testify Hartley conspiracy case. put the slightest credence in the Fascist gag order against him and his attorney that Pentagon planners were handed a Reinthaler, a machinist, was sen- charge that the Communists set fire to was finally lifted. “I was not involved big disappointment. tenced together with six other defen- the Reichstag building. But while no- in the claim they made against me. I On Nicaragua’s northern Atlantic dants to 18 months in prison and $2,500 body takes the charge seriously, it has am no threat to the United States of Coast, the area closest to the site of fine. The conviction was on a charge sufficed the Nazis to launch their reign of America.” the maneuvers, the reaction among the of conspiracy to file and to cause oth- terror and to extend it more widely with His attorney, Charles Kuck, noted, population demonstrated how deep op- ers to file false non-Communist affida- the passage of every day. The Times re- “You have the government getting a position runs to U.S. intervention. This vits with the National Labor Relations ports that “Communist arrests included second bite at the apple with a lower includes among the Miskito Indians Board. the entire executive committee of the burden of proof.” whom Reagan is so fond of portraying Delay in making bail for Reinthaler party in Berlin and Reichstag deputies Lemorin’s case is similar to other as “victims” of the revolution. resulted in his detention in County Jail and party executives elsewhere.” In Ber- immigration cases where the govern- Several thousand Miskitos, English- for two nights. Seven or eight [thugs] lin alone there are more than 300 Com- ment attempts to deport people after speaking Afro-Nicaraguans, and na- rushed into the small cell and attacked munists held. The Communist leaders they have been found innocent. Last tive Spanish speakers marched together Reinthaler. Four grabbed him and held must be forced out of their criminal pas- October, Washington finally dropped through the streets here February 1 to him while others punched him and tried sivity. There is no retreat: All that is left a 20-year attempt to deport two Pales- protest the opening of the maneuvers. to ram his head against the wall. is mortal combat—or annihilation!

The Militant March 3 , 2008 5 Socialist campaign SWP presidential candidate tours Texas Continued from front page We need to organize independently in tant,” Kennedy told them. “I will be talk- the political arena. We need a labor party ing about your fight as I visit other cities based on a fighting union movement.” in the coming weeks.” “This campaign is defending work- Micro Solutions Enterprises workers ers,” Osmin Escobar, 22, said. He came told Kennedy that the company, which is to hear Kennedy speak at a February 16 nonunion, takes advantage of immigrant rally at the Los Angeles campaign head- workers to pay low wages. Kennedy quarters. “It is on the side of the workers described the fight she was part of with when there’s a raid. The women and men fellow coal miners, most of them immi- who are in the U.S. are not criminals, be- grants, to organize a union at the Co-Op cause they are trying to maintain their mine near Huntington, Utah, about three families.” years ago. Escobar said he agrees with the cam- “We struck for 10 months, won our paign platform’s demand for a halt to jobs back, and got a date set for a union immigration raids and deportations, and representation election,” she said. “But immediate legalization for all undocu- seven days before the vote, the company mented workers. “I think its very amaz- fired nearly everyone saying they didn’t ing to find a campaign that is saying have proper papers. That’s why the fight this,” he said. to legalize everyone, without conditions, The campaign rally was also the Militant/Jacquie Henderson is so important for the entire working grand opening of the new Los Angeles HOUSTON, February 15—”As president and commander in chief, I class.” Militant Labor Forum hall, located on a would immediately withdraw all U.S. troops from Iraq, Afghanistan, and The next day Kennedy joined several lively commercial street in a working- everywhere else around the world,” Socialist Workers Party presidential Micro Solutions Enterprises workers class neighborhood. candidate Róger Calero told students at the University of Houston today. who had been summoned to have their Also attending the rally was Milton “My opponents, Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, and John McCain, all electronic monitoring bracelets checked. support the escalation of the imperialist war in Afghanistan,” he added. She was impressed by their attitude in Ortiz, a hotel worker who is active in a fight for a new union contract at his Calero was joined on campus by SWP congressional candidates Aman- face of the authorities. da Ulman, who is running in the 9th District, and Steven Warshell, running workplace. “I was impressed with how “They are not intimidated,” she said. in the 18th. On his two-day tour stop here Calero also attended campaign “The agents kept asking them for phone the candidate spoke about different events with garment, meatpacking, and other workers. numbers, but they knew they didn’t have workers’ struggles,” he said. Earlier that One student came out to meet the candidates after his teacher told the to answer the questions, and kept insist- week, Socialist Workers campaigners ac- class that “a worker who is running for president is outside right now.” ing they didn’t have any numbers.” cepted an invitation from Ortiz to join a “Do you have that paper he showed us, the Militant?” the student asked During her tour stop in Los Angeles, rally supporting workers at another hotel Calero. Kennedy also campaigned outside the where the employer slashed wages and —JACQUIE HENDERSON American Apparel garment factory and benefits a year ago. the Farmer John slaughterhouse. She was interviewed by the Pacifica radio station KPFK. Pentagon charges six ‘enemy combatants’ Continued from front page trained. Ramzi Binalshibh is accused of year Congress passed the Military Com- House meeting the case against the six will be heard by helping find flight schools for the hijack- missions Act, a modified version of the Pedro Albarran, a meat packer who a military commission and whether the ers. Two others, Mustafa al-Hawsawi Bush administration’s original design. is supporting the campaign, organized death penalty can be sought. If the case and Ali Abdul Aziz Ali, are accused of a meeting with Kennedy at his home. providing financial assistance to the hi- Use of torture “My friend, my cousin, and my brother goes to trial, it will take place in Guan- tánamo. jackers. Mohamed al-Kahtani is said to This act removes the constitutional and their kids came over,” he said. “We have been denied entry into the United right of due process for persons the pres- raised money and had hours of discus- The six are accused of involvement in the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the World States in 2001 with $2,800 in cash on his ident deems to be enemy combatants, sion.” person and a phone number associated allowing the government to imprison “They want workers to believe that this Trade Center and Pentagon. The most well-known, Khalid Sheikh Moham- with al-Hawsawi on his flight itinerary. people indefinitely without charges. It is a choice,” Kennedy said at the meeting also allows the use of statements by de- med, is accused of planning and orga- in response to a question about the media Military commission fendants that were, in the words of the nizing the attacks. The second, Walid coverage of the Democratic and Republi- Under a 2006 law, the members of American Civil Liberties Union, “liter- bin Attash, is accused of running an can candidates. “The capitalists organize a military commission are appointed ally beaten out of a witness,” as long as their rule through a two-party system. al-Qaeda camp in Afghanistan where military officers. The judge is selected that happened before Dec. 30, 2005. Un- But working people need our own party. two of the September 11 hijackers were by the secretary of defense. The pros- der the act, the president decides what ecution can use hearsay and secret evi- does and doesn’t constitute torture in dence. interrogations. Give ‘blood money’ to ‘Militant’! The defense lawyers are appointed Guantánamo base commander Rear Continued from front page brutal wars. It tells the truth about military attorneys. If defendants can af- Adm. Mark Buzby recently admitted in capitalist system that makes workers and champions struggles by work- ford it, they are entitled to hire a civilian a court filing that several years’ worth of sacrifice life and limb for the profits ing people the world over who are lawyer, but that lawyer must be eligible video recordings of interrogations there of the employers. resisting the consequences of this for a government security clearance at had been overwritten. “We’ll simply On February 7, as the government’s crisis. the “secret” or higher level. All discus- never know whether these videotapes answer to the deepening economic The Militant has unique coverage sion between defendants and their law- recorded torture,” said David Remes, a downturn, Congress passed the Eco- on the U.S. presidential elections. You yers is monitored by the government, lawyer who represents Gua 0ntánamo nomic Stimulus Act. While granting can be assured the paper will report and all the lawyers’ mail and notes are detainees. The military was issued a billions in corporate tax breaks, work- accurately on the course of action the given to the military. court order in 2005 to preserve such evi- ers—who face declining real wages, Socialist Workers Party candidates In 2001, president George Bush an- dence. inflation, and unemployment—will will pursue when they are elected to nounced the formation of military tri- The inhumane and degrading treat- receive only a $300 to $600 one-time office, and what they will do to defend bunals to try those labeled “enemy ment of prisoners at the Guantánamo tax rebate! workers against attacks by the bosses combatants.” The tribunals denied the camp has generated criticism from de- A significant section of our class— and their parties. accused constitutional protections of fenders of democratic rights, human undocumented workers—are totally There’s no better use for the money the U.S. judicial system. The executive rights organizations, and others since the excluded from receiving even this than giving it to a newspaper that ev- decree received criticism and opposition jail opened in 2002. Prisoners have en- pittance. In the face of rising unem- ery week lives up to what its masthead from a range of capitalist politicians, gaged in hunger strikes and been subject ployment, the politicians made sure describes: “A socialist newsweekly news media, and law professionals. No to force feeding. Three prisoners hung that no extension of unemployment published in the interests of working tribunals happened. themselves in June 2006. At that time, insurance found its way into the people.” Instead, hundreds of people remained the military acknowledged 41 suicide bill. So if you happen to be among those jailed without charges at Guantánamo. attempts. In 2003 alone, the military ac- Real wages declined last year for getting a check in the mail this spring, In March, Australian-born David Hicks knowledged 350 “self-harm” incidents, the fifth straight year, while speed- we urge you to give it to the Militant. was convicted after plea-bargaining to including 120 “hanging gestures.” up of production intensifies at the ex- It will be put to good use! serve nine months in an Australian pris- Of the 778 prisoners kept at Guan- pense of workers’ lives and limbs. In solidarity, on for “supporting terrorism” after more tánamo, fewer than 300 remain. Most Week after week, the Militant ex- Róger Calero than five years in Guantánamo. have been sent back to their country of plains the reality for working peo- SWP candidate for president The Supreme Court ruled the execu- origin without ever being charged. The ple of capitalism’s growing finan- Alyson Kennedy tive order establishing military tribunals Defense Department plans to try about cial crisis, unfolding recession, and SWP candidate for vice president unconstitutional in 2006. That same 80 by military commission.

6 The Militant March 3, 2008 Books on Cuba’s battles Continued from front page guage edition was published by New of the Central Committee of the Cuban York-based Pathfinder Press in 1997. Communist Party, released these books The new edition also contains a section as part of the Cuban Book Institute’s taken from Guevara’s own Bolivian dia- Special Plan, funded by the Ministry of ry, containing his detailed evaluations of Culture to make books broadly available each of the guerrilla combatants. Ville- to the Cuban people at heavily subsi- gas is described by Guevara as “a pillar” dized prices. The books by Villegas and of the revolutionary column, she noted. Carreras, previously available in only “A guerrilla fighter is a revolutionary, very limited quantities, have now been a man who fights to change society,” printed in runs of 20,000 and 10,000 Villegas said, explaining why Guevara copies, respectively. Dreke’s book, pub- maintained high standards of conduct lished six years ago in the United States among the combatants. For Guevara, by Pathfinder Press, has been published two key measures of conduct were the in Cuba for the first time, printed in a fighters’ reactions in combat and how run of 15,000. they handled the question of food—or, The book presentations are part of Militant/Ben O’Shaughnessy better, lack of food under the harsh con- Gen. Arnaldo Tamayo signs books for young officers in Cuba’s RevolutionaryA rmed Forces. the broad range of cultural activities ditions of guerrilla warfare. “Since we that make up the Havana book fair, did not have food to eat every day, Che are seeing a reaction by the ruling class- 1957 Carreras took part in a military plot which has already drawn hundreds of gave exceptional attention to this ques- es,” Villegas said. “These movements against the regime, which had ordered thousands of people to poetry readings, tion. He did not allow anyone to offer are being subjected to aggression led by its air force to bomb the city of Cien- concerts, displays of handicrafts, film him the slightest courtesy of giving him imperialism in order to block progress.” fuegos to put down an insurrection or- showings, and panel discussions on a even a tiny extra spoonful of food” be- He asked, “Can we guarantee that ganized by the July 26 Movement there. variety of subjects. yond what each member of the unit re- the Venezuelan revolution can be main- Carreras and other rebel pilots “decided Villegas spoke at the February 14 ceived. tained under all circumstances through to drop their bombs in the sea. That is presentation of Pombo: A man of Che’s the peaceful road? We’ll see.” when he began his history as a revolu- guerrilla. Introducing him, Iraida Agu- ‘Cannot give imperialism an inch’ The revolutionary transformations in tionary and collaborator of the July 26 irrechu, a senior editor at Editora Políti- It was through his own experiences Cuba were a response to the attacks by Movement. He and others in the group ca, noted that “he didn’t write this book that Guevara became convinced that the U.S. and Cuban capitalists, Villegas of conspirators were court-martialed sitting behind a desk. He wrote it in ac- to transform society it was necessary said. The Cuban experience shows that and jailed on the Island of Pines,” now tion.” to lead a revolutionary struggle to take the reaction by the ruling classes at home the Isle of Youth. The book, Aguirrechu said, is based power and overthrow capitalist rule, and abroad “will not allow a peaceful Behind bars, Carreras collaborated on the field diary kept by Villegas, Villegas said. As a young man travel- change, a peaceful revolution to resolve with militants of the July 26 Move- known by his nom de guerre of Pombo, ing through Latin America in the early society’s problems. We always have to ment. On their release from prison with during the 1966–67 revolutionary cam- 1950s, Che had spent time in Bolivia in keep this in mind.” the January 1959 revolutionary victory, paign in Bolivia by a guerrilla column the wake of the revolutionary struggles Carreras was named head of the revo- led by Argentine-born Ernesto Che of 1952 in which tin miners and other Birth of revolutionary air force lutionary air force, which at that time Guevara, one of the central leaders of urban and rural toilers had battled the The book by Villegas was presented had only a handful of fighter planes and the Cuban Revolution. After Guevara army. The new government that arose together with Por el dominio del aire: even fewer experienced combat pilots. was killed in combat in October 1967, from these struggles initiated a land Memorias de un piloto de combate, He began training classes for new pilots Pombo led a small group of remaining reform and other important social mea- 1943–1988 (Controlling the Air: Mem- at the military base of San Antonio de combatants in breaking through the Bo- sures but failed to carry these changes oirs of a Combat Pilot, 1943–1988) by los Baños in Havana province. livian army’s encirclement. to the end, leading to “the decline of the Enrique Carreras, widely regarded here Tamayo recalled that Carreras set an Today Brigadier General Villegas is revolution,” he said. as “the father of Cuba’s revolutionary example of personal integrity and of re- a member of the Central Committee of A few years later, in Mexico, Guevara air force.” Introduced by Sergio Ravelo spect for fellow aviators, in contrast to the Cuban Communist Party and vice was recruited to the July 26 Movement of Editora Política, Brig. Gen. Arnaldo the abusive conduct of the military brass president of the Association of Com- and Rebel Army, which under the lead- Tamayo spoke about the book. First pub- under the capitalist regime. “I never ex- batants of the Cuban Revolution, which ership of Fidel Castro had launched a lished in 1995, it was reprinted last year perienced any offensive remark by Car- organizes several generations of Cubans revolutionary struggle in Cuba. Work- and quickly sold out. The new, second reras against me or any other pilot,” he who have taken part in revolutionary ers and farmers there succeeded in over- edition came out as part of the Special noted. “If he had to tell you about errors struggles. throwing the Batista dictatorship in Jan- Plan. you had made, he would tell you in a Aguirrechu pointed out that this sec- uary 1959, opening the way to the first Addressing an audience that included modest, calm tone and with a tremen- ond edition of the book, first published socialist revolution in the Americas. members of Carreras’s family and a dous revolutionary spirit.” a decade ago, includes attractive new Throughout the 1960s, Villegas said, couple of dozen young officers of the Carreras fought prejudices and arbi- photos, maps, and facsimile pages from the Cuban leadership “backed armed Revolutionary Armed Forces (FAR), trary practice. In medical evaluations of Pombo’s original diary. An English-lan- struggles in many countries in Latin Tamayo spoke with admiration and af- new recruits, for example, there was a America,” from Guatemala to Argen- fection for Carreras, who had been his category, dating from prerevolutionary tina. Like Castro and his other fellow teacher when he first joined Cuba’s days, called “repulsive ugliness.” Dur- Pombo: A man of Che’s revolutionaries, Guevara concluded that revolutionary air force and trained as a ing the early years of the revolution, guerrilla “with an oligarchy in power, there was fighter pilot. In 1980 Tamayo became some doctors “would check off ‘repul- the first Cuban cosmonaut—and, as Cu- sive ugliness’ if someone had acne, for With Che Guevara in Bolivia, no other road to take power,” Villegas said. The revolutionary campaign in bans proudly point out, the first Latin example, but most often it was used to 1966–68 Bolivia “was not viewed as only for Bo- American and first of African descen- bar blacks, or anyone they didn’t like. By Harry Villegas livia. It was launched in Bolivia, but it dent to travel in space. Carreras fought those notions. He would $23 was a movement aimed at the liberation Carreras, now a division general of argue with doctors to oppose that.” A firsthand account of the of countries throughout the Southern the FAR, had been an officer in the Cu- Carreras and other Cuban aviators 1966–68 revolutionary campaign in Cone” of South America. ban air force before the revolution. He played an outstanding role in the April was one of the young military officers 1961 battle at the Bay of Pigs, when Bolivia led by Er- Guevara’s revolutionary perspective is relevant in today’s world, Villegas who opposed the Batista dictatorship, Cuba’s revolutionary militias, armed nesto Che Gue- which came to power in a 1952 coup. forces, and revolutionary police crushed vara. This is the said. “Can we say that this road to pow- er is completely ruled out at the present Tamayo explained that in September Continued on page 9 story of Pom- time? No. bo—the nom de “Can we say that Che’s approach of guerre of Harry not conceding imperialism a single inch Cuba’s National Assembly to elect president Villegas, a young is unfounded today? No.” BY Olympia Newton fighter still in his Citing the case of Venezuela as well In a statement released February 19 Fidel Castro announced he will not 20s, who was a as Bolivia, Ecuador, and Nicaragua, the stand for re-election to the positions of president of Cuba’s Council of State or member of Gue- Cuban leader said that in recent years commander in chief of the armed forces. vara’s general “there has been a period when armed Due to hospitalization for serious illness, Castro delegated his responsibilities struggle was not required for progres- staff. Villegas led the small group of on July 31, 2006. First Vice President Raúl Castro assumed the duties of presi- sive forces” to take control of the gov- combatants who survived the Boliv- dent, commander in chief, and first secretary of theC entral Committee of the ernment, having done so through elec- Communist Party of Cuba. Other leaders of the Cuban government took over ian army’s encirclement and lived to tions. In those countries “there are pos- responsibilities for the country’s health, energy, and educational programs. recount this epic chapter in the his- sibilities for transforming society. Cuba’s newly elected National Assembly, chosen every five years, will con- tory of the Americas. “But we are also seeing the truth of vene February 24 to elect a Council of State and its president, who is the what Che said: you cannot give imperi- president of Cuba. www.pathfinderpress.com alism even an inch. Because today we

The Militant March 3, 2008 7 Cuba, Africa, the fight against racism from 1959 to today Mary-Alice Waters speaks at meeting to celebrate publication in Cuba of ‘From the Escambray to the Congo’

The following remarks by Mary- what it takes to win—is the reason Alice Waters, president of Pathfind- why more than 5,000 copies of the er Press, were given at the February book have already been bought by 16 presentation of From the Escam- workers and youth around the world, bray to the Congo: In the Whirlwind but more than anywhere else, in the of the Cuban Revolution by Víctor United States. Dreke, as part of the Havana In- ternational Book Fair. The event 2002 U.S. speaking tour was chaired by Iraida Aguirrechu The attraction of the example of of Editora Política, the publishing the Cuban Revolution was powerful- house of the Central Committee of ly demonstrated soon after the pub- the Communist Party of Cuba. lication of this book, in October and The book, originally published November 2002, when Víctor Dreke by Pathfinder Press in 2002, was and Ana Morales made a four-week recently issued in Cuba for the first speaking tour in the United States. time as part of the Cuban Book In- Invited by dozens of university pro- stitute’s Special Plan, a program to fessors and student organizations to make books broadly available to the speak about “Cuba and Africa: From Cuban people at heavily subsidized 1959 to Today,” they visited seven prices. states and the District of Columbia, Dreke was a combatant in Cuba’s Militant/Ben O’Shaughnessy spoke to more than 3,000 people 1956–58 revolutionary war that Iraida Aguirrechu, left, of Editora Política and Mary-Alice Waters of Pathfinder Press at February 16 who attended one of the 14 meetings, overturned a U.S.-backed dictator- presentation of Víctor Dreke’s From the Escambray to the Congo at Havana International Book Fair. and participated in 52 other events. ship there. He helped lead the Cuban people have come in pushing back the Morales 3 in 2002. These ranged from formal receptions, armed forces and popular militias most difficult years of the Special Pe- In the opening pages of From the including one hosted by a Georgia state in crushing U.S.-organized counter- riod.1 It demonstrates to the world once Escambray to the Congo, Dreke says: legislator, to informal gatherings with revolutionary units in the Escambray again that with a clear revolutionary “When I was young, my father used rail workers in Washington and Black mountains in the early 1960s. In 1965 perspective, discipline, and courage, to tell me, ‘Don’t get involved in any- farmers waging a battle to keep their he was second-in-command under and the kind of leadership the Cuban thing.’” land in rural Georgia. Ernesto Che Guevara of the Cuban Revolution has forged, imperialism is My father was against Batista, volunteers fighting alongside anti-im- not the inevitable victor. Dreke recalls. “But he didn’t believe “Only socialist Cuba pro- perialist forces in the Congo. Today he And it demonstrates to the world in anyone. ‘Don’t join anything,’ he’d is Cuba’s ambassador to Equatorial once again the priority and content that say. ‘Things will always stay the same. vides an example of how Guinea. a revolutionary government of the toil- One side wins now, the other side wins the discrimination that still The talk is copyright © Pathfinder ers gives to the words of Cuba’s nation- later, and the ones with money will al- permeates all aspects of so- Press 2008. Reprinted by permission. al hero José Martí,2 “To be educated is ways be in power. Study and get an ed- Footnotes and headings are by the to be free.” ucation and don’t mess with strikes or cial and economic relations Militant. Thank you for the opportunity to be any of that. It won’t get you anywhere. in the United States and v part of this celebration. Besides, that stuff’s not for blacks.’” elsewhere in the Americas That’s how many blacks in Cuba By Mary-Alice Waters He did ‘get involved’ looked at things, Dreke adds. “Fortu- can be eliminated....” The publication here in Cuba of the I want to speak about the impact nately, I didn’t listen.” book From the Escambray to the Con- this book has had in the United States, Nor did hundreds, then thousands, Víctor’s first meeting was at Howard go by Víctor Dreke, six years after it including its original presentation dur- and then tens of thousands of other reb- University, one of the most prestigious, was first published in the United States ing a one-month speaking tour in the el-minded workers and youth like him. historic Black institutions of higher in both English and Spanish, is truly United States by Víctor Dreke and Ana They began to resist, to fight back, and education in the United States, located an event to celebrate. The availability their actions changed the course of his- in Washington, D.C. It was an over- at this year’s Cuba-wide book fair of 2. José Martí organized Cuba’s final war of tory not only in Cuba but throughout flow crowd of some 300 students. The some eight million books—made pos- independence against Spanish colonial the Americas and beyond. meeting actually had to be interrupted sible by the policies and efforts of the rule at the end of the 19th century. He “We were ready to die to bring down after it began and moved to a larger au- Cuban government and the Special was killed in combat. Batista,” Dreke says. But back then, ditorium, since more than 100 students Plan of the Cuban Book Institute—is 3. Ana Morales is a doctor who headed Cu- “we didn’t know the first thing about were massed in the hallway outside, a registration of how far the Cuban ba’s medical mission to Guinea-Bissau revolution.” loudly and insistently demanding to in 1985 and helped found the first medi- From the Escambray to the Congo hear what Dreke had to say. 1. “Special Period” is the term used in Cuba cal school there. She toured the United is the story, told with humor, without His last meeting was at Florida In- to describe the economic and social cri- States with Víctor Dreke in 2002, speak- exaggeration or oversimplification, of ternational University in North Miami sis that exploded there in the early 1990s ing on the topic of “Cuba’s Medical how hundreds of thousands like Víctor where 250 students, faculty, and oth- with the abrupt end of aid and trade on Missions in Africa, 1963 to Today.” At Dreke were transformed from inexpe- preferential terms with the former Soviet the time she was a professor at the Latin rienced if unflinchingly courageous Union and Eastern European countries. American Medical School in Havana. revolutionary youth into seasoned pro- letarian internationalists and leaders of a people capable of defying the multi- From the Escambray to the Congo faceted aggressions of the Yankee rul- In the Whirlwind of the Cuban Revolution ers for half a century. Throughout the Americas, and in the By Víctor Dreke United States especially, Dreke’s story The author describes how easy it became has an additional powerful message. after the Cuban Revolution to take down the rope It shows us the kind of revolutionary segregating blacks from whites at a dance in the power of the workers and farmers that town square, yet how enormous was the battle to is necessary to even begin to eradicate the legacy of centuries of African slav- transform social relations underlying all the “ropes” ery, segregation, and racial discrimi- inherited from capitalism and Yankee domination. nation in our hemisphere. Whatever Dreke, second in command of the internationalist its imperfections, only socialist Cuba column in the Congo led by Che Guevara in 1965, provides an example of how the dis- recounts the determination, internationalism, and crimination that still permeates all as- Militant/Jacquie Henderson creative joy with which working people have de- pects of social and economic relations Víctor Dreke addresses a crowd of 250 at fended their revolutionary course against U.S. im- in the United States and elsewhere in successful meeting at Florida International the Americas can be eliminated. University in Miami as part of a 2002 U.S. perialism—from Cuba’s Escambray mountains to speaking tour. Rightists who attempted to The desire to learn from the experi- Africa and beyond. $17 disrupt the meeting were prevented from ence of the Cuban Revolution, to learn doing so by a defense line that included WWW.PATHFINDERPRESS.COM how to fight—and above all to learn students, workers, and professors.

8 The Militant March 3, 2008 Cuba, Africa, the fight against racism from 1959 to today Mary-Alice Waters speaks at meeting to celebrate publication in Cuba of ‘From the Escambray to the Congo’

ers successfully met every challenge ply laughed. His response was, “You by the counterrevolutionary forces must be crazy to think we would give there who tried to force the university a visa to Harry Villegas!” to withdraw the invitation and deny I also remember well the pride and Dreke the right to speak. When that merriment on the face of Pombo’s failed, they made several attempts to superior at that time, Gen. Néstor physically assault the speakers plat- López Cuba, when he told me he had form but were successfully prevented given Pombo permission to accept by a defense line of students, workers, the invitation to speak in the United and professors determined that the States. meeting would proceed. It did. Víctor “What’s the worst that can hap- spoke and was heard. pen?” López Cuba joked. “This is a Militant/Charles Williamson Above, Víctor Dreke It was a tremendous victory. man who was able to escape one of speaking with students As Cuban Ambassador Dagoberto the most ferocious manhunts in his- and others at Nov. Rodríguez, the head of the Cuban In- tory, successfully evading encircle- 14, 2002 meeting at terests Section in Washington at the ment organized by the CIA and the Brown University in entire Bolivian Army, even Massachusetts. Inset, au- in a country where the color dience during question and answer period of of his skin made him an un- meeting two days earlier mistakable target. at University of South “If it came to that, I’m Florida in Tampa. sure he could make himself Militant/Arriana Thompson disappear in a city like Los personnel serving in dozens of African authority of a direct participant. They Angeles!” countries today. came away from those meetings with This is a history that many African- a greater sense of pride, of confidence Internationalist missions American youth have heard of or seen in their own political potential, of their The record of the Cuban references to, but in fact know very own self-worth. Revolution’s international- little about. Conflicting Missions, the ist missions in Africa was book by professor Piero Gleijeses, who Equatorial Guinea of special interest to the au- headed the tour committee that spon- We saw the same thing in Africa, in diences Dreke addressed sored Dreke’s speaking engagements, Equatorial Guinea, in October 2005, in the United States. They has been a welcome contribution to when the National University of Equa- came to learn about Cuba’s overcoming this lack of information, torial Guinea hosted the first–ever Víctor Dreke with Georgia farmer Willie Head, during visit to farms in Valdosta, Georgia, Oct. 27, 2002. support for national libera- and the availability of a new printing book fair in that country. It was an his- tion struggles from Algeria, of the Spanish translation of that book, toric undertaking in a country where time, noted at the farewell reception to the Congo, Guinea-Bissau, Angola, presented here at the book fair this there is not even one single bookstore. for Víctor and Ana, not since the rev- South Africa, and beyond. They came year, is welcome news. The Cuban Embassy in Malabo, olution’s triumph in January 1959 had to learn about the selfless aid of thou- But young people and others wanted where as you know Víctor Dreke any Cuban leader of Dreke’s stature sands of teachers, engineers, sports to hear about this history, first hand, serves as Cuba’s ambassador, gave its had the opportunity to speak so widely trainers, doctors, and other medical from someone who spoke with the Continued on page 10 in the United States. Whether Víctor and Ana’s visas were granted due to administrative error or political miscalculation we will prob- Books on Cuba’s revolutionary battles ably never know, but no similar visa Continued from page 7 has ever been granted by the U.S. State a U.S.-backed mercenary invasion— Department, either before or after. The Washington’s first military defeat in the powerful appeal of the example of the Americas. Cuban Revolution to working people Cuba had a tiny air force with dilapi- and youth increasingly engaged in real dated planes and a shortage of parts, struggles in the United States is too while the mercenaries had many more dangerous. Especially when told first pilots, planes, ammunition, and spare hand by one of its historic protagonists parts, not to mention the backing of the like Víctor. U.S. armed forces. Yet the Cuban pilots, led by Carreras, quickly achieved air A prior experience superiority and ended up downing the I remember a few years earlier, in majority of the enemy planes. 1997, at the time of the 30th anniver- “There are anecdotes of how our me- sary of Ernesto Che Guevara’s death chanics and technicians even had to in- in combat in Bolivia, General Harry stall modified auto brake systems in our Villegas, “Pombo,”4 was invited by planes to get them functioning,” Tamayo professors and students in Los Angeles said. “But we shot down more planes and Houston to address a number of than the total number of aircraft we our- Militant/Ben O’Shaughnessy similar meetings. When the professor selves had available. The mercenaries February 14 presentation of Pombo: A man of Che’s guerrilla and Por el dominio del aire by were defeated in less than 72 hours.” Enrique Carreras, both published by Editora Política. From left: Iraida Aguirrechu of Editora in charge asked the U.S. State Depart- Política, Gen. Harry Villegas, Gen. Arnaldo Tamayo, and Sergio Ravelo of Editora Política. ment why there was a delay in granting Ten Cuban pilots with eight rickety the visa, the representative of the State planes flew 70 missions, downing nine were still very inexperienced—we ba- to the training by Carreras and others, Department with whom he spoke sim- B-26 bombers and sinking two of the in- sically knew how to take off and land. we were ready for air combat.” That was vaders’ transport ships and eight landing The older pilots, beginning with Car- when the Cuban people faced down a 4. Harry Villegas, known by his nom de craft. Carreras himself shot down two of reras, became our teachers. They taught threatened U.S. invasion of the island guerre Pombo, is a brigadier general in these planes and sank the two transport us elements of combat—the aggressive- during the so-called Missile Crisis, or Cuba’s Revolutionary Armed Forces no ships. ness a pilot must have in the air. October Crisis as it is known here. longer on active duty. Villegas fought Over the following months, Carreras “Carreras is a very calm person, very “I remember one night, when U.S. alongside Ernesto Che Guevara in in- organized accelerated training courses down to earth. But in the air he was a planes were flying over Cuba every- ternationalist missions in the Congo and for young pilots like Tamayo. In his lion, pursuing targets, quickly detecting where,” he recalled. “The commander- Bolivia, as well as during Cuba’s revolu- book, Carreras explains that not only any sign of danger, launching offensives. in-chief [Fidel Castro] came to our base tionary war. A leader of the Association did instructors come to Cuba from the Those were the qualities he instilled in and gathered all the pilots. He told us of Combatants of the Cuban Revolution, Soviet Union but that trainees went to us.” that by daybreak we had to be ready, he is a member of the Central Committee Czechoslovakia and China for instruc- in our planes, with guns loaded, at the of the Communist Party of Cuba, a depu- tion. October 1962 crisis end of the runway and ready for action. ty in the National Assembly, and a Hero When the young pilots returned from In May 1962, Tamayo said, “we re- Of course, the dangers were extremely of the Cuban Revolution. this training abroad, Tamayo noted, “we turned to Cuba, and by October, thanks Continued on page 11

The Militant March 3, 2008 9 How labor, socialists beat McCarthy witch-hunters Below are excerpts from The Case of from the very beginning and did more the Legless Veteran, one of Pathfind- than any other union leader to get the er’s Books of the Month in February. labor movement to help me. . . . The book tells the story of how James Ewald Sandner, CIO regional direc- Kutcher, who lost both legs in World tor in New Jersey and a veteran of the War II, won an eight-year fight sup- miners union, spoke too. Expressing ported by unions across the country approval for Mr. Holderman’s remarks, to win back his job and pension after he said he was certain that the national being fired by the government for his CIO would “repudiate this vicious per- communist views. He had been a clerk secution and give full support to the at the Veterans Administration. In the defense of James Kutcher.” selection below Kutcher describes a George Novack announced that a national Kutcher Civil Rights Com- mittee was in process of formation, a nonpartisan citizens group that would Books of aid my fight to keep my job. Then I spoke a few words: “I am not fighting the month this case only for myself. This witch- Press conference Sept. 1, 1948, in Newark, New Jersey, to announce formation of the Kutcher Civil Rights Defense Committee. Left to right: George Novack, James Kutcher, hunt in government offices has gone 1948 news conference that launched Carl Holderman, Rev. John I. Daniel. far enough. Somebody has to stand up his defense campaign. Copyright © some time and call a halt to these per- 1973 by Pathfinder Press. Reprinted people in New Jersey, and had inter- Outstanding among these was Carl secutions. If, by my stand, I can save by permission. ested some to the point where they at- Holderman, president of the New Jer- any veteran or government employee tended the conference and spoke for sey State CIO Council. . . . Mr. Holder- from persecution in the future, I will By James Kutcher themselves. man took a clear-cut stand on my case consider my fight worthwhile.” The press conference was a suc- cess. Held at the Robert Treat Hotel in Newark, it attracted reporters and Presentation in Havana by Mary-Alice Waters photographers from New York as well Continued from page 9 taken as slaves—was overwhelming. that made this book possible, and es- as New Jersey. George Novack did full support. Pathfinder Press, among In Equatorial Guinea, as here in Cuba, pecially pleased that it will now be most of the talking to the press, but others, was invited to participate, which books by Malcolm X were among those broadly known here in Cuba. he was not alone. He had the able as- we did with great enthusiasm, making most in demand. We also want to take this occasion sistance and legal counsel of Mr. Ar- available a range of titles in Spanish, And through that book fair, even to express our special appreciation thur Burch, a New York attorney. And French, and English—from Habla Nel- many professors and others in responsi- to our moderator here today, com- although only a few days had passed son Mandela, How Far We Slaves Have ble government positions, learned more pañera Iraida [Aguirrechu], for her since my meeting with him, he had al- Come by Nelson Mandela and Fidel fully for the first time the kind of person irreplaceable collaboration. Without ready reached a number of prominent Castro, speeches by Thomas Sankara of the Cuban ambassador to their country her indefatigable efforts this book Burkina Faso, and From the Escambray really was. I remember the surprise of would not have seen the light of day, to the Congo, through various issues of the university rector who was looking at in either the United States or here in Books the magazine of Marxist politics and the photo on the back cover of From the Cuba. theory, New International, to The Ori- Escambray to the Congo, the photo of Our pledge is to continue to make of the Month gin of the Family, Private Property, and Fidel together with Che and Víctor taken From the Escambray to the Con- the State. just before the two of them left for the go available as widely as possible. PATHFINDER For many of the students who browsed internationalist mission in the Congo in “Forward to the next 5,000 sold!”— READERS CLUB 25% discount the book tables and attended the presen- April 1965. throughout the United States and SPECIALS tations at that event, not only were Cuba’s The rector turned to Víctor and asked, the world. Because this is a world in The Case of the Legless contributions to the liberation of Africa “Who is the Black guy in the middle which spreading capitalist financial Veteran unknown; even the struggle against the there?” Dreke said, “That’s me.” There crisis and imperialist war will make Februaryby James Kutcher apartheid regime of South Africa was was stunned silence in the room for the the example of the Cuban Revolution How the witch-hunters were something about which they had little few seconds it took for that to sink in. even more compelling to a vanguard challenged and defeated in a key information. It happened before they It gave a new resonance to the phrase, of working people and youth who are case during the McCarthy era. The eight-year fight, supported were born, or were in primary school at “Your Excellency, Mr. Ambassador.” themselves each day being forced to by unions across the country, most. Their thirst for knowledge of the ❖ learn more and more about how to of a World War II veteran fired history of the struggles of the peoples of fight and, following the example of because of his communist views. $21. Africa—and the descendents of Africa We are proud of Pathfinder's con- men and women like Víctor Dreke, Special price: $16 in the countries where millions were tributions to the collective efforts to win. By Any Means Necessary by Malcolm X $16. Special price: $12 if you like this paper, look us up Where to find distributors of the Mili- MINNESOTA: Minneapolis: 1311 1/2 Tel: (02) 9718 9698. E-mail: cl_australia@ Su Trotsky y el nuestro tant, New International, and a full dis- E. Lake St. Zip: 55407. Tel: (612) 729-1205. optusnet.com.au (Their Trotsky and Ours) play of Pathfinder books. E-mail: [email protected] by Jack Barnes NEW JERSEY: Newark: 168 CANADA The fight to reknit communist UNITED STATES Bloomfield Ave., 2nd Floor. Zip: 07104. 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10 The Militant March 3, 2008 U.S. troops out of Korean peninsula! Pakistan vote The following message was sent February 15 by their twin parties seek to convince workers and farm- Continued from front page Steve Clark on behalf of the Socialist Workers Party ers in the United States that we have some stake in for the pro-Taliban coalition that has ruled the North- and Ben Joyce on behalf of the Young Socialists to their bloody wars of conquest. At the same time, just West Frontier Province. Kim Jong Il, General Secretary of the Workers’ Party as the U.S. government continues to use economic and U.S. State Department spokesman Nicole Thomp- of Korea. military warfare to try to solve its crisis by beating out son said the election was “an important step on the its imperialist rivals for markets and resources abroad, path towards an elected, civilian democracy.” The Socialist Workers Party and Young Socialists it will continue to drive down wages and working con- Democrat Joseph Biden, chairman of the Senate send revolutionary greetings on the occasion of your ditions inside the United States to increase its “pro- Foreign Relations Committee, was in Pakistan for February 16 national holiday. We reaffirm our solidar- ductivity” advantage over its foreign rivals. the elections as part of a U.S. Senate delegation. He ity with the people and government of the Democratic The employers meet resistance to these assaults on praised the role of Pakistani army chief Gen. Ashfaq People’s Republic of Korea and our unconditional op- our conditions, however. Less than one month ago, Parvez Kayani in assuring the elections went smoothly position to the economic sanctions and military threats packinghouse workers at Dakota Premium Foods in and said that Kayani appeared to be a promising part- by Washington, Tokyo, and other imperialist powers South St. Paul, Minnesota, voted by a nearly 2-to-1 ner for the United States, according to the New York against your national sovereignty. margin to defend their union from a company drive Times. Democrats have long criticized the Bush ad- Today Washington is pushing further east in its to decertify it. The workers in the plant—immigrant ministration for not devoting more military resources “global war on terror”—from extending an Iraq-style and native-born; Black, Latino, white, Native Ameri- to the war in Afghanistan and northwestern Pakistan. “surge” of increased troops to Afghanistan, to prepar- can—overcame the national and racial divisions the Although Musharraf has been a firm U.S. ally in ing for stepped-up military operations in Pakistan. The boss tried to exploit in an effort to weaken their abil- the “war on terror,” Washington increasingly saw his U.S. government is working to expand participation in ity to fight. Instead, in face of ever-accelerating line growing isolation as threatening the stability of the the ballistic missile “defense” system, aimed at secur- speed, rising injuries on the job, and no wage raises, Pakistani government and undermining U.S. efforts ing nuclear first-strike capacity for U.S. imperialism the workers banded together to defend themselves. to eliminate Taliban and al-Qaeda forces. in Asia and around the world. Having already secured They are now headed into a fight for a new contract, In an effort to give his regime more legitimacy, joint ABM operations with Tokyo, the U.S. rulers are having gotten a taste of what union power is. It sets an Washington encouraged the decision of Benazir Bhut- working to win such cooperation with the government example for meat packers and other workers through- to, a former prime minister and leader of the PPP, to in Seoul, along with its participation in the legal pi- out the region. return from exile last year, with the goal of entering racy of north Korean ships under the guise of search- It is among working people and youth such as into a coalition government with Musharraf. On No- ing for “weapons of mass destruction.” Meanwhile, these—in the United States, and all over the world— vember 25, Nawaz Sharif, the prime minister Mush- Washington maintains the world’s largest stockpile of that Washington faces its biggest obstacle in push- arraf overthrew in 1999 and leader of the PML-N, was nuclear weapons. ing ahead unchecked on decades of war. As working also allowed to return from exile. Three days later, The U.S. imperialists’ wars in Iraq, Afghanistan, people move into struggle, an understanding of the Musharraf stepped down as head of the army, passing Pakistan, the Philippines, their massive military pres- necessity of solidarity among the exploited and op- the torch to General Kayani. A former aide to Bhutto, ence in Europe and on the Korean peninsula, are all pressed worldwide—from Europe, Latin America, Kayani used to head Pakistan’s intelligence services. part of their decades-long plans, where war is to be the and Africa, to the Middle East, Asia and the Pacific, He was trained extensively at U.S. military schools. norm in order to secure “peace”—on Washington’s and beyond—can and will take root and grow. Bhutto was assassinated December 27 in Rawal- terms. On this national holiday, we remain committed to pindi. Pakistani authorities announced February 17 The dog-eat-dog workings of the world capitalist fight alongside working people the world over, includ- that four suspects arrested said Pakistani Taliban com- system drive the U.S. rulers along this belligerent and ing on both sides of Korea’s 38th parallel, for the re- mander Baitullah Mehsud, who has links to al-Qaeda, expansionist course. Today that system is being shak- unification of your country, which was brutally par- ordered the killing. en by a profound financial crisis. The crisis is destroy- titioned by the U.S. rulers in 1945. We demand the ing enormous amounts of capital, but its consequences immediate and unconditional withdrawal of all U.S. Fighting on Afghan border will increase the economic and social devastation for troops and nuclear warheads from the Korean penin- Pakistani troops appear to be making progress in working people the world over. sula and surrounding waters. End the sanctions! Nor- tackling the Taliban and al-Qaeda bases along the The U.S. employing class, their government, and malize relations! Korea will be one! border. On February 11 Mansour Dadullah, head of Taliban fighters in the southern Afghan province of Helmand, was captured by Pakistani troops in south- western Pakistan. That same day Imad Mughniyeh, Books on Cuba’s revolutionary battles chief of operations for Hezbollah in Lebanon, was killed in Damascus, Syria, by a car bomb thought to Continued from page 9 ters, president of Pathfinder Press, who interviewed be planted by Israeli agents. high, and the most experienced pilots were placed at Dreke and edited the book, spoke at the presentation On February 17 a suicide bomb killed more than the front. Carreras was lucky to be in the front row of of the new Cuban edition. 100 people in southern Afghanistan in the largest such the planes that were to take off to confront that pow- Waters’s remarks focused on the impact of the attack since the Taliban was overthrown seven years erful [U.S.] air force. But all our pilots displayed the book in the United States and the broadly success- ago. Last year was the highest for U.S. casualties since same readiness to go into the air and give the aggres- ful speaking tour by Dreke in the United States in the war in Afghanistan began. sors the fight they deserved.” the fall of 2002. (See the full text of her remarks on The United States has the largest proportion—about Tamayo added that combat did not occur. The mass page 8 and 9.) 15,000—of the 43,000 NATO troops currently fight- mobilizations of Cuba’s workers and farmers stayed From the Escambray to the Congo, she told the ing in Afghanistan. NATO commander U.S. Gen. the hand of Washington, which pulled back from the audience, “is the story, told with humor, without ex- Daniel McNeil has called for 7,000 more soldiers. brink of war. aggeration or oversimplification, of how hundreds London, which has 7,800 soldiers in the country now, Over the years Cuba’s air force became increas- of thousands like Dreke were transformed from in- says it will send 600 more in May. ingly experienced. “The firepower and courage of our experienced if unflinchingly courageous youth into Ottawa says it will pull all its troops out next year air force was demonstrated in Angola, Ethiopia, the seasoned proletarian internationalists and leaders of unless 1,000 more troops are added by NATO. A Feb- Congo, Yemen, and other countries where they served a people capable of defying the multifaceted aggres- ruary 18 attack on a Canadian convoy in southern Af- in internationalist missions,” he said. sions of the Yankee rulers for half a century. ghanistan killed 37 people. None were NATO troops. “Throughout the Americas, and in the United States ‘From the Escambray to the Congo’ especially, Dreke’s story has an additional powerful War in Iraq Two days later, on February 16, Editora Política message. It shows us the kind of revolutionary power Meanwhile, Iraq’s parliament passed a bill February also presented From the Escambray to the Congo: In of the workers and farmers that is necessary to even 13 to hold provincial elections by October 1. It is ask- the Whirlwind of the Cuban Revolution. In its pages begin to eradicate the legacy of centuries of African ing the United Nations to play the major role in orga- Víctor Dreke recounts his participation in the 1950s slavery, segregation, and racial discrimination in our nizing and supervising the voting. revolutionary war and, in the first half of the 1960s, hemisphere. Whatever its imperfections, only socialist U.S. defense secretary Robert Gates, in a recent trip his responsibility in helping lead Cuba’s armed forces Cuba provides an example of how the discrimination to Baghdad, told reporters he favors a pause in with- and militias to crush U.S.-backed counterrevolution- that still permeates all aspects of social and economic drawing more U.S. troops from Iraq after reductions ary units in the Escambray mountains of central Cuba. relations in the United States, and elsewhere in the already planned bring the total number down from In 1965 Dreke was second in command under Che Americas, can be eliminated.” 155,000 to 130,000 by late summer. Gates called for Guevara of the column of Cuban volunteer combat- ❖ “a brief period of consolidation and evaluation” before ants who joined forces with anti-imperialist fighters in further withdrawals are made. He made his comments the Congo. In the opening days of the book fair, hundreds of after meeting with Gen. David Petraeus, who has al- Dreke, who today is Cuba’s ambassador to Equato- thousands of people have flocked to the Spanish co- ready proposed a pause. rial Guinea, had planned to speak at the book presen- lonial fort of San Carlos de la Cabaña overlooking tation, but was unable to attend at the last minute due Havana Bay, where the annual event is being held. To to a schedule change in a state visit to Havana by the ease overcrowding at the fair site and help meet the Correction president of that African country. growing demand for literature, this year many new ti- The photo caption on the front page of the Six years ago Dreke spoke at the first presentation tles were made available at bookstores around the city February 25 issue of the Militant misidenti- of From the Escambray to the Congo at the Havana starting a week before the opening of the festival. fied the worker quoted as Oscar Salgado. His International Book Fair, to an overflow meeting that The book fair, which ends here February 24, will name is Enrique Flores. The translator’s name drew more than 200 people. then travel to 41 other cities and towns across the is Rafael Espinosa. Introduced by Iraida Aguirrechu, Mary-Alice Wa- island.

The Militant March 3, 2008 11