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'Scrum Half, and Now in September This Year, 'Square Leg', the Late FOCUS Marxism Today December 1980 3 SQUARE LEG and main trunk roads), it is expected that in British state now has a complete, fully- In 1975 we had 'Inside Right', three years the period of prewar tension many people will elaborated system of alternative government later, 'Scrum Half, and now in September leave the main population centres for remote in the event of war or other major national this year, 'Square Leg', the latest of a series of rural areas. On 15 September fighting begins emergency. Square Leg in fact revealed that war games designed to test the new system of on the Continent, while in Britain there is the system has many weaknesses and that British Home Defence that has taken shape conventional bombing of some defence- some vital components are missing, eg, some since the early 1970s. Square Leg formed related targets. Curiously, the scenario sub-regional headquarters have not yet been part of one of the largest NATO exercises envisages a breathing space at this point: the built, they have no proper communications ever staged. The exercise, 'Autumn Forge', government HQ in the regions are not to link them with the county and district involved 25 separate manouevres the largest manned until the 18th. A nuclear strike of control centres, while many of the latter of which was 'Crusader 80', testing the over 100 bombs takes place on the following appear to be located in ordinary unprotected British Army's ability to simultaneously day, devastating many military targets, and council premises. Nevertheless, the exercise reinforce its presence in mainland Europe industrial and population centres. has served to emphasise the seriousness with and defend the United Kingdom against both Taking the West Midlands as an example, which the state now views such preparations external and internal attack. Square Leg thus the scenario of a post-nuclear strike Britain is and the degree to which home defence is formed the latter, 'home', component of horrifying. Birmingham and Coventry are directed against a perceived threat of 'Crusader 80'. Not only was it one of the totally devastated by direct hits of 3 megatons domestic origin. It is also clear that many of largest and most elaborate exercises of its each, with massive loss of life. Rugby suffers the components of this alternative system of kind, but it was also, to the embarrassment of extensive damage and a high casualty rate government have now become almost the authorities, one of the most widely from a lower yield strike on the neighbouring accepted features of life, eg, the use of the publicised. Many details have appeared in Polaris-control radio installation. Fires rage armed forces in industrial disputes and Time Out, the Guardian and, above all, in an for up to a week after the bombs; water, gas, natural disasters, the military guarding of excellent series of articles by Duncan electricity and telephones are cut off; roads Heathrow and other 'key points', the Campbell in the New Statesman (Sept. 19 and are blocked; health provision is overwhelmed refinement of emergency powers and public 26; October 3 and 10). The extent of the and a 'triage' policy adopted according to order legislation, the para-militarisation of leakage strongly suggests that many on the which the most seriously injured are left to the police, and the assumption of ever- inside have serious reservations about both die. Initial casualties in the rural areas and greater powers by full-time, non-elected local the exercise itself and its implications. small towns of the region are relatively low, government officials. This whole process represents a major threat to democratic rights The overall scenario for both Crusader and but mount steadily in the post-strike period and civil liberties and insistently demands an Square Leg reveals much about current as the injured die: by the end of the exercise effective response from the Left. thinking in the upper echelons of NATO and period, two weeks after the strike, radiation the British military establishment. It sickness is entering its third, fatal stage, One of the striking features of Square Leg envisages a new 'Orange' (ie, Soviet) burial areas are congested and the threat of was the extent to which the usual democratic leadership deliberately and relentlessly disease is causing the authorities mounting agencies of government were bypassed. The building up to an unprovoked assault on concern. The exercise does seriously raise the scenarios for the counties and districts were Western Europe between January and question of whether anyone has any real drawn up by full-time emergency planning September of this year, apparently unmoved conception of the possible casualty rate, not officers and their staffs, and were circulated by the American nuclear armoury, let alone immediately after a strike, but after a period only to other full time officials such as the the British 'independent' deterrent. This of, say, six months. When Lord Belstead chief executives, chief constables, fire Soviet drive is aided by such happenings as 'a stated in March this year that 30 million officers, area medical officers etc. Elected violent anti-NATO campaign . initiated in people would 'survive and go on surviving' if councillors had no part in the exercise and France and Italy sponsored by known they took the precautions set out in the were not informed of the measures Orange-directed subversive groups' and acts official pamphlet, Protect and Survive, he did envisaged. But to some extent councillors are of suspected sabotage, 'thought to be not specify the time period upon which this themselves to blame for this state of affairs. Orange-inspired'. In Britain fuel rationing is estimate was based. How many have taken the trouble to find out imposed a month before the eventual The Square Leg scenario leaves no doubt what their emergency planning officers are declaration of war on September 15. that the principal function of the armed doing and have investigated the war scenarios Preparations to move art treasures are forces and police in a World War III Britain is of their own towns and districts? How often initiated late in August, 'power of direction' seen as the defence of the realm against are questions about home defence matters over shipping and British Airways are internal enemies. The listed tasks for both are raised in the council chambers? There is an adopted, and on 12 September the Cabinet in fact almost identical — maintenance of law urgent need to lift the veil of secrecy over (not Parliament!) approves Queens Order 2, and order, especially in urban areas, 'control these issues: next year's round of local council setting in motion the emergency powers of selfish and disgruntled minorities', elections should provide an' opportunity of procedure. From the beginning of support and protection for special courts, giving them a public airing. September there is continuous left and right 'key point' protection, guarding control But Square Leg raises another fundamental political activity, 'with pacifism as a front for centres and internment areas, protecting question for the Left: what should be its subversion' as the main theme. In the West VIPs, the 'subjugation and elimination of attitude toward civil defence? The present Midlands some demonstrations require the hostile elements', controlling movement etc. government planning is widely, and rightly, use of MACP (Military Aid to the Civil Power Unlike the police, the military alone have dismissed as an elaborate deception of the ie, the use of troops in support of the police). responsibility for the 'execution of people of Britain. At the same time it has Despite the official 'stay put' policy and the sentences'. always been the case in the past that the Left control of essential service routes (motorways It would be a mistake to conclude that the has vigorously promoted the cause of civilian 4 December 1980 Marxism Today Home Defence system and we can confidently expect more exercises in the future. The experience of Square Leg will probably push the government in the direction of even greater secrecy: an appropriate designation for the next wargame may be 'Extra Cover'. The Government booklet on surviving World War 3, ' Protect and Survive' (50p from HMSO). protection in wartime. Simple opposition to Home Defence as presently conceived may completely open, democratic system of mass no longer be adequate if the Left is to have a civil defence, offering some measure of credible anti-nuclear policy. Perhaps it is protection in the event of an accidental use of time to make clear that in a nuclear-weapons- nuclear weapons or a conflagration in which free, non-NATO Britain (purged of both Britain is not directly involved? Meanwhile, British and American nuclear bombs and the Thatcher government is firmly other strategic installations) there should be a committed to strengthening the existing .
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