Israeli government widens THE assault on Palestinians Page9
A SOCIALIST NEWSWEEKLY PUBLISHED IN THE INTERESTS OF WORKING PEOPLE VOL. 55/NO.6 FEBRUARY 15, 1991 $1.50 Build Feb. 21 actions against slaughter of Iraqi people! Student U.S. widens meetings bombing; kick off civilian worldwide toll grows I
BY RONI McCANN protests In the third week of imperialist war against the Iraqi people, Washington and Its allies have intensified around-the-clock bombing flltJ(I" N. ~ BY PETER THIERJUNG eetls j, !II University and high school students from raids on the country. ' ''Of W, ..... ar.t Chicago to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and With air expeditions increased to 2,600 on from New York to San Francisco have al any given day, massive bombardments are ready begun building an international day of aimed at Iraqi troop positions along the Saudi antiwar protests slated for February 21. Ac Arabian border and military installations tion coordinating offices have been set up in throughout Iraq. Washington, D.C, and Berkeley, California. Together with stepped-up murderous air raids, allied forces under U.S. command are Student and youth activists are planning a finalizing preparations for a huge ground variety of actions to protest the U.S.-led war Militant/Harvey invasion of Iraq and Kuwait- aimed at Participants in January 26 antiwar march in San Francisco. International day of in the Middle East, including teach-ins, breaking the Iraqi military, occupying the marches, rallies, picket lines, special discus protests against war was called for February 21 by students and youth at January 27 country, and installing a regime beholden to post-demonstration conferences. sions on the war during regularly scheduled Washington. classes, and canvassing of dormitories. The frrst of what will be many bloody land Discussions are under way among student battles was fought the week of January 28. Khalid claimed 400 Iraqi soldiers had been they abandoned their road blocks outside of and youth activists in France, Norway, and The length and intensity of the fighting is a captured. the city, and units in the town fled before the Sweden on coordinating campus protests in harbinger of the war the U.S. government Seven of the U.S. Gls were killed by Iraqis arrived. "Saudi guards' tents and a their countries with those in the United States. has begun in the region. "friendly fire," the Pentagon reported. hei.Jnet" found early January 30 "suggested In Chicago, New York, Miami, Los Ange Eleven U.S. Gls were killed and two re "Tanks were firing at tanks," said one U.S. a hasty retreat," the paper reported. les, the San Francisco Bay area, and other ported missing after a three-day battle with marine after the fighting. "Everything was Late January 30 a column of Saudi troops metropolitan areas, citywide meetings of stu Iraqi troops in the Saudi Arabian border-town so confused. I didn't know what unit was riding in U.S.-made tanks headed back into dent and youth representatives took place the of Ra's al Khafji that ended on February l. which and who was firing at who." Khafji in an effort to drive the Iraqi forces weekend of February 2 and endorsed the Saudi commanding general Prince Khalid The battle at Khafji began late January 29 out and retake the town. They were backed action. bin Sultan reported that 15 of his troops were when several hundred Iraqi troops advanced every step of the way by U.S. marines and February 21 was targeted as an interna- killed and four wounded along with 30 Iraqis into the recently abandoned town of 20,000, allied air power. Continued on Page 7 killed and 33 wounded. On February 2 located on the Arab-Persian Gulf coast about After what one marine officer called "a six miles south of the Kuwait-Saudi border. hellacious battle" lasting 36 hours, the Iraqi The assault on the town was part of a forces were pushed back February 1. U.S. four-pronged Iraqi attack: incursions on the Army Col. Jack Petri claimed, "This was the Special offer to Gls Saudi border northwest of Khafji; advances first battle the Saudis had ever fought and over the Saudi border near Wafra, Kuwait; they acquitted themselves terribly well." $5 for 12 weeks of the Militant and two attacks on Khafji itself. Throughout the battle the Pentagon While Washington has won cover for its banned reporters from the scene of the fight The Militant is offering Gls a special introductory subscription aggression in backing from Arab regimes, offer of $5 for 12 weeks. Each new subscriber will also receive a ing. When the dust settled, however, the New the fact that it is a U.S.-led war was proven York Times described the war-scarred town: complimentary copy of the International Socialist Review supple in the battle. Troops from Saudi Arabia and buildings shot-up, burned-out armored vern- ment featuring the article "Working-class campaign against impe Qatar were responsible for guarding Khafji. rialist war drive: Fighting the employers' offensive at home and However, the Washington Post reported that Continued on Page 8 abroad." Men and women in the armed forces - whether stationed in the United States or in other countries, particularly Saudi Arabia have a special stake in getting clear, working-class explanations Editors of Marxist magazines of Washington's reactionary assault on Iraq. The offer is good for soldiers, sailors, and airmen and women of announce special antiwar issue all countries. Readers and distributors can help sign up subscrib ers. BY CINDY JAQUITH Waters on "Washington's Third Militari The editors of New International and its zation Drive Since World War II,"and the Men and women in uniform have the constitutional right to read sister magazines in French and soon in Span 1945-46 troops revolt that prevented U.S. and discuss the same newspapers, books, pamphlets, and other ish have announced publication plans for forces from being used in the aftermath of literature that all citizens do. ~ 1991 and have launched a $75,000 fund drive World War II. If soldier-subscribers find ------ to cover the production costs of the forth Of special interest are two documents by they are not receiving their D Enclosed is a contribution of coming issues. the Workers Unity Party of Iran, drafted papers, they should notify the $100_$50_$10__ 0ther __ The projected publications will greatly during the Iran-Iraq war. An introduction by Militant Business Office right D Enclosed is $5 for a GI subscription. expand the arsenal of communist literature Samad Sharif takes up vital questions of available to workers and youth as they dis working-class perspectives and anti-imperi awa~ NAME. ______cuss, debate, and campaign against imperi alist struggle. The reduced rate- one alism and its war in the Middle East. This issue will also carry three articles on half our normal introductory Mary-Alice Waters, editor of New Inter Che Guevara and the building of socialism: offer- recognizes that work- ADDRESS ------ national, reports that issue No. 7 of the "Che 's Contribution to the Cuban Economy" ing people in uniform don't Marxist magazine, a special issue on the war, by Carlos Rafael Rodriguez, a 1987 talk by have much money. In order to will come off the press in February. the Cuban vice president and Communist help make up the difference, CITY ___ STATE_ ZIP ____ New International No. 7 features "Wash Party leader; "The Creativity of Che's Eco we ask that as many of our TELEPHONE ington's Assault on Iraq: Opening Guns of nomic Thought" by Carlos Tablada, a 1989 other readers as possible con------ World War lll" by Jack Barnes, national article by the Cuban economist and author; tribute to help defray the Send to the Militant, 410 West St New York, N.Y. secretary of the Socialist Workers Party. and "Economics, Politics, and Communist 10014. Also in this issue is related material on Consciousness: Che 's Contributions to costs. communist policy in wartime and peace Marxism" by Steve Clark. managing eililor time, including articles by Mary-Alice Continued on Pace 5 'No to Ottawa's and Paris' war policy' The following statement was issued Jan The Communist Party in France and the New uary 25 by Michel Prairie, editor of Democratic Party (NDP) of Canada sup L'intemotionaliste, in the name of the Cen ported the blockade, which they claimed was tral Committee of the Communist League an alternative to war. of Canada, and by Jean-Louis Salfati in In both countries a significant layer of the name of the Executive Committee of workers and small farmers consider these the Communist Organizing Committee of parties to be their own. France. The statement was first published in the January-March issue of the maga Blockade: first act of war zine L'intemotionaliste. The translation is On the contrary, as Cuban ambassador to by the Militant. the United Nations Ricardo Alarcon has ex plained, the blockade imposed on Iraq was In Ottawa, the federal cabinet authorized Canada's 24 CF-18 fighter jets and 2,000 On January 16,just hours before the mas a criminal act. troops stationed in the region to participate in offensive against Iraq. sive bombing of Iraq began, the French gov In fact, it constituted the first act of war ernment pledged its forces would join in the against Iraq. imperialist assault and placed its troops in Like the war itself, the sanctions have This is the only way to carry out an effec Both fronts of this war are essential for the Middle East under Washington's com nothing to do with the defense of the demo tive struggle against the war and against the their efforts to resolve the deepening crisis of the world capitalist system in their favor. mand. Paris had already given its support to cratic rights of the people of Kuwait. The capitalist governments that are waging it. The ruling rich of both France and Canada the use of military force against Iraq if war and the sanctions that preceded it are No common national interests Baghdad did not withdraw from Kuwait by aimed at strengthening imperialism's domi have a vital interest in uniting with the U.S. They try to convince us that we have a January 15. nation over the oppressed peoples of the government and the other major capitalist powers to defend the crumbling worldwide common interest as "the French" or as "Cana In the days that preceded the U.S.-led as Middle East and the region's oil. system of imperialist domination. dians" to defend "our" countries against sault, the French government had failed in its Once the bombing began, the NDP ex The governments of both countries have working people of other countries or nation independent diplomatic maneuvers aimed at plained that its objection was not to Canada's participated directly in or backed every major alities. preventing the outbreak of a war that would participation in the war but to its direct in imperialist war in this century. Today, the rulers especially try to convince strengthen U.S. imperialist control over much volvement in "offensive" actions. French imperialism has carried out mas us that the workers and peasants of Iraq are of the world's oil resources and thereby deal NDP leader Audrey McLaughlin called on sive and bloody counterrevolutionary wars our enemy- rather than our class brothers a heavy blow to French imperialist interests. working people to support "our troops" - in Vietnam and Algeria. It continues to main and sisters who share with us common inter "In any international police operation" Canadian imperialism's army - while tain thousands of troops in its former and ests and a common class enemy. French prime minister Michel Rocard s.aid pleading with the government to limit its present colonies from Chad to New Caledo Paris, Ottawa, London, and Washington after the initiative failed, "the fatal moment participation in the war to "a compassionate nia, and from Polynesia to Guadeloupe. have also launched a massive racist cam comes when one must act. That moment has and humanitarian role." Canadian imperialism sent 25,000 troops paign to spy on, harass, arrest, and deport now arrived." The French Communist Party argues in a to participate in the Korean War, a war in people of Iraqi and Arab descent. This is a France's 75 warplanes and 15,000 troops similar fashion, saying that this war is an which several million people were killed or major attack on the democratic and political joined U.S., British, Saudi, and Kuwaiti "American" war in which France should not maimed. To this day, it continues to back the rights of all working people. forces in the initial bombing of Kuwait be participating -especially not under U.S. division of Korea, imposed by an occupation In France, this attack is closely connected the most sustained and devastating bombard command. force of 40,000 U.S. troops. Ottawa also fully with repeated government efforts to ban an ment in history. Three days later President Such reservations and criticisms com backed Paris and then Washington in their tiwar protests; the deportation of 18 people Fran~ios Mitterrand said French forces pletely miss the point. wars against the Vietnamese people. of Arab descent, charged with being sympa would begin attacking Iraq as well. It is true that the war against Iraq is not The Canadian imperialists are part of an thetic toward Iraq; and a threat to indict Gilles In Ottawa, the federal cabinet authorized the product of a concentrated effort by a increasingly integrated North American cap Perrault, a central leader of the antiwar move Canada's 24 CF-18 fighter jets and 2,000 "partnership ofequals." It is U.S. imperialism italist market. Despite occasional tactical dif ment, on charges of inciting treason and troops stationed in the region to participate in that is calling the shots. ferences with Washington, their fate is closely desertion. the offensive against Iraq as soon as the crim Paris and Ottawa have joined in the war, linked to the fate of their U.S allies. This is In Canada, the government and cops are inal bombardment began. Canadian jets are not because they were forced to do so by the much less true with their French counterpart. stepping up their racist assault on Native being used to protect the planes bombing Iraq. United States, but in order to defend the The French rulers have tried much more people fighting to defend their national rights. The Canadian government had previously worldwide system of capitalist exploitation strenuously to maintain their distance from Defending the democratic rights of Iraqi claimed it planned to play only a "defensive" and imperialist oppression in which they are Washington's policies. Most of their Western and other Arab workers, as well as of the role in the war, a stance consistent with Cana fully a part. European allies have followed the same Native people of Canada, must be at the da's supposedly traditional "peacekeeping" role. War against Iraq is reactionary course, with the major exception of London. center of the struggle of all working people In reality, Ottawa has been one of the They do so not because they are any less against the bosses' offensive at home and strongest supporters of Washington's march The war against Iraq is just as reactionary imperialist, but in order to strengthen their their war abroad. toward war. From the beginning, like Paris as earlier imperialist wars against Korea and economic and political weight against their We must stand shoulder to shoulder with and virtually every other imperialist power, Vietnam. Paris and Ottawa are as much im major U.S. rival. the working people of Iraq who are victims the Canadian government fully supported the perialist powers as is the United States, even Political conflicts will continue to deepen of this massive imperialist offensive against criminal imposition of sanctions against Iraq, if on a smaller scale. This is an essential point between the imperialist powers as the capi their country and demand: including the ban on shipments of food and to explain to working-class fighters and other talist economic crisis sharpens. But this has Stop the bombing! medicine. opponents of the war against Iraq. not kept all these imperialist powers from Bring the troops home! These sanctions, enforced by the most Working people in France and Canada can supporting the U.S.-led war against Iraq. All foreign troops out of the Mideast! massive military blockade since World War never advance our fundamental interests by The French and Canadian capitalists are End the sanctions and blockade against the II, caused the death of hundreds of Iraqi and accepting the idea that we should defend the also waging a relentless war against working people of Iraq! Kuwaiti children, elderly, and sick. interests of French or Canadian capitalist people at home, attacking our wages, work End the attacks on the democratic rights In France, the Socialist Party of President rulers against the big majority of the world ing conditions, social services, and demo of Iraqis and Arabs and on Native peoples in Fran~ois Mitterrand openly backed the war. that they oppress. cratic rights. Canada! The Militant Closing news date: February 5, 1991 Editor: GREG McCARTAN Circulation Director: RONI McCANN Business Manager: DOUG JENNESS Editorial Staff: Seth Galinsky, Jwnes Harris, Cindy Jaquith, Roni McCann, Selva Nebbia, Janet Post, Judy Stranahan, Peter Thierjung. Published weekly except the last two weeks of December by the Militant (ISSN 0026-3885), 410 West St., New York, N.Y. 10014. Telephone: (212) 243-6392; Fax 727-0150; Subscribe or renew today so you won't Telex, 497-4278. miss a single issue! Correspondence concerning subscriptions or changes of address should be addressed to The Militant Business News and analysis on the war against the people of Iraq Office, 410 West St., New York, N.¥. 10014. by Washington and its imperialist allies • Coverage of Second-class postage paid at New York, N.Y., and at addi working-class resistance to the employers' war against tional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address workers and farmers at home • Reports on protests changes totheMilitant,410West St., New York, N.Y. 10014. against the Mideast war in the United States and Subscriptions: U.S., Latin America: for one-year subscrip tion send $45, drawn on a U.S. bank, to above address. By throughout the world • News on the struggles of working first-class (airmail), send $80. Canada: send Canadian $75 people in South Africa and Korea • Labor battles • for one-year subscription to Societe d'Editions AGPP, C.P. Reports from socialist Cuba 340, succ. R, Montreal, Quebec H2S 3M2. Britain, Ireland, Africa: £35 for one year by check or international money SPECIAL RENEWAL OFFER order made out to Militant Distribution, 47 The Cut, London, SE 1 8LL, England. Continental Europe: £50 for one year Resubscribe and take $2 off by check or international money order made out to Militant the new Pathfinder book Distribution at above address. Australia, Asia, Pacific: send U.S. Hands Off the Mideast! Australian $75 to P.O. Box 79, Railway Square Post Office, Railway Square, Sydney 2000, Australia. Cuba Speaks Out at the United Nations in English or Spanish. Reg. $9.95 Signed articles by contributors do not necessarily represent the Militant's views. These are expressed in edit~rials.
2 The Militant February 15, 1991 Conference on Cuba held in Minneapolis Cuban diplomats denounce U.S.-led war against Iraq , ..· BY WENDY LYONS Dausaended his talk by saying that Cuba will Leninism, but the people who abandoned the Dausa also spoke to two classes at the On January 26, as 14 busloads of people continue to fight for socialisin. "Our enemies idea of socialism, who abandoned the people. University of Minnesota, and at a meeting at left Minnesota to march with others in Wash want Cuba tochange,"hesaid "We will change, "In Eastern Europe," he said, "the party Macalester College. The diplomat was also ington, D.C., against the U.S. imperialist war but to improve our revolution. We'll never was one thing and the people, another. In able to hold discussions with trade unionists against Iraq, another important antiwar event surrender the flag of the revolution. We'll fight, Cuba, the party is representative of the peo and those interested in furthering cultural took place in Minneapolis. Close to 100 we'll survive, and we'll win." ple. Belonging to the party doesn't mean exchange with Cuba, including the mayor of people attended a conference entitled, "Cuba: During the discussion, Dausa was asked privilege, it means more work, more volun St. Paul, Minnesota. the Untold Story." about the crisis in Eastern Europe and the teering for internationalist missions, and He also visited the Heart of the Earth The conference, sponsored by a number Soviet Union. He explained, "The Cubans more meetings." Survival School, established by the American of organizations including the U.S. Cuba are sure that the crisis didn't occur because During the conference, there were work Indian Movement (AIM) and met with Bill Friendship Committee, featured Rafael of socialism, but because of the people who shops held including on public health and Means, the executive director. Means re Dausa, third secretary of the Cuban Interests put it in practice. We have to improve the AIDS; music and art; African, Cuban and ported the school had to be evacuated earlier Section in Washington, D.C. In addition, theoretical framework, and learn lessons Latin American connections; women; and that day due to a bomb threat by forces Ricardo Alarcon, Cuban Ambassador to the from mistakes. The problem isn't Marxism- human rights. opposed to AIM's antiwar stand. United Nations, addressed the conference via videotape. Alarcon explained that Cuba tried to ne gotiate Iraq's withdrawal from Kuwait prior to the beginning of th'e war there. He pointed 'New York Times' criticizes demands out that in the United Nations, Cuba stood firm in opposing the United States dragging the world into war. He said now that it has raised at massive antiwar marches started, the United Nations is clearly a fig leaf for the U.S.-led war. He explained that BY SETH GALINSKY "As the country braces for a longer admits that "oil certainly lies at the heart of UN representatives get current information The 125,000-strong antiwar protest in war," the Times adds, "Their arguments the Gulf crisis." But demonstrators should on the war the same way everyone else does Washington, D.C., on January 26 did not go need to be answered." not "ignore Saddam Hussein's political am -by watching television. unnoticed among ruling circles in the United Protesters assert that this is "essentially an bitions, his drive to dominate the Persian Gulf "Cuba's position has been one of princi States. The New York Times felt compelled American war, waged by an imperial president and thus control 65 percent of the world's ple," Dausa said. "We have condemned all to criticize and attempt to answer the who failed to give diplomacy time to work," the known.oil reserves," the daily warns. "Iraqi that was condemnable in what Iraq did, but demonstrators' demands. editorial states, referring to a "Say no to Bush's mastery would give a dictator without scruple we have opposed the U.S. push to war." In a January 27 editorial entitled "The war" placard. It is true, the paper says, that "only vast strategic power." Dausa told the audience that Cuba is facing Protesters, Heard," the Times insists that the United States" could have brought together The Times notes that opponents of the one of the hardest moments in its history "Iraq is not Vietnam." It says the U.S.-Jed and led the anti-Iraq coalition. war point out "that American Blacks pay because of the cutoff in trade from countries aggression is "a just war though not a wise President George Bush should have let the twice for the war because they represent in Eastern Europe, the decline in trade from one." embargo work longer, the Times writes, but almost 30 percent of the Army's troops in the Soviet Union, and the rising price of oil. Most of the protesters "shunned crude "often, the protesters' opposition inescapably the Middle East but only 14 percent of the He reported that the workweek in Cuba slogans like 'No blood for oil!"' the paper makes Saddam Hussein out to be the victim, draft-age population- and because bil has been reduced by one day in order to save claims. "Most of them would agree with Vice turning reality on its head." lions spent on the war may be diverted energy and some factories have shut down. President Quayle about the need to support Noting one popular slogan at the march, from social programs at home." The edi Many more items are being rationed in order America's troops in the gulf. "How many deaths per gallon?" the Times torial quotes one sign that read, "Blacks to ensure equal distribution to the population. are killing browns for whites." The government appealed to each household "Disproportionate casualties is indeed to reduce the use of power by 10 percent. troubling," the Times says. But this is because Dausa explained that the majority of people the armed forces "have become instruments have responded by trying to cut back even of remarkable change, giving minority further. groups fairer chances to rise, right to the Dausa said that "one of the most painful chairmanship of the Joint Chiefs of Staff." measures" was stopping construction of The Times also argues against the slogan, some of Cuba's social prpjectS, including "War never solves anything." work on some hospitals and schools. He "Theologians contend that a war is just noted the contrast between the steps Cuba \\Orking people- in and out of uni the Iraqi people, reported that there have only as a last resort and when punishment has taken and those of other Latin American form -are discussing and debating the been a number of protests held in the Plaza is proportionate to the offense," the paper countries that face economic problems. In imperialist war in the Mideast led by the de Cultura in San Jose, the capital. On one asserts. other countries, workers have been fired and governments of the United States, Brit afternoon there was a demonstration of 60 Iraq's invasion of Kuwait, an affront to prices on necessities have skyrocketed. But ain, Canada, France, and Australia. In people and some participants distributed "morality and law," justifies the war, the because the workers' government in Cuba factories, mines, mills; on warships; and fliers to passers-by, he said. Times says. "As Saddam Hussein raises the has control over the means of production, among those now stationed in Saudi The_leafle t, issued by the Coordinating stakes," it continues, "the pressure will build measures have been taken to limit, as much Arabia, workers and farmers have dis Committee for Actions against the War in to follow suit." as possible, the hardship of the cutbacks on cussed and expressed opposition to the the Persian Gulf, said, "'Stop the war' The editorial expresses the hope that the working people. war against the Iraqi people. should be the cry of every human being. demonstrations, instead of leading to an end Rallies, marches, and conferences are If the war is not stopped, we will face one to the war, will be a "restraint on reprisals Tasks of 'special period' being held with broad participation, es of the great holocausts of all time, with whose fury would mock the idea of a just Dausa spoke about the main tasks of what pecially from youth; action coalitions incalculable destruction of the environ war, and give a martyred Saddam Hussein Cubans call the "special period". These tasks have been formed in cities around the ment, and the deepening of political and an enduring victory in defeat." are to develop self-sufficiency in food, make world; veterans, Gls, and reservists have economic problems -especially in the progress on the use of scientific techniques been speaking out; antiwar buttons are countries of the third world. in production, and the development of the being worn at work; and planning for "In our country, the implications of the pharmaceutical industry. In addition, they more antiwar actions is under way. war will bring us a deepening of the eco project advancing in the area of tourism and ~ encourage readers to contribute nomic crisis that will have repercussions maintaining production of sugar and other items to this column that will help cam on our standard of living including health, key exports. paign against and build visible opposi food, clothing, and education. Working The aim of the food program, which is in tion to the .war. people will be particularly affected. Using progress now, is to make all of Cuba's prov the war as a pretext, the government is inces self-sufficient in food. In Havana prov Two students from Japan attended the carrying out anti-people measures aimed ince, volunteer brigades have built more than January 27 student and youth conference against working people. We should stop 30 camps to house 20,000 workers in the in Washington, D.C., and handed out lit it." countryside. The aim is for volunteers to erature to inform others about their efforts work 15-day shifts and to rotate the shifts against the war. among the general population. "We are from the University of Tokyo • The tourism program includes "health and represent the peace loving students of Recently, Radio Centre-Ville, a multi tourism" for people who need medical treat our country," one of their fliers said. "We lingual radio station in Montreal, Quebec, ment. In addition, the program is for those have been fighting hard to stop our gov phoned volunteers staffing the Pathfinder who want to Jearn more about Cuba's ad ernment from supporting the American Bookstore to request an interview. They vances in health care, which is growing in government policy toward the Gulf war." wanted to discuss - for the benefit of the stature around the world. They expressed a desire to work with Spanish-speaking community in Montreal The Cuban diplomat explained that participants at the conference and reported - the contents of the Spanish-language Cuba has developed a cure for vitiligo, a that there have been a number of actions edition of U.S. Hands Off the Mideast! skin disorder, and a vaccine for a type of at the University of Tokyo in opposition Cuba Speaks Out at the United Nations, meningitis. Dausa pointed out that Cuba to the war. published by Pathfinder Press. has more doctors and nurses working After Washington started bombing Iraq, The interview aired on a Saturday around the world than the UN World some 80 people protested in front of the night. The following Monday morning, Health Organization. Cuba also takes care U.S. Embassy in Tokyo, carrying placards Katy LeRougetel, a garment worker and a of 10,000 children from the Soviet Union that said, "Stop War" and "No blood for member of the Amalgamated Clothing who were victims of the Chernobyl nu oil." They chanted "U.S. stop military ac and Textile Workers Union, showed the clear disaster of 1986. All Cubans have tion in the Middle East"; "America with book to some coworkers. They said they the right to quality health care, free of draw from the Middle East"; and "Citizens already knew about the book because they charge. will not condone war." had heard about it on the radio. The inter More than 200 Cuban doctors and nurses view became a topic of discussion in the who were in Iraq prior to the war, have stayed • plant and helped generate interest among to help with the mounting casualties, and A reader, who was visiting Costa Rica LeRougetel's fellow workers to read the many more have volunteered since the war when Washington opened its war against book. started. February-IS, 1991 The Militant · 3 Curtis' backers ra-ise funds for UN trip $30,000 goal, frrst weeks meet success BY CHRIS REMPLE and friend of Curtis, made a pledge to the DES MOINES -A team of supporters fund. He also asked for literature to distribute of Mark Curtis, a unionist and political ac on buses going from Iowa to the January 26 tivist framed up by the Des Moines police antiwar march in Washington, D.C. on charges of rape and burglary, are calling Fundraising volunteer Lisa Potash says political rights supporters around the country that suggesting a specific contribution to to raise $30,000 by the end of February. each supporter "helps everyone understand The special financial appeal will make it the financial needs of the defense effort and possible to present Curtis' case to the United to think out how much they can give." Nations Human Rights Commission in Ge As of February 4, more than $9,300 had neva, Switzerland, and to pay for continuing been pledged or donated to the fund. Curtis' legal expenses. backersinNewYorkandCalifomiahavealso Mark Curtis Defense Committee coordi decided to organize a round of calling to a nator John Studer and defense committee range ofendorsers and supporters of the fight. leader Kate Kaku, who is Curtis' wife, will "All supporters of the fight for justice for head up an international delegation to the Mark Curtis are encouraged to become a part UN meeting. The team will spend several of this effort," Rubenstein said. "It's going weeks, beginning in early February, speaking to take a real drive by everyone to go over with participants at the event and winning the top of the goal by the end of February." new support for the jailed unionist's fight. For more information or to make a con "We're getting in touch with hundreds of tribution contact the Matk Curtis Defense Militant/Susan Berman people," fundraising volunteer John Rub Committee, Box I 048, Des Moines, Iowa Mark Curtis Defense Committee leader Kate Kaku, also Curtis' wife, speaking last enstein reported. "We have not been in touch 50311. Larger tax -exempt contributions can August at a subcommission of the UN Commission on Human Rights in Geneva. with some supporters for a while, so while be made out to the Political Rights Defense Supporters are raising funds to send Kaku and others back to Geneva for the upcom we are making real progress in raising the Fund. ing full commission. funds, it is only part of what we are accomp lishing," the volunteer said. "We are having great political discussions about the case, letting people know the steps Iraqi people defiant in face of bombing forward the fight has taken over the past months, and encouraging people to step-up BY SETH GALINSKY power stations that were destroyed by the "We dare them to confront us face to face," their wotk in support of the defense cam The massive bombing oflraq is provoking United States, British, Italian, French, and said one young Iraqi. paign," he said at the committee's office here. deep resentment and hatred of the United Saudi bombing campaigns. Her description "They will have a bitter taste of Iraqi Rubenstein, for example, spoke with a States government and its allies among the of the civilian toll and response among the resistance," said another. leader of the Machinists strike against East Iraqi people. Iraqi people was also carried in a series of Many Iraqis expressed their hostility to em Airlines in Pittsburgh. Since the unionist Interviewed on ABC television's Nightline, articles in the Christian Science Monitor. ward pilots who are dropping the bombs. One did not have much money to contribute, he Lamis Andoni, a reporter for the Financial Mohammed, who served in the Iraqi army woman told Andoni that a group of angry said he would wotk with other supporters in Times of London, said that at the beginning of during the Iran-Iraq war, told Andoni, "This residents threw stones at a pilot as he landed the area to organize a raffle as a means of the bombing the "Iraqis were in a state of shock is a war against the Iraqi people, against Iraq, after his plane was hit. raising funds for the UN delegation. and they were taken aback, but by the fourth against Baghdad, against our existence." Iraqi radio issued daily appeals to people Candace Wagner, also volunteering in the day, confidence was building up and it was In the Baghdad suburb of Kazimieh, An to not hurt the pilots and offered rewards for Curtis defense office here, has been calling turning in to a mood of defiance and resolve." doni spoke with a shopkeeper who proudly people who tum the pilots in alive. supporters in Colorado. "Even though most Andoni was in Baghdad until January 23. stated, "We were able to stand in the face of People are "rallying behind [Iraqi Presi people I spoke with had not heard about the She traveled around the city and visited two the United States and its coalition." She heard dent] Saddam [Hussein] regardless of the case recently, every one made a pledge to villages on her way out of Iraq. Andoni saw similar statements many times during the criticism that they sometimes have," Andoni the fund drive," she said. the ruins of houses, stores, oil refmeries, and course of her trip to the area. said. "And I heard many criticisms of the "A member of the United Food and Com way he runs the country." This includes op mercial Wotkers union contributed $50, and position to Hussein's invasion of Kuwait. a coal miner in Craig, Colorado, pitched in "They think that if he survives and the $25 ·even though he said his mine would be U.S. gov't tells disaster-relief groups country survives he has to change and they closing soon," Wagner said. "He suggested have to have freedom," she added. that Curtis supporters publicize the case and to brace for refugees in Mideast Andoni spoke to one young man who had raise funds at upcoming mine hearings that been discussing the situation with a group of will be attended by miners in Salt Lake City." BY RONI McCANN tions in the region. friends, some of whom are pro-Hussein, and Many of the defense committee endorsers A letter in the January 27 New York Richard Walden wrote that "an extraordi others who oppose him. The young man said, are active in opposing the U.S.-led war in the Times sheds a little light on the impact of nary meeting was held earlier this month at "But at the end of the discussion we decided Mideast. Kevin Magee, a longtime supporter Washington's Mideast war on the popula- the State Department's Foreign Disaster As that we should remain reunited until the battle sistance Office in Washington, D.C." Walden is over. It is not the right time to allow our is the president of Operation USA, an inter differences to erupt." A BOOK FOR WORKERS-----. national relief organization. According to Andoni there is some resent "More than 25 major disaster-relief orga ment towards Hussein and some of the mea WHO WANT TO KNOW THE FACTS nizations heard an official briefing on possi sures the regime has taken, such as fuel ra ble scenarios following an armed conflict in tioning. U.S. Hands Off the Mideast! Cuba Speaks Out at the United Nations, also and around Kuwait and Iraq," Walden re "It is just unfair for him to expect us to available in Spanish, is an irreplaceable tool in the fight against the U.S.-Ied war ported. tolerate hardships and make big sacrifices against Iraq. An introduction by Mary-Alice Waters outlines the stakes for "Maps were produced showing possible without thinking of consulting us," said a taxi working people in the imperialist war. The book contains a useful chronology of flows of more than a million displaced per driver. "Without taking into consideration the U.S.-Ied war preparations since early August and 10 UN resolutions adopted sons - with emphasis on Kuwait and south our feelings, without giving us freedoms." em Iraq," he said. The taxi driver, who does not like Hussein, on the Gulf crisis. After the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait in Au said, "He might be ruthless, but he is digni Featured in the book are statements by Cuban Ambassador to the UN Ricardo gust, hundreds of thousands of workers in fied. He is not like those who are kneeling Alarc6n and President Fidel Castro that rebut the pretexts and arguments used Kuwait were forcibly displaced. As Wash to the United States." by Washington to justify its unilateral acts of aggression. Unionists, Gls, veterans, ington and its imperialist allies opened their reservists, and other workers involved in struggles against the employers' offen war, more working people have become ref sive at home can use the facts and arguments it contains to arm themselves and ugees. ~If( Pt1TIIr1;1/!JER The \ · help convince others to join in campaigning against the slaughter taking place Walden wrote that government officials by the same employers, through their government, in the Mideast. reported "[refugee] encampments in Jordan and southern Tutkey were being fortified; frame-up of Help distribute this book by getting extra copies to sell to coworkers and others. relief depots in Cyprus were being filled with Use the special discounts for bulk orders. emergency medicines, tents, blankets, and $9.95 each. Bundles of 5 or more prepaid, 33% off ($6.50 each). Bundles of 10 food." Operation USA, he reported, had al Marll Curtis or more prepaid, 50% off ($5 each). Shipping charges: $2 for 1-4 books; $3 for ready responded to the "flood of more than 5-9 books; $5 for 10 or more. 750,000 displaced foreign workers fleeing by Margaret Jayllo r------, Iraq and Kuwait." This pamphlet tells the story of NAME ______However, the relief group leaders were told the "airlifts of civilian relief were not Marll Curtis, a unionist and likely to be available from the United States." fi~hter for immi~rant ri~hts, who ADD~------In his letter Walden said that participants is servin~ a 25-year sentence in CITY ______STATE ZIP ------in the meeting felt overwhelmed by the press an Iowa prison on trumped-up ing demands on their aid groups from all rape char~es. Please send: copies of U.S. Hands Off the comers of the globe. " . . . it is nearly unthink 71 pp. $5.00. Mideast! __ copies of iEE.UU. fuera del Oriente able to contemplate mounting a massive and all-consuming relief effort for another man : Medio! Enclosed is$ for the book(s) plus Available at Pathfinder boollstores made disaster," Walden wrote. listed on ~e 16 or by mail from Path i $ shipping, total $ ___ "We have no illusions about the scope of finder, 410 West St., New Yorll, N.Y. : Mail to: Patlmder, 410 West St, New York, N.Y. 10014. Oubide the United States contact the impending disaster resulting from the use 10014. Add SI.OO for postaqe and han : Pathfinder bookstom listed on page 12. dlin~. l ______j of modem weapons of destructive power," he concluded.
4 The Militant February 15, 1991 New issues of.Marxist .Sales effort on target after 5 weeks • BY RONI McCANN magazine International Union of Electronic Workers (IUE} members topped- and raised - one of their goals after the fifth week of the SCOREBOARD r...c.idw~o- announced campaign to sell hundreds of Militant sub- Union Total Militant* Mideast Book ISR scriptions, copies of the International Social %Sold Sold (Goal) Sold(Goal) Sold (Goal) Continued from front page ist Review supplement, and the Pathfinder IUE** 90% 4 (23) 36 (41) 100 (91) of New International. book U.S. Hands Off the Mideast! Cuba The inaugural issue of a sister publication Speaks Out at the United Nations to cowork UAW 81% 11 (75) 46 (75) 145 (100) in Spanish, Nueva lnternacional, has been ers and union fighters. ILGWU 65% 5 (22) 31 (45) 47 (61) announced by its editor, Luis Madrid. Nueva The IUE workers, along with members of lnternacional No. 1 will center on Washing nine other industrial unions, are aggressively UMWA 62% 3 (22) 14 (28) 42 (45) ton's war against Iraq, making many of the campaigning to counter the U.S. govern · same articles appearing in New International ment's lies and build working-class opposi lAM 57% 26 (170) 59 (170) 235 (225) No.7 available to working people whose first tion to the war against the people of Iraq. language is Spanish. So far 1,447 workers, Gls, reservists, and UTU 52% 13 (n) 44 (105) 103 (127) veterans in factories and mills across the "For the first time in this form, major ACTWU 47% 6 (38) 14 (41) 49 (67) articles explaining the communist perspec country have decided to get the facts about tive will be within reach of the large audience the war - putting the campaign on target. OCAW 46% 8 (50) 57 (100) 73 (150) of Spanish-speaking readers," Madrid noted, Union members decided last week to extend "from farm workers, garment workers, and until March the distribution of the Interna USWA 43% 3 (90) 45
BY PETER THIERJUNG don't want a Gulf war." Tens of thousands opposed to the U.S. Bishop Gottfried Forck, the senior prot led war in the Mideast took to the streets estant clergyman from the state of Bran across Europe and in other parts of the denburg in eastern Germany, told the world January 26. The actions coincided crowd that Iraqi President "Saddam Hus with the largest antiwar demonstrations in sein committed a great injustice when he the United States since Washington and its invaded Kuwait. But that did not justify the allies initiated the massive bombing of attack on Iraq. An injustice was met with Iraq. an even greater injustice." Some 200,000 people mobilized in Forck and Heinz-Werner Meyer, the chair Bonn, the capital of Germany. Twenty person of the DGB, both called for a cease seven trains were chartered and more than fire in the Mideast war and an end to German 650 buses brought protesters from across arms exports . 'No war hi the Gulf!' said student banner in Berlin march on January 12. Nearly the country. . Felicia Langer, an Israeli lawyer who has 100,000 people in Berlin protested the Mideast war on January 26, which coincided The demonstration was called by a defended many Palestinians, was best re with protests in Washington, D.C., on same day. Large demonstrations were held in broad coalition of peace groups, environ ceived by the crowd. "Hussein did not oc many cities in Europe. mentalists, and the German Trade Union cupy Kuwait to solve the problems of the Confederation (DGB). The Social Demo Palestinians," she said. cratic Party and the Green Party endorsed "But who has put this card into Saddam's tions took place in other cities. Bordeaux, and other cities. the action. hand? Who has allowed him this maneuver? For the fifth time in two weeks, protests The two groups that called the protest Demonstrators marched from four as It is the stubborn policy of Israel which occurred across France against the French were tQe Appeal of the 75, a coalition sembly points and converged on a large rejects any possibility of a peaceful solution government's participation in the war formed by 75 well-known personalities in mall at the university in Bonn, the site of to the Palestinian question by recognizing the against Iraq. The largest demonstration was France, and the Forum for a Just and massive antinuclear rallies in the early Palestinian's right to self-determination," held in Paris where more than 30,000 peo Global Peace. 1980s. Langer said. ple responded to a call for a march by two Half way through the protest, Paris po Banners throughout the march said "Stop In Berlin, nearly 100,000 people marched antiwar coalitions. Thousands more dem lice blocked the streets forcing the dem the war," "No war in the Gulf," and "We to protest the war and smaller demonstra- onstrated in Lyon, Marseilles, Toulouse, onstration to disperse. It was, however, a legal protest. Three previous demonstra tions banned by the government were held anyway. Airline refuses Iraqis plane tickets Tens of thousands also marched in Swit zerland and local actions were held across Britain. BY PETER THIERJUNG into the wrong hands." then a "security issue" would be posed, he AND RONI McCANN Other airlines apparently have adopted said. Hopkins would not say whether Picket lines and teach-ins were held in NEW YORK- A lawsuit, filed Janu similar discriminatory policies. A United Air United or the government determined various New Zealand cities on January ary 31 in Manhattan federal court, charges lines company memo informed customer ser what kind of profiles are kept in the 25-27. Some 200people picketed the U.S. that Pan American World Airways violated vice agents that passengers with Iraqi pass company's computer system. consulate in Auckland, demanding an end antidiscrimination provisions of the Fed ports will not be allowed on international Iraqi nationality is "one of several" fac to the war and against the sending of New eral Aviation Act, the 1866 and 1964 Civil flights. The memo instructs the agents to tors taken into consideration when accept Zealand military forces to the Gulf. Rights Acts, and the N!!w York State process the customer, but then to call the ing passengers, cargo, and mail, another In Wellington, the country's capital, Human Rights Law when it refused to sell police. United spokesperson told the Times. a ticket to an Iraqi national living in the more than 400 people demonstrated out United's corporate spokesman John Hop Delta Air Lines has refused to confirm side the Parliament building where a spe United States. kins said that he could not comment on the or deny whether it has a policy on Iraqi cial debate on the war in the Arab-Persian The suit, prepared by attorneys for the matter, but United does not have a "blanket nationals. American Airlines also refused National Emergency Civil Liberties Com Gulf was held. A Christchurch teach-in policy" against allowing Iraqi nationals on comment. attracted some 80 people. mittee (NECLC), says that a Pan Am reser flights. NECLC attorney Lieberman said he vation agent following company policy re The carrier does maintain computer hoped the lawsuit would send a message fused to make reservations and sell a ticket "profiles" of individuals that are consid that such discrimination will not be toler Liiko Willms from Frankfurt, Nat London to H. Salman, an Iraqi national who is a ered security risks, Hopkins said. "If an ated, not only at Pan Am, but at other from Paris, and George Buchanan from permanent resident of the United States. individual happens to match the profile," airlines as well. Auckland contributed to this article. At a press conference here, NECLC attor neys said they are seeking an immediate court order to have Pan Am cease discriminating against Iraqi nationals. Spanish daily reviews Malcolm X book Edith Tiger, executive director ofNECLC, called Pan Am's policy "an outrage that not only violates civil liberties, but feeds into a The following review appeared in the Reading the constant denunciations of victims of a very hypocritical system that is potentially dangerous wave of xenophobia" January 29 issue of El Diorio/La Prensa, military interventionism that appear in Mal going all over this earth today representing stemming from the U.S. government's war the Spanish-language daily with the larg colm X's speeches can serve as perfect in itself as being qualified to tell other people against Iraq. est cin;:ulation in the New \brk metropol spiration for [solving] potential intellectual how to run their country when they can't get These attacks on civil liberties must be itan area. disagreements on the current war in Iraq. the dirty things that are going on in their own stopped before they escalate, she said. The "I am not an American ... [but] one of country straightened out," said Malcolm X NECLC director recalled the U.S. gov BY NYDIA CHIRIBOGA the victims of Americanism . . . one of the in one of his speeches. ernment's internment of Japanese-Ameri African-American History Month begins cans in the United States during World War February I, a month that ironically coincides Available from Pathfinder! ______, II and said that the suit was aimed not only with the 26th anniversary of the assassination at defending an individual, but combating of the Black leader Malcolm X. a climate where "internment of people Despite all the years that have gone by Malcolm X Talks to Young People who have an Arabic name or come from since Malcolm X's assassination, the impor the Middle East" would be tolerated. tance of his political contribution, his impres "The young generation of whites, Blacks, NECLC general counsel Eric Lieberman sive standing, his charisma, and the reso told the press that Salman attempted to buy nance of his words did not diminish. On the browns -you're living at a time of revolution, tickets on January 30. He had hoped to travel contrary, it has grown tremendously. a time when there's got to be to Czechoslovakia to visit his wife's family. Malcolm X Talks To Young People: The reservation agent, however, cited Pan Speeches in the U.S., Britain and Africa is a a change. People in power Am's policy of not permitting Iraqi nationals new book containing a valuable collection of have misused it, and now to board flights and refused to sell him the unpublished speeches. tickets. The speeches, published by Pathfinder there has to be a change and The January 25 New York Times quoted a Press, were especially aimed at the youth who a better world has to be Pan Am employee who revealed such a di felt committed to the struggle against racism. rective exists, and that it came from the Talking to "the young generation of built." carrier's national headquarters in New York. whites, Blacks, browns, whatever else there This new collection includes an By the time the restriction was made public, is," Malcolm X explained the time they hap four or five people had already been pre pened to live in. He described it as "a time interview with Malcolm X and four vented from boarding flights in Los Angeles, of revolution, a time where there's got to be speeches given in Ghana, Britain, and the employee said. a change," and one where the "people in the United States during the last Elizabeth Hlinko, a Pan Am spokesper power have misused it ... and a better world months of his life. More than half the son in New York, said that the carrier had has to be built." "no comment" on the lawsuit or the exclu Malcolm X Talks To Young People is also material appears in print for the first sion of Iraqi nationals from flights. When a historical document that reminds us of the time. 110 pp., $9.95. asked what measures Pan Am had imple activities carried out by the Black activist in mented, she said that "airport security has his tireless campaign against racism, oppres Order from the Pathfinder bookstore nearest you or from Pathfinder, 410 West St., New increased, but we don't discuss the mea sion, and against the U.S. intervention in the York, N.Y. 10014. Please include $1 for shipping and handling. sures because the information might fall territories of Central Africa and Vietnam. 6 The Militant February 15, 1991 .i :J'•, •-cyj Students kick off building of protests
Continued from front page tional day of coordinated antiwar actions on high school and college campuses by two January 27 conferences, one in Washington, D.C., and the other in Berkeley, California. More than I ,500 representatives from student and youth organizations across the United States attended the twin meetings. The con ferences followed antiwar marches of 125,000 in Washington and 80,000 in San Francisco on January 26. The National Student and Youth Cam paign for Peace in the Middle East, a coalition of some 50 organizations, sponsored the D.C. meeting. Leaders of the action coalition held a January 31 press conference in the U.S. capital to publicize the call for protests on · February 21. Pierre Barolette, a leader of the United States Student Association, told reporters that the February 21 date was chosen because it is the anniversary of the assassination of Militant/Sam Manuel Malcolm X. "Fighting against this war is an Le_ft to right: Jin Sook Lee, Young Koreans United; Rashid Thher, Palestine Academic Freedom Network; Pierre Barolette, United example of what Malcolm X stood for," States Student Association; Car.l LeVan, National Student and Youth Campaign. "Reading Malcolm X tells us we must oppose US. Barolette said. "Reading him tells us we must intervention and work for peace," Barolette said at press conference. oppose U.S. intervention and work for peace." Malcolm X was a revolutionary fighter, Plans for February 21 take shape meeting developed out of an Afro-American leader of the National Student and Youth an outspoken opponent of imperialism and Some 35 students held a February 4 plan caucus meeting at the January 27 conference Campaign for Peace in the Middle East. its wars, and a leader of the struggle for Black ning meeting at Drake University in Des in Washington, D.C. "Everyone feels more effective and part of rights. He was gunned down on February 21 , Moines, Iowa. Student activist Jason Marty Watson said a February 21 teach-in with something bigger, especially as we link up 1965. said the meeting decided to form a campus a variety of speakers, including international with student and youth activists in other Barolette stressed the importance of the group called Students for Peace and adopted students, Vietnam veterans, environmental countries." He urged the broadest participa unity around the demands adopted by the the February 21 call. The group is aiming for ists, and peace activists, will be held at South tion possible from students and other youth, participants at the conferences. These in two events, including a teach-in. An evening ern University. One goal of the event is to unionists, Gls and reservists, and others op clude: Stop the war; bring the troops home activity is being scheduled so that high school attract and involve high school students. posed to Washington's widening slaughter in students can participate. the Mideast. now; and no legal or economic draft. The 'Bring the troops home!' D.C. meeting adopted additional slogans: "Let's get organized!" sums up the attitude Gene Banks, a volunteer from Albany, Fight racism; develop sustainable and renew of many who attended the meeting at Drake, Watson estimates that some 600 students Georgia, working in the D.C. student and able energy policy; and end all occupations Marty said. Students from Drake will contact have not returned to Louisiana State Univer youth campaign office, said that, after rounds in the Middle East. other campuses in the state. February 21 sity and to Southern University this semester of calls to various parts of the country, he because they have been called up for duty in "The fact that so many studentS from such offers students a chance to see that "they are was encouraged by the response to February Saudi Arabia. "Louisiana has been hit hard diverse backgrounds got together around part of something bigger, a movement," 21. He plans to return to his state to work and this has caused some confusion about these key demands shows the seriousness of Marty added. with activists at the University of Georgia in supporting the troops," she said. "Now is the our movement," Barolette said. At the University of Miami a new student Athens where a teach-in has been scheduled. group was formed by activists who attended time to shout as loud as possible 'We don't Banks says he wants to get word out all over Carl LeVan, a George Washington Univer the Washington, D.C., conference. The support the war, Bring the troops home!"' the state. sity student and leader of the National Stu group, Students for Social Justice, is in the Christine Kelly, an activist at Rutgers Uni Reports on February 21 activities from dent and Youth Campaign, noted that student midst of making definite plans for the pro versity in New Brunswick, New Jersey, said other areas include: activity in opposition to the war is .already tests. Students at Florida International Uni the R.U.Jor Peace Coalition has begun plan • The Campus Peace Committee at the significant. He predicted the protests will versity in Miami are also mapping out their ning for February 21. Different types of ac University of California in Berkeley is plan increase when the war escalates to ground goals. A Florida statewide rally has been set tivities are currently being discussed, includ ning a protest for February 21. combat. for February 23 in Gainesville. ing dormitory canvassing and a protest at a • The Detroit Palestinian Solidarity Jin Sook Lee of Young Koreans United Afro-American students opposed to the congressman's office. A February 5 meeting Committee campus network held a planning (YKU), pledged her organization's support war in the Middle East will meet in Atlanta will make final plans. Activities will be co meeting for February 21 that included repre for the February 21 protests. "Only in soli on February 16. The goal of the gathering is ordinated with Black student groups organ sentatives from five area university and high darity and unity can we stop the war in the to help promote the February 21 protests and izing Malcolm X commemorations, Kelly school campuses. Middle East and end U.S. intervention in the other antiwar activities at Black universities said. • The Palestinian Academic Freedom Third World," she said. "The YKU will be and colleges throughout the South, said Les "Students continue to tum out for the Network's members "all over the country participating in the internationally coordi lie Watson from Southern University in coalition's weekly activities, but there has will be backing February 21 activities," said nated antiwar actions." Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The idea for the been a bit of a polarization," Kelly reported. Sana Odeh, a spokesperson for the organiza She said that some fraternities have begun tion in New York. organizing prowar activities, but have failed For more infonnation, contact the Na thus far to overshadow the numbers partici tional Student and Youth Campaign for Peace pating in antiwar activities. in the Middle East at (202) 462-1801. Their The New Brunswick coalition is contact address is 1225 15th St. NW, Washington, ing other campuses in New Jersey to coor D.C. 20005. The fax number is (202) 232- dinate their efforts. A February 20 teach-in 5210. sponsored by Advocates for Political Aware On the West Coast, contact the Western ness has been scheduled at the Rutgers cam Student and Youth Action Network against pus in Newark, New Jersey. the War at (415) 653-5442. A February 3 citywide meeting in Los The Militant encourages readers to send Angeles attracted some 50 students and youth in reports of February 21 building activi ties in your area. Our fax number is (212) On January 'l7, 1,500 students from at least 10 university and college cam and youth from over 100 puses. The meeting endorsed February 21 727-0150. campuses and high schools met and slated a citywide rally at the end of the in WashingU>n, D.C. At the day at the University of Southern California. same time, 500 met in The Chicago Student and Youth Coalition Berkeley, California. We have against the War in the Middle East has voted come together to uney our many protests into a single day to endorse February 21. A February 9 city of mobilization to stop the war. wide planning meeting will be held at the University of Illinois, Chicago campus. "The S1udents all CYel1he world are 1he ones who bring about a Cllange; Representatives from the University of old people don, bring about change. Utah in Salt Lake City, Brigham Young Uni rm no1 saying this against anybody tharsold .... As long as you want some versity and a high school in Provo, Utah, held action. you're young." a February 3 meeting where they planned a Malcolm X, assassinated march and rally for February 21. February 21, 1965. Tara McGann, a member of Students Against U.S. Intervention in the Middle East STOP THE WAR! in New York, reported that a February 5 meeting would finalize plans for a citywide BRING THE TROOPS HOME NOW! student and youth protest. No legal or economic draft • Fight racism "Everyone wants something to happen on February 21," McGann said. "We need to Develop a sustainable and renewable energy policy look for the broadest possible activity" to End all occupations in the Middle East involve the greatest numbers of people. Rep Na/WnQJ Student and Local contact: resentatives from City University of New York, Columbia and New York universities, Youth Campaign for Peoee (202) 462-1801 in the Middle East Bard College, the State University of New 1225 15th Street N. W. Fax(202)23~210 York in Albany, and area high schools are Washil;gton, D.C. 20005 among those expected to attend the New York meeting. Militant/Peter Thierjung "People are excited about the coordinated Participants at January 27 national stu Sample leaflet being distributed for February 21 antiwar protests nature of the actions," said Aaron Ruby, a dent conference in \\ashington, D.C. February 15, 1991 The Militant .· , 7 Strains on U.S.-led coalition surface BY SETH GALINSKY On January 31, German military transport Ozal pointed to the additional $82 million move and said that it will not allow the planes The governments of Britain, Germany, planes began flying $670 million in military in military aid Turkey will get from the to leave until the war is over. France, Spain, Turkey, and other U.S. allies aid to Israel. United States in 1991 as just one example. According to the Washington Post, Iranian are stepping up their participation in the war "This operation beginning tonight is the "After all this is over, Turkey's foreign President Hashemi Rafsanjani has said that against the people of Iraq. But corning to the first direct delivery of weapons material, economic relations, particularly with the any allied warplanes in distress would be surface of the U.S.-led coalition are sharp military material by Germany officially to United States, will develop greatly," Ozal allowed to make emergency landings after hesitations, divisions, and disagreements Israel," Otto von der Gablentz, the German said. obtaining Iranian permission. within and between the ruling classes pros ambassador to Israel, stated. Interviewed by the Christian Science On February 4 Rafsanjani offered to me ecuting the bloody conflict. The aid includes Patriot missiles, subma Monitor, Ozal stated that Turkey will play a diate between the United States and Iraq to U.S. B-52 bombers are already flying mis rines, gas masks, and vehicles. major role in the "new Middle East" after the end the war. · sions to Iraq and Kuwait from Spain and will Jerusalem's mayor Teddy Kollek com war. soon be based in Britain. The French gov mented on the German aid: "They have a bad "The map of the area is likely to change. Hesitations in Egypt ernment agreed to let the giant warplanes use conscience, but that's not worth a penny." Power balances will change," he said. "We The Egyptian government, one of the main French airspace and refuel at a French mili The Japanese government plans to give $9 must be at the [conference] table when the U.S. allies among Arab regimes, has ex tary base. billion for the war. To win approval for the new situation is discussed. Turkey must be pressed some limited hesitations on the Before the start of the war, U.S. B-52's aid in the face of opposition, Prime Minister influential," he said. course of the war. There are between 35,000 were permanently based only in Guam and Toshiki Kaifu agreed to restrictions on the Not everyone in Turkey agrees. "Muslims and 45,000 Egyptian troops stationed in North America. The Pentagon has sought money that would prohibit it from being used should not be fighting Muslims," said a Saudi Arabia. more bases to be able to increase the number for arms or ammunition. farmer interviewed by the New York Times A reporter for the New York Times noted ofp1anes used to bomb Iraq. Besides the aid, for the first time since in a border region of Turkey. that after news of civilian casualties reached In an attempt to avoid antiwar protests, the World War ll Japan is deploying military "We don't approve of Iraq's Invasion of Egypt, there was "a clear shift" in public Spanish government tried to keep the basing forces in an international conflict. The Jap Kuwait," said Nizamettin Alaverdi, a Muslim opinion against the Egyptian presence. of the planes a secret. After the news broke, anese military is sending five C-130 transport religious leader. "But America should not get "We are under pressure from the street," the Madrid daily El Mundo published an planes to the Arab-Persian Gulf. involved. This thing should be settled by said one official. editorial headlined, "They have deceived us. Muslim countries themselves." Taking distance from the U.S. preparations We are at war." 'Map of the area will change' As the war deepens, Iran is being drawn for an invasion of Iraq, Boutros Ghali, Egyp The French government's increasing in The Turkish government has systemati into the vortex in spite of its declarations of tian minister of state for foreign affairs, stated volvement in the war has caused divisions in cally built up its participation in the war neutrality. at a news conference, "Certainly our position the ruling Socialist Party. against Iraq. It now has up to 180,000 troops The Iranian Red Crescent Society, ignor is not in favor of the destruction of an Arab Former defense minister Jean-Pierre Che poised at the Iraqi border in what could ing the United Nations Security Council em country, is not in favor of a change of gov venement had opposed sending French become a second front. bargo, has begun sending powdered milk and ernment. troops to Saudi Arabia to participate in what "Turkey will emerge stronger, much medicine to Iraq to alleviate some of the Washington is drawing other governments he called "America's war." stronger from this conflict, by siding with the suffering caused by the war. into the action. On January 9, U.S. C-141 Chevenement was not the only one. Sen allies," Turkish President Ozal told a closed About 90 Iraqi military planes have flown transport planes started refueling at Safar ator Philippe de Gaulle, son of Charles de meeting of leaders of the ruling Motherland to Iran over the past weeks seeking sanctuary. Airport in Bombay, India, at the rate of about Gaulle, voted against participation on the Party. The Iranian government has protested the Continued on Page 9 grounds that it would damage the French rulers' interests in other Arab nations. On January 16 Chevenement announced that France's 10,000 troops, 54 aircraft, and 12 ships in the Gulf would not fight inside U.S. widens bombing, death toll grows Iraq. Three days later President Fran~ois Mit Continued from front page terrand reversed Chevenement's position. cles littering the streets, skeletons left seared French Jaguar fighter bombers have since to the seats of jeeps, and bodies strewn over been attacking both Kuwait and Iraq. the ground. Chevenement resigned as defense minis U.S. Army 1st Lt. Albert Rivera said he ter in protest on January 29. and other Gls were surprised at the scale of Similar divisions have erupted among the Iraqi assault and the "resistance they put other U.S. allies. On January 31 Mario up. We thought they were weak and malnour Buracchia, the head of Italy's naval forces in ished and they proved us wrong." the Gulf, resigned. He was quoted as saying Marine pilot Michael Steele, assigned to in reference to the war, "I wondered if in a lead a helicopter squadron over Khafji and certain sense we hadn't all been made fools fire rockets to back up allied ground troops, of, if they hadn't drawn us into a much larger remarked afterwards, "This war will not be game." a cakewalk. "There are 500,000 people up there," he Pressure on Germany and Japan said pointing north across the desert. "Some Washington and London have also been of them are going to fight. I know that." pressing the governments in Germany and Steele said, "Nobody is saying we'll be Japan to step up participation in the imperi home by Easter." alist war. Like the French ruling class, the German and Japanese imperialists stand to Bombing intensifies after battle lose the most if Washington succeeds in its As the battle at Khafji ended, the U.S. goal of wresting control of the Mideast oil imperialist-led forces increased their relent reserves through the war. less bombardment of Iraq. Some estimates Despite this, both the German and Japan put the total tonnage of bombs dropped on Jordanian newspaper photo of Iraqi woman injured by intense U.S. bombing raids ese governments have increased monetary Iraq and Kuwait above what was used during against Iraq. "We are human beings!" another Iraqi woman shouted at international and other contributions to the war effort. the whole of World War ll. reporters at the scene of bombing in Baghdad. While giving money to the U.S.- led coalition, On February 4, the Wall Street Journal neither have placed troops under U.S. mili reported that allied planes were flying lower tary command or played an active military in more potent bombing runs. Over the week In the rural town of AI Hillah, 60 miles manders want to use to spearhead ground role in the war, although Germany has some end of February 2, B-52 bombers pummeled south of Baghdad, residents said that a hous assaults are arriving from the American vn soldiers in Turkey. Iraqi Republican Guard troop positions. Brit ing area, a secondary school, and a children's Corps in Germany. Two-lane highways are In late January some British politicians ish and U.S. forces also bombed Iraqi ships, clinic were hit by bombs. In the village of AI crammed as military supply trucks file in. and news commentators accused the Ger sinking 24 and damaging several others. Haswa a crater about 50 yards in diameter Workers from Pakistan, Philippines, Korea, mans of "cowardice." To date the U.S.-led bombing has focused marked the impact of a bomb in a residential and elsewhere have been hired. The Wall Turkish President Turgut Ozal also com on military installations and economic targets neighborhood. Street Journal reported that a captain told plained about Bonn's refusal to state whether and infrastructure. But along with hitting "We ar~ human beings!" shouted one soldiers "before the end of February, you 'II it would defend Turkey if fighting broke out communications centers and munitions fac woman to reporters standing around a huge be advancing under live fire against targets with Iraq. Both Turkey and Germany are tories, the bombs explode on surrounding missile crater in Baghdad February 2. "This that shoot back." members of the North Atlantic Treaty Orga factories, residential areas, hotels, shops, and isn't a game, these are human lives!" she told One front-line colonel reminded a New nization (NATO), and are bound by treaties schools. reporter Alfonso Rojo of£/ Mundo. Another York Times reporter that intensive bombing to defend any NATO country under attack. The port city of Basra, in southern Iraq, woman leaned over a terrace and yelled, "Is raids by allied forces on German-occupied "The signal should go out that if Turkey is near the Kuwaiti border, has been one of the this what you call Western civilization?" France in 1944 during World War II did not attacked, let NATO be with Turkey," Ozal worst hit. Construction workers from the city Planes aiming at a telecommunications make it easy to invade. "We face something said in an interview broadcast on German interviewed in Jordan February 3 say the center in An Najaf, 120 miles south of the that bad, or worse, in my view," in a ground television. town is "ravaged by air strikes," according capital, bombed 50 houses as well. The New war against Iraq. The German government has also come to the British Broadcast Communications York Times reported at least 20 Iraqis were killed and dozens more wounded. U.S. Maj. Gen. William Pagonis, in charge under fire for its aid to the Hussein regime World Service. Bombing raids, which began of the logistics operation, described the plan On February 4 the outskirts of Baghdad in Iraq before the start of the conflict. German more selectively, intensified after January 28, being put into place to enable allied forces Scud mis came under even heavier bombardment from technicians helped redesign Iraq's hitting two oil refmeries, grain storage areas, to take Iraq inch-by-inch. He compared the three waves of allied aircraft that included siles, giving them longer range. French, Ital and one Muslim mosque, they said. effort being mounted in the desert to the ian, Soviet, and U.S. companies also aided B-52 bombers. A group of correspondents battles between the British and Germans in "We are human beings!" reported witnessing scenes of devastation in Iraq when it was fighting against Iran. north Mrica during World War ll. Because populated areas. Residents in other cities described what of logistics, he explained, the Germans had Cash from Germany was being done to the populated areas: Allied forces in position for ground war to return for supplies as they advanced but On January 29, German government From Ad Diwaniyah, Iraq, residents re the British brought theirs with them. spokesperson Dieter Vogel announced Ger ported that houses had been demolished the The same week U.S. Defense Secretary many would provide an additional $5.5 bil first day of the war along with hotels and Richard Cheney announced allied forces "The Iraqis are less organized than I ex lion in cash to the United States for the war shops in the business district, all near a tele would be in position for launching a ground pected," said Marine Capt. Michael Rocco, and send antiaircraft batteries and 580 sol communications center. Live footage shown invasion of Kuwait and Iraq by the end of who fought in the first ground battle at Khafji. diers to Turkey. February 2 on New Jersey's WPIX TV news February. Putting the last pieces in place, the "But they fight hard. Germany will also pay Britain $535 mil featured interviews with residents. A young allied military force massed in Saudi Arabia "I wouldn't say this war will be quick," lion to help out with British expenses in the man told reporters, "Your president is killing grew to more than 500,000 the week of he said, adding coldly, "Many people will war. our children!" February 4. Heavy tanks that allied com- die." 8 The Militant February 15, 1991 ...... Israeli government presses assault on Palestinians BY JAMES HARRIS sary of the founding of Fatah, one of the Every few days the cur Since Iraq's August 2 invasion of Kuwait organizations that make up the Palestinian few is lifted in different the Israeli government has stepped up its Liberation Organization (PLO). areas for a few hours to assault on the Palestinian people. allow people to get food While the big-business media throughout Curfew on West Bank and Gaza Strip and other supplies. Many the world has focused in on the Iraqi Scud Within minutes of the beginning of the residents report they are missile attacks on Israeli civilians areas, a U.S.-led imperialist bombing of Iraq the Is running low on food, rising number of Palestinians have been raeli government imposed a draconian cur money, and medical sup killed by Israeli government troops. The re few on Palestinians living in the West Bank plies. gime has further trampled on the Pales and the Gaza Strip. A form of mass house The curfew is the tinians' democratic rights, with 1.7 million arrest exists for the 1. 7 million Palestinians longest ever imposed by Palestinians now under virtual house arrest who live there -the Israeli army claims the the government in the on the West Bank and Gaza Strip. confmement is necessary to keep the Pales two areas since Israel oc The Israeli army killed 11 Palestinians in tinians from "exploiting the conflict with cupied them in 1967. the first week of January alone. This brings Iraq," reports the New York Times. The curfew is having the total number of Palestinians killed during - Saeb Erakat, a political science professor, a devastating impact on the economy of the re gion. Workers cannot go to their jobs, stores are not allowed to open, and families are pressed to live off their savings. Many of the more than 1 00,000 Palestinians who travel daily to and from the West Bank or Gaza Strip to jobs in Is Israeli soldier conducting a search in Jerusalem. Within rael are paid by the day. minutes of the beginning of the U.S.-led imperialist bombing This hardship is mag of Iraq the Israeli government imposed a draconian curfew nified by the fact that tens on Palestinians living in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Libya Egypt of thousands of Palestin- ians have been forced to flee the Gulf states. am now engaged in any intelligence gather Saudi Arabia Some 400,000 Palestinians lived and worked ing on behalf of any government or organi in Kuwait alone prior to the August 2 Iraqi zation .... It seems that the authorities want invasion of Kuwait. The pay of these workers to benefit from the present atmosphere of made up a substantial portion of the income dehumanizing Iraq to justify my arrest, which of Palestinian families. came for totally different reasons." Many Palestinians fear that even when the The Nusseibeh family also denies the Sudan curfew is lifted there will be fewer jobs to charges against him pointing out that he, like return to. This is because employers are hir other Palestinians, has been confined under ing some of the 200,000 recent Soviet immi the curfew at home. Nusseibeh is accused of grants to Israel for jobs that were formerly giving information to Iraq that could be used held by the Arab work force. The govern for firing missiles at Israel. ment has openly said that its aim is to cut the The total disdain of the Israeli government number of Arab workers in Israel by half. for the lives of Palestinians is also revealed by the fact that it has provided only 50,000 told The Christian Science Monitor how he the three-year intifada to 915 as of Jan. 7, Arrest of leaders gas masks for Arabs in the West Bank and 1991. The intifada, or uprising, is the sus learned about the curfew. The government has used the crackdown Gaza Strip at the same time it is giving masks tained rebellion of theP~ people that "Somebody called me from the states to to the roughly 100,000 Jewish settlers who began in December 1987. · tell me that war broke out in the Gulf. It was on democratic rights as an opportunity to strike out at particular Palestinian leaders. also live in these areas. In addition, there are Claiming the need to prevent the Palestin about 2:15 in the morning, January 17. At reports that Patriot missile crews have al Leading activist Sari Nusseibeh was ar ians from "getting out of control," Defense 2:30," he said, "we heard Israeli jeeps with lowed Scud missiles to land in the West Bank rested on charges of spying for Baghdad. He Minister Moshe Arens deployed army snip microphones telling us Jericho was under without firing at them, according to New York was sentenced to six months in jail - with ers along major roads in the West Bank at curfew and warning residents that if they left Newsday. out formal charges being filed or a trial. the end of 1990. At least half a dozen Pales their doors they would be shot at." Israel has parlayed Iraqi Scud missile at tinians had been wounded by the snipers Palestinians can be fined up to $15,000 for In a statement from prison Nusseibeh said: tacks into increased military aid from the U.S. before January 4. Army regulations permit breaking curfew, and there are reports of "I categorically deny the government state and German governments. Germany has Israeli soldiers to shoot Palestinian youth beatings, use of tear gas, and arbitrary arrests. ment, and assert that I have never been or agreed to deliver $670 million in aid to Israel. wearing masks. For the first time ever, U.S. military person Al-Fajr, a Palestinian weekly in Jerusa nel along with Patriot missile batteries are lem, stated that on December 29 Israeli sol Join the campaign stationed in the country under Israeli com diers shot and killed four Palestinians and mand. Israel has also asked the United States injured more than 600. They began firing at to get out the truth for another $13 billion in aid on top of the two masked youth writing graffiti on a wall $3 billion in economic and military aid the commemorating the twenty-sixth anniver- Order your bundle of 'International Socialist Review' Israeli government already receives yearly. join Militant readers and opponents of the U.S.-Ied war against Iraq in 300,000 in Morocco campaigning against the imperialist assault by helping distribute the International Socialist Review. Since December nearly 10,000 copies of the Strains on U.S.-Ied demand: Allied troops special supplement have been ordered: by MUitant supporters who have taken goals to get it out widely among unionists, farmers, Gls, and students; and by war coalition out of the Gulf! readers who have sent in coupons for bundles to sell in their areas. begin to surface More than 300,000 people demonstrated The supplement contains two articles by Socialist Workers Party leader jack in Rabat, the capital of Morocco, February 3 Barnes, "Working-class campaign against the imperialist war drive: Fighting the Continued from Page 8 employers' offensive at home and abroad" and "War and the communist demanding the withdrawal of allied troops, two a day, according to The Times of India. movement." including Moroccan soldiers, from the Arab Almost every opposition party, including the Persian Gulf. The Moroccan government has Barnes outlines the stakes for working people in the war in the Mideast, the former ruling Congress Party, has criticized sent 1,200 troops to Saudi Arabia and 500 fight being waged by Cuba against this war, the changes in the U.S. working the move. more to the United Arab Emirates as part of class that make it possible to carry out an effective campaign to mobilize the U.S.-led alliance fighting Iraq. unionists and other working people against imperialist war, and the prospects The Jordanian government has not joined in the anti-Iraq coalition. Jordanians, many The huge demonstration denounced the for building the communist movement today. of whom are Palestinian, overwhelmingly U.S., British, French, and Arab governments Bundles of the supplement may be for waging a massive war against the people ordered for $1 each for 10 or more, a 33 sympathize with Iraq. of Iraq. percent discount. Single copies are $1.50 The Saudi government cut the flow of oil "Bush is a murderer," was one of the each. Shipping is included. just send in the to Jordan in retaliation for its refusal to back slogans. "Assassin Bush, Mitterrand his dog, coupon below. the war effort. Jordan's only port is under a and Fahd his donkey," was another chant. de facto blockade by the U.S. alliance. As a Fahd is the king of Saudi Arabia. They also result, unemployment is up and food and Name ______chanted slogans in support of Iraq and carried medical supplies threatened. portraits of Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, Address ______Further increasing the pressure, the U.S. and the Palestine Liberation Organization has been bombing Jordanian oil tanker Chairman Yassir Arafat. City ______State __ Zip ____ trucks that drive from Baghdad to Amman, The demonstration was the first permitted even though the United Nations exempted by the Moroccan government since war Phone ------ oil imports from Iraq to Jordan from the broke out in the Mideast. Please send copies of the special embargo. Peter Hart, a correspondent for the British antiwar supplement. Enclosed is $ ____ Broadcasting Corp., estimated the march as Jordanian Foreign Minister Taber al-Masri "the biggest demonstration since indepen said that four Jordanians and one Egyptian dence was won in 1956." Mall to: the Militant, 410 West St., New York, had been killed on the highway in just two Morocco, formerly a Spanish and French N.Y. 10014. days by allied aircraft. protectorate, is located in northern Mrica and ''These brutal planes knew exactly what has a population of 25.6 million people. they were doing," Masri charged. February 15, 1991 The Militant 9 Korean in Hiroshima tells of devastation after atomic blast BY DOUG JENNESS fer as to the number killed outright, but some the day the bomb was dropped. The next HIROSHIMA, Japan -In the weeks estimates run as high as 120,000. If those morning he was scheduled to pass through leading up to their military invasion of Iraq, who died in the subsequent days, weeks, and Hiroshima on the way to Yamaguchi, where White House officials were raising the spec even years from related injuries and radiation he lived. "When I arrived in Hiroshima by ter of President Saddam Hussein's regime poisoning are included, the figure may be train I didn't know about the atomic attack," soon achieving the capacity to produce 200,000. Nearly 400,000 people suffered in he said. "There were rumors on the train that atomic weapons. some way directly from the attack. something drastic had happened but nobody That warning rings especially hollow in The city was turned to ashes for well over knew anything for sure, and nobody imag this city. A U.S. president, wholeheartedly a mile in every direction from the center of ined what really had happened. backed by the U.S. Congress, ordered the the bomb's impact. Some 90 percent of the "What I noticed first," he continued, "was dropping of an atomic bomb here on Aug. 6, residential areas were destroyed or seriously how far you could see. There were no build 1945. Three days later President Harry Tru damaged. Only a few structures were not ings left so you could look across the city. man ordered a second A-bomb attack, this totally demolished. Famous among them is You could still see dead people laying in the time on the Japanese city of Nagasaki. These the Hiroshima Prefecture Industrial Promo streets." remain the only atomic bombs used in war tion Hall, whose partially destroyed dome time, and Washington remains the only gov like structure still stands as a grim reminder A fiendish experiment ernment that has used them. of that terrible day. Hiroshima was chosen by U.S. military The devastation from each of these two In an interview here in December, Lee Sil brass as a target partly because it was the site bombs is unsurpassed for single bombs in all Gun, president of the Council of Atom of the largest military base in western Japan. of warfare. The Hiroshima Peace Memorial Bombed Koreans in Hiroshima Prefecture, But its physical features also offered favor Museum, here, documents the effects of the described his impression of Hiroshima the able conditions to experiment with the new holocaust that struck this city in a series of morning after the bomb attack. He was 16 at weapon's total destructive capacities. modest, but effective, displays. Sources dif- the time and had been in Kobe to buy rice Hiroshima is mostly located on a number of delta islands at the mouth of the Ota River and is surrounded on three sides by moun tains. This served to concentrate and worsen the impact of the blast on Hiroshima's dense population. Militant/Doug Jenness The two A-bombs were dropped even Monument in Hiroshima dedicated to though the Japanese government had offered the some 30,000 Korean victims of to negotiate a surrender. Washington was atomic bomb. Koreans, discriminated determined to get an unconditional surrender against in Japan, had to wage a 25-year and unleashing these new weapons was the fight for the marker. fastest way to achieve this, U.S. officials relieved. Moreover, the bombings were aimed at parents were farmers in the southern part of sending a chilling warning to the entire world Korea when the Japanese colonial officials that Washington intended to maintain its removed them from their farm and brought _ overwhelming military superiority in the them to Yamaguchi. There they were put to post-war period. work making charcoal. Many Korean workers in Hiroshima were A little-known chapter employed by Mitsubishi and Toyokgyo in One of the little-known facts about the large munitions factories. Conditions in the attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki is that a factories for Korean workers were particu disproportionately large number of the vic larly oppressive, Lee said. They were paid tims were Korean. Lee put the number killed very low wages and worked 12"18 hours a in Hiroshima at 30,000. Another 48,000 Ko day. "Often families only had millet to eat rear)5 were exposed to the radioactive fallout, because there wasn't enough money for he said. rice," he recalltid .' · The principal factories were not far from In 1945, 100,000 Koreans were living in the epicenter of the bomb blast. Workers had Hiroshima Prefecture Industrial Promotion Hall, one of the few buildings not flat Hiroshima Most of them, Lee explained, tened in 1945 after the US. government dropped an atom bomb on Hiroshima. "were brought as forced labor from Korea to just punched in and were at work when "Big work in factories and other jobs." His own Boy," as U.S. officials dubbed the big bomb, was released from a B-29 bomber. Although the number of Korean casualties was remarkably high, no public funerals or memorial ceremonies were carried out for Iowa unionists stand up to political police them as they were for Japanese victims. The first monument to Koreans killed in the nu BY PETER THIERJUNG way," he said. clear bomb blast was not erected until 1970. WASHINGTON, D.C.-Harold Searcy Unionists Searcy and Schenk Searcy discusses his political views And then it was not placed inside the Hiro is a 27-year-old worker who lives in Des with coworkers. "The plant is polarized" shima Peace Memorial Park, which covers Moines, Iowa. On January 26 he was one of keep explaining their views on the war issue and "a majority supports many acres, but was set across the Honkawa more than 125,000 people who marched in it," he said. But some coworkers are not River from the park. The monument was Washington, D.C., to protest the U.S. war in against war despite threats. convinced that the war is right. One co made possible by the efforts of the Hiroshima the Mideast. worker told Searcy that he did not like Prefecture Branch of the Organization of Just a few days before, agents of the U.S. A few days after the cops' visit Searcy what happened in Panama when U.S. Koreans Resident in Japan. Secret Service and Iowa Bureau of Criminal joined the Young Socialist Alliance. Follow forces invaded and does not like what is The inscription on the monument's plaque Investigation showed up at the Emco auto ing the antiwar demonstration he spoke to happening in the Middle East. points to one of the continuing problems parts plant where Searcy works. They at more than 400 people at an open house In interviews a week after the January 26 facing Korean victims of the A -bomb attack. tempted to intimidate him and a coworker, sponsored by the YSA. Searcy has been demonstration, Searcy and Schenk talked We "pray," the message reads, "that the plight Priscilla Schenk, by questioning them about active in People for Peace in the Middle about developments at their plant since the of the Korean survivors, poorly understood alleged threats against the lives of the presi East, a Des Moines antiwar group. cops appeared there. even today, will emerge into public aware dent of the United States and Iowa's governor. When he was a high school student, Searcy Schenk said that when she and Searcy ness and that reasonable assistance for these Searcy and Schenk have both been out considered himself a Republican. But several reported for work January 28, U.S. flags survivors will be provided immediately." spoken opponents of Washington's war in the experiences changed his outlook and helped and prowar paraphernalia cluttered their Lee, whose organization has been waging Mideast and Schenk is the Socialist Workers' him "to relate to what's happening to people work areas. The company has been on a a fight for the past 15 years to win aid for candidate for school board in Des Moines. all over the world," he said. prowar campaign that emboldened some Korean survivors, explained that most Ko- But they were not intimidated. ''There are Searcy said a summer spent in Mexico, workers, she said. "Support our troops" rean survivors aren't covered by any medical Q thousands of people who think like us and while he was still a teenager, had a major banners with names of coworkers in the plan. The survivors who still reside in Japan we are not going to go away," Searcy said in impact on him. He went there on a church military have been posted throughout the get a government Health Book like all resi an interview following the demonstration. He organized trip to help build a bible school. plant. dents which provides them with medical said the company had warned him last De The poverty and difficult conditions faced by compensation. "But this is only 540 people," On the other hand, Schenk said some cember to keep quiet about his antiwar and working people there deeply troubled him. Lee said. "Most of the A-bomb survivors workers have stepped up their discussions political views. Later Searcy married. He is now the father returned to Korea after World war II. The with her and Searcy. "They want to discuss "We are unionists, not just antiwar activ of a boy who is five years old and a girl, three 2,000 that went to North Korea automatically what the cops' visit was all about, what ists," he said and explained that the union's years old. Making ends meet and the burdens get free medical care, which is guaranteed we think about the war, and what happened contract with the company would be up for of raising a family led him to a few brushes every citizen. But the 20,000 who went to at the demonstration," she said. negotiation later this spring. The cop visit with homelessness. He recalled living out of the South get little or no protection." and the company's warnings are "a way to his car a few times and some stints in a Searcy reported that he was getting into Lee said that many ofthe survivors still suffer try to shut us up and intimidate all the work transient hotel where he met other workers more political discussions with a layer of from radiation sickness, and many others have ers," he explained. Searcy and Schenk are facing similar hardships. workers, while others have become less tol developed cancers that need treatment The members of the United Auto Workers union. erant of his views. medical costs can be exceedingly high. 'There had to be a different way' The highlight of the week, Searcy re The fight for medical aid has focused on Washington vs. our brothers and sisters Then two-and-a-half years ago, Searcy ported, was a January 31 phone call by a demanding that the Japanese government Asked what motivated him to participate began working at Emco. He met Schenk journalist from the Washington Post to the provide the necessary funds. Last May, in the January 26 protest, Searcy explained there, who introduced him to the Militant. company. "She was writing a story on First Tokyo pledged $26.5 million, but this is far that "all workers across the world are our He said that reading the Militant and at Amendment free speech rights during from sufficient, Lee stated. He said his orga brothers and sisters. In Iraq, our brothers and tending a Militant Labor Forum on the times of war and wanted to interview Pris nization is demanding $2.3 billion. sisters are being killed by the U.S. govern struggle against apartheid in South Africa cilla and me," Searcy said. The company When asked if the U.S. government, which ment." Washington "would rather slaughter helped open his eyes to what is happening took a message from the reporter for the was responsible for the bomb attack, had people than try to take care of the problems in the world and motivated him to consider two, who then called the newspaper back offered any compensation, Lee laughed bit people face," he said. socialism. "There had to be a different after work. terly. "Nothing!" he said. 10 The Militant February 15, 1991 Alabama miners push back company attack on safety
BY JOHN HAWKINS occurs when chemicals in the rock layers that BIRMINGHAM, Alabama- The fight form the floor are exposed to oxygen due to for safety in the mines has always been at the bottom heave. Explosions and cave-ins re center of efforts to build and maintain strong sulting from this condition have occured at miners unions. That remains the case today. mines around the world. Recently, miners at the Jim Walter Re Some miners speculated that the hot spot sources (JWR) No. 5 mine -members of was discovered before our vacation, but had United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) been kept from general knowledge at that Local 2368 - were reminded of that fact by time. Other hot spots had been previously a concerted company assault on mine safety. discovered and extinguished at the mine. Over long-standing· union objections JWR When the Mine Safety and Health Admin management decided to introduce a new istration (MSHA) inspectors found out about longwall ventilation plan. the hot spot they issued an order to prohibit If enacted, the plan would enable the com mining on the longwall section. The prohi Above, miner operating longwall pany to profit from the sale of methane gas, bition was to be in effect until a plan was mining machinery. Improper venti a byproduct of the new ventilation system. devised to control the spontaneous combus lation in underground mines can But the proposed plan would also place the tion, provide for monitoring of the area, and cause explosions, but the miners life ofevery worker at the mine in danger and insure safe and rapid evacuation of miners union is fighting to enact and defend encourage other companies using longwall should the hot spot get out of control. safety practices. At right is diagram mining to implement similar plans, placing But rather than moving rapidly to correct of longwall system. the lives of thousands more miners at risk. the situation and return to full production UMWA members at JWR, mine coal un following the two-week vacation, JWR man derground in one of the coal-mining centers agement decided to mount a pressure cam of the United States. paign against the union local. The real motive behind this company cam the 15th and to invite the local officials of all In longwall mining, a complete block of While MSHA did shut down the longwall paign, we explained, was profit. The methane the other JWR mines and the district officials coal is extracted by using a long machine that section, at no time during the forthcoming that was to build up in the gob was to be to attend. The meeting also decided to en shears back and forth along the width of the 10-week dispute did the agency issue an pumped out and sold to Black Warrior Meth courage local members to show up wearing block, cuts chunks of coal from the face, and order shutting down the entire mine. ane Co. JWR has contracts with Black War camouflage - as part of preparations to tum pushes it toward a conveyer belt that takes the rior for the sale of methane from coal the lockout into a strike if the company coal out of the mine. Miners operating the Attempt to weaken union degasification operations already in place at refused to move toward a plan that would get longwall system work under hydraulic roof First, JWR management hoped to stam its Brookwood, Alabama mines. us back to work in a safe environment. supports that advance electronically. pede the miners into accepting the company's The plan was to allow methane to build At the August 15 union meeting many The area offallen rock that remains behind new plan for ventilation. They also hoped to up to 98 percent, insuring that it was near attended wearing the camouflage. The ma a longwall machine as it moves along the divide and weaken the union, thereby dealing pipeline grade when it came out of the mine. jority of District 20 officials were on hand face is called the "gob." a stunning blow to the miners. When the local met again on Friday, July as were the presidents and safety committee The pretext for JRW's proposed change A few days before we were to return fr.em 15, the mine had not been shut down as chairmen of all the other UMWA locals at was the discovery of a "hot spot" in the mine vacation we were told that the vacation had predicted. Moreover, the company had sub the other JWR mines. floor near a longwall gob. It was discovered been "extended." This extension, with the mitted a revised plan that addressed some of In addition, the international union safety while workers were away from the mine exception of a less-than-ten-day period dur the most hazardous elements in the original director, Joe Main, flew in from Washington, during their regular vacation period. ing which the new ventilation scheme was plan. D.C., to participate in our discussions and "Hot spot" is the term used in the mining "tested," was to last for more than ten weeks. Although the UMWA international safety help negotiate with the company. industry to describe the occurrence of spon The new ventilation plan submitted by representative and many members of the A sober and reasoned discussion took taneous combustion in the mine floor. This JWR would seal the longwall gob com local felt that the revisions did not go far place about, the seriousness of the situation pletely, allowing methane gas in the sealed enough, the majority of the local wanted to we confronted and the stakes involved for gob area to rise through the explosive range give the plan a chance to work. So that is the union as a whole. Although strike action New! (between 5 and 15 percent of atmosphere for what was done. was discouraged, the discussion of taking methane), driving off oxygen and thereby Within three days after we returned to such action and the majority sentiment for it Malcolm X poster prevent spontaneous combustion. work under the new "Spontaneous Combus sent a clear message to the company. If it did According to the company, this was the tion Control Plan," the longwall section was not come up with a plan that the UMWA only way to insure that spontaneous combus shut down for half a shift due to leakage of could recommend for MSHA to approve, the tion would not occur in the longwall gob, methane gas from the seals built to enclose company faced the real possibility of a strike. thus the only way to keep the longwall run the gob area. On August 17, JWR submitted a new plan. ning - without which it would be unprofit UMWA safety experts with experience in This plan, too, was eventually rejected by able to operate the mine. sealed-gob mining operations (one UMWA MSHA upon the recommendation of the Miners at JWR No. 5 should not be con mine in Colorado operates under a sealed UMWA international safety department. So cerned, they argued, because this was the gob system) were brought in to help company was a third so-called "Spontaneous Combus "European method" of mining - the way it engineers improve the seal construction. This tion Control Plan." is done in British mines. involved the routing of air around the seals Ultimately the company decided to throw AunionmeetingwascalledJuly 11 todiscuss to equalize pressure inside and outside the in the towel - for the time being - and the company's proposed changes. Members of gob area, thereby preventing leakage. return to the original method of ventilating the local were told that if we did not accept this Despite these efforts, MSHA shut down In celebration of Black His the gob. In addition, company proposals in plan immediately the mine would be closed by the longwall section a week later when a well cluded increased monitoring to detect hot tory Month the Friends of the the following Friday - July 15. Pathfinder Mural has pro - designed to pump gas from the gob - spots, plans to flood the area of any possible A heated discussion ensued, with some was turned on "accidentally." This "un hot spots, and evacuation plans for miners duced a new fun-color poster miners arguing for acceptance of the planned" activation of the well lowered the featuring a portrait of Mal on the longwall and other sections of the colm X. company's demands. Their arguments concentration of methane toward the explo mine. echoed company propaganda that blamed the sive range. It also allowed the percentage of On September 17, the members ofUMWA The portrait of Malcolm X was delay in our return to work on the UMWA oxygen in the gob to rise high enough to painted on the six-story Path Local 2368 returned to work. international safety representative stationed support combustion. . We went back a bit more confident and finder Mural by artist and here in the union's District 20. He, it was Conditions that could have led to a mas sculptor Carole Byard. Byard secure in our power as a united and deter claimed, was pressing MSHA for too many sive and disastrous explosion were rapidly mined union. We had beaten back the teaches at Parsons School of restrictions on the company. corning into being. Design in New York City. She company's attempt to divide and weaken our Others said that the company was trying Again, the company's response to this union and use us as a wedge against the safety has exhibited in several anti to divide the union by setting the local against threat to miners' lives was to shut down apartheid shows as well as of miners across the country. the international in a situation where the production in the entire mine. They geared But the fight over the sealed-gob method shows on Black history and cul international was doing the right thing. up their propaganda campaign against the ture-winning numerous of mining is not over. Yet other workers, including myself, ar UMWA safety representative and threatened We also went back a lot more aware of the awards for painting, sculpture, gued that the company's description of the to close the mine permanently. and illustrations. need to know and understand in detail all "European method" of mining could not be aspects of mine safety. The 18" by 24" poster will be trusted. For example, in Britain, it left out the Union meetings held available mid-February. You This will make it more difficult for the indispensible role of the union, the National At three union meetings August 12, 13, company to get to first base in future attempts can order in advance by writing Union of Mine workers, in ensuring that min and 15, the debate in the local came to a head. to the Friends of the Pathfinder to divide and confuse us in their efforts to ing was done safely under this system. Members of the local intimidated by the push back our union and mine safety. Mural. Single posters are $8.00. company propaganda campaign and lock-o ut Bulk order rates are $6.00 each Closure threat: a bluff An explosion and fire at the Wilberg Mine, tactics dominated the August 12 meeting. in Orangeville, Utah, killed 27 miners in for 10 or more, $4.00 each for Most importantly, we argued that the threat They circulated a petition denouncing the 30 or more, and $3.00 each for 1984. In 1989, 10rninersdiedinanexplosion of a mine closure was a bluff designed to conduct of the UMWA international safety underground in the Pyro Mining Co.'s Wil 50 or more. Pre-paid orders throw us into panic and disarray. What we representative. They also got the local to send should include $2.50 for ship liam Station mine, in Wheatcroft, Kentucky. faced was not a layoff but an attempt to force a telegram calling on the international safety Only months later the same longwall mining ping and handling in the United us to make an unacceptable choice between director to appear before the local to defend States, and $5.00 for interna area at William Station was evacuated after safety and our jobs, using the so-called layoff the union ~s position. another flash. tional shipping per order. as economic pressure against us. That is, what At the meeting on the 13th, however, the According to a UMWAspokesperson at the Order from: Friends of the we faced, was a de facto lockout. mood was more combative. Those who re Pathfinder Mural, 191 Seventh union's office in Washington, D.C., 67 miners The rank and file did not have to make fused to be cowed by the lock-out tactics of died in underground accidents in 1990. Avenue, New York, New York, this choice, we argued. If we held firm we the company and were prepared to fight won 10011. (212) 727-8421. could force the company to resume work on the day. John Hawkins is a member of United Mine our terms. It was decided to hold another meeting on Workers of America, Local 2368. February 15, 1991 The Militant 11 CALENDAR ALABAMA MICHIGAN of Machinists Lodge 641, recently on strike boul. St-Laurent. Donation: $3. Sponsor: Forum against Eastern; Andrew Mitchell, retired tobacco Lutte Ouvriere. Tel: (514) 273-2503. Birmingham Detroit worker and farmer; Naomi Craine, Socialist Discuss the Middle East War with the Young Black History Month Series. "The Crisis Facing Israel and the Fight for Palestinian Liberation. Workers Party candidate for Greensboro City Socialists. Every Sun., 3 p.m. 6566 boul. St-Laur Black Farmers." Speaker: Kathie Fitzgerald, So Speakers: Joan Levitt, Socialist Workers Party, Council. Sun., Feb. 10, 7 p.m. 2219 E Market. ent. Tel: (514) 273-2503. member United Mine Workers Local 2368; Dr. cialist Workers Party. Sat., Feb. 9, 7:30p.m. "Mal Donation: $3. Sponsor: Militant Labor Forum. Mass Student Demonstration against the Mid Ruth Lamonte, longtime Palestinian activist. Sat., colm X in Today's World." Video presentation. Tel: (919) 272-5996. east War. Wed., Feb. 13, 3 p.m. McGill Univer- Feb. 9, 7:30p.m. Ill 21st St. S. Donation: $3. Sat., Feb. 16,11 a.m. and 7:30p.m. "South Africa: . sity, corner of Sherbrooke and McGill. Sponsor: Sponsor: Militant Labor Forum. Tel:. (205) 323- One Year After Mandela's Release," Sat., Feb. 23, Coalition Against the War in the Arab-Persian 7:30p.m. Speaker: Roger Jardine, South African WEST VIRGINIA 3079. Gulf. Tel: (514) 253-9898 or 987-7042. Malcolm X in Thday's W»rld. Speaker: John student just returned from two-month visit home. Morgantown Hawkins, Socialist Workers Party candidate for 50l9Yz Woodward Ave. Donation: $3. Sponsor: Blacks in US. Wars and the Fight against Rac Vancouver mayor. Sat., Feb. 16, 7:30 p.m. Ill 21st St. S. Militant Labor Forum. Tel: (313) 831-1177. ism. Speaker: Kibwe Diarra, Socialist Workers The Fight for Native Rights Today. Speakers: Donation: $3. Sponsor: Militant Labor Forum. Party, Vietnam-era veteran and member United Kelly White, from Salish Nation; Ron Dan, from Tel: (205) 323-3079. MINNESOTA Transportation Union. Sat., Feb. 9, 7:30p.m. 221 Lil'wat Peoples Movement. Sat., Feb. 9, 7:30 Austin Pleasant St. Donation: $3. Sponsor: Militant p.m. 1053 Kingsway, Suite 102. Donation: $3. ARIZONA Wlr and Recession: The Government OtTemive Labor Forum. Tel: (304) 296-0055. Sponsor: Militant Labor Forum. Tel: (604) 872- Phoenix against W»rkers at Home and Abroad. Speakers: 8343. Malcolm X On the Fight against Imperialist Henry Zamarr6n, Socialist Workers Party candidate • Korea: Mideast \\ar Thday and Lessons of the Wlr. Speaker: Harvey McArthur, Socialist Work for Legislative District 32-B; Gale Shangold, co Korean Wlr. Speaker: George Johnson, Socialist Workers Party, former GI stationed in Korea. ers Party, member United Food and Commercial chair, SWP Campaign Committee; Gerardo BRITAIN Workers Local 99R. Translation to Spanish. Sat., Sanchez, SWP candidate for St Paul Board of Ed Cardiff Sun., Feb. 17,6 p.m. 1053 Kingsway, Suite 102. Donation: $3 . Sponsor: Militant Labor Forum. Feb. 16. 7:30p.m. 1809 W Indian School Rd. ucation. Translation to Spanish. Sat, Feb. 9. Recep US. Hands Off the Mideast: Cuba's Campaign Tel: (604) 872-8343. Donation: $3. Sponsor: Militant Labor Forum tion, 7 p.m.; program, 7:30p.m. 4071,1 N Main St. against the Imperialist W..r. Speaker: Debbie de /Foro Perspectiva Mundial. Tel: (602) 279-5850. Sponsor: Minnesota Socialist Workers Campaign Lange, member Rail, Marine, Transport Union, Committee. Tel: (507) 433-3461. recently returned from Cuba. Sat., Feb. 9, 7 p.m. NEW ZEALAND Moira Terrace, Adamsdown. Donation:£ 1. Spon CALIFORNIA St. Paul sor: Militant Forums. Tel: 0222-484677. Auckland W..rtime Attacks on \\brkers' Rights: The Ex Los Angeles The Fight against Imperialist W..r: \\brld W..r London War and Attacks on Democratic Rights. I to Today. Every Wed., Jan. 23-Feb. 27, 5 p.m. perience of \\brld War II and the Korean W..r. University of Minnesota, Room 308, Coffman Why the US. Lost the Cold War. Speaker: rep Speaker: Jock Barnes, longtime trade union leader Speaker: Nelson Blackstock, author, Cointelpro: resentative, Communist League. Fri., Feb. 8, 7:30 The FBI's Secret War on Political Freedom. Sat., Union. Sponsor: Young Socialist Alliance Tel: and antiwar fighter. Sat., Feb. 16, 7 p.m. 157 a Sym (612) 644-6325. p.m. 47 The Cut, SE l. Donation: £1. Sponsor: onds St. Sponsor: Socialist Forum. Tel: (9) 793-075. Feb. 9, 7:30p.m. 2546 W Pico Blvd. Donation: Militant Forums. Tel: 71-401-2409. $3. Sponsor: Militant Labor Forum/Foro Per Wellington spectiva Mundial. Tel: (213) 380-9460. MISSOURI Manchester What \\brld Wars I and II Can Teach Us about St. Louis The Korean War and the Struggle for Korean the W..r in the Gulf. Sat., Feb. 16, 7 p.m. 23 Oakland Reunification. Fri., Feb. 15,7:30 p.m. Unit 4, 60 Tbe Attacks on Democratic Rights Today: A Defend the Right to Speak Out against the Majoribanks St., Courtenay Pl. Sponsor: Socialist W..r: Protest the Attacks on the Socialist W»rk Shudehill. Donation: £1. Sponsor: Militant Fo Forum. Donation: Tel: (4) 844-205. Panel Discussion. Sat., Feb. 9, 7:30 p.m. 3702 rums. Tel: 061-839 1766. Telegraph Ave. Donation: $3. Sponsor: Militant ers Campaign! Speakers to be announced. Sat., Discussions on Fight against Imperialism and Labor Forum. Tel: (415)420-1165. Feb. 9, 7:30p.m. 4907 Martin Luther King Dr. W..r. Every Thurs., 7:30p.m. 23 Majoribanks St., Donation: $3. Sponsor: Socialist Workers Cam CANADA Courtenay Pl. Sponsor: Young Socialists. Tel: (4) GEORGIA paign. Tel: (314) 361-0250. Montreal 844-205. Malcolm X and the Fight against Imperialist Canada-US.-Mexico Free Trade: The Stakes Stop the Gulf W..r! Emergency action on day Atlanta Wlr. Speakers to be announced. Sat., Feb. 16, for W»rking People. Speaker: Robert Simms, U.S.-led invasion of Iraq begins. Rally, 5 p.m. W»rking-Ciass Campaign against the Imperi 7:30p.m. 4907 Martin Luther King Dr. Donation: Communist League. Sat., Feb. 9, 7:30p.m. 6566 Cenotaph, near Parliament. alist Wlr Drive. Class series. Every Wed. through $3. Sponsor: Militant Labor Forum. Tel: (314) Feb. 20. 132 Cone St. NW, 2nd floor. Sponsor: 361-0250. Young Socialist Alliance. Tel: (404) 577-4065. NEBRASKA Books for working-class ILLINOIS Omaha Chicago The Fight of Family Farmers Thday. Speakers: Blacks in America's Wlrs. Sat., Feb. 9, 7 p.m. Ted Leonard, Socialist Workers Party, just re campaign against the war 545 W Roosevelt Rd. Donation: $3. Sponsor: turned from Farmers Network Conference in . Militant Labor Forum. Tel: (312) 829-6815 or Britain; Arlo Hoppe, member Nebraska Farmers Pathfinder publishes a number of books and pamphlets that are 829-7018. Union. Translation to Spanish. Sat., Feb. 9, 7 p.m. valuable weapons for working people opposed to the imperialists' Chicago Socialist Workers 1991 Mayoral 140 S 40th St. Donation: $3. Sponsor: Militant war in the Mideast. Below is a selection of titles documenting Campaign Rally. Speaker: James Warren, So Labor Forum/Foro Perspectiva Mundial. Tel: cialist Workers Party candidate for mayor. Sat., (402) 553-0245. earlier opposition to imperialist war, and assaults on the unions Feb. 16,7 p.m. 545 W Roosevelt Rd. Donation: and democratic rights at home since the 1930s. $3. Sponsor: 1991 Chicago SWP Campaign NEW JERSEY Committee. Tel: (312) 829-6815 or 829-7018. Newark Grand Reopening ofthe Pathfinder Bookstore: MARYLAND Malcolm X and the Fight against Imperialist Baltimore W..r. Speakers: Burnet Moise, Young Socialist US. Invasion of Panama: One Year After. Alliance; Yvonne Hayes, Socialist Workers Party; Speaker: Arturo Griffith, Panamanian activist re Julie Nalibov, Palestine Solidarity Committee; cently returned from three-week visit to Panama. others. Translation to Spanish, French. Sat., Feb. Sat., Feb. 9. Dinner, 6 p.m.; program, 7:30p.m. 9. Dinner, 6:30p.m.; program, 7:30p.m.; party to Donation: dinner, $3; program, $4. 2913 follow. 141 Halsey St., 2nd floor. Donation: $7, Greenmount Ave. Sponsor: Militant Labor $3 program only. Sponsor: Militant Labor Forum Forum. Tel: (301)235-0013. /Foro Perspectiva Mundial. Tel: (201) 643-3341.
MASSACHUSETTS NEW YORK Malcolm X Talks Out Now! Teamster Boston Manhattan to Young People A participant's Bureaucracy Face of U.S. Canada at Wlr: Its Forces Sent to the Arab Malcolm X and the Fight against Imperialist Speeches in the account of the The trade union Politics Persian Gulf; \\brkers and Native Peoples W..r. Speakers: Derrick Bracey, National Execu tive Committee, Young Socialist Alliance; repre U.S., Britain and movement in the campaign against The proletarian under Attack. Speaker: Carol Montpeltier, Com Mrica, 110 pp., U.S. against the World War II, by party and the n tunist League of Canada Translation to Spanish, sentative, Socialist Workers Party. Sat., Feb. 9, french. Sat., Feb, 9, 7:30p.m. 605 Massachusetts 7:30p.m. 191 7th Ave. Donation: $4. Sponsor: $9.95 Vietnam War, Farrell Dobbs, trade unions, Ave. Donation: $3. Sponsor: Militant Labor Militant Labor Forum. Tel: (212) 675-6740. by Fred Halstead, 304 pp., $17.95 by Jack Barnes, Forum. Tel: (617)247-6772. 759 pp., $29.95 346 pp., $18.95 Blacks in America's Wlrs. Panel discussion. NORTH CAROLINA Sat., Feb. 16, 7:30p.m. 605 Massachusetts Ave. Greensboro Available from Pathfinder bookstores listed on page 12. Or by mail from Pathfinder, 410 West St., New Donation: $3. Sponsor: Militant Labor Forum. The W..r at Home and Abroad. Speakers: Rich York, N.Y. 10014. Please include $1 for each book for postage and handling. Tel: (617) 247-6772. ard Lefteris, president International Association -IF YOU LIKE THIS PAPER, LOOK US UP
Where to find Pathfinder books and distribu KENTUCKY: Louisville: P.O. Box 4103. Pittsburgh: 4905 Penn Ave. Zip 15224. Tel: Sheffield: 2A Waverley House, 10 Joiner St., tors of the Militant, Perspectiva Mundial, New Zip: 40204-4103. (412) 362-6767. Sheffield S3 8GW. Tel: 0742-729469. Intemational, Nouvelle lnternationale, and MARYLAND: Baltimore: 2913 Green TEXAS: Houston: 4806 Almeda. Zip: Lutte ouvnere. mount Ave. Zip: 21218. Tel: (301) 235-0013. 77004. Tel: (713) 522-8054. CANADA MASSACHUSETTS: Boston: 605 Mas UTAH: Price: 253 E. Main St. Mailing ad Montreal: 6566, boul. St-Laurent. Postal UNITED STATES sachusetts Ave. Zip: 02118. Tel: (617) 247- dress: P.O. Box 758. Zip: 84501. Tel: (801) code: H2S 3C6. Tel: (514) 273-2503. ALABAMA: Birmingham: Ill 21st St. 6772. 637-6294. Salt Lake City: 147 E 900 South. Toronto: 410 Adelaide St. W., Suite 400. South. Zip: 35233. Tel: (205) 323-3079, 328- MICHIGAN: Detroit: 5019'1.! Woodward Zip: 84111. Tel: (801) 355-1124. Postal code: M5V ISS. Tel: (416) 861-1399. 3314. Ave. Zip: 48202. Tel: (313) 831-1177. WASHINGTON, D.C.: 523 8th St. SE. Zip: Vancouver: 1053 Kingsway, Suite 102. ARIZONA: Phoenix: 1809 W. Indian MINNESOTA: Austin: 407'1.! N. Main. Zip: 20003. Tel: (202) 547-7557. Postal code: V5V 3C7. Tel: (604) 872-8343. School Rd. Zip: 85015. Tel: (602) 279-5850. 55912. Tel: (507) 433-3461. Twin Cities: 508 WASHINGTON: Seattle: 1405 E. Madison. CALIFORNIA: Los Angeles: 2546 W. Pico N. Snelling Ave., St. Paul. Zip: 55104. Tel: (612) Zip: 98122. Tel: (206) 323-1755. ICELAND Blvd. Zip: 90006. Tel: (213) 380-9460. Oak 644-6325. WEST VIRGINIA: Charleston: 1586 E. Reykjavik: Klapparstfg 26. Mailing address: land: 3702 Telegraph Ave. Zip 94609. Tel: MISSOURI: St. Louis: 4907 Martin Luther Washington St. Mailing address: P.O. Box 5398. P. Box 233, 121 Reykjavik. Tel: (91) 17513. (415) 420-1165. San Francisco: 3284 23rd St. King Dr. Zip: 63113. Tel: (314) 361-0250. Zip: 25311 . Tel: (304) 345-3040. Morgantown: Zip: 94110. Tel: (415) 282-6255. NEBRASKA: Omaha: 140 S. 40th St. Zip: 221 Pleasant St. Zip: 26505. Tel: (304) 296- NEW ZEALAND CONNECTICUT: New Haven: Mailing ad 68131. Tel: (402) 553-0245. 0055. Auckland: 157a Symonds St. Postal Ad dress: P.O. Box 16751, Baybrook Station, West NEW JERSEY: Newark: 141 Halsey. Zip: dress: P.O. Box 3025. Tel: (9) 793-075. Haven. Zip: 06516. 07102. Tel: (201) 643-3341. AUSTRALIA Sydney: 19 Terry St., Surry Hills, Sydney Christchurch: 593a Colombo St. (upstairs). FLORIDA: Miami: 137 NE 54th St. Zip: NEW YORK: New York: 191 7th Ave. Zip: NSW 2010. Tel: 02-281-3297. Postal address: P.O. Box 22-530. Tel: (3) 656- 33137. Tel: (305) 756-1020. Tallahassee: P.O. 10011. Tel: (212) 727-8421. 055. Box 20715. Zip: 32316. Tel: (904) 877-9338. NORTH CAROLINA: Greensboro: 2219 BRITAIN Wellington: 23 Majoribanks St., Courtenay GEORGIA: Atlanta: 132 Cone St. NW, 2nd E Market. Zip 27401. Tel: (919) 272-5996. Cardiff: 9 Moira Terrace, Adamsdown. Pl. Postal address: P.O. Box 9092. Tel: (4) 844- Floor. Zip: 30303. Tel: (404) 577-4065. OHIO: Cleveland: 1863 W. 25th St. Zip: Postal code: CF2 IEJ. Tel: 0222-484677. , 205. ILLINOIS: Chicago: 545 W. Roosevelt Rd. 44113. Tel: (216) 861-6150. Columbus: P.O. London: 47 The Cut. Postal code: SEI 8LL. Zip: 60607. Tel: (312) 829-6815, 829-7018. Box 02097. Zip: 43202. Tel: 71-401 2293. SWEDEN IOWA: Des Moines: 2105 Forest Ave. Zip: PENNSYLVANIA: Philadelphia: 9 E. Manchester: Unit 4, 60 Shudehill. Postal Stockholm: Vikingagatan 10. Postal code: 50311. Tel: (515) 246-8249. Chelten Ave. Zip: 19144. Tel: (215) 848-5044. code: M4 4AA. Tel: 061-839 1766. S-113 42. Tel: (08) 31 69 33.
12 The Militant February 15,1991 -THE GREAT SOCIETY------.:;______Of course - Responding to an They do care- When Wil weapons purchases."- Los Ange Taking matters in firm hand, she No mink body bags? -Andre <· (- American Civil Liberties Union liam Hart, 75, was captured in his les Times. ordered the contractor to paint them Van Pier, a New York designer, is protest, the FBI said iDi interrogation wheelchair after hitting a San With justice for all- When blue to better fit the skyline." using gas masks slung over the of Arab-Americans about "terror Diego bank for $70 to buy heart Harlem's tiny Freedom National New Zealand Herald. shoulder in his spring collection of ism" were strictly voluntary and medicine, the feds moved to pros Bank had to shut down, federal reg Really?- "NEW YORK - "war fashions." He features a cam ecute. But in the wake of publicity, ulators refused to pay off uninsured Uninsured hospital patients get ouflage collection lined in gold silk. Up to $4,000. they decided not to -provided he depositors, including such institu fewer expensive treatments and die stays out of trouble for a year. De tions as the United Negro College at up to triple the rate of patients clared warm-hearted Chief Assis Fund. Meanwhile, the regulators who have insurance, a nationwide Thought for the week-"It's tant U.S. Attorney James agreed to cover all deposits in the study found." - News item. hard to convince me that you own Brannigan, "We'll give him a huge, bust Bank of New England, Dido 't need crystal ball - "I a piece of property until you can Harry including accounts in overseas break if he keeps his nose clean." don't think they're sitting around stand on it. You might fly over it, Ring branches. watching Redskins reruns."- A spit on it, napalm it, or make it an Can'tfundWWIV? -"Anun Royal blue, of course-"LON Washington-area pizza operator uninhabitable moonscape. But folks could simply decline to be likely casualty of the Persian Gulf DON - Say what you will, Queen noting the record number of late there are people who would dis interviewed. A spokesperson did War might be the defense industry Elizabeth has keen taste. Looking night deliveries to the White House pute whether you own it. To con add that those who declined would itself.... The cost of the war effort out on the ... construction going on and Pentagon on the eve of the Gulf trol the town, you have to sit in be "referenced" in agency files, but is potentially so great that it could around Windsor Castle, she was invasion. He said it was the same city hall."- Maj. Gen. Bruce Ja only so that they "would not be deplete defense budgets - long struck by how the red cranes clashed just before the invasion of Grenada cobs (ret.) on why a Gulf ground contacted again." into the future -of money for new so badly with their surroundings. and Panama. war is needed. Greek government to use army patrols in Athens
BY ARGIRIS MALAPANIS resignation of the Minister of Education On January 29 the Greek government an and the rescinding of the bill it) mid-Jan nounced that it would begin using army uary. troops, in addition to police, to patrol the Chants of "Stop the war," "Americans streets of Athens and other major cities. The murderers of peoples," and "Bring the Lim government will also increase security on nos back," rang out in the center of Athens military installations, government buildings, as 30,000 demonstrators took to the streets and businesses. on January 17, hours after the massive bomb The decision was announced after bombs ing of Iraq had begun. Lfmnos is the frigate exploded at the offices of American Express, dispatched by the Greek government to the the British Barclay's Bank, other multina Arab-Persian Gulf as part of the U.S.-led tional corporations, and the office of the forces · there. According to the January 20 French military attache in Athens. No injuries issue of the Greek weekly Virna, the ship has were reported in the blasts. been placed under U.S. command. Yannis Vassiliades, the Minister of Public A demonstration of more than 50,000, took Order, blamed "November 17," an alleged place in Athens on January 24. In Thes terrorist group, for the bombings. "It seems saloniki, Greece's second largest city, 20,000 that Greek terrorists have made an alliance marched on January 26 as part of interna with [Iraqi President] Saddam Hussein," Vas tional antiwar actions. Both actions were siliades was quoted as saying in the New York called by peace groups, several trade unions, Times. and student organizations. The move came as the government ran "Out with the bases of death" was a major into stiff opposition in its attempts to impose slogan in these marches. There are four U.S. austerity measures on the population and a military bases in Greece. wave of protests that have swept the country, According to Eleftherotipia, a Greek daily, organized against the U.S.-led war in the the two U.S. bases at Souda and Goumon in Middle East. Crete, a Greek island in the southeastern Washington will provide Greece with Stinger missiles, M-60 tanks, and M-113 ar mored personnel carriers. Greek military officials say this will help to counterbalance On January 1 11 the police attacked a Mediterranean close to the northern coast of 50,000-strong peaceful demonstration in Egypt, "have been transformed into a station U.S. military aid to Thrkey (at right on map). Athens, resulting in four deaths and 100 for the military resupply of U.S. and other injuries. The student march was organized to western aircraft arriving from European cit against the war. City labor councils in Crete ment was struck for Washington to provide ies on their way to the Gulf." The operations protest the killing of a high school teacher and other unions have called for a one-day Greece with 400 Stinger missiles, 559 M-60 include U.S. bombers and other aircraft fly by right-wing thugs in the city of Patra a strike against the war the same day. Rallies tanks and 300 M-113 armored personnel ing from NATO bases in Spain to Saudi week earlier. will take place outside U.S. bases and most carriers. Pentagon officials reportedly agreed These actions were the culmination of Arabia. major cities in Crete. to help modernize the Greek army. In ex At a conference of peace organizations, a six-week nationwide occupation of most Smaller protests of several dozen have change, the U.S. government would be al elected officials from cities in Crete, repre high schools. Students and teachers were taken place in Rhodes, a Greek island off the lowed wider use of Greek military facilities demanding the government rescind a bill sentatives of the General Confederation of western coast of Turkey. The actions took during the war. that would have resulted in major cutbacks Greek Trade Unions and the Confederation place after news broke out that eight British in education, stricter rules of conduct for of Public Workers - the two major national The New York-basedGreeklanguagedaily fighter jets landed there on their way to the Proini reported Greek military officials as students, and increased police surveillance trade union federations, and others have Gulf, January 19. The Greek government, in schools. The mobilizations forced the called for a February 8 day of actions in Crete saying these moves are being taken in order after attempting to keep news of the landings "to counterbalance part of the [U.S. military] secret, refused to disclose the purpose of the aid to Turkey, which, as a result of the Gulf aircrafts' stay in Rhodes. war, has reversed the balance of power in the Canadian unionists campaign to These moves unfolded against the back Aegean Sea." drop of a recent visit to Washington by Greek Foreign Minister Antonios Samaras. Athens Alexandra Topitzis ,from Athens, and Bobbis sell antiwar books to coworkers News, an English-language daily published Misailidis from Thessaloniki, Greece, con in Athens, reported February I that an agree- BY SUSAN BERMAN finder book U.S. Hands Off the Mideast! tributed to this article. MONTR..EAL, Quebec - As elsewhere Cuba Speaks Out at the United Nations to in the world, the imperialists' war in the coworkers and fellow unionists. Middle East is the center of discussions in Unionists in the Canadian Auto Workers -10AND25 YEARSAGO-- factories, mines, and mills in Canada. Mem (CAW) are aiming to sell 10 subscriptions, bers of four industrial trade unions here have 20 International Socialist Reviews, and 10 been campaigning against the war by selling books. subscriptions to the Militant, copies of the THE MILITANT THE CAW member Janet Fisher at McDonnell International Socialist Review, and the Path- Douglas reported that in the week following Feb.13,1981 MILITANT the opening of the war, coworkers bought Published in the Interests of the Working People seven copies of the International Socialist Union officials, workers at Lockheed's Feb. 14, 1966 Pri~ !Oc Review, one copy of Malcolm X Speaks to Burbank, California, plant and others here Young People, and two copies of U.S. Hands "Cuba Will have joined Chris Hoeppner to demand that Between four and five thousand students Off the Mideast! Lockheed rehire him and fourteen other at the University of California here walked Never Adopt She reports that, "One young coworker workers fired from its Marietta, Georgia out of classes this afternoon to attend a rally who bought the book said, 'I will read this, plant. against the war. my daughter will read this, my daughter's All 15 are members of the International The walkout climaxed three days of inten Capitalist daughter will read this. This is history.'" Association of Machinists Lodge 7Cf). Four sive antiwar activity at the Berkeley campus; Another worker, upon seeing Fidel Castro's teen are also members of the Socialist Work On Monday and Tuesday, students at Methods" name on the Mideast book commented, "I've ers Party and the Young Socialist Alliance. tempted to tum their classrooms into discus always admired that man. He's done so much Hoeppner was in Los Angeles to win sup sions on the war. Four hundred teaching Excerpts from for his people. I want to read this." port for the fired workers. assistants voted to endorse the plan for class Members of the International Association "Sworn testimony by a Lockheed security room discussions, and they were held in Fidel Castro's of Machinists, United Steelworkers of Amer cop and internal company documents that more than one-third of the classes. ica, Amalgamated Clothing and Textile we have obtained show that we were singled The Vietnam Day Committee (VDC), July 26, 1988 speech out for our political ideas and activities," Workers Union, and the Canadian Auto which organized all of the activities, pre 32 pp. pamphlet, $2.50 Workers have taken goals totalling 36 sub said Hoeppner at a meeting sponsored by the pared a packet of literature on the war, which scriptions, 50 International Socialist Re Militant Forum. was passed out to the stUdents. Order from Pathfinder,410 West St., These firings are not simply an attack on The VDC has held rallies almost every New York, N.Y. 10014. Please views, and 35 books. As of January 26, a total socialists, he said. ''They are an attack on the day for the past week, of 500 to 1,000 stu include $1 for postage and handling. of 51 items have been sold, 31 percent of the whole union movement." dents. target. February 15, 1991 The Militant - 13 -EDITORIALS ~ •.:A n:ewspaper -that doesn't Build Feb. 21 antiwar protests censor itself The February 21 international antiwar mobilizations, countering the patriotic and prowar propaganda from the BY DOUG JENNESS called by the National Student and Youth Campaign for government and big-business media. Such actions help Those of you who recently subscribed to the Militant will Peace in the Middle East, are being organized in dozens of reach out to those who want to fmd out about and discuss receive a phone call or visit from one of our supporters cities. Building these events as broadly as possible should the real aims of imperialism, those who can be drawn into during the last two weeks of this month. They will ask what be the central activity of youth, students, workers, farmers, active opposition to the war. you think of the Militant and suggest that you renew your unionists, Gls, and others opposed to Washington's widen Leading up to these actions, unionists can spread the subscription. ing war against Iraq. word in their plants, mines, and refineries and discuss the Some of you have already received letters from our The demands put forward by the Student and Youth protests with coworkers and at union meetings. Fighting circulation director urging you to extend your subscription. Campaign- "Stop the war!" and "Bring all the troops workers can join with students and youth on college and Others will start getting them soon. You will receive four home now!"- help in building opposition to the war. They high school campuses to reach out and build participation letters before your·subscription lapses. set a clear and unambiguous course against Washington's . in the events. You don't need a hard sell to decide whether or not to policies. Through press conferences, picket lines, leafleting, and continue getting the paper; After a few weeks of reading the The February 21 actions have been called at an important speak-outs and teach-ins, students and other youth can reach Militant, you can judge for yourself what you think of it. One stage in the war. Unable to defeat the Iraqi people through out to neighboring campuses, military bases, and working thing to consider, however, is the special role the Militant the most intense and sustained bombing campaign ever seen, class communities with the news of the upcoming actions plays in campaigning against, reporting on, and explaining Washington is now preparing to launch an invasion of the and the truth about Washington's war. the political stakes in Washington's war in the Middle East. country, opening up a bloody ground war. This will result Renewing your subscription and reading the paper every in tens of thousands of dead and wounded among civilians Getting the facts and information into the hands of and soldiers on both sides of the conflict, as Iraqi territory workers and farmers in uniform is especially important. is fought for mile by mile. Washington and its allies are preparing to use these young The true horror of the character and scope of the war the men and women as cannon fodder in the conflict. LEARNING ABOUT imperialists in Washington, Ottawa, and London have begun The actions that working people take today as the war is becoming apparent to millions of working people around begins will lay an important basis for building a sustained SOCIALISM the world. opposition to imperialism and its war. Many people who Polarization, debate, and discussion on the war will now support the war will become open to opposing it as it week is one of the most important things to do to join in the deepen as a result. Mobilizing in the streets those opposed continues. An important part of speeding that day is a visible fight against the employers' war at home and abroad. to Washington's war of imperial conquest is a vital part of public opposition that is active in the streets. Most of you have become increasingly conscious of how the big daily newspapers and the TV and radio broadcasters chew on the least significant things hour after hour, day after day. While at first this may seem to be only banal chatter, it becomes clearer over time that the media is an Reject 'patriotic' prowar pleas unabashed instrument for promoting Washington's war pol icy. Virtually all commentators and reporters have aban doned even the pretense of objectivity as they continually The January 27 New York Times editorial responding to an all-out imperialist war of conquest in the Middle East. refer to the U.S. government's actions and policies as "ours." the massive antiwar demonstrations held the day before is While the Iraqi regime's invasion of Kuwait violates the The White House and the Pentagon have imposed oner just one example of attempts by the big-business media to sovereignty of that country and should be condemned, the ous restrictions on the press in the war theater - measures corral those who are debating, discussing, or protesting Times supports the war and urges others to do the same. It that need to be vigorously condemned. In general, however, against the imperialist war into a patriotic prowar frame claims Washington has the right to intervene in any region reporters have accepted the restraints, despite a few bleat work. of the world where imperialist interests are threatened - ings of protest. And even worse, they engage in self-cen Recognizing the size and importance of the January 26 all the betterif it is handed an excuse to do so on a silver sorship and tailor their reporting to the official statements demonstrations compelled the Times to attempt to rebuff platter. of military spokespersons. the main demands of the 125,000 who marched in Wash While the Times condemns Baghdad for seeking greater The Militant doesn't pretend to be neutral. As we say on ington, D.C. control of the vast oil resources of the Arab-Persian Gulf it our masthead, our paper is "published in the interests of Most of the demonstrators "would agree with Vice Pres is Washington that is now driving to acheive that goal. But working people." This doesn't mean we don't strive to be ident [Dan] Quayle about the need to support America's the Times defends Washington's right to do the same - and objective and accurate. troops in the gulf," states the editorial, trying to blur over more. Through massive use of military power; Washington Within the limits of our financial resources and our space, the real opposition expressed by those who took to the wants to shift the relationship of forces in the region in its we assemble the facts about the war: what's happening on streets. favor and get an upper hand against its imperialist compet the battlefield; the effects on the Iraqi peptdalion·; 'the"· · The Times tried to step up the pressures building on itors. Palestinians, and other peoples in the Mideast; the conflicts opponents of the war, especially among those who fall into among and within the imperialist governments, as well as This is Washington's, London's, and Ottawa's war the trap of calls for patriotism through such efforts as the within the governments of countries like Turkey, Egypt, and aimed at the Iraqi people, the Palestinian people, and the yellow ribbon "support our troops" campaign. Like other Iran; and the consequences for working people in the broader masses of Arab and other oppressed peoples in the big-business media, the Times aims to further the rulers' imperialist countries, including the clampdown on demo- region. The Times carefully avoids the fact that an invasion drive to win public opinion as they prepare for a long and cratic rights of Arab residents. . of Iraq is being systematically prepared and the U.S. rulers bloody war. We present information about the mounting protests in have callously put the lives of tens of thousands of workers - Countering the antiwar slogan chanted by thousands, the United States and other countries against the imperialist and farmers- in and out of uniform - on the table in "Say no to Bush's war," the Times argues that Baghdad, not war. We aim to provide facts so that our readers can see for pursuit of their goals. Washington, is to blame for the slaughter currently taking themselves the policies, debates, and opinions within the place in the Mideast. That is why the slogan "No blood for oil" - chafed at contending classes and governments involved in the war. But this war was prepared by the U.S. rulers step-by-step by the Times - and other slogans demanding an end to the The Militant doesn't censor what it prints to accommo with bipartisan support. The scope of the deployment of bombing and for the troops to be brought home should be date the needs and interests of any government or exploiting troops and military hardware, the political campaign championed by fighting workers, youth and others. Advanc class or privileged layer. Truth, not lies, is what working launched to gain diplomatic cover for its efforts, the ing these demands outside of government and big-business people need to advance our struggle - both against the government's refusal to enter into serious talks with the demands for "patriotism" is the only course in building the employers' war goals in the Arab-Persian Gulf and against Iraqi regime, show that Washington had been determined kind of working-class opposition to the war that is both their attacks on workers at home. for months before the bombing and shooting began to wage needed - and possible - in the weeks and months ahead. We run editorials and articles that help explain the infor mation that we present and point the road forward for working people. And we actively support strikes, rallies, and demonstrations, like the January 19 and 26 protests against the war and the upcoming international day of Support 'Daily News' strikers antiwar actions on February 21. You surely don't want to miss a single issue at a time like this, so don't wait until the last minute to renew. The The recent announcement by New York's Daily News to confront a labor movement that has not been defeated or U.S. postal service has been getting worse for a long time that it could close down by March 20, poses a challenge to demoralized. And layers of working people continue to and the recent jacking up of postal rates doesn't mean that the labor movement and all working people to step up resist union-busting and demands for concessions. you can get a letter and check to us faster. solidarity with members of the nine unions locked out by Recently,laborcelebrated victories in the nearly two-year The Militant has an unwritten contract with its readers the newspaper some three months ago. strike against Eastern Airlines, when the carrier shut its - from those who will be getting their first issue this week •, The decision by the Daily News to send out official doors. There, the strikers pledged never to let the airline run to long-time subscribers. In return for receiving the Militant notification to its workforce is the latest indication that profitably as long as it operated with scab labor. Their every week you have an obligation to help make the paper efforts by the Chicago-based Tribune Company to defeat persistence paid off, and they indeed stayed out "one day better. You can do this in three ways. the union by running the newspaper with scabs is failing. longer." The strike contains rich lessons and can inspire The first is to let us know your suggestions for improving Support continues for the 2,300 unionists' battle to resist others to act. the paper. This includes everything from political questions the bosses' demands for concessions. Working people in The Daily News is on the ropes. Many strikers point to we should be taking up to our layout. It also means express massive numbers throughout the New York area still refuse this and urge labor to "increase the pressure." As one striking ing agreement or disagreement on this or that question and to buy the daily. newspaper worker pointed out: "our unions are prepared to sharing it with other readers. Despite efforts by the bosses to violence-bait the strike die with our boots on and bring the company down with Second, we need to know if you are having difficulty and terrorize strikers with gun thugs, the Daily News has us." receiving your subscription. When do you get it? Are there been unable to shake the solid support the unionists have By holding finn in support of the strike, working people unexpected delays? What condition is it in? gained. The tabloid has lost millions of dollars and its can secure more gains for the labor movement. By keeping Finally, in order for the Militant to accurately portray the circulation still remains low. the Daily News off the newsstands and actively participating sentiments and activities of working people in and out of Events in the Daily News strike prove that the employing in strike picket lines and other actions working people can uniform, we need reports from our readers in the mines, class isn't able to get their way without a fight. They continue score another victory against union-busting. steel mills, meat-packing plants, garment shops, and other workplaces. We need to hear from readers on military bases and warships; on college and high school campuses; and from farmers around the world. We all count on knowing and sharing what working people are discussing, the ques tions on their minds, the daily "guerrilla" struggles in the plants, and our small victories and defeats. This is what we need to help make the Militant truly a paper ofits readers and not just an instrument/or its readers. 14 The Militant February 15, 1991 War stirs up debate at Ft. Madison, Iowa, prison
BY MARK CURTIS and those of us behind bars. said one inmate watching the TV reports on the bombing. FT. MADISON, Iowa- As the U.S. government begins "I like it, but what good will it do to send this off? Will By far the biggest supporters of this bloody assault on its war against the Iraqi people, opinions on the conflict it stop the war now?" one inmate asked about the letter. Iraq are the prison guards, many of whom seem delighted among inmates here at Iowa State Penitentiary's John "They're not going to care what convicts think," said about the war. Early the next morning on the way to my Bennett unit are divided. A lively debate has been taking another. I argued that we had a right to voice our opinion job in the bakery, I heard two guards talking near the coffee place for several weeks. and that the letter would be part of helping to begin a needed machine. "They started doing it," one said. "Yeah, we'll be "I don't think there's going to be a war," said one man discussion among working people about why this war is bombing everybody and I'm glad to see it. Those kids will prior the bombing of Iraq. Despite the massive troop not in our interests. just grow up to be terrorists anyway." More than a dozen buildup, he thought U.S. President George Bush would not The questions stirred up around the letter have also come guards at the penitentiary here, who are reservists, have start such a conflict because of its terrible consequences. up in other discussions over the last few weeks. I have been called for duty in Saudi Arabia. "He knows most of the people in this country don't want explained that working people, including those behind bars, Varying opinions were expressed by inmates. "Ifwe don't war," he said. "The U.S. Congress is against a war. Too are the only power ultimately capable of disarming the do something now, what will we have to do with Saddam many people will be killed, and the Arab people could make warmakers and eliminating the capitalist system which Hussein five years down the road?" one person said. this into a long war that the United States might lose." breeds wars. Many inmates right now don't believe this is "I wouldn't go fight," said an army veteran. ''There's not possible and some assert that "money" is all-powerful. a damn thing to fight for. It's a senseless war." After two days of discussions, five men signed the letter, "Would I go and fight for the United States? Hell no! BEHIND including a former member of the army. More men were The only thing the U.S. ever did for me was to put me in in agreement, but were reluctant to sign, fearing recrimina jail," another said. PRISON tions from the prison administration. A former heavy-equipment operator disagreed with my The violent beginning of the war detonated a small view that working people will not in any way benefit from explosion of excitement in the prison. When I walked into the war against Iraq. "Will I benefit? Yes. I don't expect to WALLS the recreation hall from the library, a group of men were get a check in the mail. But when I get home and pull up gazing up at the TV set showing news reports. "They've to the gas pump, I don't want to pay $3 a gallon. I want to Probably a majority did not think that it would come to started bombing," one turned and said. pay $1.30," he said. actual fighting. "They're just bluffing," one inmate said. Upstairs in the dorm, nearly every television was turned He balked when I explained that the U.S. government is Many though, believed they would stand with the president to Cable Network News, which was broadcasting from the enemy of working people in this country. But citing the if it carne to a military confrontation. "I'd hate to see it Baghdad. Huddled around the TV sets everyone talked and experiences of meat-packers who were forced out on strike happen. But if it does, my baseball and apple pie would some laughed nervously. The size and power of the attack a few years ago and the government's role in putting down take over and I'd have to support it," another inmate said. excited some. "Kill 'em all!" someone shouted. those struggles helped to make my point. The inmate used "Let's hurry up and get it over with," was a sentiment often A number of those who disagreed with him came by my to live in northwest Iowa and remembered the meat-packer repeated. bed area to watch the news and talk about what was going struggles there. But not everyone agreed. Over a meal in the dining hall, on. It was the main topic of discussion the next day at work The war and debate around it caused some men to want two friends and I were discussing recent racist treatment of and in the yard. more information. After a discussion with two former inmates by guards here and how it is part of the institution members of the army, one of them said, "This whole thing alized racism in the United States perpetuated by the gov "I was wrong. I was wrong," a friend of mine said as he shook his head in disbelief. "I didn't think it would happen. has mad~ me realize that I need to read some history." ernment. As a first step, he read the new book by Pathfinder, U.S. The war against Iraq, they both agreed, was another I'm still hoping it can somehow be stopped." Many who had opposed the war before the actual shooting started, Hands Off the Mideast! "Everybody in the world should example of the brutal treatment handed out to the brown read this book," he said later. "There's a lot in this book I and black-skinned people of the earth by the U.S. system began to change their minds. "Since we're in it now, we had better win it quick," they said. didn't know before. I didn't know about the things Israel of oppression. After discussing the war, we concluded that has been getting away with and the United States supporting a victory by the Iraqi people against the onslaught against Even one of the men who had favored the letter against the war retreated a bit from his original position. "I'm them. I didn't know about how Saudi Arabia kicked out them would be in the best interests of humanity. the people from Yemen. I didn't know how the U.S. violated against this whole thing, but now it's not about the American In the week before the war started a group of us sent a the sanctions against South Africa. I just didn't know." letter stating our opposition to the U.S. government's war government anymore," he said. "It's about our families. To hell with the U.S. government, this is about our homeboys." After he was finished, a couple of men argued against drive to the Des Moines Register, the main newspaper in reading the book and said, "Curtis just wants to get protests Many inmates here have friends or relatives stationed in Iowa, and a copy to the People for Peace in the Middle started." After some discussion about the importance of the Middle East and are concerned about them. I explained East, a Des Moines antiwar group. getting facts to make decisions, one of them started reading that while the boys might be our relatives, they are not The letter said the war will only benefit those "with the book too. And another inmate has asked to read it when fighting in the Middle East on our behalf- on behalf of investments in oil and other property" and is not in the he's fmished. interests of working people. The letter supported the rights working people. They are being made to fight for the rich, of"our brothers and sisters in uniform" to debate and oppose the owners of property and wealth in this society. Mark Curtis is an inmate at the John Bennett unit of the the war, and points to the similarities between the attempts Not everyone was caught up in the prowar fever that Fort Madison state penitentiary in Iowa. He is currently to politically isolate both workers and farmers in uniform seemed to be taking over. ''This isn't a war. It's a slaughter," serving a 25-yearjail term on a rape and burglaryframe-up. LETTERS NOW WE'LL GIV£ YOU fHE INF0~110N More on Blacks I trust you will be generous enough to send me a subscription so AND YOU PUT IT ON-THt A\R .. . I enjoy the articles in the Militant, that there will be an additional soul however I would agree with the to fight this oppressive society. ... WE MUST HAVE author of a particular letter to the A prisoner AIR SUPERIORITY. editor who wanted to see more Comstock, New York printed on the women's movement. Also, as an African-American, I Gls and unemployment would like to see more on the plight I picked up this tidbit from a of the Black urban underclass. This worker at the unemployment office is not to belittle the plight of the when I went to file after being laid farmer or coal miner. But to create off from the steel mill: the necessary alliance to bring about Workers in Pennsylvania are eli the eventual overthrow of the capi gible for 26 weeks of unemploy talist class, more Blacks will have ment benefits. But Gls are only el to be part of this movement. They igible for 13 weeks after their en will not be attracted unless they can listment time is up. read about themselves. And much Thanks for the sacrifice, but . .. of the racism on the left can be dealt Michael Pennock with. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania D.C. Columbia, Missouri Talk about the war 'Intellectual wasteland' The actions here against the Gulf war have been young, angry, and I am a long-term prisoner at the loud. About 3,000 marched in Auck· New Jersey State Prison. This place land, 2,000 in Wellington, and a is an intellectual wasteland. similar number in Christchurch. A subscription to your newspaper The war is being talked about with its alternative views would be everywhere. a very welcome respite from the A teach-in is planned for early American public. I'm 15 years intention of disarming. We must Militant at my high school. Please day-to-day boredom here. February but I'm sure much more old, and have been taught since I take it upon ourselves to lead the send me info. will happen before then. A prisoner was a tiny child that I lived in the fight against fighting. K.R. world's greatest country. I was Disarm, or Die. The Militant special prisoner Trenton, New Jersey fund makes it possible send re Auckland, New Zealand taught that we live in a Peace As a high school student, I find to duced-rate subscriptions to pris Loving nation, and that it is our it most appalling that the military 'My eyes were opened' U.S. gov't is malicious oners who can't pay for them. 1b Communist Enemies that insti has such a major role on our cam help this important cause, send I was introduced to your publica I enjoy reading the Militant. It has gate the Arms Race. puses. Army Recruiting centers are tion by a fellow prisoner a couple really raised my level of conscious your contribution to: Militant Our economy is completely dom commonplace, and on many cam of days ago. I congratulate you. In ness. I am 19 years old and I had no puses there are Junior ROTC Prisoner Subscription Fund, 410 reading your paper my eyes were idea that the U.S. government was inated by building weapons of W!st St., New York, N.Y. 10014 Death. For a while it was justified classes. Let the process of disar truly opened to the mass corruption so malicious towards the so-called by the containment of Soviet "Com mament begin at our schools. Help and devilishness of America. third world countries. The letters column is an open munism," and then by the "War on the movement to teach Peace. I am relatively immature in my Please keep up the good work. forum for all viewpoints on sub Drugs." Now, of course, it's the U.S. Army out of High Schools! knowledge of the powers that be, A prisoner jects of general interest to our overthrow of a dictator (ironically All power to you. and how they operate. However, St. Joseph, Missouri readers. Please keep your letters one we supported less than a year Daraka Larimore-Hal/ with continued reading of your brief. Where n~y they will ago). Santa Barbara, California paper I am quite certain that I will Disarm or die be abridged. Please indicate ifyou have a broader insight on the mean I write on behalf of PEACE, a It has been proven through his prefer that your initials be used ing of the word "struggle." concept so misunderstood by the tory that the Government has no P.S. I would like to distribute the rather than your full name. February 15, 1991 The Militant 15 THE MILITANT 'Daily News' admits strike's impact On Boston tour, unionists win solidarity for their fight against lockout
BY JOHN HARRIS unions, were agreed to. BOSTON - Striking workers from the In making the announcement, Daily News New York Daily News brought the truth publisher James Hoge admitted that the about their strike to workers and youth here strike had caused "substantial damage to the during a January 16-22 speaking tour. The circulation and advertising revenue base" - tour coincided with an announcement by the something that the company could no longer newspaper's management that they are pre sustain. paring to either sell or close the paper. Prior to the announcement, management Invited to the area by United Auto Workers had insisted that it would rebuild the paper's Local 1596, Bill Farrell and Tom Robbins, circulation and win back advertisers. Broad striking reporters and members of the News solidarity with the strikers from working paper Guild, received a warm welcome from people in New York has kept the daily off of members of industrial, teacher, and service newsstands since the beginning of the lock ~~, employee unions. out. Pre-lockout circulation of 1.1 million has At a local meeting of U AW members at been cut to 400,000 at most. the Northrop company, Farrell described the Even company analysts admit that the •..·· • .'/. paper lost some $90 million in 1990. ·· ~ •. intense company harassment and recruitment of scabs leading up to the October 24 lockout "The Tribune Co. said all along that they of the unions by Daily News management. would never sell thepaper,"Farrellsaid. "This "Permanent replacements were looking over proves that we are winning now - and now our shoulders while we worked, just waiting is the time to increase the pressure. A victory to take our jobs," he said. The 2,300 unionists in this strike will be a victory for everyone." have continued to press their fight against the Shortly after the U.S. government began Militant/Marc Lichtman lockout and union-busting drive by manage its massive bombing of Iraq and Kuwait, 'Daily News' strike supporter at December rally in New York ment. Farrell spoke at an antiwar teach-in attended On January 16, Daily News publisher by 200 students at the Massachusetts Institute James Hoge said he was going to send fed of Technology. "have received solidarity from people of all stop and the troops will come home." erally mandated 60-day notices to strikers After being enthusiastically received by walks of life, from the labor movement, At Logan International Airport, Farrell that state the company would either be selling the students, he said that strikers "felt a shock teachers, doctors, students, and thousands of walked the picket line with members of the the paper or closing its operations. The notice - similar to the shock that many are feeling people in New York. International Association of Machinists on left open the possibility of reaching an agree tonight - when the management of the "We have held rallies that have mobilized strike against Eastern Airlines -just before ment with the nine striking unions, grouped Daily News put us all out on the street." He thousands in the streets," the striker told the the announcement by the carrier that it was together in the Allied Printing Trades Council encouraged students to continue fighting and students. "If the people in this country march closing. He spoke with the strikers about how - if steep concessions, so far rejected by the closed his remarks by saying that the strikers in large numbers in the streets, this war will their 22-month battle had helped inspire the rest of the labor movement. Strike supporters from several unions met with Robbins at the Service Employees In Chicago socialists win ballot spot ternational Union Local 509 headquarters. The next day, two dozen supporters con verged on Out of Town Newspapers in Har BY DON DAVIS tion and belongs to the United Auto Workers. vard Square, in Cambridge. The newsstand CHICAGO - Socialist Workers Party The Cleveland Plain Dealer and radio sta has been selling the Daily News. Union of candidate for mayor of Chicago, James War tion WERE covered the announcement. "We ficials also met with Sheldon Cohen, the head ren, announced January 30 that he and his think the war will be a catastrophe for working of the newsstand, and he pledged he would running mates had won a spot on the ballot people in the United States," the Plain Dealer no longer carry the paper. for the April 2 city elections. quoted Hillson after the conference. At a membership meeting of International "We will use our spot on the ballot to In a statement distributed at the news confer Union of Electronic workers, Robbins said continue to give voice to opposition to the enceandatanumberofplantgates, workplaces, the unions would "not allow the broad man escalating imperialist war being waged by and local antiwar events, the candidates ex agement rights language demanded by the the U.S. government against Iraq and the plained that, 'This brutal war against Iraq has Tribune Co. that would allow them to cancel Arab people as a whole in the Middle East," nothing to do with protecting human rights. important contract provisions at will. said Warren. He is a crane operator and ''The U.S. billionaires and their govern "We want our jobs back and a contract that member of the United Steelworkers of Amer ment carry out this slaughter for the same will respect our rights as union members. But ica Local 3247. simple reason that motivates all of their pol if we have to," he said, "our unions are Running with Warren on the Socialist icies - greed and profits. prepared to die with our boots on and bring Workers ticket are International Association 'This will be a very bloody war," the candi the company down with us." of Machinists member Estelle DeBates for dates predicted, "with tens of thousands of city clerk and Eric Matheis for city treasurer. casualties on both sides. As it drags on, millions Henry Zamarron, candidate for Minne Matheis is a member of the Young Socialist of working people will realize that it is not in sota legislature. Smashing of socialist Alliance. our interests, and will come to oppose it." campaign office window The candidates and their supporters hit the "I'm so glad someone is running an antiwar Other socialist candidates in St. Louis in streets in December, collecting some 30,000 campaign," one young woman said as she clude Ruth Robinett, for school board, and protested in St. Louis signatures on nominating petitions, far sur took campaign literature ataJanuary 17 picket Charlene Adamson for alderman in the 8th passing the 25,000 signatures required. line against the war in downtown Cleveland. Ward. Robinett works for Amoco and is a BY ANDREA GONZALEZ In his statement, Warren criticized the on member of the Oil, Chemical, and Atomic ST. LOUIS -On the night of January 30 going attacks on the standard of living of Workers Union. Adamson works for Ford the window of the Socialist Workers cam ST. LOUIS - David Rosenfeld, Socialist working people in the United States. Noting Motor Company and is a member of the paign headquarters here was smashed. Workers candidate for president of the St. Louis the attempts by the owners of the USX steel United Auto Workers. The day before, campaign supporters had board of aldermen and a laid-off worker from company to wrest concessions from the work turned in 3,800 signatures, 1,000 over the McDonnell Douglas Corporation, addressed an An article in the daily Post-Dispatch on ers, the mayoral candidate promised to speak number required for ballot status. Supporters antiwar rally at Forest Park Community College January 19 noted that the socialist candidates out "in defense of the workers at USX now had put the war at the center of the petitioning on January 22. criticized the U.S. government-led war. "The under attack in their contract negotiations." drive. They focused on three demands since Rosenfeld encouraged the students to read candidates said that their candidacies gave The campaign has issued an attractive but the war began:·"Stop the bombing!", "End the speeches of Malcolm X, "because Mal working-class people a voice in the election ton that says, "U.S. hands off the Middle East! the embargo against Iraq!", and "U.S. troops colm spoke the truth about the role of impe arena." Bring the Troops Home Now! Vote Socialist out of the Middle East!" rialism in places like the Congo and Vietnam. Workers Party. James Warren for mayor." In the days since the window was smashed He explained how the media and the rulers' AUSTIN, Minnesota- Henry Zamarr6n, support messages have been received from propaganda machine tricks people into think Benjamin Hoover, Sr., a frame-up victim and BY DAVID MARSHALL ing that human beings in places like Iraq are Socialist Workers candidate for Minnesota · State Legislature District 32B, was certified political activist; Tim Kaminski, a member CLEVELAND- At a January 21 news less than human, and therefore it is OK to to be on the ballot for the February 12 special of the Communist Party; Dan Hellinger and conference here, four Socialist Workers candi bomb them." election. Supporters collected 654 signatures, Art Sandler, leaders of the Latin American dates for Cleveland Board of Education de The event was sponsored by several Afri well over the required number of 500. Solidarity Committee; and Ted Braun, a nounced the U.S. war against the Iraqi people. can-American student groups. longtime political activist from southern ll The candidates- DeanAthans,KibweDiarra, Earlier in the week Rosenfeld addressed "I am for bringing the troops home now, linois. stopping the bombing, and ending the em Jon Hillson, and Margaret Husk -are area students protesting the war at Washington Bill Ramsey, a leading opponent here of bargo against Iraq," the socialist candidate unionists who have been active in organizing University. Some of the speakers said that the U.S. war; Eldora Spiegelberg, president said. "This is not a war for freedom and opposition to the U.S.-led war. the U.S. government had not given sanctions of St. Louis Women's International League democracy, but for oil company profits and Athans and Hillson are garment workers, a chance. They called for an end to the war for Peace and Freedom; and Rev. Ted Schoe members of the Amalgamated Clothing and and a continuation of the sanctions. for increased domination of the Middle East der, a prominent activist in the city, will be by the United States." Textile Workers Union. Diarra is an unem "The total military embargo is not a peace joining David Rosenfeld, the socialist candi ployed member of the United Transport ful alternative to war," Rosenfeld replied. "It Zamarr6n is an auto worker and member date for president of the Board of Aldermen Union. Husk works at Ford Motor Corpora- is an act of war." of United Auto Workers Local 2125. at a press conference protesting the attack. February 15, 1991 The Militant 16