FEATURE 3 AIORE Are we facing a new Cold War? The blusterings and sabre rattlings of the Reagan Administration COLD together with its sinister activities in the Central America would indicate that we are already in one. But what about the WAR Russians? Do they also have their nuclear hawkes and their worst-case theorists? The balance of the world’s forces has substantially altered since the ig50s. The People’s election of Ronald Reagan that the West will let them have the marked the culmination of a concerted world without a fight."1 Nitze and his Republic of China, a wild campaign by those on the extreme Right colleagues believe that mos_t of the card in the world power of American politics to refreeze their world's ailments are attributable to the game, is now a major nation's relations with its principal Soviet Union: "For example, it appears adversary, the Soviet Union, and to probable that the Red Brigades in Italy, nuclear power. The non- return the world to the Cold War the assault on the Mosque in Mecca, and aligned movement has atmosphere of the nineteen forties, fifties the seizure of the American hostages in developed and expanded and sixties. And despite the monumental Iran were supported and perhaps changes which have taken place irf the instigated by agents of the Soviet bloc."2 its influence and the anti world since the Cold War was at its The fact that there is no hard evidence for war movement seems to height, the campaign has met with such allegations is irrelevant,3 for the spectacular, if temporary, success — at a hawks base their case largely on recent be riding the crest of a governmental level at least. examples of Soviet military involvement popular wave of concern. What factors have brought about this in Angola, Ethiopia and Afghanistan. But the existence of an decisive shift in political thinking in And it is this concept of a ruthless and America, a development which has relentless communist expansionism increasing number of undoubtedly propelled the world closer which has, they claim, forced the United volatile smaller states towards the nuclear precipice? What is States, to adopt a tough, uncompromis possessing nuclear the Russian attitude to the new political ing and interventionist stance of its own. climate? and more fundamentally, what To give these men their due, one must capacity means that the is the nature of the so-called "New Cold certainly agree that the Soviet Union has Cold War of the 1980s War" and how does it relate to the been responsible for many dangerous could be more unstable original Cold War and to the period and provocative actions. But the Soviet known as detente? All these questions Union has always acted in this fashion, and menacing than the require answers if we are to devise a and a brief glance through the pages of sterile power plays of the rational and realistic response to a American history will show that the 1950’s. In this article a phenomenon which now directly United States has behaved no differently jeopardises our future security. ’ (in fact its behaviour has been controversial argument is In the view of America's hard-liners considerably worse).4 Rather than being put forward that the (the so-called "hawks"), there is nothing a decisive factor in reinvigorating the policies of both the particularly new about the New Cold Cold War, Russian actions have merely War. They see it as simply a return to the served as a pretext to justify a shift in tJ.S.S.R. and the U.S.A. is sensible policies which a well-meaning American foreign policy whose roots lie determined by self-interest but naive America chose to abandon elsewhere. It must be remembered that as interpreted by their after ignominious defeat in the Viet Nam the invasion of Afghanistan took place War. The Soviet Union, they argue, fully two and a half years after American social and military elites. "duped" America into believing that co hawks began calling for a tougher, more operation was possible, while relentlessly militant stand against the Soviet Union. pursuing its plans for world domination. If anything, the Russian decision to re Paul Nitze, co-founder of the hawkish establish control in that country by Committee on the Present Danger, and military means was encouraged by what currently a senior Reagan foreign policy was undoubtedly perceived as a KEN adviser and arms control negotiator, dangerous and provocative change in expressed this myopic world view in American foreign policy. It is no Foreign Affairs journal: 'The Kremlin coincidence that the invasion took place leaders do not want war; they want the ENDERBY world. They believe it unlikely, however, 48 A utum n 1983 just two weeks after the NATO decision upon whom one chooses to believe), and to deploy Pershing and Cruise missiles in smaller nations must take shelter beneath IQ Western Europe. These missiles will, for Mounted Pershing 1 missile In West the ideological and military umbrella of ” ™ the first time, give NATO the option of G erm any the one superpower, for fear of being initiating a devastating nuclear strike engulfed by the immutably aggressive against military targets in the Soviet Has this lesson simply been lost on the designs of the other. So the argument Union, a development which will, hawks? In many cases the answer is goes. ironically, in the event of a crisis, give the probably yes; however, men such as Paul Russians a strong motivation to destroy Nitze have been close to the seat of power these missiles before they can be used. for a long time (Nitze himself was a senior The Russians tried very hard to forestall foreign policy adviser to President l n order to meet the seriousness of the deployment of these weapons, offering to Truman, and chaired the committee threat as it is presented to the public, each freeze production of their own SS20s which produced NSC-68, the blueprint superpower has deployed a gruesome which were then only very few in number, for the Cold War), and for all we might array of sophisticated weaponry, and but no American response was dislike them and disagree with them, we stands poised to rain unparalleled forthcoming. must give them credit for intelligence and destruction on its adversary at what is The point which needs to be made is cunning. These men are acutely aware literally a moment's notice. An arms race that the New Cold War has done nothing that the Cold War serves as a vital of-this magnitude is unavoidable given to curb the Russians — they are still in instrument in the exercise of American the nature of the Cold War, and the great ■ | Afghanistan and Ethiopia (and Eastern power. And, as we shall see, the roots of tragedy is that this arms race will Europe) and look like remaining there the New Cold War lie primarily outside undoubtedly destroy us unless the Cold for some time to come. Indeed, there was the orbit of the superpower military War can be rapidly and permanently never any possibility the United States confrontation. terminated. Again, most of the hawks are could do anything to change Soviet well aware of this, as evidenced, by their policy by adopting a confrontationist admission of the ultimate need for stance. The overriding lesson of the 1950s nuclear disarmament. The Reagan is that posturing and proselytising are NI N evertheless, that confrontation is still administration has proposed a Soviet- entirely lost on the adversary during a the basis of the Cold War world order, American arms reduction of one-third of climate of tension and conflict. In fact, and it has become so widely accepted that existing strategic nuclear stockpiles. But ironically, Soviet adventurism was at its it is now believed by most people to be because it publicly argues that the Soviets peak during the period of maximum both permanent and inevitable. The can never be trusted to keep their word, American diplomatic and military division of the world into two armed the administration has a very convenient coercion (1947-1953). The times when camps is nowhere more evident than in excuse for giving disarmament Soviet co-operation has been most Germany, particularly since the erection negotiations only perfunctory attention. forthcoming have been during partial of the Berlin Wall in 1961. According to The problem is that the short term thaws in the Cold War. The Partial Test the unending stream of propaganda benefits derived from prolonging the Ban Treaty and a whole series of similar emanating from both camps, the world is Cold War are perceived as being more undergoing an ideological struggle agreements were signed in the 12 months important than the long term advantages following the Cuban Missile Crisis of between the forces of good and the forces ot superpower co-operation. And so 1962, before Kennedy and Khrushchev of evil (of course which superpower leaders cling to an antiquated and were both removed from office. represents which forces depends entirely dangerous world order which at least Similarly, SALT emerged during the promises certainty, if not security. early days of detente, a period when the Soviets dramatically increased the quota of Jews permitted to leave the country. Now, with the refreezing of the Cold War, the number leaving has been reduced to a trickle.5
A ustralian Left Review 83 49 1983 utumn A In America's case, the ColdWar has And so the Cold War has evolved as a Similarly, when the Soviets wish to been absolutely essential for the pursuit United States chose to United take this Fruit illicit Company objected to the of its foreign policy goals. Guatemala A in good 1954. The real reason the example of coup this which is toppled the the CIA-organisedgovernment of action was because the American-owned redistribute them toBut landless the peasants.10 Eisenhower administration was Guatemalan government's decision to expropriate unused company lands and well aware that the Americannot prepared public was to accept the overthrow a of the name land of preserving holdings. United The Fruitsprinciple American to be absolutely sacrosanct, people for democratically-elected government in have never held the free enterprise the War of Independence was fought to ly, Eisenhower "sold" the coup to the enable economically from America Britain. Consequent public to as necessary Guatemala in break order fromto going prevent communist free (the be welcomed). This justification was public, ofcourse, was never toldwas actually the CIA behind thecoup, merelythe that new Guatemalan government should highly effective, for a radically leftwing United States. And so the Cold War Guatemala raised troops the spectre and of Soviet nuclear weapons in the United States has exerted its political, western which hemisphere, would pose a military threat a to the preserved development United kept Fruit's Guatemala lands and has in a state of abject poverty ever since. The same can be said Indonesia, Ecuador,Dominican Republic, Zaire, Viet Chile, Nam, etc.). the of a dozen other nations in which the"unfriendly" regimes (Iran, Brazil, economic and military muscle to topple Roosevelt, Churchill and Stalin were all February 1945.11 Europe, they raising justify "imperialism" their the actions spectre and by its of American concomitantmillion people in the last World War) and unwilling to permit any real freedom in means of accommodating the needs of may effectively control its what own. it deems This as is not, of course, to imply military threat. understandably The Sovietsensitive from about people invasion the are West (having lost leaders'actions over thein 20 namereality, of"peace". In of course, thethe Eastern Sovietbloc forto fear elite it might the spread is Soviet Union and destroy its two ideologically different socialwhich, systems in somewhat essence, exist similar world in has domestic been divided pursuit into goals. of two "spheres of influence" The so that each superpower that there was collaborationof the on superpowerstheworld part in order, developing this despite the fact that are quite prepared to support their system of privilege. well aware ofwhat they were doingtheywhen agreed on the principle of "spheres crush demands for reform in Eastern of influence" at the Yalta Conference in only difference between the including the American people. The Brezhnev's Russia is represented by power, privilege, and a holiday house on Barbara; while that of millions of its the Black Sea. citizens The know Russia most is of represented its by pettySimilarly, Ronald Reagan's America is Ronald Reagan is ample evidence that corruption, shortages of symbolised by corporate consumerpower, wealth, fabulous and a 700 acre ranch at Santa America. The fact that the American citizens is symbolised by rampantcorporate crime, corruption, on anda socialscale injusticeonly understood by those who his/her political influence is, in practice, goods and a lack of political freedom. are forced to live in the ghettos of urban citizen had no better choicethan for President that between Jimmy Carter and little better than that of his. her Soviet no threat remained to ineffective. privilege as long as it interest? In the Soviet Union,maintained privilege is both by prohibiting social, counterpart.discovered long ago that Thedemocracy was American elite superpowers pursue this common brutal, introspective and, ironically, economic and political reform, threatened and by by invasion. Russian policy relatively conservative.States, on In the the other United inequitable hand, privilege is economic order, both resources, and 29% of its energy.7 ensuring that Russiadirectly is reflects never again Russian history pursued by the preservation of a grossly domestically and only internationally. 5% America of With consumes the world's fully American population, 27% power and of wealth rest its on the multinational corporations which resources and labour from the Third exploitation of peoples around the globe World and leaving a legacy of pollution, world and which one are responsible but themselves,to no- are, in very blunt repression and economic deprivation.8 control the bulk of wealth in the western terms, international pirates, pillaging American history —" brash, daring, Again, Americanruthless, and usually policy successful. reflects ruthlessness, with the United States being holocaust).9 responsible (either directly or indirectly) for a great deal more Sovietrepression Unionthan (certainlythe of since the demise Stalin). unpleasant reality So because, is overlooked, often, mainly unlike however, this Russian brutality, infant formula is every bit as horrific in superpowers is in the scale of their American brutality is mostly manifested very subtle forms (the death of a million scale as the stalinist purges or the nazi children each year through the sale of against foreign peoples and usually in W W Bow, then, does eacn ol the u the two World Wars being good a policy broken only when Hitler's This certainty derives from the Russians do not believe in the market white" propaganda it generates. in historicalAnd yet, perspective, the degree of hardly seemsjustified by their legitimate principle), or for resources and energy disputes. They share no common border confrontation itself and the "black and antagonism between the superpowers sufficient in resources, and are net and hence have no conflict overtheyterritory; do not compete for markets (the between nations with common interests over religious doctrine(the littleRussianscare about religion). Such an (the Russians are almost entirely self political, economic and social chasm observation raises critical questions energy exporters); nor do they conflict both would be unlikely and unwilling to which divides them, the superpowers Cold War is fundamentally different Bolshevik regime, then succeeded in about theconfrontation, nature for most of wars are thefought superpower ironically, despite the geographical, monopoly (1945-1954). indicatesroots that the of the conflict lie outside the the period of greatest tension when the | t is therefore quite evident that the revolution, thewith Americans, other in capitalist concert powers, briefly recognise this, between The ideological them conflict is, in practice, far less share a great deal in common, although from other recentThe great fact power that disputes. it has never escalated to a isolating it from the world community by examples. Until and 1917, the United the States Soviet Union had very little meaningful thanbelieve. After theyall,hat w is ideologymerely would an if notintellectual justification have pursuit for ofthe us self interest )bethat the interest reasons traditionally presented to direct military engagement, even during invasion thrust them into the heartland contact with one another. After the encircling it with a cordonstates. ofanti-Soviet The option Sovietsavailable to pursuedthem the only isolationism of tne manyprofound or the few)? And self it is interest a which the explain it. United States had an effective nuclear of Europe. attempted to overthrow the fledgling When Leonid Brezhnevspeaks ofRussia, superpowers share in primarilycommon. Both are preservation ofdomestic is privilege. no Theredoubt concerned thathighly both stratified,social systems are and with largely exist the to it it is in most cases a totally different protect the interests of the very few. country to that lnhamted by its citizens.0
MORE COLD W AR 50 Rather, the system evolved as a result preservation of good relations with the of unilateral actions taken by each of the Soviet Union. Russia's economic partners in the Grand Alliance. reconstruction was the last thing the Roosevelt was intelligent enough to Truman Administration wanted to realise that the Russians had legitimate hasten. fears about a reunited and rearmed And so Stalin was left with little option Germany, and would expect to be (at least as he saw it) other than to make adequately compensated if they were to the eastern Axis states pay for some of accept a world order in which virtually the damage caused to Russia during the the entire globe was to become an war.14 The Soviet sphere of influence American sphere of influence. became a sphere of control — a political Despite later denials by the Truman reality which has changed little to this administration, the evidence is quite day. The solution was brutal, but far conclusive that Churchill and Roosevelt from inevitable. Finland, Austria, sacrificed Eastern Europe to the whims Yugoslavia, Manchuria and Northern of the Soviet dictator. There was little Iran were all defeated or occupied by else they could do, given the fact that Soviet troops and are all independent Soviet troops occupied these countries today. They owe their freedom not to the (many of which had fought loyally for the West, but to a unilateral Soviet decision Nazis). The United States and Britain to relinquish power (which they could had control over the areas which were of very easily have consolidated, had they so economic importance (Western Europe, desired). If there is a way to ease the Greece, Japan, the Middle East). As far Soviet grip on Eastern Europe, it lies not as they were concerned, Eastern Europe in the perpetuation of the Cold War, for was of little interest (except for Romania, it was the Cold War which was which had American-owned oil fields) responsible for the Soviets seizing and was a small price to pay for a free control in the first place. Rather, it lies in hand in the West. a gradual thawing of the diplomatic freeze and in a return to friendly, non- confrontationist relations. It must be very doubtful that American T Russian reign ot terror in the East political leaders (with the exception of President Reagan) seriously believe that was preceded by a British and American Antl-nuclear demonstration, reign of terror in the West, particularly in Amsterdam, 21 November 1981 bellicose rhetoric can be of any help to Greece where the left was very strong. Roosevelt's main hope had been to the people of Poland. If anything, such Stalin demonstrated his ruthlessly preserve the Grand Alliance into the rhetoric merely encourages the counter-revolutionary nature by postwar period, and to use superpower continuation of repression, for a decision abandoning the left in the West, and by co-operation as the basis for a lasting to abandon Poland would appear to the even admonishing Tito for giving aid to peace during which the two great powers world as a sign of Russian weakness in the Greek communists during the Civil could pursue their respective interests the face of American resolve. Such a War.12 The Cold War began as a ruthless (which in Russia's case was economic decision would also set an unacceptable trade-off, with the superpowers recovery, and in America's case, precedent, giving the United States the sacrificing the ideals they publicly economic expansion). He was banking impression it could get whatever it espoused in pursuit of the greater goals of on the notion that Stalin was longing to wanted by simply pushing hard enough. "national security" and "national play the role of international statesman Indeed, it is highly unlikely that the interest" (the Russians pursuing the and would find no need to communise American government seriously wants former and the Americans pursuing the Eastern Europe so long as it deferred to the repression to cease, for if it did, it latterV Russian foreign policy requirements. The would be much harder for the hawks to Ol course, following the death of Czechoslovakian experience would seem paint the Soviet U nion in the image of the Franklin Roosevelt and the departure of to justify Roosevelt's faith. insatiable aggressor, similarly, it is his clique of foreign policy advisers unlikely the Soviets seriously want the (Stimson, Wallace, Hull), the United State? to pull out of Central inexperienced and overconfident Harry America for to do so would rob them of a Truman chose to overturn the carefully j^^^spite the rapid deterioration of veritable propaganda goldmine. Where evolved postwar plans of his predecessor, superpower relations after the would they be if there were no visible and return American policy to the ideals inauguration of Harry Truman, signs of US militaristic imperialism? of Woodrow Wilson. Truman firmly Czechoslovakia still managed to Grandstanding in the name of believed in the policy of Open Door — maintain its independence until February "freedom" or "equality" has become a that no corner of the globe should be 1948 when a domestic crisis induced standard method by which both closed to American economic President Benes to dissolve the superpowers reinforce the stereotyped penetration.13 Given the predominance government and hand over power to the images of the Cold War. They play on of American economic power (America communists. human nature, on our desire to identify was responsible for half the world's In fact, with the exception of Poland who we are as individuals and as nations industrial output and half its financial (whose London-based government by who we are not. If no international reserves in 1945), the Open Door refused to co-operate in any way with the "bad guy" existed, we couldn't possibly principle was tantamount to a global Soviet Union), none of the Eastern be the "good guy". The superpowers have sphere of American influence. And, European states lost its independence both used this principle of "bonding-by- naturally, a Soviet sphere of influence until well into 1946, when it became clear exclusion" to unify their diverse etnnic was quite incompatible with this world to Stalin that the United States had populations.15 Joseph McCarthy's view. But, as Roosevelt had been acutely reneged on its promise to exact aware, like it or not, there was nothing reparations from the Western sectors of America could do about the Soviet Germany. Reparations threatened to sphere, short of armed conflict which, of impede the economic recovery of the course, was totally out of the question. three Western-controlled sectors of Germany and, more importantly, threatened to increase the appeal of socialism. By 1946, the preservation of the capitalist world order had become a
much higher priority than the FEATUR
A ustralian Left Review 83 51 peter k e n n a r d
MORE COLD WAR committee, lor example, was established But detente ended when the right wing to investigate unAmerican activities. The of American capitalism realised that domestic left.was isolated and repressed none of these goals was being realised. because it used slogans such as "peace" Rather than permitting America to and "equality" which were identified with rebuild its domestic consensus in support the Soviet Union. Even today, anyone of intervention, accommodation with the who uses these terms is branded a Soviet Union was making it harder to communist or a KGB agent. And in portray that nation as the cause of all of Russia, dissidents who call for more America's international problems. The "freedom" are jailed because they dare to concept of the "international communist use a word which has become a rallying conspiracy" had lost its credibility now cry in the West. that America was fraternising with the Without each other to shout at and to "enemy". The Senate investigated the criticise, the superpowers would have a FBI and the CIA and began to curtail great deal of difficulty stifling domestic their power to operate as subversive opposition to what they are doing both at organisations. Even the power of the home and abroad. The Cold War is a president was reduced with the convenient mechanism for pursuing the introduction of the War Powers Act in self interest of their respective elites. 1973. Nevertheless, the superpowers have been having increasing difficulty keeping their citizens and their allies in line. This became a particularly serious problem in he "crisis of democracy", as the the late 1960s when the United states was Trilateral Commission came to call the napalming Vietnamese women and problem, became alarmingly clear in children in the name of "freedom", and 1976 when Angola fell to the Cuban- when the Soviet Union was shooting backed marxist MPLA.19 The Ford Czechoslovakians in the name of "peace". adminsitration desperately pleaded for sufficient funds to prolong the civil war, but the Senate refused, seeing no purpose in continued American involvement. The The invasion of Czechoslovakia marxist forces had guaranteed not to destroyed many illusions the Protest against British government's interfere with Gulf Oil's drilling international communist movement had pro-NATO policies operations (in fact, Gulf's operations are had about the nature of Soviet ideology. dangerous. It was the only time the currently being guarded by Cuban Previously, loyal communist parties superpowers have gone so close to war, troops!), so there was no threat to condemned the Soviet action, and set because their national interests were American economic interests.20 The real about redefining their relationship with suddenly in direct conflict.16 Detente was threat was that a leftist victory might set a that country. Similarly, the Viet Nam an attempt to manage the Cold War; it precedent in Africa and start a veritable War brought the United States was never an attempt to end it. The chain of social upheaval among the condemndation from its NATO allies superpowers are far too addicted to it to world's most deprived nations, and brought millions of previous contemplate undergoing "withdrawal". particularly those upon which the United apathetic citizens out into the streets to States depended for cheap resources and protest their government's policies. For energy (Nigeria, Zaire, Zambia, the first time ever, American democracy Rhodesia, South Africa).21 Ford and was beginning to work and was Another major factor at work was the Kissinger were primarily concerned with threatening to inhibit the elite's ability to desire by Western multinationals to demonstrating to the world that America exert American power around the globe break into the lucrative Russian market. was still willing and able to defend its to protect its economic interests. The American corporate elite has never interests. given up hope of one day reintegrating It had become patently obvious that the Soviet Union into the world capitalist the Russian interpretation of detente was economy.17 The multinationals hoped markedly different from American. The BDtb superpowers were facing that, through the increased contact Russians had no more intention of ideological crises, and needed a breathing detente would allow, they could set up terminating their pursuit of national space to rebuild their domestic consensus factories in the Soviet Union and take interests abroad than had the United and to reassure their allies that they were advantage of its cheap, state-controlled States. Nor did they intend reintegrating still the "good guys". What emerged was labour (conditions they would love to their economy into the capitalist system. the period known as detente — the have in the United States). They also Detente for them was merely the relaxation of tensions. Of course, there expected the volume of trade to rise establishment of a more rational, less Were other factors at work pushing the dramatically. The Trilateralists, dangerous diplomatic and military superpowers towards a less erratic particularly Henry Kissinger, hoped that climate within which to operate. Their Approach to international relations, the Russians could be "bought off" from dispute with China, which reached a •'oremost among these was a realisation supporting national liberation climax in 1969, necessitated a relaxation ®‘ter the Cuban Missile Crisis that the movements around the world in of tensions on their Western borders. jrOld War was becoming too dangerous exchange for easy access to much sought- Detente was of tremendous benefit to 0r comfort, and that one day it might after Western technology.18 them, and this very fact was a matter for suddenly turn hot without either power great irritation among the hawks in the nj*eaning or desiring this to hapen. It United States who felt America was ap?u*d be remembered that the Cuban gaining nothing. ‘•air is the only occasion when one Consequently, the right initiated a “Empower has tried to move into the concerted campaign to discredit detente ther's sphere of influence. All other and its highly beneficial trappings (trade, scientific exchanges, arms control, etc.) Postwarby conflicts have taken place either one superpower moving to crush and to restore the Cold War to its most ‘ssent within its own sphere , or by one dangerous phase. In this way, America u ernPting to move into a "grey", could once again assert itself within its sphere of influence. Af area wor*d (e-g- gnanistan or parts of Africa). This is
y the Missile Crisis was unique and so FEATUR
'stralian Left Review 83 R3 SYGNA/FtANC!NAN 1983 utumn A he answer to tne world's current he tragedy is that the lesson of Viet the world political and economic order power of the American elite that a man who came to disarmament power promisingdetente, and nuclearshould the have finished his political continuation of history. career by initiating thearmaments largest peacetime build-up in American problems lies outsideWar the politics. realm It lies inthe restructuring of Cold of realisation that all peoples have the right towards a more equitablethe distribution planet's of resources. to a decent, It dignified liesand free existence, in the spheres of influence andto cast aside. be TheCold used, War has a abused become dangerous anachronism whichsurvival stiflesof civilisation. rapidly It must orbe endedit will end us. remain undernation threat supports as long the as that institutions of and that nations are more than justthe very changes necessary to ensure the T Nam is still as valid today as it was a opulence). American interestsrepression. will Similarly, remain the as refuses threat longto grant the as kind to of the political and Soviet Union T decade ago: cannot revolutionary forever be dealtarms. with movements by Itresort is toonly choose natural to fightthat to betterfacedpeople their will lives when especially with gross when deprivation surrounded (and communism by in Eastern Europeeconomic reforms will groupsare likedemanding. Solidarity This is the principal reason the Cold War warriors have been callihg for rebellion and revolution. United States already has many times Union from attacking however, either was a the large, well-armed, economic interests from a major internal new build-up in armaments. The more strategic nuclear weapons than it needs to adequately American deter homeland, the EuropeWhat Soviet orJapan.22 it lacked in the mid-1970s, conventional force, trainedof counter-insurgency in the tactics sent and to readyneeded defending. to wherever This be gap hasnow been American interests filled by the Rapid Deployment which Force, will power serve to to all project four corners American of the globe. an airborne strike-force of 200,000 men The RDF's formationAfghanistan. However, was the decision was publicly . actually leakedbeginning to of before the 1978, almosthostage press the crisis, twowhich at gave yearsthe RussianAmerican the "helpless giant" action.23 in The the face of Third public a stark view of their Worldnation as a nationalismbrilliantly orchestrated "gone mad", to elicit was a flag- waving, guns-blazing, "nuke 'em till they Middle East marked the spectacular glow" response. Theexplicitly Carter threatening doctrine touse resort to the ofof first nuclear weapons as a means of justified as a response to the invasion of climax ofa campaign which began three defending American interests in the years before.24 It is a testament to the
he allied nations are beginning to
Unfortunately, however, a great deal has height. In the first place, America's allies Many have been frightened by the militant rhetorichegemonic emanating ally. Large numbers from ofyoung their 1981. are no longer as compliant as they were. Warsaw, Poland, in May 1982. Police disperse crowd with water cannon Eastern Europe. Romania recently propaganda any more. Peacemovements changed since the Cold War was at its are growing considerable rapidly andpolicy influence are on in exerting government Western Europe. The new
awareness is even starting to spread into witnessed 300,000 peace people participated,nuclear marches calling for disarmament in which by both the T superpowers. This callthe was reiterated Romanian by president in December their "protectors" aresame. not This necessarilyis particularly the the case in the increasing numbers that their enemy is Third World, wherebeing ruthlessly Americanexploited allies andare plundered. realisrealise that their interests and those of not the SovietCuba Union,orany other orcommunist Viet Nam, bogey, but or Their populations are realizing in is, in fact, the capiitalistthe system itselfand multinationalown their economies, corporations buy the allegiance which South Korea and the Philippines, for of their whatever corruptrepression is necessary elites,to keep and support exist not to defend these countries from the resources and profits flowing. In enemy attack, but to defend American example, the American military bases | people simply don't believethe Cold War
MORE COLD WAR 54 f00TN0TES: are minor compared to those which exist in 18. The Trilateral Commission is an capitalist societies (although social mobility is international organisation of European, Paul H. Nitze, "Strategy in the Decade of more static); secondly, there is no widespread Japanese ad American businessmen who I- logo's" in Foreign Affairs, Fall, 1980, vol. dissatisfaction with the existing system; and believe that excessive competition between thirdly, and most importantly, it has been the Western nations is weakening their hold over Jno. >-P-9a development of this new class which has the economies of the developing world. They 2 Nitze’ p- 91 largely been responsible for the tremendous are particularly disturbed by the demand for a These allegations (the latest of which is that liberalisation that has taken place since the New International Economic Order. Their h attempt on the life of the Pope was a Sov iet death of Stalin. members include Jimmy Carter, Gerald Ford, Henry Kissinger, David Rockefeller, Cyrus lot) have been tabulated in a recent book by 7. For figures on American wealth and Vance, Bzigniew Brzezinski and a large rlaire Sterling, The Terror Network. consumption, see Richard Barnet, The Lean percentage of the American business elite. sterlings thesis is that all international years: Politics in the Age o f Scarcity (New c r r o r i s t activities are directed and co York, 1980). 19. In 1975 the Trilateral Commission ordinated by the Kremlin. Her conclusions published a book entitled The Crisis of have more recently been refuted by Harry 8. See Richard Barnet, Global Reach: The Democracy (New York, 1975) in which it R o s itz k e in his book. The K.G.B.: The Eyes o f Power of the Multinational Corporations suggested that American democracy was HUSSia. Unlike Sterling. Rositzke has 25 years (New York, 1974). becoming far too democratic for its own good. o f experience with the CIA and OSS behind 9. The Heinz and Nestle Corporations have " .... the effective operation of a democratic him, working mainly on Soviet operations. become notorious for their abuse in the sale of political system usually requires some measure Interestingly enough, when Sterling took her powdered milk to mothers in the of apathy and noninvolvement on the part of findings to Jimmy Carter's adviser on underdeveloped world. Mothers are some individuals and groups" (p. 114). These te r r o ris m in the National Security Council, he encouraged to feed their babies infant formula groups include, of course, leftists and peace r e p lie d : "You don't really believe this bunk instead of breast feeding them. This denies the activists. The book concludes: "We have come about international terrorism?" See "Parking children vital antibodies only available in to recognise that there are potentially Your Helicopter", by Tony Clifton, in New human milk, and they become quickly desirable limits to economic growth. There are Statesman, August 7, 1981, p. 17. susceptible to disease. Clean water is rarely also potentially desirable limits to the 4. Between 1917 and 1940 the Soviets available, so mothers use impure and indefinite extension of political democracy. reconquered most of what had been the Tsarist sometimes stagnant water, diluting the milk to Democracy will have a longer life if it has a empire, including Poland and the Baltic less than half the required strength. In 1981, more balanced existence." (p. II5). This is States. Under the aegis of the Nazi-Soviet Pact the World Health Organisation attempted to really just a subtle way of saying that of 1939, they annexed Poland and Bessarabia, place restrictions on the activities of democracy is tolerable only so long as it is and invaded Finland (unsuccessfully). They companies involved in this deplorable trade. powerless to affect the decisions of the nation's set up "co-operative" regimes in Poland Of all the participating nations, only the traditional ruling elite. (1944), Romania and Bulgaria (1945), and United States chose to ignore the For details on the events in Angola, see John Organisation's recommendations, the Reagan ultimately throughout all of Eastern Europe. Stockwell, In Search of Enemies, (Norton, Later, they crushed uprisings in East Germany administration declaring them to be against 1978). See also Michael T. Klare, "Assault on in 1953, Hungary in 1956 and Czechoslovakia the principles of free enterprise. In the the 'Vietnam Syndrome': The United States meantime, another I Vi million children have in 1968; and invaded Afghanistan and relegitimizes intervention", in ICDP Peace died. See Frances Moore Lappe and Joseph overthrew its communist government in 1979. Press, July-Sept. 1979. Collins, Food First, (New York, 1978), pp. The Soviet Union is currently directing the 20. Barnet, The Lean years, p. 228. Ethiopian armed forces in a barbarous war 336-348. 21. Half of America's cobalt comes from against Eritrea. The United States intervened 10. See Stephen Schlesinger, Bitter Fruit (New Zaire, a nation where one-third of the militarily in the affairs of other nations York, 1981). population is undernourished, and where food (mainly in Latin America) on 21 separate 11. See K. Enderby, "Origins of an Era: The aid is sold off to the wealthy dictator Robert occasions between 1898 and 1924 alone! It Cold War Re-examined" for a detailed Mobotu's uncle. 97% of the world's known conquered the Philippines, Hawaii, Panama analysis of this period. chrome reserves are in South Africa and and Cuba; it overthrew governments in 12. See in particular Daniel Yergin, Shattered Zimbabwe. South Africa (including Namibia) Nicaragua, Haiti and Guatemala before the Peace (London, 1977) and Gabriel and Joyce has 86% of the world's platinum, 64% of its Second World War. Since then it has militarily Kolko, The Limits of Power (New York, vanadium, 48% of its manganese, and 40% of intervened in the Dominican Republicin 1965, 1972). its gold. Only the USSR is more self-sufficient Greece (1946-1948), South Korea (1945-46), 13. For a detailed disucssion of Open Door in minerals than South Africa. See Barnet, Viet Nam (1961-1973), Cuba (1961) and and its influence on both Roosevelt anc’ The Lean years, ch. 5. Micronesia (seizing over 2000 islands under Truman, see: Gabriel Kolko, The Roots of 22. Defense Secretary Robert McNamara the guise of a UN Trusteeship). The CIA has American Foreign Policy (Boston, 1969); and estimated (in 1967) that the United States Participated in the overthrow of governments William Appleman Williams, The Tragedy needed only 400 deliverable strategic nuclear in Zaire, Brazil, Chile, Guatemala, Iran, of American Diplomacy (New York, 1962). warheads to deter a Soviet attack. The U.S. Ecuador, Indonesia, Guyana, Ghana, Sudan 14. See Adam B. Ulam, Expansion and and Syria. The US is currently directing the El currently has 25 times this number of such Coexistence: The History of Soviet Foreign warheads, as well as 50 times as many tactical Salvadoran armed forces in a barbarous war Policy, 1917-1967 (London, 1968). against leftwing guerrillas and nationalist nuclear weapons. groups. 15. For a discussion of the concept of 23. See Daniel Ellsberg, "Call to Mutiny", in "bonding-by-exclusion", see E.P. Thompson, Protest and Survive (New York, 1981). 5' The Soviets accepted the idea that Jews had Beyond the Cold War (London, 1982). 24. For detailed discussion on recent the right to leave Russia in the early 1970s. The 16. A detailed discussion of the Cuban Missile developments in nuclear policy, see K. i l l number of emigrants rose steadily during the Crisis can be found in "The Logic of Madness: Enderby, 'The Logic of Madness: The Origin subsequent years, reaching a pe. k of 51,320 in The Development of Nuclear Policy", by K. and Meaning of Nuclear Policy". For further . ^000 were expected to leave in 1982. See DC Enderby. detail on the Rapid Deployment Force, see Refusenik", in Time, October II, 1982. 17. Startling evidence for this can be found in Michael T. Klare, "Is Exxon Worth dying The class structure in the Soviet Union is the top secret 1949 U.S. plan for war against For", in The Progressive, July 1980. D •^cussed in great detail in: Milovan Djilas, Russia, publicly released in 1977 through the New Class: A n Analysis o f the Freedom of Information Act. Operation L. 1 Communist System (Praeger, 1957); Hendrick Dropshot's ultimate aim was to be the Ken Enderby la a teacher and a Smith, The Russians (Quadrangle, 1976); occupation and subsequent reorganisation of student of arms control. He Is Q Robert Kaiser, Russia: The People and the Russia, restoring democracy and capitalism presently on a lecture tour In ower (Athanaeum, 1976); and Jerry Hough (supposedly to the relief of the Russian ovier Leadership in Transition (Brookings, people). How this was to be achieved after a Europe acquainting the European 80). When criticising class divisions in the full-scale atomic blitz was completely ignored! movement of the nuclearisation of U1 oviet Union, however, we must remember See Anthony Cave Brown, Dropshot (New this region. He does not belong to fee important points: firstly, these divisions York, 1978). any political party. IL
A ustralian Left Ri VIEW 83 55