ICELAND KR200 · NEW ZEALAND $3.00 · SWEDEN KR15 · UK £1.00 U.S. $1.50 LESSONS FROM REVOLUTIONARY HISTORY 1962: How revolutionary Cuba responded to U.S. war threats THE -PAGES A SOCIALIST NEWSWEEKLY PUBLISHED IN THE INTERESTS OF WORKING PEOPLE VOL. 66/NO. 39, OCTOBER 21, 2002 U.S.-British Bush cites 'nat'l security' warplanes escalate in assault on dockworkers bombings Uses Taft-Hartley antilabor law to back longshore bosses BY BERNIE SENTER OAKLAND, California-President ~ff in Iraq George Bush invoked the antilabor Taft­ ~'-'"'" (. Hartley Act October 8 in a show of force on . BY PATRICK O'NEILL the side of the longshore bosses and against U.S. planes launched a bombing attack I 0,500 West Coast dockworkers who are on missile launchers in northern Iraq Octo­ fighting for a contract. ber 9. Officials in Washington did not bother The federal government seized on an to claim, as they often do after such raids employer lockout, which had shut down the by U.S. and British warplanes, that the pi­ West Coast ports for I 0 days, to obtain the lots had reacted to a threatened attack. Ac­ court order. The workers, members of the cording to an Associated Press dispatch from International Longshore and Warehouse Turkey, Pentagon officials said that although Union, took down their picket lines andre­ Iraqis did not fire on the U.S. planes, "their turned to work without a contract. presence in the zone was a threat" to the Bush justified using the strike-breaking invading pilots. measure saying, "The work stoppage also The escalating air attacks are now mainly threatens our national defense .... Because targeting Iraq's antiaircraft defenses, with the operation of western ports is vital to our the purpose of establishing "air corridors" economy and to our military, I have deter­ for bombing runs into Baghdad and other mined that the current situation imperils our cities when an invasion and air assault are national health and safety." unleashed on the country. At least one raid Under Taft-Hartley, the government can has also dropped bombs on Iraqi anti-ship impose an 80-day "cooling-off period" that cruise missile sites. legally bars the union from job actions or As Washington and London continue these strikes and mandates that all negotiations Dockworkers picket Port Hueneme, near LosAngeles. Unionists returned to work with­ hostile flights over Iraqi territory and accel­ Continued on Page 2 out a contract after White House invoked Taft-Hartley Act to aid employers. erate the imperialist military buildup in the region, the Bush administration has negoti­ ated with Republican and Democratic Party leaders in Congress to prepare a joint war Workers in Pennsylvania coalfields Continued on Page 11 oppose dumping of hazardous sludge Victor Dreke, BY TO :vi MAILER No. Their time is up. People were more sewage sludge on reclaimed mine lands in GILBERTON, Pennsylvania-"They afi·aid of the coal companies 20 years ago. this area. She spoke to the ;'v!ilitant after a treat us like we're low-income and unedu­ Times have changed." July meeting of the Mahanoy Creek Water­ Ana Morales cated people and can be pushed around. No. That's how Sharon Chiao explained why shed Association. which has taken up this They tell us they've done this for 20 years. she has joined others fighting plans to dump health and environmental struggle. Chiao. whose brother is a retired union will speak on miner, is one of many who have become ac­ New York City, Saturday, November 2 tive in the struggle to defend the health of thousands of residents in the central area of 'Cuba, Mrica' this hard-coal region of northeast Pennsyl­ Communists and the World Struggle vama. BY JANICE LYNN This diverse group of people-including WASHINGTON-Two veteran Cuban against Imperialism Today working and retired miners, teachers, other revolutionaries will begin a six-city speak­ workers of all types. students. and small ing tour here on October 21. In the course Speakers business owners-is joining together to op­ of their one-month visit, Victor Dreke Cruz pose the drive by Reading Anthracite, andAna Morales Varela will speak on ''Cuba Jack Barnes Mary-Alice Waters Gilberton Coal, and Waste Management and Africa: 1959 to Today" to students, National Secretary, Socialist Workers Party Editor of New International Processors (WMPI) to gain permission for union fighters, and others. Meetings will be a one-time spreading of Class 8 biosolids organized in Washington, D.C., Birming­ Jason Alessio Martin Koppel -otherwise known as sewage sludge-over ham, Atlanta, and a number of other cities. UMWA miner, Socialist Workers candidate Editor of the Militant and land in the region. The sludge, it is claimed, The speaking tour provides an opportu­ will promote new growth of vegetation. for U.S. Congress in Colorado Perspectiva Mundial nity to hear firsthand about Cuba's record The companies are part of the holdings of internationalist solidarity with liberation Arrin Hawkins Ma'mud Shirvani of the Rich family, one of the biggest coal operators in the area. The land involved cov­ struggles in Africa, as well as learn about Socialist Workers candidate for Farsi editor, the Cuban Revolution today. Both speakers Continued on Page 12 have been participants in these efforts. lieutenant governor in New York Pathfinder Press Dreke and Morales, who on October 7 Olympia Newton Continued on Page 5 Young Socialists National Leadership Council, Also Inside: Socialist Workers candidate for secretary of state in California Unionists in South Africa protest job cuts 3 • Iraq and the Arabian peninsula: Washington's drive to redivide ,.. ''·.. ·.· the region and dominate oil ~ Boston janitors fight • A world depression is unfolding for full-time jobs 4 • Deepening contradictions in U.S. labor: opportunities and dangers New Caledonia independence • Campaigning for communism, responding to political openings supporters host seminar 4

Buffet meal1 :00 p.m., program 2:00 p.m. sharp Canadian gov't stations Frank Altschul Auditorium, 4th Floor, 420 W. 118th St. warships in Arabian Sea in buildup to war on Iraq at Amsterdam Ave. (on the Columbia University campus) 7 Hosted by New York/New Jersey SWP: (212) 695-7358; (212) 740-4611; (973) 481-0077 Protesters in Detroit demand release of local Muslim leader 13 Militant/Jonathan Silberman Sponsors: Socialist Workers Party National Committee Victor Dreke (above) andAna Morales will Young Socialists National Leadership Council start a six-city speaking tour in October. Bush cites 'national security' in assault on dockworkers Continued from front page terests of the country, the economy, and our take place through a government mediator. national security," he said. The injunction runs through the busiest ship­ The judge's back-to-work order stipulates pmg season. that union members must resume work "at At issue in the labor dispute is the em­ a normal pace." The PMA has vowed to seek ployers' drive to slash jobs and undermine court sanctions against the union if it deems the safety of members of the International that workers are carrying out a "slowdown." Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU). In face of threats by the employers and The Pacific Maritime Association (PMA), the government injunction, the ILWU plans which represents the bosses at the shipping "to continue to work safe," union president lines and terminals, is demanding to accel­ James Spinosa reported. "And if that's a erate the use of computers, scanners, remote slowdown then that's a slowdown. cameras, and other technology that will "We're in a battle," said Pamela Romez eliminate hundreds of union clerk jobs. during picket duty at the Port of Oakland Meanwhile, the bosses have outsourced October 2. Romez is a longshore worker like clerical jobs to companies in Utah and Ari­ her father, who was killed on the docks in a zona. The union is fighting to maintain cov­ crane accident. erage over some of the outsourced clerical Rich Alvis, a longshore worker for 36 jobs and to set minimum staff levels for years, was one of the last to leave the picket line. "Before we were in 15 different places," clerks. Locked-out dockworkers picketing outside docks in Oakland, California. The PMA, backed by the federal govern­ he said. "Now, since the lockout, we're all ment, also wants to end the single industry­ together. The employer put us together as a wide labor contract bargained by the union, union thinking the same way. The good that face the ruin of their produce. Sellers of toys Japanese dockworkers union, said, "Ship­ a move that would significantly weaken the will come out of this is that everyone will and clothing predicted bare shelves and owners that have attacked the I LWU are the union's ability to defend its interests. The be united." plummeting holiday profits." same companies that Zenkoku-kowan deals association wants to replace the union-con­ The American Trucking Associations said with. We acknowledge that the ILWU's trolled hiring hall with one operated by the Bosses' demand for Taft-Hartley grows in an open letter to President Bush that the struggles and the attacks upon them have bosses. A growing number of bourgeois politi­ lockout is a security as well as economic an effect on ourselves and we will fight in Employer speedup and cuts in safety have cians and groups representing big business threat as accumulating ships in the ports solidarity with port workers and seafarers resulted in the deaths of seven workers on called for the president to invoke Taft­ "enrich target opportunities for terrorists." around the globe." the ports so far this year, five ofthem ILWU Hartley. Liberal senator Dianne Feinstein During the lockout, the union officialdom The Taft-Harley Act was last used in 1978 members, according to the Los Angeles from California called for Bush to impose made arrangements to handle military cargo by then president James Carter during the Times. Of the 14 waterfront deaths in Cali­ the act, stating, "With our nation in the eco­ and shipments destined for Alaska and Ha­ 11 0-day strike by the United Mine Workers fornia in the last decade, six were in 2002. nomic doldrums and at the brink of war, we waii, two states that rely on oceanbound of America. Miners broke the court order cannot afford to have this dispute cause fur­ imports. An October 2 union news release and continued their strike until they won a Employers lock out unionists ther damage to our economy." "Down with quotes Dick Marzano. vice president of lo­ contract. In 1971, the government also used The ILWU has tried to negotiate a con­ Feinstein" was a popular chant at a rally of cal23 in Tacoma, Washington, saying, "Dur­ the measure against the West Coast tract since it expired July I. The PMA shut 300 people in support of the dockworkers ing this time of heightened national secu­ dockworkers. who had been on strike for the West Coast's 29 ports on September 29, at the Port of Oakland October 5. rity, our longshore members are fully aware three months. Since that time the tonnage accusing workers of engaging in a slow­ The Democratic governors of California, of the importance of the military cargo that handled by West Coast ports has quadrupled, down. While the union agreed to a govern­ Oregon, and Washington released a state­ crosses our docks. We will not jeopardize with the introduction of containerization of ment proposed 30-day contract extension, ment calling for a rapid end to the labor dis­ the health and well-being of the people of cargo and the rise of global trade. The num­ the PMA rejected it. "They wanted to Taft­ pute, blaming the fight for hurting farmers, Alaska or this nation." ber of longshoremen on the West Coast has Hartley the union all along," said union factory owners, retailers, and truckers. plunged to 10,500, down from I 00,000 in spokesman Steve Stallone. "All along, they Los Angeles Times columnist Steve Lopez Dockworkers win solidarity the 1950s. wanted the government to come in and solve wrote, "Retailers are beginning to fear the Before October 8 economic impact of the the problem for them." unimaginable-the cancellation of Christ­ employer lockout was accelerating. The The president ofthe PMA hailed Bush's mas." A news article a few days later stated, NUMMI auto assembly plant in Fremont, From Pathfinder decision. "I believe he acted in the best in- "If the dispute is not settled soon, growers California, run jointly by General Motors and Toyota, ceased production October 2. The idle plant, which employs 5,500 work­ Workers' Rights ers, relies on "just-in-time" inventory from versus the its suppliers, including imported engines and Secret Police transmissions. United Auto Workers Local THE 2244 at the plant has offered its solidarity by Larry Seigle MILITANT to the longshoremen, as have the Teamsters How, since the and other unions. inception of the Eric Cox, a truck driver at the docks, said, modern revolution­ Imperialists out of the Ivory Coast "The employers are trying to drive a wedge ary movement in between the truckers and the ILWU but also 1848, the ruling As Washington marches between the nonunion and union truckers. classes have toward war for oil in the We take aluminum coils to the NUMMI plant. The workers at NUMMI I talked to responded with Mideast~ it is extending its said 'we are behind the ILWU I 00 percent. police spies, agents military presence in Africa's If we go on strike we want their support."' provocateurs, and oil-producing countries. Read Japanese and Australian dockworkers is­ political frame-ups. $3 the 'Militant' to get the facts sued statements in support ofiLWU. "Kenji Yasuda, chairman of Zenkoku-kowan, the about the deepening U.S. economic penetration of Africa and the stakes involved Asia: send S80 drawn on a U.S. bank to above The Militant address. for workers and peasants. Canada: Send Canadian S75 for one-year Vol. 66;No. 39 subscription to Militant. 1237 Jean-Talon est. Closing news date: October 9, 2002 Montreal. QC. Postal Code: H2R I WI. Britain, Ireland: £36 for one year by check Editor: MARTIN KOPPEL SUBSCRIBE TODAYI Business Manager: JACK WILLEY or international money order made out to Mili­ Editorial Staff: Roger Calero. Paul Pederson. Jack tant Distribution. 4 7 The Cut. London. SE I 8LL. Willey. Brian Williams. and Maurice Williams. England. Continental Europe, Africa, :vliddle East: Young Socialists column editor: ROMINA NEW READERS £40 for one year by check or international GREEN money order made out to Militant Distribution ------Published weekly except for one week in June. NAME at above address. 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2 The Militant October 21, 2002 Unionists in South Africa protest job cuts BY T. J. FIGUEROA Asked about the government's stated JOHANNESBURG, South Africa­ view that privatization is required to increase Thousands of workers took to the streets of efficiency and boost the economy, South African cities October 1 in response Mkhabele responded: "Do you think that is to a call by the Congress of South African a good idea') To say that I must die today so Trade Unions (COSATU) for a two-day gen­ that I can live tomorrow'!" eral strike against the sell-off of state enter­ Amos Maphake, a clerk at electricity util­ prises, and job losses. In a march in ity Eskom, noted that as private capital buys Johannesburg, workers carried signs with into the state-run companies, jobs are not slogans such as "COSATU says no to being generated. "A lot of people at Eskom privatization," "Keep public services pub­ have already lost their jobs and a lot more lic," '"Stop huge food price increases," and are going to lose their jobs. And it's going "Away with the high tnaize meal prices." to affect the community definitely because The strike met with a mixed response. Only the price of electricity will definitely go up. COSATU-affiliated unions lent their support There are still a lot of disadvantaged people to the action. According to officials of the who do not yet have electricity. and I won­ labor federation, about 60 percent of the der with this privatization, how arc they workforce stayed away nationwide, although going to get access to electricity') They can the actual figure appears to have been smaller, have privatization, but a lot of people wili as many large industrial plants and mines not be working and definitely will not be stayed open. The South African Chamber of able to afford to pay those services." Business stated that 15 percent of workers in Following the strike, public enterprises private industry struck over the two days. The minister JetfRadebe told a press conference government opposed the strike and said few that the privatization measures would con­ state workers participated. tinue. "'There is no question about the po­ The most concentrated support for the Militant;T.J. Figueroa litical commitment oftheANC government walkout was reported in gold mines in the Workers march in Johannesburg October 1 during national strike called by Congress of in proceeding with this program because of Free State. at the Pm1 of Durban, and in plants South African Trade Unions to protest job losses and sale of state-owned enterprises. the benefits that it will have for the economy owned by four of six auto manufacturers. of this country." In Johannesburg. thousands of workers in Soweto. where many of his students have government policies." ANC leaders bitterly criticized the strike. marched on the tlrst day of the strike. Metal­ parents who are unemployed. "Privatization Blessing Vilakazi. a gold miner at Durban The party's secretary-general. Kgalema workers, telephone workers, transp011 work­ of basic services means people cannot af­ Deep, noted that "the families of people Motlanthe, called the walkout "a political ers. food industry workers, health workers. ford them. We think standing up against working in the mines are poor. Privatization strike against thcANC government." A state­ teachers, and a small number of miners privatization will make some sense to gov­ will affect everyone, especially for electric­ ment from the organization said "the ANC fonned contingents. The SouthAfl·ican Com­ emment, will help it reconsider its position. ity and water." cannot support a strike against the policies munist Party and the Landless People's The government is right to defend its posi­ "I spend 100 rands ( 1 rand = US 10 cents) our government is cmTectly implementing Movement also participated in the march. as tion by talking about globalization and so on the electricity card per month, but it isn "t in pursuit of our strategic objective: the over­ did the Anti-Privatization Forum, a group fo11h to say that they want to create jobs, enough," said Themba Mkhabele. a general all liberation of the historically oppressed aligned with "antiglobalization·· forces. but the opposite is happening." worker and NUMSA shop steward at the masses of our country." ANCYouth League Asked whether this was a march against Maxiprest tire company, whose monthly president Malusi Gigaba went so tar as to Anger over price hikes for food, services the government, as asserted by oftlcials of take-home pay is R I ,000. "It's only good declare the COSATU action "a counterrevo­ During the march. workers expressed the African National Congress. which leads for lights and cooking. You cannot run a lutionary strike aimed at defeating the new anger over rising prices for food and basic the government. he replied, "It's not a march fridge and all that other stuff that will make government," an allegation that a COSATU services. and continued job losses. In the against govemment, it's a march against life easier. TV music. those are luxuries.'' spokesperson rejected. past year the price of maize meal. a staple for mi !lions of working people, has risen by I 10 percent, and other food prices have also increased sharply. As the CUITency. the rand, Ohio SWP candidates: stop 'no match' letters has depreciated against the dollar and the euro, prices for basic commodities, from BY MICHAEL FITZSIMMONS pressed interest in continuing the discussion. Many of the teachers have expressed the fuel to clothing. hme also soared. CLEVELAND-Campaigners for the Braiman and her co-worker were inter­ hope that a tax increase proposal on the bal­ According to COSATLJ secretary-general Socialist Workers ticket in Ohio have been viewed by the campus newspaper about lot in November will pass and. by helping Zwclinzima Vavi. four state-owned cntcr­ meeting militant workers and youth around conditions faced by workers in factories and the school district bridge the "budget gap," prises-Eskom (the electricity utility), the state. Eva Braiman, the socialist candi­ farms in the region. Drawing on his own convince the authorities to give them a wage Transnet (railroads and other transport), date for govemor of Ohio, was invited by G L, mcrease. Tclkom (the fixed-line phone company). and a meatcutter from the slaughterhouse where Helen Meyers, the Socialist Workers can­ Dcnel (an arms manufacturcr)-havc cut they both work. to attend a rally oftarm work­ didate for Ohio attorney generaL explained 1OO.OOOjobs. Some ofthese companies. such ers and other packers organized by the Farm on the picket line, ''My campaign is urging as Telkom. which has eliminated 20.000 jobs Labor Organizing Committee (FLOC) at the other working people to support the Maple and is slated to be listed on the stock market University of Toledo. GL joined Braiman in Heights teachers -their fight is an example next year. have been pat1ially sold off to pri­ introducing the socialist campaign to the of how workers can defend our interests. vate capital. Stakes in other companies are workers and students present. The solution to funding the public schools to be sold off in the next couple of years. A FLOC organized the September 24 rally is not taxes on workers' wages. Workers and number ofmunicipal water services have now in order to present to AFL-CIO president farmers, who produce all the wealth and are been contracted to private operators. John Sweeney. who was speaking on cam­ exploited by the superwealthy families that '"If they privatize services like water and pus that day. with FLOC's "legislative rule this country, are already squeezed by electricity, I'm going to pay a lot," said agenda" in favor of amnesty for undocu­ taxes on their modest earnings and other re­ Meshack Mabula, a machine operator and mented immigrants. Several of those attend­ gressive taxes. Taxes on working people member of the National Union of Metal­ ing the rally were meat packers who had should be abolished and replaced with a workers of South Africa who participated been fired after their boss, J .H. Routh Pack­ M Lesnick steeply graduated tax on the profits, divi­ in the October 1 march. "But it's going to ing Co .. received Social Security"no match" Eva Braiman, Socialist Workers candidate dends, and interests of wealthy individuals be even worse for those who are not work­ letters from the Immigration and Natural­ for governor, discusses politics with work­ and capitalist corporations." ing."' Oflicialuncmployment here continues ization Service (INS). The INS has sent out ers on streets of Cleveland September 28. The Socialist Workers candidate t()f U.S. to hover at about 30 percent. hundreds of thousands of such letters. forc­ Congress, Michael Fitzsimmons, recently "We arc against the selling of state assets ing many workers to leave their jobs rather experience in the peach orchards, GL participated in a rally by salt miners protest­ because it results in joblessness and pov­ than face harassment from the bosses and pointed out that, while the U.S. govcmment ing the union-busting moves of CargilL Inc. erty," said Winston Mahli, a member of the the cops and possible deportation. The hypocritically accuses the Iraqi government Some 130 miners were fired by the company South African Democratic Teachers Union workers hope to gain the support of their of developing chemical weapons, immigrant following their strike last summer over sched­ union. the United Food and Commercial farm workers all over the United States arc uling, seniority rights. and subcontracting. Workers. and other unions. routinely sprayed with pesticides and other Several miners have purchased the Militant (: IJ :)/\and the Coming Two of the workers were particularly in­ toxic chemicals. "The growers put up signs to tind out more about the socialist campaign. American Revolution terested in the socialist campaign. One warning people to keep their families and Exchanging views with the miners. worker decided to subscribe to the pets out of the fields while they spray. but Fitzsimmons pointed out that they are an by Jack Barnes campaign's Spanish publication, meanwhile there are human beings work­ important part of the working-class resis­ ing there," he said. Cuba and the Perspcctiva Mundia!, to learn about the tance to the capitalist rulers' offensive both broader picture of working-class struggles at home and abroad. "As working people, Coming Discussions with striking teachers American in the United States and about the Cuban we need to oppose the U.S. war drive against Revolution is Revolution. The other worker, who works The Socialist Workers candidates have also Iraq-which is an imperialist war of plun­ about the in the fields of a large nursery near Oberlin. joined striking teachers on the picket line and der-as we join with other working people struggles of described to Braiman the brutal conditions set up a campaign table at a support rally in to win solidarity in the tight against Cargill," working people workers t1tce there. the Maple Heights school district, a work­ said Fitzsimmons, who pointed to a num­ in the imperialist In a discussion with a University of To­ ing-class suburb of Cleveland. The teachers ber of Pathfinder books that explain what's heartland, the ledo student, who was jarred by the patri­ have been on strike for more than a month. behind the imperialist drive to war. youth who are otic. pro-government rhetoric of Sweeney's confronting black-clad, combat-boot-wear­ After meeting students at Cleveland's attracted to address. Braiman and her fellow campaigner ing guards of the Huffmaster Crisis Response. Case Western Reserve University, Braiman them, and the pointed to the socialist campaign's position as well as scabs recruited by Altemative has been invited in October to participate in example set by in opposition to "no match" letters, INS Workforce. The school district has hired the the Islamic Bazaar in the student center. On the people of Cuba that revolution is raids. and deportations, and on the need for two companies in an effort to intimidate the the encouragement of a number of Ohio not only necessary-it can be made. working people to stand together regardless teachers and break the strike. farmers. the campaign will also visit grain Preface by Mary-A I ice Waters. $13. of their country of origin. Braiman ex­ The teachers are fighting for a pay in­ storage and processing facilities in the state, In English, Spanish, and French. plained the perspective her campaign advo­ crease, smaller classes, and time each week as fam1ers deliver their harvest. The social­ t\\·ailahlc li\)111 hl)ukstur~s. including thus~ cates of fighting to transform the unions into to prepare lessons. Maple Heights teachers ist campaigners will learn more about the listed on page 14; \\rile rathtlnder. 410 West revolutionary instruments in a fight by work­ report that they are among the lowest-paid effects of the drought and explain working­ St.. Ne11 York. NY 10014. Tel: 1~1~1 741-0690: ers. together with farmers, to take political in the county. A number of meetings have class proposals t()r defending small farm-. ur \·isit '' \\ '' .pathlindcrprcss.cum. Please include S.1 lirr shirping and handling. power. One interested student purchased the been organized by parents and teachers to ers from the cost-price squeeze of the capi­ /v!ilitant and a Pathfinder catalog and ex- back the union's demands. talist market. October 21, 2002 The Militant 3 Boston janitors strike for full-time positions

BY TED LEONARD The slogans carried by strikers on their BOSTON--Dozens ofjanitors chanting signs explain their demands: "Part time work "Sf se puede" (Yes, we can), picketed at I 00 doesn't work" "S39 a day is not enough" Summer Street in downtown Boston after and "Health care for our families." walking off the job September 30. A month According to press reports, the cleaning earlier the contract for I 0,000 Boston area bosses have agreed to increase wages to janitors, members of the Service Employ­ $12.50 an hour from S I 0.20 over four years, ees International Union (SEIU), had expired. and to expand some medical coverage for After the expiration of the contract, SEIU full-time workers. But they have balked at officials, at the request of Mayor Thomas creating more full-time positions as de­ Menino, agreed to postpone strike action and manded by the union. Seventy-five percent to continue negotiations with the Mainte­ of the janitors are employed on a part-time nance Contractors of New England, an asso­ basis and have no medical benefits. ciation of 30 cleaning companies. Failing to Workers on the picket line explained that reach an agreement, union officials decided they usually work about four hours a night to organize a selective strike against Unicco Monday through Friday with an ever in­ Service Co., a national office-cleaning com­ creasing workload. MilitantSarah Ullman pany that cleans 1,450 buildings in the area. The Boston Herald, voicing the bosses' Striking janitors rally in Boston October 2 demanding a wage hike, more full-time jobs, On the first day of the walkout, janitors point of view, argued against the union's de­ and better benefits. About 75 percent of the janitors work part-time with no benefits. picketed 16 major Boston office buildings, mand for full-time jobs, declaring, "Union including One Beacon Street, I 00 Federal leaders have simply refused to acknowledge days, some buildings were getting cleaned rallied and then marched through the streets Street, 100 Summer Street, One and Two that some workers for whom this is a second with replacement workers and union mem­ of downtown Boston chanting "Unicco International Place, Russia Wharf, the World job >mnt part-time work. They have also bers who have crossed picket lines. The union escuclw' Estamos en Ia lucha!" ("Listen up, Trade Center, and the John Hancock Build­ failed to admit the economic reality that a estimated that 5 percent of its members were Unicco, we're here to fight!") ing. The second day, another II city build­ conversion to full-time jobs will leave many crossing the picket lines, while cleaning in­ In response, Mayor Menino won a court ings and 19 in the suburbs were struck. By of those workers just flatly out of work.'' dustry sources put the figure higher. order on October 3 barring janitors and their the end of the first week, more than 2,000 On the second day of the strike, Unicco During rush hour on October 2, more than supporters from staging street demonstra­ workers were on the picket lines in front of advertised in the Boston Herald for tempo­ 300 janitors and their supporters converged tions without permits. 63 buildings. rary workers for all shifts. Within a couple of on I 00 Summer Street where they brief1y Earlier that day. workers and others in solidarity with the janitors marched down Boylston Street, a tony shopping district in downtown Boston. They were joined by New Caledonia anti-imperialist fighters meet delegates to the Massachusetts State AFL­ CIO convention taking place in the city. BY ARLENE TATE September, a team of three YS representa­ bosses' assaults, from the longshore work­ Also that day. 26 supporters of the jani­ A~D CHRISTIAN COURNOYER tives from Canada, New Zealand, and the ers along the Pacific coast of the United tors were arrested as they blocked traffic at NOUMEA. New Caledonia-Under the United States arrived in New Caledonia to States to fighters against police brutality. the entrance to the Callahan Tunnel, the title "organizing the anti-imperialist struggle begin a busy schedule of discussions and vis­ "In the course of the dockworkers' fight, major thoroughfare to the airport and the in times of globalization" some 25 people its to the scene of political and labor actions. and others like it," she said, "young social­ suburbs and towns along the North Shore. and international guests patiicipated in an In the days before the seminar, their hosts ists and socialist workers have participated AFL-CIO state president Robert Hayes ali-day seminar September 7 hosted by the took them to the site of a proposed nickel in picket lines and rallies. urged others to commented, "He likes to say he's labor's Kanak Liberation Party (Palika). mine owned by the Canadian mining giant get involved, and sold significant numbers mayor. Preventing these working people Held at the Secretariat of the Pacific Com­ !nco that has been targeted for protests by of Militants and Pathfinder titles to union from expressing themselves is not what one munity in Anse Vata. Noumea, the event at­ Kanaks and others; a Noumea hotel that has fighters. Right now we are in the middle of would expect from labor's mayor." tracted people from New Caledonia's three been occupied by workers demanding an an election campaign to present a socialist Menino claimed to be "sympathetic" to provinces and from several different politi­ improved severance deal; and a squatter camp program to working people and youth." the janitors but that he was ''concemed about cal organizations. A number of young sup­ inhabited and organized by Kanak fighters Garment worker Christian Cournoyer, the public safety." porters of Palika attended, as well as repre­ and by workers from Wallis and Futuna. from Montreal, also addressed the seminar. In August the Boston City Council passed sentatives of the organization's leadership. Among other points, the socialist worker a resolution "requesting" that "the commer­ Perspectives of communist movement Four members of the Movement of Oceania discussed the antilabor record of the Cana­ cial real estate community and their chosen Youth (MJO), the youth organization of the The seminar was chaired by an indepen­ dian mining companies that are sinking their maintenance contractors offer decent wages pro-independence party based among immi­ dence supporter who works as a truck driver roots into New Caledonia's nickel resources. and benefits, including health care, in line grants from Wallis and Futuna Islands, also and who had attended the World Festival of "'Several people have explained to us here with cities like New York and San Francisco contributed. Like New Caledonia, Wallis and Youth and Students in Algeria last year. that the nickel mining industry is your na­ that have similar cost requirements." Futuna is a colony of French imperialism. From the Communist League and YS in tional patrimony," he said. "They argued Janitors struck in Los Angeles in 2000. The New Caledonian participants wel­ New Zealand, Arlene Tate said that the in­ persuasively that this resource must be used winning a 26 percent wage increase. comed a delegation representing the interna­ ternational movement of which those orga­ as a motor to fight against regional inequali­ On the third clay of the strike here. John tional Young Socialists and the communist nizations are a part stands in continuity with ties generated by decades of colonialism." Hancock Financial Services said it would movement. The members of the delegation. the battle to build an international class­ be willing to spend up to S 1.5 million more Kanak economic independence who hailed from Canada, New Zealand, and struggle leadership conducted by Marx and for cleaning services to help ensure higher the United States, each gave a brief presen­ Engels, the leaders of the Russian Revolu­ The fight for Kanak ownership of the pay and health insurance for janitors. tation on the fight to build an international tion and its defenders against the Stalinist nickel mines is a key front in the fight for After the walkout began, Standard & anti-imperialist movement the class struggle political counterrevolution, and the commu­ economic independence, said Sylvain Poor's lowered Unicco's credit rating and in the countries in which they are active po­ nist leadership of 40-plus years of deepen­ Pabouty, a member of the Palika national placed it on "credit watch" with "negative litically. and their efforts to build the com­ ing and defending the socialist revolution leadership, in response. The wealth gener­ implications." citing expected weakness in munist movement. Those presentations in Cuba. ated by this industry must be transformed its operating performance. kicked otT a lively political exchange. An epoch of capitalist crisis and depres­ into new roads, electricity, hospitals, The delegation's visit was the product of sion, rising inter-imperialist competition and schools, and proper houses for all, he added. Ted Leonard is a packinghouse 1\'0rker in collaboration between Palika and the Young war, and intensifying class struggle is open­ Palika member Doris Doupere described the Boston area. Sarah Ul/nwn, a garment Socialists that picked up momentum last ing up today, she said. the impact of French colonial rule on the 11·orket: contributed to this article. year as youth from the region prepared to It is not just Washington that is on the Kanak people, and its broader effect of im­ send delegates to the 15th World Festival of warpath, Tate noted. In the Pacific region, peding the development of New Caledonia. Youth and Students in Algiers last August. the smaller imperialist powers of New Today Kanak fighters face new challenges. At the festival itself delegates from Palika Zealand and Australia are also extending she noted, with big multinationals from From Pathfinder described the ongoing struggle in New their military reach, with substantial forces Canada and elsewhere operating in the Caledonia against French colonial rule-a in East Timor and Bougainville. The New country. To See the Dawn struggle in which the indigenous Kanak Zealand government has also mounted a MJO president Moie Kamalele Sione Baku, 1920 people, who have historically faced condi­ police operation in the Solomon Islands. stressed the increasing involvement of im­ First Congress tions of apartheid-like discrimination-have Rebecca Wi II iamson, of the Young Social­ migrant workers and others from Wallis and of the played a central leadership role. ists in the United States, talked about the Futuna in actions for independence. Peoples of Roughly one year after the festival, in early resistance of working people against the Charles Wea, a prominent figure in the Kanak Socialist National Liberation Front, the East the long-standing leadership of the indepen­ How can peas­ dence fight, pointed to the overbearing role ants and workers of the imperialist powers in the South Pa­ in the colonial cific-and not just France. "More and more world achieve you feel the weight of the United States," freedom from Im­ he said, "while Australia and New Zealand perialist exploita­ have the primary weight in the affairs of the tion I By what region." The Solomon Islands recently means can working people overcome changed their currency to the Australian divisions incited by the1r nat1onal rul­ dollar, he noted. ing classes and act together for the1r Seminar participants spent some time common class interests' These ques­ looking over a table of Pathfinder books and tions were addressed by 2,000 del­ socialist periodicals, and scrutinizing a dis­ egates at the 1920 Congress of the play illustrating the political work canied Peoples of the East $19.95 out by the communist movement in work­ ers districts and at factory gates, on cam­ Available from bookstores, including those listed on page 14; write Pathtlnder, 410 West puses, and as part of political protests. By St., New York, \JY 10014. Tel: (212) 741-0690; the end of the clay they had purchased al­ or visit www.pathfinderpress.com. Please Militant/Arlene Tate most 60 revolutionary titles published or include S3 for shipping and handling. Participants at September 7 meeting in Noumea on fight against imperialism distributed by Pathfinder Press. 4 The Militant October 21, 2002 Oct 12-20 target week will feature special regional sales teams

BY JACK WILLEY tiona! rights. Supporters of the Militant and Perspectiva Mundial The Lackawanna trip will around the United States are organizing special regional expand on the campaigning by sales teams and full-day efforts during the October 12-20 socialist candidates and their target week to sell subscriptions to the socialist press as supporters who have carried well as copies of New International magazine and out weekly soapboxing in Capitalism's World Disorde1: This special one-week extra New York City. During the effort is needed to bridge the gap between the current sales annual New York Is Book results for the Militant and the targets we need to hit each Country street fair on Septem­ week to bring home a successful drive. ber 29, participants picked up The sales of Penpectiva Mundiaf subscriptions and of some $1,300 in books as well Militant the featured books demonstrate the response that campaign­ as six Militant subscriptions Mike Fitzsimmons (right), Socialist Workers candidate for Congress in Ohio's 9th dis­ ers for the revolutionary literature have already received. and nine Perspectiva Mundial trict, campaigns with the Militant in Cleveland. Supporters of the socialist newspaper In several areas they have raised or plan to raise their goals subscriptions between the are gearing up for October 12-20 target week to get back on pace for circulation drive. to the Spanish-language socialist magazine and to the books Pathfinder Bookstore stall at because they have leaped beyond the original goals. We the event and a soapboxing campaign table near the event. by imperialism's war to gain control of the oil resources are ahead by 16 percent on the book sales. Fourteen people also purchased October 1962: The 'Mis­ and territory in the Middle East. The weekly coverage in On the opening weekend of the target week, the Social­ sile' Crisis as Seen fi"om Cuba and 10 copies of the fall the Militant on the facts of the military buildup, and the ist Workers campaign in Florida is heading from Miami up campaign books. explanation of its place in imperialism's broader drive to­ to Immokalee, a town where many farm workers live. They ward a series of wars in the Mideast and Far East to redi­ will also sell in Homestead, where workers have held ac­ Presenting a communist view vide the natural resources of the region, will attract anum­ tions demanding access to drivers licenses for immigrants. At an October 6 action opposing the U.S. rulers' prepa­ ber of youth to the socialist press. The campaign will return to both places the following week­ rations for war against the peoples of the Mideast, another Distributors report an up-tick in the number of actions end to follow up with individuals who buy copies of the six people bought subscriptions to the Militant and more and campus events on the Palestinian resistance and oppos­ paper and to introduce more workers to the socialist press. than $200 in books by revolutionary leaders. All 71 copies ing the Israeli regime's unrelenting assault on the Palestin­ of the paper that socialists brought to the rally were sold. ian people. Team to Lackawanna During an action in Seattle the same day, David Supporters of Martin Koppel's campaign for governor Ferguson, Socialist Workers candidate for U.S. Con­ of New York are going to Lackawanna, near Buffalo. The gress, and his supporters set up a large campaign table Militant/Perspectiva Mundial FBI arrested six young men there last month, accusing them featuring Pathfinder books and got out some $160 in ofproviding"material support" to al-Qaeda. The campaign, literature. Three people bought Militant subscriptions Subscription Drive which demands the immediate release of the six, will in­ and 3 7 purchased single copies to check it out. troduce communist literature to workers and students who As Washington ratchets up the war propaganda. thou­ Sept. 7-Nov. 17: Week"4 arc outraged by the arrests and the trampling on constitu- sands of young workers and students will be repelled Militant PM Book Country Goal Sold % Goal Sold Goal Sold Australia 28 3 11% 6 0 15 0 Dreke, Morales to speak on 'Cuba and Mrica' Canada Vancouver 30 14 47% 5 2 15 5 Continued from front page FriendshipAssociation, has for the past decade led work Montreal 15 6 40% 10 2 20 11 received notice that their visas had been granted. will be­ to construct housing, schools, roads, and other devel­ Toronto 30 9 30% 5 25 2 gin their speaking engagements in the Washington, D.C.­ opment projects in Africa. As a teenager he joined the Canada total 75 29 39% 20 5 60 18 Baltimore area the week of October 21. Meetings are popular struggle against the U .S.-backed Batista dicta­ Iceland 9 9 100% 25 4 New Zealand planned in Baltimore at the University of Maryland-Bal­ torship. After the 1959 victory of the Cuban Revolution Auckland 20 11 55% 1 0 7 6 timore County and at the College of Notre Dame. Dreke held numerous responsibilities in the revolution­ Christchurch 12 5 42% 1 0 7 6 In Washington. D.C. they will speak on October 23 at ary armed forces and in the political leadership of the N.Z. total 32 16 50% 2 0 14 12 American University and on October 25 at Howard Uni­ battle to transform Cuban society, including the uproot­ Sweden versity, at a meeting hosted by a number of student groups ing of institutional racial discrimination inherited from Stockholm 12 8 67% 3 2 5 6 and academic departments including the Howard Univer­ the past. Gothenburg 15 7 47% 3 2 10 4 sity Student Association, NAACP, Amnesty International, Sweden Total 27 15 56% 6 4 15 10 Dreke was one of the commanders of the fight against United Kingdom and the political science department. the CIA-backed counterrevolutionary bands in the London 45 16 36% 15 6 60 49 They have also been invited to speak at campus meet­ Escambray mountains of central Cuba in the early Dundee 10 0 0% 0 0 8 4 ings in Atlanta; Charlotte, North Carolina; and Birming­ 1960s. In 1965, he served as second in command under UK total 55 16 29% 15 6 68 53 ham, Alabama, among other cities. Ernesto Che Guevara in the Congo, where more than United States The series of speaking engagements is being hosted by l 00 Cuban volunteers fought alongside fighters for na­ Washington 30 25 83% 12 10 25 15 the Africa-Cuba Speakers Committee headed by Professor tional liberation who were followers of Patrice Tucson 5 4 80% 1 3 5 0 Piero Gleijeses of the Johns Hopkins School ofAdvanced Seattle 40 23 58% 12 5 30 8 Lumumba, the assassinated independence leader. This San Francisco 30 17 57% 20 17 20 20 International Studies and author of the recently published experience laid the basis for Cuban internationalists to Western Colorado 30 17 57% 10 5 12 8 book Conflicting Missions: Havana, Washington, and Af~ aid other liberation struggles in Africa, including the Atlanta 35 18 51% 15 2 25 7 rica 1959-1976. successful defense of Angola from invasions by South Brownsville 8 4 50% 2 2 6 0 Dreke. currently vice president of the Cuba-Africa Africa's apartheid regime. Houston 35 17 49% 15 3 30 19 Dreke returned to Africa in 1966-1968 to head Cuba's Des Moines 25 11 44% 12 7 12 12 military mission in Guinea-Bissau, then waging a Detroit 43 19 44% 12 6 25 12 Birmingham 22 9 41% 10 4 12 3 struggle for independence from Portugal; there he fought Upper Manhattan 75 28 37% 45 16 50 19 alongside Amilcar Cabral. He also headed Cuba's mis­ Cleveland 28 10 36% 7 6 15 2 sion in the Republic of Guinea, and retumed to Guinea­ Omaha' 20 7 35% 23 12 12 16 From the Bissau in 1986-89. Philadelphia 25 8 32~~ 10 2 15 4 Victor Dreke tells the story of some of these experi­ NY Garment Dist. 80 24 3QO;iJ 45 18 70 14 Escambray ences in his book From the Escamhray to the Congo: In Chicago 45 12 27% 30 21 25 15 the Whirlvrind of the Cuban Revolution, published by Los Angeles 45 12 27% 30 8 30 1 to the Congo Pathfinder. NE Pennsylvania 30 8 27% 7 1 15 5 Ana Morales, a doctor and a professor at the Latin Twin Cities 55 14 25% 30 28 25 11 IN THE WHIRLWIND American School of Medicine in Havana, headed the Miami 30 7 23% 10 2 25 7 OF THE CUBAN Pittsburgh 40 9 23% 4 0 15 3 Cuban medical mission in Guinea-Bissau in 1985. She Newark 65 13 20% 40 19 35 9 REVOLUTION helped found the first medical school in Guinea-Bissau, Charlotte 20 3 15% 8 2 20 5 by VICTOR DREKE donated by Cuba. She returned to the Republic of Guinea Tampa 25 3 12% 8 1 12 1 and Guinea-Bissau in 1995-1997 to direct medical fa­ In h1s account of how easy 1t became after the 1959 Boston 28 3 11% 20 5 45 23 cilities in both countries. She will be speaking on U.S. total 914 325 36% 438 205 611 239 v1ctory of the Cuban Revolution to "take down the "Cuba's Medical Missions in Africa, 1963 to Today." lnt'l totals 1140 413 38% 488 221 808 336 rope" that for decades had segregated blacks from In February Dreke and Morales carried out a speak­ Goal/Should be 1100 440 40% 500 200 725 290 wh1tes at dances 1n town squares, yet how enormous ing tour in Santa Clara, Trinidad. and other cities and IN THE UNIONS was the battle to transform the soc1al relations underly­ towns of central Cuba, addressing audiences of work­ Ing this and all the other "ropes" inherited from colo­ ers, farmers, and young people on the history of Cuba's Goal Sold % Goal Sold Goal Sold nialism, capitalism, and Yankee domination, Victor revolutionary struggles and their lessons for the new Australia Dreke captures the histor1cal challenge of our epoch. generations in that country. Earlier, Dreke spoke at the AM lEU 4 25% 2 0 At the heart of th1s book lies the wlll~ngness, deter­ Havana International Book Fair on the same topic. These Canada events were covered in the Militant in the February 25, mination, and creative JOY with which Cuba's working UFCW 9 0 0% 0 8 0 people have, for more than forty years, defended their March 25, and April 29 issues. UNITE 6 17% 7 2 7 revolutionary course against the imperialist bastion to For more infonnation or to send a contribution to help Total 15 7% 8 2 15 the north. defray travel expenses, contact the Africa-Cuba Speak­ New Zealand ers Committee; c/o Howard University NAACP. 2400 MWU 3 1 33% 0 In English and Spanish, $17.00 6th St. NW, Suite 118, Washington. D.C. 20059. NDU 2 0 0% 0 Total 5 20% 2 0 Available from bookstores, including those listed United States on page 14; write Pathfinder, 410 West St., New AMIEU-Australasian Meat Industry Employee's Union; UFCW 50 13 26% 65 30 60 13 York, NY 10014. Tel: (212) 741-0690, or visit MWU-Meat Workers Union; NDU-National Distribution UMWA 25 0 0% 4 0 13 0 www.pathfinderpress.com. Please include $3 Union; UFCW-United Food and Commercial Workers; UNITE 50 6 12% 40 9 60 14 Total 125 19 15% 109 39 133 27 for shipping and handling. UMWA-United Mine Workers of America; UNITE-Union of Needletrades, Industrial and Textile Employees. raised goal'

October 21, 2002 The Militant 5 Pathfinder titles a draw at Sweden book fair

BY DAG TIRSEN archist politics-including his opposition to ANDANDREASBERGERHEIM the Cuban Revolution-to a communist GOTHENBURG, Sweden-"! like the perspective that points to workers and farm­ fact that these books don't show things as ers taking political power out of the hands simply history, but as pmi of today," said a of the capitalist class. student who stopped by the Pathfinder booth The best-selling title at the booth was a at the September 19-22 Gothenburg Book Swedish translation of Ernesto Che Fair. The annual book festival is the largest Guevara's Socialism and Man in Cuba, with such event in Scandinavia. This year it at­ II copies, followed by "The Opening Guns tracted a record I 08,000 visitors in a city of of World War III" with eight. Pathfinder's half a million inhabitants. Pathfinder volun­ books of speeches by Malcolm X were also teers set up a stall for the I I th year in a row. popular. This year the fair took place in the midst Books explaining the roots of women's of an escalating imperialist war drive in the oppression were well received by the many Middle East and just a few days after elec­ young women who visited the booth. Twelve tions in which, among other results, such titles were sold, most of them books ultraright parties had made substantial gains by Evelyn Reed, including the Swedish and in local polling. English editions of Winnan 's Evolution: The Pathfinder booth. which carried a From Matriarchal Clan to Patriarchal Fam­ range of titles on communist politics, was i~v. at most times crowded with visitors, mostly Books and pamphlets to a total value of youth. Often four or five discussions with $850 were sold at the booth. In addition, 12 the volunteer staffers would take place at Militant/Catharina Tirsen people purchased subscriptions to the Mili­ the same time, with others sometimes look­ Visitors and staffers at Pathfinder booth in book fair in Gothenburg, Sweden. tant and one bought a Perspectiva Mundial ing over shoulders to see the books that at­ sub: two more subscriptions were picked up tracted such interest. This classic pamphlet by Leon Trotsky Fight It sold out at the library display, cam­ at house calls during the week after the book The booth was staffed by an international had proved timely and popular during an paign activists encouraged disappointed cus­ fair. team of volunteers from Gothenburg, election event held in the Gothenburg city tomers to come to the book fair where more The team staffing the booth also set up Reykjavik, Stockholm, New York, and library the week before, at which parties copies would be available. two book tables at the University of Dundee. Scotland. running in the local elections in Gothenburg The Palestinian struggle for their home­ Gothenburg, where the stance of the Com­ The books that explained the roots of the had set up information tables. land and the accelerating U.S. war drive in munist League campaign against Swedish imperialist war drive in the Mideast and the The ultrarightist National Democrats was the Middle East also sparked political dis­ imperialism-including its preparations to accelerating world depression drew many one group that responded to the invitation cussions and interest in the books. participate in the U .S.-Ied war drive in the people to the booth. Titles addressing these and arrived with a table. Hundreds of youths Several visitors, including a couple of Middle East-attracted interest among stu­ issues were prominently displayed, ranging turned out to give the racist outfit a piece of members of the Young Muslims. said that dents. The team also visited the working­ from the Swedish translation of"The Open­ their mind. Many of them said they were they had taken part in d~monstrations in sup­ class districts ofAngered and Hjallbo: from ing Guns of Guns of World War III: pleased to see the Communist League table port of the Palestinians' fight. both areas, visitors later came to the booth Washington s assault on Iraq" contained in nearby. Noam Chomsky, who had been declared at the fair. The team also did plant-gate sales Some people came back day after day the featured guest by the book fair organiz­ Ny International no. I to October I962: The at the SKF industrial plant and the Volvo 'Missile' Crisis as Seen Fom Cuba by during the l 0-day exhibition at the library ers, drew some 3,700 people to a seminar vehicle factory in the city. as a result of Tomas DiezAcosta and Capitalism's World and became more familiar with Pathfinder during the four-day event at which he spoke. which three workers purchased the Militant. Disorder: Wi;rking-Class Politics at the Mil­ books and the Communist League campaign. Following the seminar a flow of visitors came to the Pathfinder booth, eager to dis­ Dag Tirsen is a member of' the Industrial lennium by Jack Sames. Visitors purchased Pamphlet on fascism popular eight copies of the first title and two of the cuss their response to Chomsky's presenta­ Workers Union. Andreas Bergerheim is a second. When Fascism: What It Is and How to tion. The staffers contrasted Chomsky's an- member of' the Food Workers Union. Some commented on the stance of the Swedish rulers toward the imperialist war moves in the Middle East. Prime Minister Goran Persson had said in a recent inter­ Fund campaigners organize to step up collections view that the Swedish government would BY MAGGIE TROWE Atlanta October 12. Paul Pederson. the So­ take along an array of Pathfinder titles to sell probably support the war against lraq cialist Workers congressional candidate in to congress participants. The congress coin­ whether or not it had the blessing of the UN The most recent addition to the interna­ Brooklyn. who took part in a recent soli­ cides with the Guadalajara Book Fair, the Security Council. ~ tional Pathfinder Fund comes from France, darity trip to Puerto Rico, is speaking in largest book fair in Latin America, where Many visitors were Pathfinder loyalists where supporters of Pathfinder have taken Northeast Pennsylvania October 19. Pathfinder will have a booth. fi·om earlier book fairs who have come back a goal of US$350. Argiris Malapanis, who was part of the Contributions to the Pathfinder Fund can year after year to discuss the international Fund-raising meetings are now taking trip by communists from the United States be sent to the Afilitant. 410 West Street, New class struggle and check out the revolution­ place across the United States, giving fund and Canada to Venezuela last summer to York, NY I 0014, with checks made out to ary publisher's new titles. campaigners a good focus for stepping up the pace of collecting pledges for the fund. discuss the fight against imperialism with Pathfinder. "Every year I come to your stand to buy workers and fighters in that COLll1- a book," said one browser, Masoud, as he This is necessary. because the fund stands try. will be the featured speaker at bought a copy of Fascism: What It Is and at 27 percent of the $105,000 goal but the Pathfinder Fund meeting in $1 05,000 Pathfinder Fund Hmv to Fight ft. "I wish you had a Path­ should be at 45 percent. Sam Manuel, Socialist Workers candidate Houston on October 26. Sept. 1-Nov. 17. Week 5 finder bookstore here in Gothenburg, not All of these meetings will feature just in Stockholm," he added. for mayor of Washington, is speaking in Pathfinder's newest book. October Goal Paid % I962: The 'Missile' Crisis as Seen Tucson AZ 150 100 67% fi'om Cuba by Tomas Diez Acosta. Charlotte NC 3,500 1,800 51% Pathfinder sales representatives French troops stay in Ivory Coast NY Garment District 6,000 2,950 49% have been visiting buyers at book­ Western CO 2,600 1,225 47% BY PAUL PEDERSON Ivory Coast on September 25 with more than stores and libraries in a national Newark NJ 3,600 1,612 45% Some 1,000 French troops remain de­ 200 U.S. troops, mostly Special Forces. effort to sell the new book. Special San Francisco CA 8,500 3,690 43% ployed in Ivory Coast. In late September. Those forces are now "on standby" in neigh­ programs at universities and in the Northeast PA Paris and Washington sent hundreds of boring Ghana. media commemorating the 40th an­ 1,200 455 38% troops into this West African country under Since a failed coup attempt on Septem­ niversary ofthe "missile" crisis will Seattle WA 7,500 2,790 37% the guise of evacuating French and U.S. citi­ ber 19 antigovernment soldiers have gained pique the interest of many people Philadelphia PA 5,000 1,672 33% zens. control of much of the northern region of to read this clear factual account Birmingham AL 3,100 975 31% drawing on U.S., Cuban, and So­ The French government, the fonner colo­ the country. After a brief pause, fighting re­ Des Moines lA 1,200 315 26% viet sources that records the course nial power in the Ivory Coast, now says its sumed October 6 as government forces ini­ Pittsburgh PA 4,200 1,000 24% tiated a military offensive against rebel-con­ of events when the Kennedy admin­ soldiers are staying there to help protect the Los Angeles CA 9,500 1,920 20% government of President Laurent Gbagbo trolled towns. istration prepared an invasion of Boston MA 3,500 690 20% from rebel forces. The imperialist troops, al­ The government has been systematically Cuba, and how the massive re­ Omaha NE legedly providing "logistical support," are burning down shantytowns in the major sponse by Cuban workers and farm­ 900 165 18% stationed alongside pro-government forces coastal city of Abidjan where immigrant ers defending their sovereignty and NY Upper Manhattan 3,600 617 17% notih ofthc capital city, Yamoussoukro. workers. mainly from Burkina Faso, live. revolution was the decisive factor Cleveland OH 1,700 290 17% Washington had invaded the capital of Three of the 5 million immigrant workers in standing down imperialism. Detroit Ml 3,000 485 16% in Ivory Coast are Burkinabe. Government New books Tampa FL 2,000 320 16% and paramilitary forces have been waging Twin Cities MN 5,000 710 14% attacks on immigrants and the Muslim popu­ The Pathfinder Fund allows con­ Chicago IL 5,500 750 14% The Communist Manifesto lation in the north. tributions to go right into financing the production of several books that Houston TX 4,500 600 13% Karl Marx and French imperialism, both during and since the end of direct colonial rule, has sought to will be released this fall. These in­ Washington DC 3,000 350 12% Fredenck Engels foster religious and social divisions in Ivory clude Marianas in Combat: Tete Atlanta GA 4,250 410 10% Founding document Coast-between Christians and Muslims, Puebla and the Mariana Grajales Miami FL 2,100 120 6% of the modern and between those born in the country and Women's Platoon in Cuba\ Revo­ Other 1,889 lutionwy War. which features an in­ working-class move­ immigrants from Burkina Faso-to maintain U.S. total 95,100 27,900 29% its economic dominance. Ivory Coast buys terview with Puebla, who fought in ment, published in New Zealand 1,500 460 31% 26 percent of its imports from France and Cuba's revolutionary war and is a Sweden 1,400 100 7% 1848. Explains why sells France 15 percent of all exports. The general in the Revolutionary Arn1ed France communism is de­ debt to imperialist banks held by the Ivorian Forces of Cuba; and The Assault on 350 20 6% rived not from pre­ government is $13.9 billion. Moncada by Mario Mencia. Australia 1,300 0 0% conceived principles The world's largest producer of cocoa Young socialists attending the Canada 4,500 0 0% but from facts and beans, l vory Coast has the second largest 13th congress of the Continental Iceland 150 0 0% Organization ofLatinAmerican and proletarian movements springing from the economy in the region behind Nigeria. U.S. United Kingdom 1,200 0 0% and other imperialist investors have been Caribbean Students (OCLAE), to be actual class struggle. $3.95 International total 105,500 28,480 27% eyeing potentially large oil and gas reserves held in Guadalajara, Mexico, from Available from bookstores, including those listed on page 14. lnt'l goal/should be 105,000 47,250 45% off the country's coast November 29 to December 2 will 6 The Militant October 21, 2002 Canadian rulers join On 20th anniversary of Sabra and Shatila in imperialism's massacre, protesters oppose Israeli occupation war drive in Mideast

BY ROSEMARY RAY ister Allan Rock replied by stating that crit­ TORONTO-Defense Minister John ics of the prime minister were "unthinking McCallum stated October 1 that the Cana­ defenders of the 'ready, aye ready' school dian government is prepared to join a U.S.­ of thought about Canada's role toward the led military force in the Mideast. The gov­ United States." ernment in Ottawa, which has previously deployed troops to Afghanistan, already has Canadian warships in Arabian Sea several warships and planes in the Arabian While until now the Canadian govern­ Sea. ment had officially posed as undecided in The Liberal Party government is carry­ its approach toward Iraq, the Canadian ing out this drive to war under the cover of military already has two frigates, one de­ demanding that the government of Iraq ac­ stroyer and two patrol aircraft in the Ara­ cept UN "weapons inspectors" and then, if bian Sea. They are part of enforcing the Baghdad doesn't meet all their demands, imperialist embargo on Iraq and support­ assaulting that country under UN sponsor­ ing the operations of U.S. aircraft carriers ship. in the region. Minister ofForeignAffairs William Gra­ The fact that Canada is a weaker imperi­ ham made a point of meeting with Iraq's alist power with limited military weight has foreign minister September 17 in New York fueled debate in the ruling class here on just and warning him that unless his government how the Canadian government can defend admitted inspectors, "your time is up." its economic interests around the world and McCallum said his government favors a not get edged out even more by its imperi­ Several thousand people demonstrated in Ottawa, Canada, September 28 to com­ diplomatic settlement but that "it is clear alist competitors, especially the United memorate the 20th anniversary ofthe massacres of Palestinians in the Sabra and that diplomatic efforts can fail to yield re­ States. Shatila refugee camps in Lebanon in September 1982. While the two refugee sults and military action becomes neces­ Some columnists in the capitalist media camps, home to 30,000 people, were surrounded by Israeli tanks, ultrarightist sary." have argued that Ottawa's military strength paramilitary forces entered the camps and murdered more than 2,000 civilians. He warned, "Let no one think Canada will is "negligible" and that, rather than increas­ The actions of the Israeli forces were overseen by Ariel Sharon, then Israel's hesitate to provide military support .... ing its military capacity it should take a "soft minister of defense. Protesters at the Ottawa rally called for an end to Israeli Canada is sometimes known as a peaceable power" approach by joining efforts in an military occupation of the West Bank and Gaza Strip and demanded that the kingdom but never as a pacifist kingdom." imperialist-occupied Iraq in "nation build­ Canadian government cut all its ties to Israel. Participants came from Montreal, Canada's imperialist ruling class has long ing, the development of civic society, eco­ Toronto, Ottawa, and other cities. Pictured above are protesters carrying coffins portrayed itself as "peaceable" and reluc­ nomic progress, democracy, the rule oflaw." of those killed in the struggle against Israeli aggression. tant to use military force. It fact, it has joined Others, like Vice-Admiral Ron Buck, or supported every imperialist military ac­ commander of Canada's navy, are waging tion around the globe since World War II, a public campaign for increased military including the deployment of ships, fighter spending by Ottawa. Buck has called for jets, and an infantry unit in the 1990--91 Gulf improving Canada's naval capacities to be War. able to "deploy a self-sufficient group of North American Command A week earlier, Prime Minister Jean vessels almost anywhere around the world, Chretien gave an interview on CBC televi­ without having to rely on foreign allies." sion where, in an anti-U.S. posture, he at­ Such an approach, Buck says, would offer was set up under Clinton tempted to pose Ottawa's foreign policy as the government "a wide variety of options more humane than that of its rival in Wash­ when it comes to foreign missions." Reprinted below is a front-page article U.S. defense secretary William Cohen ington. "The perceived greed of the West­ In an October 30 column titled "Shaping that appeared in the Jan. 31, 2000, issue said that openly using a name such as the em world helped plant the seeds" for the the World the Canadian Way," the editors of of the Militant. The socialist newsweekly "homeland defense command" and formally September II attack on the World Trade Canada's national newspaper, the Globe and was one ofthe few newspapers at the time appointing a commander in chieffor opera­ Center, he said. Chretien called on "West­ Mail, advised the Canadian government to that reported the establishment under the tions inside the United States may have been em leaders to address the growing gap be­ take a more rounded approach. Boosting Clinton White House of a "homeland de­ "premature." But, he added, "Who are you tween rich and poor." military spending is important because "a fense command." On October 1 of this going to turn to when there is a catastrophic Stephen Harper, leader of the right-wing stronger Canadian military makes sense for year, the U.S. Northern Command offi­ event?" Canadian Alliance, the official parliamen­ more than just peacekeeping," they con­ cially began operations at the Peterson A New York Times article entitled, "Mili­ tary opposition party, condemned Chretien's cluded. And "military might and good works Air Force Base in Colorado. tary Terrorism Operation Has a Civilian comments as "bashing the United States and are not mutually exclusive. Whatever the Focus," said that the military operations engaging in damaging anti-American rheto­ merits of a particular conflict, war must be BY GREG McCARTAN "would bring order to the expected chaos ric." Harper has called on the government followed by relief efforts and reconstruc­ The Clinton administration has begun to and panic that would follow a terrorist at­ to support a U.S.-led assault on Iraq regard­ tion." The message: let's not get iced out of set up a military command for inside the tack." less of official UN backing. Industry Min- the booty. United States. Operations for the Joint Task Clinton also proposed an additional $280 Force Civil Support have been established million on computer security to fight "cyber­ in the Joint Forces Command, which super­ terrorism," according to the Wall Street Jour­ vises more than halfofthe U.S. military. nal. The "education president" said most of N.Y. transit workers rally to Brig. Gen. Bruce Lawlor is in charge of the funds would go for college scholarships the unit. He is third in the chain of command for students who agree to work for the gov­ from the president. According to reports in ernment as computer security specialists. defend health-care benefits the big business media, Lawlor was chosen The head of the National Security BY DAN FEIN New York city and state officials and capi­ to appease civil rights concerns posed by giv­ Council's counterterrorism unit, Richard ing the military the formal go-ahead for do­ BROOKLYN, New York-More than talist politicians have raised the prospect of Clarke, said the additional funds are needed 1,000 transit workers, members of Trans­ increasing the subway and bus fares, sup­ mestic operations, which would include se­ because several unnamed "foreign govern­ cret police and other branches of the armed port Workers Union Local I 00, rallied here posedly as a way to help meet expenses to­ ments are believed to have developed 'of­ September 25 outside the Metropolitan ward the Health Benefit Fund. The TWU is forces. "He can talk to civilians," said John fensive information warfare units,"' the Transit Authority's Livingston Street head­ part of the "Save the Fare" coalition, which Hamre, deputy secretary of defense. Journal reported. quarters to demand an improved contract. opposes any fare increase. The union contract, which covers 34,000 Local I 00 is demanding that wages be Special offers with subscription to the Militant and working members and 20,000 retirees, ex­ brought up to the rates paid by Metro North PerspectiiTa Mundial in Sept. 7-Nov. 17 circulation drive' pires December 15. It covers bus drivers, and the Long Island Railroad, the main com­ subway operators and conductors, station muter rail lines in the area. Subway opera­ agents, signal maintainers, cleaners, skilled tors, for example, earn $6 an hour less than New International Capitalism's trades persons and others. The first bargain­ their counterparts at Metro North and the nos. 7, 10, 11: $10 off World ing session was held five days before the LIRR. Disorder • Opening Guns of World War Ill: rally. At a news conference before the first ne­ Working-Class Politics at Washington's Assault on Iraq The transit workers are fighting around gotiations session, Local 100 president the Millennium Regular price $12 three issues: health-care benefits, wage in­ Roger Toussaint described the "plantation by Jack Barnes creases, and dignity on the job. The union­ mentality" of supervisors on the job, where • Imperialism's March toward Reg. price $23.95 administered Health Benefit Fund is $30 workers are subject to numerous disciplin­ Fascism and War $15 Also in Spanish, French. million in the hole due to lack of payments ary measures and abusive treatment. Regular price $14 by the MTA, a state agency. Mervin Gray, a mechanic at the Jackie Underfunding by the MTA has resulted Gleason MTA facility, said in an interview, • U.S. Imperialism Has Lost the Cold War in increased out-of-pocket costs for the "Health benefits, decent wages, retirement For new readers, 12-week Militant Regular price $14 workers. OnApril24 more than 5,000 tran­ and life time benefits are most important subscription is $10, and 4-month Available in Spanish, French, sit workers rallied outside MTA headquar­ to me. The union needs to do some more Perspectiva Mundial subscription is $6. and Swedish. New International ters in Manhattan to defend their health-care work in the organization of its members and For longer-term subs and overseas rates, no. 11 is also in Icelandic. benefits. getting larger numbers to participate in this see page 2. Some 1,500 TWU Local 100 members fight." who are covered by a different contract con­ Following the September 25 rally, Isaac ffi·B• Pathfinder titles are available ducted a successful seven-week strike last Krinsky, a train conductor, said, "It was an All other issues of from bookstores, including those spring over health care coverage. They are excellent turnout and sent a strong message New International listed on page 14, or from bus drivers and mechanics for three private to the MTA. We are stronger now, more www.pathfinderpress.com bus lines that operate in Queens. unified than before."

October 21, 2002 The Militant 7 c o er : e ISSI e TISIS as Seen rom Cuba 'U.S. has no right to demand inspections' How revolutionary Cuba responded to U.S. war threats in October 1962

In October 1962, in what is widely known as the Cuban Missile Crisis, Washington pushed the world to the brink of nuclear war. The events brought to a head the drive by the U.S. rulers to launch a direct invasion of Cuba and overthrow the revolutionary government there. Released on the 40th anniversary of these events, the Pathfinder book October 1962: The "Missile" Crisis as Seen from Cuba, by Cuban author Tomas Diez Acosta, tells the story of what really happened. a The Militant has been printing excerpts Top: (from left) Cuban prime minister from the new book. The one below is from Fidel Castro, UN secretary general U the transcript of a meeting between Fidel Thant, and Cuban president Osvaldo Castro, Cuba's prime minister, and U Thant, Dorticos during U Thant's visit to Cuba United Nations secretary-general, held in on Oct. 30-31, 1962. Revolutionary lead­ Havana on Oct. 30, 1962. Also participat­ ership rejected U.S. demands f~r UN ing as part of the Cuban delegation were 'arms inspections' as violation of Cuba's President Osvaldo Dortic6s, Foreign Min­ sovereignty. Left: militiawomen take part ister Raul Roa, and Carlos Lechuga, the in defense mobilizations by hundreds of newly appointed Cuban representative to the thousands throughout the island in face United Nations. of U.S. war threats. The accompanying box (see below) out­ lines how. in face ofthe U.S. government's plans to invade the island. C~ban working words; it's the deeply felt stance of our people mobilized in their millions to defend people. their revolution. staying Washington's hand. l! THA:\T: I understand perfectly Your Two days before the meeting recorded Excellency's feelings. That is why I clearly below, the Cuban leadership learned from a said to the United States and others: "Any Radio Moscow broadcast of a letter sent by action of the United Nations in Cuban terri­ Soviet premier Nikita Khrushchev to U.S. tory can be undertaken only with the con­ president John Kennedy ordering the re­ sent of the people and government of Cuba." moval of missiles from Cuba that were part I told them so in the name of peace, which of the mutual defense pact between the Cu­ all the world and all the peoples of the world ban and Soviet governments. ardently wish for. I told the forty-five coun­ The U.S. government demanded that little better') direct armed attack should Cuba strengthen tries that I agreed to come to Cuba without Cuba accept "inspectors" to ''verify" the having commitments from either side. L THA:\T: The explanation the United itself militarily to a degree the United States removal of the missiles. U Thant visited Some press reports last night and this Cuba for two days of talks to try to con­ States gives is that it wants to make sure that takes the liberty to determine. We have not the launchers are really being dismantled the slightest intention of rendering ac­ morning. before I left on this trip, said I was vince the revolutionary leadership to accept coming to arrange details of a UN presence a team of UN inspectors on Cuba territory and that the missiles arc being returned to counts or of consulting the illustrious mem­ the Soviet Union. ~ bers of the U.S. Senate and House of Rep­ in Cuba. That is totally erroneous-that combined with a UN reconnaissance plane would constitute a violation of the sover­ that would operate over Cuba's airspace. CASTRO: What right does the United resentatives about the weapons we find it States have to ask thi~'? Is this based on a advisable to acquire, nor the measures to eignty of the Republic of Cuba. I have come As the following exchange shows, Castro here solely to present the viewpoints of the explained in no uncertain terms why this genuine right. or is it a demand imposed by be taken to fully defend our country.... Do force. made from a position of force'? we not have the rights that international other side and to explore the options of find­ proposal was unacceptable. Copyright &' ing a peaceful solution. l! THA"'T: My viewpoint is that this is norms. laws. and principles recognize for 2002 by Pathfinder Press; reprinted by per­ As well. the forty-five countries that mission. not a right. Something like this could be un­ every sovereign state in any part of the dertaken only with the approval and accep­ world? asked me to come know which position is legal and which one is not. tance of the Cuban government. "We have not surrendered nor do we in­ C\STRO: There is one point I find con­ But in the name of world peace-and for fusing-the proposals for inspection. They CASTRO: What we do not understand is tend to surrender any of our sovereign pre­ precisely why this is asked of us. We have rogatives to the Congress of the United a period of only one or two weeks, perhaps talk about two points here: about a team. three-they have asked me to come and try and about a plane. I would like you to elabo­ not violated any law. Nor have we carried States." out any aggression against anybody what­ That view was repeated by the president to find a possible solution. rate on that-the part that refers to propos­ Your Excellency, my conscience is clear als for inspection. Please repeat that. soever. All our actions have been based in of the Republic of Cuba at the United Na­ international law; we have done absolutely tions. and also in numerous public state­ on this issue-the United Nations can un­ L THAYr: Both proposals would involve nothing outside the norms of international ments I have made in my capacity as prime dertake an action of this kind only when it the United Nations. It would consist of two has the consent of the government involved. units: one on the ground and the other from law. To the contrary. we have been the vic­ minister of the government. This is the firm tims. in the first place, of a blockade. which position of the Cuban government. This is not the first time this has happened. the air, for as lon~g as it takes to dismantle In Laos. when a situation arose that threat­ the bases, that is, around two weeks. is an illegal act. And secondly, we have been All these steps were taken for the sake of victims of another country's claim to deter­ the country's security, faced with a system­ ened international peace. the United Nations CASTRO: I don't understand why they went into that country only after obtaining ask these things of us. Could you explain a mine what we have the right to do or not do atic policy ofhostility and aggression. They within our own borders. ~ have all been taken in accordance with the the consent of the government of Laos. In It is our understanding that Cuba is a sov­ law. and we have not renounced our deci­ 1956 a situation arose in Egypt, in the United ereign state, no more and no less than any sion to defend those rights. Arab Republic, and the United Nations went Background to 1962 other member state of the United Nations. We can negotiate with full sincerity and into Egypt-and is still in Egypt-always and that Cuba has all the attributes inherent honesty. We would not be honest if we with the consent of the government. Simi­ 'missile' crisis in Cuba to any of those states. agreed to negotiate away the sovereign larly in 1958. another situation that threat­ After Cuban workers and farmers Moreover. the United States has been re­ rights of our country. We are willing to pay ened world peace arose in Lebanon, and the United Nations went in there after obtaining overthrew a U.S.-backed dictatorship and peatedly violating our airspace without any whatever price is necessary to uphold these began a deep-going revolution in 1959, right to do so. thereby committing an act of rights. And that is not a mere formula, mere Continued on Page 10 Washington took increasingly aggressive intolerable aggression against our country. actions to try to overthrow the new revo­ It has tried to justify this by referring to an lutionary power. In April 1961, Cuba's agreement of the OAS [Organization of revolutionary militias and armed forces American States]. but so far as we are con­ Getyourcopytoday! crushed a U.S.-organized mercenary in­ cerned that agreement has no validity. We vasion at the Bay of Pigs. were expelled from the OAS. in fact. October 1962: The In the spring and summer of 1962, in We can accept anything that respects our face of escalating preparations by Wash­ rights, anything that docs not imply a re­ 'Missile' Crisis as ington for a full-scale invasion of Cuba, duction in our status as a sovereign state. the revolutionary government signed a But the rights that have been violat;d bv the Seen from Cuba mutual defense pact with the Soviet United States have not been restored. -And Union. In October U.S. president John we accept nothing imposed by force. By Tomas Diez Acosta Kennedy demanded removal of Soviet As I sec it, all this talk about inspection "We possess moral long-range nuclear missiles installed on the island. is one more attempt to humiliate our COUI1- missiles that cannot be dismantled Washington imposed a naval blockade of try. We do not accept it. Cuba, stepped up preparations for an This demand for inspection aims to vali­ and will never be dismantled. This armed assault. and placed its armed date the U.S. presumption that it can vio­ is our strongest strategic weapon." forces on nuclear alert. late our right to freely act within our bor­ Fidel Castro, November 1, 1962 In face of the mobilization of Cuban ders, that it can dictate what we can or can­ workers and farmers to defend their na­ not do within our borders. And our line on tional sovereignty and revolutionary this is not only a line for today; it is a view Special: $21 ($3 off cover price) gains, the U.S. government backed off we have always maintained, without excep­ prepublication offer through its invasion plans. Following an exchange tion. November 1. $19 for members of communications between Washington In the revolutionary government's reply of Pathfinder Readers Club. and Moscow, Soviet premier Nikita to the joint resolution of the U.S. govern­ Khrushchev, without consulting Cuba, ment, we said the following: Order now from Pathfinder or announced his decision to remove the "Equally absurd is its threat to launch a from bookstores listed on page 14, or visit missiles on October 28. www.pathfinderpress.com

8 The Militant October 21, 2002 Opposing views heard at NY meeting on October 1962 Crisis

BY NAOMI CRAINE Also speaking was Nina Khrushcheva, a NEWYORK-Atanumberofcampuses professor at the New School, and Celestine across the country, events are taking place Bohlen, a former New York Times correspon­ this month to mark the 40th anniversary of dent who chaired the meeting. Publicity for the so-called Cuban missile crisis. One of the event had listed Carlos Alzugaray, these, held October I at the City University of New York (CUNY) Graduate Center, drew about 200 people. The featured speaker at the New York event was Arthur Schlesinger, Jr., former advisor to President John F. Kennedy. He and the other panelists put forward the offi­ Left: Verde Olivo cial U.S. government version-presented Above, U.S. F-14 Tomcat takes off from aircraft carrier USS from a liberal perspective-of the October Abraham Lincoln deployed in Arabian Sea to enforce imperialist 1962 events in which Washington brought no-fly zone over Iraq. Left, Cuban revolutionary leader Fidel Castro the world to the brink of nuclear war. visits artillery units during October 1962 "missile" crisis. Current As the speakers portrayed it, Kennedy demands to deploy UN "weapons inspectors" in Iraq aid saved the world from disaster, Soviet pre­ Washington's plans for war in the Middle East. In 1962, U.S. mier Nikita Khrushchev was a sensible ad­ Kennedy administration made similar demands on Cuba as it sought versary, and the Cuban people were simply a justification to launch a military assault on the island. not part of the picture. Schlesinger, a prominent U.S. historian, deputy director of Cuba's Institute for ity to blow up the world," Schlesinger be­ tempt to invade Cuba at the Bay of Pigs in was a special assistant to Kennedy in 1962 Higher International Studies, as a speaker, gan. "We were fortunate to have leaders as April 1961. This mercenary invasion "was and was intimately involved in the White but U.S. officials denied him a visa, accord­ concerned as Kennedy and Khrushchev who a misguided effort inherited from [former House's propaganda efforts at the time. He ing to the event's organizers. avoided a nuclear war." president Dwight] Eisenhower," Schlesinger was joined on the platform by Wayne Smith, October 1962 was "the most dangerous The former Kennedy advisor noted that asserted, adding that "Kennedy would never who headed the U.S. Interests Section in moment in human history. It was the only the events leading up to the "missile" crisis have conceived something like that." Havana under the Carter administration. time two contending powers had the capac- were preceded by the U .S.-organized at- He mentioned Washington's secret cam­ paign of counterrevolutionary terror and destabilization from late 1961 through 1962, code-named Operation Mongoose, as a pro­ gram of sabotage. In fact, the operation was Castro: 'Anyone who tries to inspect Cuba much broader in scope, including detailed scenarios of pretexts that could lead to a direct U.S. invasion of Cuba. had better arrive in full combat gear!' Schlesinger acknowledged that in sign­ ing a mutual defense agreement with the So­ BY PAUL PEDERSON posed a naval blockade-an act of war he spection aims to validate the U.S. presump­ viet Union in 1962, the Cuban leadership As Washington and London step up their called a "quarantine"-and accelerated a tion that it can violate our right to freely act had argued for making the pact-including the deployment of Soviet missiles on the bombings of Iraqi air defenses, capitalist course toward invasion. within our borders." Rejecting the argument island-public, in contrast with the Soviet politicians-from President George Bush to In face of the mobilization of hundreds that imperialist calls for "inspections" were officials' effort to keep it secret. Sen. Edward Kennedy-are using the de­ of thousands of Cuban workers and farm­ in the name of peace, Castro pointed out, mand for "United Nations inspections" of ers in defense of their national sovereignty "Violating the rights of the peoples is not Schlesinger concluded his presentation by comparing discussions among U.S. officials weapons sites as part of justifying a full­ and revolutionary gains, the Kennedy ad­ the road to peace; that is precisely the road in October 1962 to the current tactical dif­ scale invasion of Iraq. ministration backed off its invasion plans. that leads to war. The road to peace is to Washington demands the "right" of teams After an exchange of communications be­ guarantee the rights of the peoples, and the ferences among Democratic and Republi­ of armed foreign "inspectors" to go anyplace tween Washington and Moscow, Soviet pre­ willingness of the peoples to resist and de­ can politicians over Washington's war moves in the Middle East. "Everyone agreed and anytime throughout the Middle Eastern mier Nikita Khruschev, without consulting fend those rights." that the missiles had to be gotten out" of country. They insist on their "right" to carve Cuba, publicly announced his decision to In the Oct. 23, 1962, speech, Castro ex­ Cuba, Schlesinger said. While some officials out sections of Iraq's territory where Iraqi withdraw the missiles. posed the role of the United Nations in cov­ simply wanted to get the Soviet missiles planes and vehicles cannot go without being ering up for imperialist military assaults. He bombed. After staging these provocations, the 'Imperialists are the aggressors' pointed to the example of the Congo, where moved, "others campaigned for preemptive war. Fortunately they did not prevail." imperialist powers will declare that Iraq did In an Oct. 23, 1962, speech reprinted in U.S. and allied troops intervened in 1960- The same day as the CUNY forum, not comply with every one of their demands Diez Acosta's book, Fidel Castro quoted a 61 to disarm the newly independent gov­ and then claim the "right" to unleash an in­ U.S. Congressional resolution giving the ernment of Prime Minister Patrice Schlesinger appeared as one of the signers vasion aimed at establishing a protectorate. Kennedy administration a green light to use Lumumba, who was arrested and assassi­ of a full-page ad in the New York Times, And this aggression will be carried out un­ armed force "to prevent in Cuba the creation nated by pro-imperialist forces. sponsored by the liberal group Common Cause, opposing a Congressional resolution der the cover of the United Nations. or use of an externally supported military "Imperialist forces went into the Congo The demand of "weapons inspections" capability endangering the security of the flying the banner of the United Nations," that, it explained, would give U.S. president George Bush "a blank check to make war and the use of the United Nations to justify United States." Castro stated, "There is noth­ the Cuban revolutionary leader said. "They an imperialist assault is not new. ing more ridiculous than to attribute to us assassinated the leader of the Congo. They on Iraq." The ad argued instead that "we Forty years ago, in October 1962, U.S. aggressive intentions against the United divided it, they muzzled it, and they killed must encourage the United Nations to make president John F. Kennedy demanded UN States. After four years of them attacking the independent spirit of that nation. every effort to carry out effective inspec­ "inspections" of Cuba during what is widely us, it now turns out, according to them, that "Cuba is not the Congo. No one can come tions to ascertain the danger from Iraqi known as the Cuban Missile Crisis, which we are the ones with aggressive intentions under that banner or any other banner to weapons" before launching a full-scale war was the culmination of plans by the U.S. rul­ against these gentlemen." inspect our country. We know what we are against Iraq. ers to invade that Caribbean nation and crush In the same speech Castro answered doing, and we know how we must defend Smith and Khrushcheva spoke in the same vein as Schlesinger. "Thank God the socialist revolution there. Cuban work­ Washington's demand that UN "observers" our integrity and our sovereignty. ing people and their revolutionary govern­ be sent to Cuba to dictate which types of "Any one who tries to come and inspect Khrushchev accepted Kennedy's proposal that the Soviets withdraw the missiles and ment effectively stood down Washington's weapons Cuba could and could not have and Cuba should know that he'd better come in threats and set a powerful example-one the to "supervise" their removal. full combat gear! That is our definitive an­ the U.S. end its naval blockade against Cuba," Smith said. ~ imperialists cannot forget even today. U.S. officials, he said, "ask the United swer to the illusions and to the proposals The story is told in Pathfinder's new book, Nations that we disarm ourselves-with the for carrying out inspections in our territory" Khrushcheva cited approvingly a speech October 1962: The 'Missile Crisis' as Seen sending of observers, of course." But "we Today, Castro's words remain true. Wash­ by Sen. Edward Kennedy on Iraq the previ­ ous week in which he cited President fimn Cuba, by Cuban author Tomas Diez have not the slightest intention of rendering ington, an aggressor power that is armed to Acosta. In it, readers will find an accurate accounts or of consulting with the illustri­ the teeth with nuclear and other weapons of Kennedy's actions in October 1962 as an record of the U.S. rulers' efforts to under­ ous members of the U.S. Senate and House mass destruction, has no right to tell Iraq or example of restraint in contrast to those who sought a "preemptive" attack. mine and overthrow the Cuban Revolution of Representatives about the weapons we any other country what weapons it can or find it advisable to acquire, nor the mea­ cannot have. The demand for "UN inspec­ from its triumph in 1959 through the events 'About the revolution, not missiles' of the final months of 1962. sures to be taken to defend our country ... just tors" is an outright violation of Iraq's sov­ During the question period, Schlesinger After April 1961, when the revolution­ as we did not consult or request authoriza­ ereign rights. It is a road not to "peace" but and Smith both expressed their view that ary militias and armed forces of Cuba tion about the type of weapons and the mea­ to imperialist war. crushed a U.S-organized mercenary inva­ sures we took when we destroyed the in­ It's also worth noting that revolutionary Washington's four-decade-long economic sion at Playa Giron, near the Bay of Pigs, vaders at Playa Giron." Cuba is not Iraq. While the Iraqi people to­ embargo against Cuba does not advance its interests today. Criticizing the Bush the Kennedy administration stepped up its A week later, following the Soviet day are the target of a brutal imperialist as­ administration's Cuba policy, Schlesinger preparations for an invasion using U.S. government's announcement that it was sault, working people in Cuba have a pow­ argued, "The embargo protects Castro and troops. It launched "Operation Mongoose" withdrawing the missiles, UN secretary-gen­ erful advantage-they have made a revolu­ enables him to play the nationalist card." It and other campaigns of counterrevolution­ eral U Thant was sent by Washington to tion, taken governmental power, and over­ would be better, he stated, to lift the embargo ary terror and sabotage to prepare the demand that UN "inspectors" be allowed to thrown capitalist rule. As in 1962, Cuban and "drown him with American tourists." ground for such an assault. "supervise" their removal. In the exchange workers and farmers are organized to de­ Speaking from the floor, Martin Koppel, In light of this aggression, Cuba signed a between Castro and UThant that is reprinted fend the deep-going political and social mutual defense pact with the Soviet Union, in October 1962 and is excerpted on the fac­ rights they have won through their revolu­ who is the Socialist Workers candidate for including the deployment of Soviet missiles ing page, the Cuban leader asked pointedly, tion, and they are able to take the moral high governor of New York, expressed a differ­ ent view. The October 1962 crisis, he said. on the island. In October 1962, Kennedy "What right does the United States have to ground in face of U.S. threats and aggres­ demanded the removal of the missiles, im- ask this?" He added. "This demand for in- sion. Continued on Page 15

October 21, 2002 The Militant 9 'U.S. has no right to demand inspections'

Continued from Page 8 swered: Wherein lies the danger of war? Is the consent of the government of Lebanon. 1 it perhaps in the weapons of one kind or One condition is absolutely necessary in another that Cuba possesses, or is it in the order to undertake this kind of action: the aggressive intentions of the United States consent of the government involved ... . against Cuba? CASTRO: In the case of the Congo .. . We believe it is aggression that can lead to u THANT: There was also the case of war. The weapons that exist in Cuba, no mat­ Somalia.c ter what they may be, will never initiate ag­ CASTRo: In the case of the Congo, my gression. Therefore we ask ourselves this understanding is that they requested the question: Why is inspection and our agree­ United Nations come in. 3 ment to inspection a requirement to guaran­ u THANT: In the Congo the request was tee peace? In order to guarantee peace, it made by the government of the Congo. would be enough for the United States to CASTRo: In the Congo, the government pledge, with all necessary assurances through that made that request is now dead and bur­ ied! Our government has not the slightest doubt that the present secretary-general of the United Nations is acting with good in­ tentions, impartiality, and honesty. We have no doubt about your intentions, your good faith. and your extraordinary interest in find­ ing a solution to the problem. We all have a high regard for your mission and for you personally. I say this with all sincerity. I understand that we must all take an in­ terest in peace. But sacrificing the rights of Above: UPI Tclcphoto:left: Granma the peoples, violating the rights of the Above, U.S. warship (in foreground) and plane monitor a Soviet peoples, is not the road to peace; that is pre­ ship transporting missiles withdrawn from Cuba in October 1962. cisely the road that leads to war. The road At left, Patrice Lumumba, first prime minister of newly indepen­ to peace is to guarantee the rights of the dent Congo, after being arrested by pro-imperialist forces in 1960. peoples, and the willingness of the peoples Ul\ troops disarmed Lumumba's forces and paved the way for a to resist and defend those rights. U.S.-backed military coup and Lumumba's assassination. "Cuba In all the cases cited by Mr. Secretary­ is not the Congo," Fidel Castro said in rejecting UN "observers." Laos, Egypt, Lebanon, the Congo, which I mentioned-in all those cases, what has the United Nations. not to attack Cuba .... not agree to accept UN action. then my duty. the same value on the public pledge the been seen is nothing but a chain of aggres­ L THAI\T: In the first place I wish to what I must do. is to report this back to those Soviet Union made before the United Na­ sions against the rights of the peoples. It all thank Your Excellencies. Mr. President and who made the proposal. tions to withdraw the strategic weapons that has been caused by the same thing. Mr. Prime Minister. for your words regard­ It is not my intention here to impose any­ the USSR sent to defend the Republic of The road to the last world war was the ing me personally and the position I occupy. thing. My duty is solely to explain the pos­ Cuba? These would be two equally public road that included toleration of German I fully agree with both of you that the solu­ sibilities of finding ways. means, or forms commitments. If one of the two pledges­ imperialism's annexation of Austria and its tion we find for short-tenn agreements must in which we could tind a peaceful solution. the U.S. pledge not to invade Cuba-does dissolution of Czechoslovakia-that is what also include negotiations for long-term without making specific proposals. I wi II not need any additional guarantee. why then led to war. These dangers are a warning to agreements. But in tern1s of the United Na­ take into account everything that has been does the pledge by the Soviet Union to with­ us. We know the course that aggressors like tions. I believe that the best solution-and I said here this afternoon, and I will return to draw its strategic weapons require the addi­ to follow. In our own case, we can foresee think that the 110 member nations will agree present my rcpot1 to the interested pat1ies. tional guarantee of inspecting us'J the course that the United States wants to on this-is that through the Security Coun­ I believe this meeting has been very use­ We will meet again. with pleasure, as of­ follow. cil UN representatives should be provided fuL and if the prime minister agrees. we will ten as you wish and at any time you wish. That is why it is really difficult to under­ to set about looking for and finding a long­ meet again in the moming before I leave. L THA:\T: Thank you very much, Your stand how one can speak about immediate term solution. But for now, at this moment, Mean~hile. I will ponde~ what has been Excellency. solutions without speaking of future solu­ I do not think that the United Nations. its expressed on these matters by Mr. President On the first point I just want to say that tions. What interests us most is not paying Security Council, can reach a positive and and Mr. Prime Minister. when the Soviet government declared its whatever price to achieve peace today. acceptable long-term solution that is in the CASTRO: To conclude. I would like to willingness to accept inspection by the Red Rather. we are interested in definitive guar­ best interests of the whole world and of respond on the matter of inspection by the Cross on the high seas, we reported this to antees of peace. What interests us is not world peace. If a long-term solution is Red Cross. We are equally opposed to such the Red Cross. Initially they said yes, even having to pay every day the price of an found, that will be in the best interests of inspection in our ports. I ask myself: If the though they had to submit the issue to their ephemeral peace. the whole world and of world peace, but I Soviet Union authorizes inspection of its gmerning body: they had to vote on this and Of course Cuba is not Austria, or Czecho­ believe it is difficult to achieve that in the ships on the high seas. then why would it accept it. But they indicated to us that it slovakia, or the Congo. We have the firmest United Nations at this time. be necessary to inspect them again in Cu­ would be simpler to do this at the ports of intention to defend our rights and surmount CASTRo: As I see it, if the short-tcrn1 ban ports') disembarkation rather than on the high seas. all the difficulties, all the risks. In order for solution that Mr. Secretary talks about is not Secondly, I see that Mr. Secretary is fo­ That is. it's not a question of inspecting your mission to be successful, Mr. Secre­ achieved. it will simply be because the cusing his attention on getting the United again. it's onlv once. tary-General, you must be aware of our de­ United States does not want it. because the States to make a public statement. a pledge ~Also. I am ~ery pleased to have your re­ termination, so that you can work fully in­ U.S. persists in demanding inspection as an before the United Nations that it will not sponse on this matter and to have talked formed of these circumstances. act of humiliation against Cuba. To achieve invade Cuba. about this. L THAI\T: I am fully aware of the senti­ the unilateral security that the U.S. requires. Let me say, first of all, that the United noRnc(>s: We could reach some ar­ ments and the points of view that Your Ex­ it ought to have been enough for them that States has no right to invade Cuba. One can­ rangement on the hour to meet tomorrow. cellency has expressed. the Soviet government decided to withdraw not negotiate over a promise not to commit L~ TH\:\T: I have some consultations to Concerning the point of immediate and the strategic weapons that it had brought a crime. over the mere promise not to com­ make here. particularly '.Vith the ambassa­ long-term solutions, I wish to say that the here for the defense of the Republic of Cuba. mit a crime. faced with the threat of this dor of Brazil. Security Council has authorized me to look The Cuban government has placed no ob­ danger, we have more confidence in our CASTRo: As far as we're concerned, we for the means by which peace can be ob­ stacles in the way of the withdrawal of those determination to defend ourselves than we can meet at any hour you wish. It is not nec­ tained for this region. weapons. The decision by the Soviet gov­ do in words from the U.S. government. essary to set the time now. Simply contact I understand that immediate and long­ ernment inherently involves a public deci­ But furthermore. if the United Nations our foreign ministry and say what time you term solutions arc closely linked; and we sion; and the mere fact of being adopted in puts such a high value on a public pledge wish to sec us. must explore the possibilities for long-term that way in front of everyone has had reper­ made before it by the Lnitcd States-the L TH.\:\T: Tomorrow. not today. solutions in light of the situation as it is now. cussions on \Vorld opinion. The United pledge not to invade-why docs it not put CASTRO: Whenever you wish. That is what the Security Council has au­ States knows that this decision was adopted thorized me to do. In practice it is very dif­ by the Soviet Union seriously and that the ficult to separate these things. strategic weapons really are being with­ I believe that if we can find an immedi­ drawn. 1 In Laos. a civil war pitted liberation forces pendence struggle. In .July 1960. Moise Tshombe ate solution, doing so would lead us toward But if, in addition to this, what the United against the pro-imperialist monarchy backed by began a war against the new regime by declaring Washington. In Julv 1962 an agreement was the secession of the southern province ofKatanga a pennanent solution, not only for the United States is actually seeking is to humiliate our Nations but for all interested parties. reached~in Geneva. ~a! ling for cre'ation of a coa­ (today Shaba). with himself as president. country, it will not succeed! lition govemment. The ~greement rapidly fell Lumumba ·s government appealed to the Lnitcd In citing Laos and the other cases where We have not vacillated for even one minute apart and the civil war resumed. Nations for help. and the UN sent '"peacekeep­ the United Nations has gone in, I agree with in our detennination to defend our rights. We Egypt was imaded in October 1956 by Brit­ ing·· troops. \Vashington and its allies moved you, but I also wish to say that in those cannot accept conditions of the kind imposed ish. French. and Israeli troops in response to that swiftly to disarm Lumumba 's forces. sending places the United Nations has been able to only on a defeated country. We have notre­ countrv·s nationalization of the Suez Canal in Belgian and UN troops into the capital, avoid or prevent outside aggression. linquished our decision to defend ourselves. .Julv. I;1 November the United Nations sent a Leopold\ille. They also backed Tshombe's Please consider this: the presence of the Our detennination is such that they will never ·'p~acekeeping" force. \\hich remained until proimperialist breakaway regime in Katanga. United Nations in Cuba for a period of three be able to impose conditions on us, because Egypt asked them to lem·e in 196 7. The U.S.-Ied intenention succeeded by late weeks, perhaps more, would also be able to first they would have to destroy us and anni­ In Lebanon. a popular rebellion broke out in 1960 in winning 0\ era faction\\ ithin the Con­ early I 958 against the pro-imperialist govern­ golese gcnernn;ent. headed by army chief of eliminate or make more remote the danger hilate all our people. And in that case they of aggression. ment. In June the Lnited 1\ations sent troops to staff Joseph Mobutu. and Lumumba was de­ will find nobody here upon whom to impose protect the regime under the guise of preventing posed in September. As UN troops stood watch. I am of the opinion that now and in the humiliating conditions. ''illegal infiltration of personnel or supply of he \\as later arrested and handed ewer to coming period, the presence of the United L THA:\T: Concerning the subject of the arms"" from Syria. In July the U.S. gmernment Tshombe's forces. who murdered him in Janu­ Nations in some countries will especially U.S. declaration, the United States has said too sent in I 0,000 troops. ostensibly to ""protect ary 1961. serve to push back and prevent aggression. that it will make a public statement of non­ U.S. citizens." ooRncos: I would like to say something. aggression and of respect for the territorial ' In 1949 the United Nations established a I share the view expressed by our prime min­ integrity of Cuba. once the missiles have trusteeship over Somalia to be administered by Order revolutionary ister concerning our full appreciation for the been dismantled and withdrawn. Italy. its fonner colonial master. The country did not become independent until 1960. books on the Internet! mission that Mr. Secretary-General is under­ In my opinion there is no disagreement. I taking with great nobility. That mission, of 'After the Congo won its independence ti·om fully agree with Mr. Prime Minister that Belgium in June 1960. Washington and its allies course, is none other than seeking ways to action by the United Nations involves an moved quickly to destabilize the new govern­ path6nderpress.com guarantee peace in this crisis situation. invasion of the rights of a member state. And ment headed bv Prime Minister Patrice It seems there is a question to be an- in this case, speaking about Cuba, if you do Lumumba. who h~d been the leader of the inde- 10 The Militant October 21, 2002 U.S. and British planes bomb northern Iraq continued from front page British resolution calling for military­ The member states of the EU, among vas ion of Iraq and Israel's response to aerial resolution pitched in the framework of the backed "inspection'' teams with the power which the German and French governments attacks from Baghdad, Sharon has told "national interest." to go anywhere and interrogate anyone in play dominant and frequently conflicting members of the government to stop "blab­ Bush administration figures emphasized Iraq. and to set up their own no-fly, no-drive roles. have so far resisted U.S. pressure to bering'' about such matters. that the White House was not depending on zones wherever they carry out operations. unfreeze the Turkish government's applica­ "The U.S. administration," observed the passage of the resolution to launch an of­ Any incident deemed an Iraqi violation tion. European diplomats have cloaked the October 7 Financial Times, "is eager to avoid fensive. One official said its "strategy is to would "trigger" military action. U.S. offi­ snub to Washington in professed concerns anything that could inflame Arab opinion" use the Congress as leverage ... to bring cials have explained. about human rights violations in Turkey and in the lead-up to war, which will be waged around the public, and leverage to make it "If the United Nations won't make the the fact that the country, while secular. has from the many U.S. bases and platforms in clear to the UN that it's not only George decision," Blix warned. "the United States a majority-Muslim population. the Gulf and the Arabian Peninsula. Bush who is prepared to draw a line in the will lead a campaign to disarm this man Meanwhile, the buildup in the Middle At the same time, the White House has sand." before he harms America." East continues apace. While U.S. marines told Tel Aviv that it will be given advance The House-Senate resolution states that land in Kuwait for exercises, the National warning of any U.S.-led invasion. Bush can "use the Armed Forces of the Imperialist rivals press own interests Journal reported, "covert [CIA] teams slip Unlike earlier statements by Secretary of United States as he determines to be neces­ Blix 's assurances notwithstanding, the into Iraq, ... army tanks rehearse crossing the Defense Donald Rumsfeld, Bush's October sary and appropriate in order to ... defend na­ governments of France and Germany, the Euphrates river" that divides Saudi Arabia 7 speech did not call on the Israeli regime tional security" against Iraq. On October 2 two largest imperialist powers in continen­ from Iraq, and "transport vessels laden with to "stay out ofthe conflict with Iraq, even if Bush applauded Republican and Demo­ tal Europe, have restated their opposition to supplies steam unheralded toward the Per­ it is attacked." The New York Times reported cratic leaders for their "tremendous work the U.S.-British draft resolution. sian Gulf." without comment that officers directing the in building bipartisan support" for a joint Taking an anti-American posture, French U.S.-Israeli designedArrow missile defense resolution. president Jacques Chirac said on October 2 Israeli regime opens Gaza offensive system-designed to shoot down the Iraqi In an October 7 speech, the president laid that both governments remain "totally hos­ As these war moves accelerate, the Israeli Scuds shortly after their launch-have been out a series of demands on Iraq, including tile" to any resolution giving ''an automatic military has expanded its operations in the trained to scramble Israeli fighter jets in or­ "declaring and destroying all of its weap­ character to military intervention" by Wash­ occupied West Bank and the Gaza Strip. On der to attack Iraqi missile launch sites. ons of mass destruction" and an end to "all ington. October 7 an Israeli helicopter gunship In a related development. the government illicit trade outside the [UN-sponsored] oil­ At the same time, Paris has indicated that launched a missile into a crowd of Palestin­ of Jordan has stationed extra troops on its for-food program." it plans to deploy forces as part of any im­ ians in the Gaza town of Khan Yunis. The borders with Iraq and with the West Bank. "By taking these steps and only by tak­ perialist offensive, and Berlin has placed no death toll from the missile attack stood at from which it is separated by the Jordan ing these steps, the Iraqi regime has an restrictions on the Pentagon's use of U.S. 13 by the next day. Israeli soldiers fired River. The reinforcements anticipate a mas­ opportunity to avoid conflict," said Bush. bases on German soil for the unfolding steps machine guns and semiautomatic weapons sive influx of people. both from a U.S. in­ But "we have little reason to expect it. And toward war. at the many wounded who tried to make vasion of Iraq and an Israeli offensive to that's why two administrations, mine and The contlict between Washington and its their way to a nearby hospital. More than drive Palestinians across the river. In the President Clinton's, have stated that regime European rivals over Turkey's membership I 00 people were injured. some critically. past. Sharon has expressed support for such change in Iraq is the only certain means of in the European Union (EU) has become While admitting that "some civilians" had an enforced exodus. removing a great danger to our nation." sharper in the context of the imperialist war been hit, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon de­ In a visit to the United States in late Sep­ drive. "Hardly a week goes by without scribed the assault. which also involved tember. Jordan's foreign minister underlined UN 'arms inspector' backs Washington Washington telling the European Commis­ tanks, as "successful" and said. "There will his government's support for the U.S.-led A few days earlier, chief UN "arms in­ sion and member states to offer Turkey the be more operations" of this kind. Israeli war effort. "I fit comes down to war, we are spector" Hans Blix, a Swedish official, de­ perspective of eventual EU membership," commanders said the attack targeted the not going to allow our strategic friendship clared support for Washington's insistence one European diplomat told the Financial Palestinian organization Hamas as part of a with the United States to be jeopardized," that Baghdad be forced to make a rapid and Times. new tactic. he said. In return for this pledge, Washing­ full declaration of its alleged weapons pro­ "The U.S. is exerting maximum pressure U.S. State Department spokesman Rich­ ton "is not asking Jordan for permission to grams. now," noted the London-based daily, "partly ard Boucher issued a routine statement say­ deploy American troops from Jordanian ter­ There will be "very broad support" in the because of Turkey's strategic and geo­ ing that Washington was "troubled" by the ritory," an unnamed diplomat told the New UN Security Council, Blix said. for a U.S.- graphic importance if Washington decides "deaths and wounding of many Palestinian York Times. to launch military strikes against Iraq.'' The civilians." King Abdullah has pointed out the explo­ EU powers granted Turkey candidate-mem­ Responding to "alarm" in Washington at sive impact such a move would have on the -MILITANT ber status in 1999 after some vigorous ann­ public speculation by Israeli politicians combative Palestinian population inside twisting by the Clinton administration. about the possible timing of a U.S.-led in- Jordan's borders. LABOR FORUMS- Chicago marchers: 'No to Israeli occupation' ALABAMA Birmingham BY PATTIE THOMPSON Celebrate the publication of "October 1962 CHICAGO-About 500 people marched The 'Missile' Crisis as seen from Cuba." Meet­ through downtown Chicago September 29 ing for the Pathfinder Fund. Speaker: James in the National Rally for Palestinian Right Harris. National Committee. Socialist Workers to Return. Chants such as "Free, free Pales­ Party. Sat., Oct. 19. 6:00p.m. buffet, 7:00p.m. tine-democratic Palestine," and "Hey program. 3029-A Bessemer Road. Donation: 55 Sharon, you should know-we will never hujjct. 55 program. Tel. (973) 481-0077. leave our home," along with a wide range of signs and Palestinian flags, expressed the NEW JERSEY protesters' solidarity with those fighting Is­ Newark raeli occupation of Palestine. Oppose U.S. Intervention in Colombia. Work­ "We have come to protest the atrocities ing-Class Resistance in South America. being committed by the Israeli Zionists." Speaker: Roger Calero. Socialist Workers Party. said Basim Ism AiL who came with several Fri., Oct. 18, 7:30 p.m. 168 Bloomfield.. 2nd dozen other high school students active in Floo1: Donation: 54. Te[:(973) 481-0077. the Arab Youth Leadership Academy of the Southwest Youth Collaborative. NEW YORK A flier distributed by the Chicago chap­ Garment District ter of Al-Awda. the Palestine Right to Re­ Puerto Rico: the Fight for Independence from turn Coalition. explained that the event had Washington's Colonial Rule. Speaker: Martin been organized "to commemorate the two­ Koppel. Socialist Workers candidate for Gover­ year anniversary of the start of the Al-Aqsa nor of New York and participant in recent cam­ Intifada and to demonstrate our solidarity paign and reporting trip to Puerto Rico. Fri .. Oct. with the Palestinian people's inalienable hu­ 18, 7:30 p.m. 545 8th Avenue. 14th Flo01: Do­ man right to return to all of Palestine. from nation: S5. Tel: (212} 695-7358. which they were, and continue to be. forc­ Thompson Hundreds demonstrate in Chicago September 29 against Israeli regime's military occu­ Upper Manhattan ibly expelled by Israel." The Unfolding Economic Crisis and Speakers represented AI Awda and other pation and murderous repression against Palestinian people fighting for their homeland. Imperialism's March toward War. Meeting for Palestinian and Islamic organizations from the Pathfinder Fund. Speakers: Ma'mud Shirvani. Pathfinder Farsi Editor. Seth Dellinger. Young around the region, as well as groups acting ponents of the Palestinian national struggle, event. assured the Militant that organiz­ Socialists. Fri .. Oct. 18,7:30 p.m. 599 W 187th in solidarity with Puerto Rican political pris­ including two students who have applied for ers are not backing down. "They push you, Street. 2nd Flo01: Donation: S5. Tel: (212} 740- oners and organizing against U.S. interven­ a legal injunction against it. you just push back," she said. 46ll. tion in Colombia. At the September 29 rally a member of IOWA A small counterdemonstration. separated Students Allied for Freedom and Equality. Pattie Thompson is a se11·ing machine op­ Des Moines from the rally site by a cordon of Chicago a campus group that is helping to stage the erator and memher of" UNITE. Malcolm X and the Fight Against Imperialist cops, waved U.S. and Israeli flags and held War. Speaker: Kevin Doyle, Socialist Workers signs in support of the Israeli government Party. Fri .. Oct. 18. 7:30p.m. 3720 6th A1·enue. that accused Palestinians of "terrorism." From Pathfinder Tel: (515} 288-2970. The solidarity march was preceded by a daylong conference at DePaul University The Changing Face of U.S. Politics sponsored by Al-Awda and the Students for Working-Class Politics and the Trade Unions Justice in Palestine. which is part of ana­ -CALENDAR- tional network of organizations on cam­ Jack Barnes puses demanding that their colleges divest A handbook for workers, farmers, and youth repelled by the class inequalities, NEW YORK from companies doing business in Israel. economic instability, racism, women's oppression, cop violence, and wars en­ Activists in such groups will be part of a demic to capitalism, and who are seeking the road toward effective action to Brooklyn and Manhattan national conference on Palestine titled "The "Fidel:" A Film by Estela Bravo. Opens Fri., Struggle for Freedom and the Road to overturn that exploitative system and join in reconstructing the world on new, Oct. 18. Manhattan: Quad Cinema. 13th St. Bet. Truth," to be held October 12-14 at the Uni­ socialist foundations. Also available in Spanish and French. $23.00. 5th and 6th Ave. Tel: (212} 255-8800. Brooklyn: Bam Rose Cinemas. 30 Lafavette Ave. Tel: (718) versity of Michigan in Ann Arbor. The con­ Ava1lable from bookstores. includ1ng those l1sted on page 14 or visit www.pathfinderpress.com. 636-4100. ference has come under attack by some op- October 21, 2002 The Militant 11 Teachers in Iceland Videotron workers fight union busting win victory over school privatization BY OGMUNDUR JONSSON sues in local elections held in May. In REYKJAVIK, Iceland-The authorities Hafnarfjorour the social democratic Social­ of Hafnarfjorour, a town of 20,000 people ist Alliance promised to buy out the just south of the capital, recently took over company's contract and take over the run­ a privately run elementary school after the ning of the school. For its part, the conser­ majority of the teachers threatened to resign vative Independence Party, the principal because of disorganization and heavy bourgeois party in Iceland for decades, held workload. Aslandssk6li up as an example for other Opened one year ago, the Aslandssk6li schools across Iceland. school was the first neighborhood school in Guorun Petursd6ttir, an Independence the country to be run by a private organi­ Party member of the Reykjavik city coun­ zation-the Icelandic Educational Society ciL wrote March 9 in lvforgunb/a()irJ that (IMS). The May 2001 contract between "the city of Reykjavik should follow its municipal authorities and this "nonprofit" neighbors in HafnartJorour. They have body stipulated that the town would pay the shown the farsightedness of having a school Some 600 locked-out workers at the Videotron cable company and their sup­ school's running expenses, while IMS built as a private venture, which has indis­ porters gathered in downtown Montreal October 5 for an enthusiastic send-off would finance its construction and be re­ putable advantages." for 24 fellow union members (bottom left, in white T-shirts and caps). The 24 are sponsible for organizing teaching accord­ In spite of such appeals the Socialist Al­ walking almost 170 miles from Montreal to Quebec City, where they will hand­ ing to its so-called progressive ideology. liance won the HafnartJorour elections. deliver a petition signed by 66,000 supporters. The petition asks that the Quebec This contract was widely presented by while the Progressive Party, the IP's coali­ provincial government force Videotron to negotiate in good faith. The lockout capitalist politicians and the big-business tion partner in the harbor town, lost their has entered its sixth month. "We're not giving up, and our morale remains high," media as a model for cost-cutting in the edu­ only seat in the town council. said Martin Guerrette, a 28-year-old technician who attended the rally. The work­ cation system. An editorial that appeared in On September II, around 13 of the 16 ers are members of the Canadian Union of Public Employees. the January 31 issue of Morgunblaoio, the teachers at Aslandssk6li presented a set of country's main bourgeois daily, stated, "This demands to IMS management, insisting on method has been disputed, but there are an answer by the following day. They de­ tant. "It takes more time and energy to pre­ learning or other disabilities only made strong arguments that show that in this way manded a clear definition of their tasks. that pare and teach classes with children of dif­ things worse.'' the advantages of private initiative can be the schedule not change over the winter, that ferent ages. and often between 24 and n The teachers demanded that support utilized to find the most efficient way and classes not have mixed ages and that reso­ children in each class. Since the schedule teaching be provided for, as it is in other keep down the cost of projects for which lutions of the school committee on maxi­ wasn't clear and we didn't have the neces­ schools in Iceland. "IMS management said the public authorities are legally respon­ mum class sizes be adhered to. sary teaching materials, we were doing a lot there was no need for this. since Icelandic sible." Teacher Astriour Einarsd6ttir explained of running about and last-minute patch-ups. and math classes were divided according to The school became one of the main is- these demands in an interview with the Mili- Having no suppm1 teachers for children with ability." Einarsd6ttir said, "but support teaching is about more than that." After a September 12 meeting between the teachers and bosses produced no results. Workers oppose dumping ofhazardous sludge 11 teachers resigned. "We smv that there was no basis for negotiating." said Einarscl6ttir. Continued from front page ( DEP) has consistently denied any connec­ general criticized the agency for this fail­ '"They either tried to make the problems ers more than 6,500 acres. In the first stage tion between the sludge and the boy's death. ure, and in particular for its lack of "a for­ seem small or to justify them." After the around l ,000 acres would be spread with EPA officials have gone even further. claim­ mal process to track health-related com­ company failed to give the teachers a for­ the sludge. Minor revisions to the pcnnit ing that there is no evidence linking expo­ plaints." The official's repot1 concluded that mal reply. two more quit. would allow the company to also use the sure to sewage sludge to any illness or death. "the EPA cannot assure the public that cur­ Two days later. the mayor ofHafnartFin)ur remaining 5,500 acres for dumping. Breech pointed to the weakness of the rent land application practices arc protec­ announced that the town authorities would This year the Philadelphia Water Depart­ "503 rules ''-guidelines adopted by the EPA tive of human health and the environment." revoke their contract with the IMS and take ment will pay WMPI $3 7 per ton to dump in 1993 to govern the spreading of sludge. The EPA has left to state agencies the job of mer the school. At first the l\1S protested, their sludge. The one-year contract for He described results from other countries monitoring the use of sludge and the study saying that the proposed action was illegal. dumping 40,000 tons would net the com­ where sludge has been subjected to further of its ctTcct on human health and the envi­ After a week of negotiations. however, they pany $1.5 million. treatment before being dumped. "Sewage ronment. reached an agreement that gave them 45 mil­ Opponents of the dump turned up the sludge can and should be recycled, rather Representatives ofWMPI and the Phila­ lion Icelandic kronur ( 5>500.000) in exchange heat at a September 3 meeting at Mt. than incinerated or buried in landfills," he delphia water treatment dcpm1ment have for the town authorities· takeover of all school Carmel High School in Mt. Carmel, Penn­ said. "But it should not be used in the way not been well received at hearings held over facilities. contracts. administration. and or­ sylvania. Attended by 200 people, the hear­ it is now." the last eight months. During a meeting in ganization. IMS still runs a day-care center ing, which was organized by the Pennsyl­ The 503 rules remain controversial across Aristes, Pennsylvania. Chico. a member of in the same area. vania House Democratic Policy Commit­ the spectrum of the debate. After conduct­ the audience bluntly asked them, '"What The failure of this experiment has been a tee, heard testimony by a range of officials ing a review, the EPA's Office of Research will you do if it goes into the ground wa­ blow to the efforts of the Icelandic rulers to and experts on why current rules govern­ and Development refused to endorse them. ter'? Can you take it out'?" Another stated. find ways to implement cost-cutting and ing the dumping of sewage sludge open up A former EPA research director testified that "We don't think we're getting straight an­ introduce variety a code-word for greater dangers to public health. the agency had received no scientific docu­ swers. Send us some industry for jobs. not inequality and differentiation along class Jim Lamont, the international safety rep­ ments confirming the safety of their pro­ your sludge." lines in the education system. M01gunb!arJirJ resentative for the United Mine Workers posed levels of heavy metals or supporting At the September 3 hearing in Mt. cd i tori a I i zed on Scptem ber 2 0, "The of America (UMWA); Joseph Cocalis, a their procedures for eliminating bacterial Carmel, a trucker driver said, "Not one truck experiment's drawback was that it was done retired officer of the U.S. Public Health pathogens. is going to bring sewage sludge here. I'll in a neighborhood school. where parents Service; Lawrence Breech, president of the The rules were issued provisionally when park my semi to block the road if! have to." really don't have a choice whether to send Pennsylvania Farmers Union; and David the EPA agreed to conduct further research Sharon Chiao and others in the Mahanoy their. children or not.. .. Those who are inter­ Lewis, a research microbiologist who to establish the impact of sludge on plant Creek Watershed Association plan to keep ested in strengthening private initiative and works for the federal Environmental Pro­ and animal life as well as on rivers and the up their fight. At their July meeting they variety in Iceland's schools by encouraging tection Agency (EPA), testified at the ses­ water table. These studies have never been discussed a membership drive, fund-raising private concerns to run schools should not sion. conducted. Last April the EPA inspector projects. and other plans. let the failure in Aslandssk6li get to them." Pathogens remain after treatment Class B biosolids are made up of the -LETTERS------wastes from water and sewage treatment plants that have been treated to kill about Takes issue with article on bonds your philosophy calls for wiping me out, I \Vorkers killed in desert 95 percent of their pathogens. or disease­ As a long-time reader and supporter of hope you can understand why I cannot ac­ The death penalty for workers plays it­ causing agents. After this treatment they can the ;\4ilitant. I would like to comment on cede to it. self out daily in the desert of southern Ari­ still contain arsenic, lead, mercury. and other your article. "NY rulers use bonds to reap Would it not be better to advocate in­ zona. One hundred sixty-three crossed the heavy metals, as well as pathogens such as profits while they slash wages. services," in creased income taxes for high-income border this last year only to die in the Tuc­ salmonella and campylobacter. There is also the September 23 issue. I am not a "NY people and to attack even such people as son sector. Most came from states in cen­ evidence that typhoid, dysentery, tape­ ruler,'' but a retired schoolteacher who the union leader. Dennis Rivera, who tral and southern Mexico. The deaths are worms, and other menaces to health are comes from a working-class family-all of worked so hard to have taxes on cigarettes clue to U.S. immigration policy. The South­ present in sludge when it is dumped. whom were lifelong union members, like greatly increased· -which mostly a fleets west Border Initiative of 1994 concentrated The miners union became involved in the myself. I have chosen. however. to invest working pcople'7 Wouldn't it be wiser to Border Patrol agents in the busiest, largest fight in 1999 when eight miners working at my savings in tax-free municipal and state urge increased taxes for the rich and on cor­ urban corridors for border crossings. In Ari­ the Powers strip mine in Centre County suf­ bonds, rather than the stock of companies porations instcad·7 zona those corridors were Nogales. then fered diarrhea, bloody vomiting, and other whose profits come from exploiting work­ Beatrice Einhorn Douglas. then Naco. The areas left less symptoms following the dumping of sludge ers at home and abroad. In addition, I Ne~r York.. Ne11· York. guarded are the treacherous desert areas of near the mine-a practice that had been fol­ thereby avoid paying income taxes to fi­ the Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument lowed since September 1994. nance various wars and other horrors spon­ Disagree on Basque protest and the Tohono O'odham Indian Reserva­ In October that same year I !-year-old sored by the federal government. I totally disagree with the article titled tion. where temperatures are in the hun­ Tony Behun came home covered with dirt By investing in tax-exempt bonds, I also "Basques protest banning by Madrid." I dreds. there arc no sources of water. and after riding his bike through fresh sludge at know, like many other working people, that understand that signed articles by contribu­ entrants must travc I hundreds of miles to Osceola Mills in the same area. Within two my savings are being used for the opera­ tors do not have to represent the /v!ilitan(s find a road. Almost half the deaths occurred days he had come down with a headache tions of local and state education, housing, views. but I totally disagree with it. ETA & on the reservation. Since 1995, 2,000 en­ and sore throat, followed by an outbreak of highways, etc., in the interests of the pub­ Batasuna = Terrorism. I will not keep my trants have died trying to cross the southern boils. In a week he was dead from a mas­ lic. As a matter of simple fact. I have not subscription for longer. border. sive bacterial infection. Pennsylvania's De­ become a millionaire from my municipal ;'vfaria Concepci(J/1 Garbajosa Moreno Bet.\T ;'vfcDonald partment of Environmental Protection bond earnings or from any other source. If Spain Tucson. Ari::ona 12 The Militant October 21, 2002 -GREAT SOCIEIY------lVIeanwhile, enjoy your Cramped like a coach seat portant. speak it to their children at by a cell phone. providing an im­ flights-" British Airways said that Don't ask us the model number of home. This. he opined, will keep the mediate picture of what's there and Whatever turns him on-Price. it has begun checks on its 117 the Boeing planes with the "faulty" children from getting "schizo­ what's not. Waterhouse. etc., is now under fed­ Boeing aircraft which are believed fuel pumps cited above. Apparently phrenic." eral scrutiny for sloppy auditing of the Times lacked space to include Too rich to take?-Bush 's IS­ Tyco lnt'L the cooked books special­ it. Tip for seniors -Ifyou\:c no­ member cabinet includes 10 million­ ist. However, we can easily under­ ticed that as the years roll by. you aires. which docsn 't sound like much stand the S30 million Florida home Right they are-"More than tend to shrink. you may want to these days. The biggest money bag for deposed top dog Dennis 200 Israelis called up for national check out the hi-tech toilet on dis­ is Paul O'Neill, former top dog at Kozlowski, but we are smitten by the service refused to serve in an 'anny play in Tokyo. Its motorized seat Alcoa aluminum. Currently secre­ trinkets and trifles. F'rinstance: A of occupation' and accused Israel adjusts automatically to your tary of the treasury and. according S 17,200 traveling toilet box [?]: a of'committing war crimes and vio­ height. It's also said to analyze urine to "disclosure" requirements. he's S 15,000 [top?)dog umbrella stand: lating human rights' in Palestinian and send suspicious results to your "worth" somewhere between S67 S5.960 for two sets of bed sheets: territories."-Agcnce France doctor (Price and availability not million and S253 million. S2,900 for a set of coat hangers: a to have faulty fuel pumps capable Pre sse. yet posted). S 1.650 for a notebook, and finally, of causing a mid-air explosion. Sure, and shafting employees S445 for a pin cushion. Boeing has admitted that 3,284 pas­ Like him: racist tongue, limp Also-To avoid a second trip to and public-In his how-l-did-it senger jets around the world are brain-David Blunkett, British the grocery and if you dejunk the book. Rudolph Giuliani. ex-mayor We're still perplexed-Where affected. Checks and replacements home secretary, declared that fridge periodically. you can set up ofthc New York says his "success" in hell do you buy a S2,900 set of are expected to take three years.''­ people from other lands should a small revolving camcorder that in running the city stemmed from coat hangers. even with someone The Times of London. learn English and. particularly im- can be triggered from the market treating it like a business. else's money') Pathfinder titles well received at Houston book fair BY STEVE W ARSHELL U.S. war drive in theM iddlc East. They said HOUSTON--A Pathfinder booth set up the looming war against Iraq reflected the at the September 28-29 Latino Book and desire of Washington to take control of the Family Festival here was well received by oil in the region. fair participants. The booth featured a dis­ A woman from Panama, who has lived in play of Pathfinder's newest release. Octo­ Houston for more than a decade, recalled the ber 1962: The "Missile" Crisis as Seen fimn 1989 U.S. invasion of her country saying, Cuba. 15 of which were sold there. More "The only thing American presidents seem than l 00 other Pathfinder titles were sold to do well is lie. They killed thousands dur­ during the two-day event, including four ing the invasion, but you'd think they were copies of Capitalism's World Disorder and on a humanitarian mission if you believed 12 copies of the Marxist magazine Nell' In­ them. The same thing is going on today." ternational in English and Spanish. Among Festival participants also expressed a the other popular titles were Che Guevara wide range of views on other political ques­ Talks to }(mng People, Cuba and the Com­ tions such as Cuba, terrorism. and the forth­ ing American Revolution, The Working coming U.S. elections. Class and the n·ansjimnation o{Learning, Several people who expressed interest in and Malcolm X Talks to }(mng People. In the Cuban Revolution bought Pathfinder all, overS I ,200 in books. six subscriptions titles by Che Guevara. Fidel Castro. and to the Militant, and four subscriptions to other revolutionary leaders. They purchased Perspectim lvfundial were sold. 68 books and pamphlets dealing \Vith the The festival attracted a broad cross sec­ history, politics. and lessons of the Cuban Revolution-40 in English and 28 Spanish \1ilitant/Pat Warshell tion of the Latino population in Houston. Participants at September 28-29 Latino Book Festival in Houston look over Path­ titles. Most of those present were Chicanos or im­ finder books and pamphlets. Titles on Cuban Revolution were big sellers at the booth. migrants from Mexico. Central America. and A high school student originally from the Caribbean. Working people. as well as Mexico City, who spent nearly an hour por­ those from middle-class layers in the area. ing over different books about the Cuban Militant Labor Forums in the area. communist movement to produce Pathfinder and a significant number of high-school and Revolution. eventually bought the Spanish One woman who purchased a copy of titles. She came back to the booth and asked college-age youth also attended the book fair. edition of Che Gue\'(/ra Talks to Young October 1962: The "/\!fissile" Crisis as Seen to be part of the publishing house's transla­ Many of those who stopped by the Path­ People. He also asked to receive notices of jimn Cuha had read the book's introduction tion effm1. finder booth expressed opposition to the newly arrived Pathfinder books and the by Mary-Alice Waters that explained the international effort by supporters of the Brad Dmms contributed to this article. Protesters demand: no secret -25 AND 50 YEARS AGO--­ hearings, free Rabih Haddad TH£ MILITANT TH£ MILITANT A SOCIAltSI NEWSWHU¥/PtHIUSHED IN THE INHU5TS Of THf wOil'liNG I'E•VH BY ILONA GERSH an open hearing'" His first bond hearing was October 21, 1977 DETROIT-Some 75 protesters demand­ held in secret to comply with the Septem­ October 20, 1952 ing freedom for Rabih Haddad picketed ber 21 directive by chief U.S. Immigration "Don't cry. If one is dying for his coun­ By Farrell Dobbs outside the Federal Building October l. Judge Michael Creppy, who at the behest try there is no need to cry." American mothers and fill hers who believe where his bond hearing \vas held in a of Attorney General John Ashcroft in­ These were Andres Figueroa Cordero's they may save their draft-age or GI sons from crowded cout1room. Haddad, a 42-ycar-old structed all immigration hearings related to first words to his brother as the ailing mem­ the horrors of Korea by voting for Stevenson Lebanese citizen. is a local Muslim leader. so-called terror investigations be closed to ber of the Nationalist Party of Puerto Rico or Eisenhower arc being cruelly deceived. and teacher in Ann Arbor, Michigan. the public. \\as carried from a plane at the San Juan Stevenson is trying to give the impression that He was arrested at his home last Decem­ Protests a\!;ainst the closed hearin\1: were airport October 7. Andres's brother had bro­ he would continue only a "limited war'' in ber 14 by the Immigration and Naturaliza­ held in Dctr~it and Ann Arbor, Mithigan, ken out in tears when he saw the pallid. frail Korea. Eisenhower is spreading the illusion tion Service (INS) on the same day that the and Chicago. The Detroit Nett'S and Detroit figure of Andres in a wheelchair. a Puerto that he would reduce U.S. losses by replac­ FBI, U.S. Treasury. CIA. and NATO agents Free Press, as well as the American Civil Rican flag draped across his shoulders. ing American troops with South Koreans. raided the suburban Chicago offices of the Liberties Union. and C.S. Congressman "My release is a victory for the Puerto "'American casualties that were running Global Relief Foundation. Haddad was a John Conyers. filed lawsuits against the Rican and Nm1h American people. which 250 a week have jumped to about I ,000 a cofounder of the foundation. which has court for holding a closed hearing. should be dedicated to work for the release week," reveals the Oct. 17 U.S. News and given emergency relief and aid to people in In response, U.S. District Judge Nancy of other political prisoners. especially he World Report. Bigger sacrifices 22 countries. Edmunds ruled that future hearings on other four Nationalist political prisoners. of Ameri­ can boys in Korea-that's the real prospect The government seized the assets of the Haddad's case should be open. A three­ Lolita Lebron. Oscar Collazo. Irving Flores. charity group-more than S5 million­ judge panel of the U.S. 6th Circuit Court of and Rafael Cancel Miranda." Figueroa offered by the candidates of the Democratic and Republican twin parties of Big Business. claiming that it funds terrorists. FBI agents Appeals in Cincinnati atlirmed the ruling Cordero said. also took more than 500.000 pages of in August. The five were imprisoned in the early Stevenson flatly acknowledges that he has records. But no active foundation member, As Rabih Haddad continued to be incar­ 1950s for arn1ed actions carried out in sup­ no idea of ending the Korean War and with­ including Haddad, was charged with any cerated at the Monroe County Jail in Mon­ port of Pue110 Rican independence. drawing U.S. troops. "I assume he en me. roe. Michigan. Judge Edmunds on Septem­ A ftcr twenty-three years in U.S. prisons. (Eisenhower) does not mean to promise an Nearly I 0 months later. Haddad is still in ber 17 ordered that Haddad should be freed Andres Figueroa Cordero is free at last. But early return of our forces from Korea, re­ jail. His attorneys presented a motion that in I 0 days or have a ne\\" hearing open to he will have only a few weeks to enjoy the gardless of consequences,'' said Stevenson he be released on his own recognizance. The the news media and the public with a dif­ homeland he dedicated his life to liberat­ on Oct. 9. "If he docs. I shall not match only charge against him is allegedly over­ ferent immigration judge. ing. Doctors say he has less than two months him. ... I shall make no promises in this elec­ staying a tourist visa. The government also "The Justice Department has not tied to live. tion I know I cannot keep." wants to deport his wife and three of their Haddad to any specific terrorist actions. and It has been known for se\ era! years that But Stevenson does try to suggest he will four children. also for expired visas. it has not said how any specific funds ad­ Figueroa Cordero has terminal cancer. keep the war within its present "limited" Protesters carried signs that said. "Finally, ministered by Global Relief suppot1cd ter­ Carter waited until the prisoner was scope. Yet the ''limited war" against the rorist groups. It hasn't said how any of his liquidado-finished. to use Figueroa Koreans has spread into a bigger conflict trips to Pakistan or Afghanistan were im­ Cordero's word---before releasing him. with the 450 millions of China. And in the proper. Much of the evidence it has gath­ The fifty-two-year-old Nationalist is dy­ 15 months of truce negotiations, the U.S. ered against Haddad still has not been re­ ing today instead often or twenty years from has suffered over 40,000 battle casualties. If elected, I would exercise the powers I THE MILITANT leased to the public." noted a recent Detroit now because prison authorities turned a deaf NeH'S article. ear to pleas for adequate medical treatment Truman used when he ordered the troops to ()It tiHe A continuance of the bond hearing was from a man totally at their mercy. Korea in the first place, except that as Presi­ scheduled for October 22. Another depor­ And yet the White House said Carter had dent and Commander-in-Chief of all U.S. W\N\N. thernilitant.corn tation hearing is scheduled for the follow­ released the prisoner on "humanitarian anned forces I would order their immediate ing day. grounds." withdrawal from Korea. October 21, 2002 The Militant 13 1867-77 Reconstruction posed alliance of toilers

Printed below is an excerpt from Racism, Reconstruction was the opening it provided Revolution, and Reaction, 1861-1877: The for Black labor to wage struggles in its own Rise and Fall ofRadical Reconstruction, by behalf. Blacks, who had been slaves only a Peter Camejo. The title is one of Pathfinder's few years earlier and who had not even had Books of the Month for October. It tells the the right to vote the day before, were now history of the period known as Radical Re­ registering, voting, and sitting as delegates construction, following the U.S. civil war to write their state constitutions. Later they of 1861-65 through which the Southern would take seats as legislators in their state slavocracy was crushed and millions of capitals and even in Washington, D.C. slaves were freed. In all, fourteen Blacks would go to Wash­ Immediately after the war most ex-slaves ington as congressmen from six different were forced into contract labor gangs. They Southern states, and two from Mississippi organized resistance, winning support among would enter the Senate. Several others were layers of the labor movement in the North elected to Congress but were refused their seats on one pretext or another. Most of these representatives were ex-slaves. On the other hand, there was not a single Black from the BOOKS OF North in the House until the 1920s and none in the Senate until 1966. It is difficult to grasp the full revolution­ THE MONTH ary implications of this Black representa­ tion. No parallel exists in the United States Drawing depicts majority-Black South Carolina legislature, 1873. Many Radical Re­ today, there not being a single worker. much construction governments in South barred racist discrimination, expanded suffrage, and and, initiaiiy, sections of the industriai capi­ less a socialist, in the House or Senate. The took other progressive measures. By 1877 Reconstruction had been violently overthrown. talists who were alarmed at the attempts by election of Black legislators was testimony the former slaveholders to reassert their po­ to the depth of the revolutionary changes litical influence. Out of these struggles, Radi­ unleashed by the Civil War. Even though General Pope. referring to his military dis­ New rights were granted to women dur­ cal Reconstruction regimes were established some of them maintained moderate politi­ trict. which included Georgia, Florida. Ala­ ing Reconstruction. The tlrst divorce and throughout the South, backed by the Union cal positions they were, regardless of the bama. and Mississippi. wrote in 1867: "It may property rights laws for women were passed. Army. The most advanced regimes adopted rhetoric used, above all representatives of be safely said that the marvelous progress Better facilities for the care of the sick. blind, legislation barring racist discrimination, ex­ the oppressed nationality of Afro-Ameri­ made in the education of these people. aided and insane were established. The judicial panding suffrage and public education, and cans, a nationality composed almost entirely by the noble charitable contributions of system and penitentiaries were modernized. other progressive measures. The proletarian­ of laboring people. Northern societies and individuals. finds no Albion W. Tourgee. a Union soldier who ized ex-slaves fought for a radical land reform. The voice they raised in the halls of Con­ parallel in the history of mankind. If contin­ settled in North Carolina after the war and The defeat of Radical Reconstruction was gress was anomalous among the paid repre­ ued. it must be by the same means. and if the wrote A Fool's Errand. the best-known his­ engineered by the industrial ruling class, sentatives of the Robber Barons. They spoke masses of the white people exhibit the same torical novel in defense of Radical Recon­ which feared the rise of a united working up for the Cherokees and other dispossessed indisposition to be educated that they do now. struction. summarized the achievements of class in which Black and white artisans and Indians and for the hounded Chinese labor­ five years will have transferred intelligence those governments as follows: "They insti­ industrial workers could come together as a ers in the West. They sought to increase the and education. so far as the masses are con­ tuted a public school system in a realm where powerful oppositional force, allied with the rights of women and argued for federal sup­ cemed. to the colored people of this District." public schools had been unknown. They free working farmers. Copyright :0 1976 by port to education, a concept that would not By 1869 there were 9.000 teachers in the opened the ballot box and jury box to thou­ Pathfinder Press, reprinted by permission. be accepted for another generation. South instructing the children of ex-slaves. sands of white men who had been debarred •!• In the South the pressure and influence of By the next year there were 4.300 schools from them by a lack of earthly possessions. Black officeholders resulted in a series of with close to 250.000 Black children in at­ They introduced home rule in the South. They BY PETER CAMEJO progressive reforms. Most important. of tendance .... abolished the whipping post. and branding The most "radical" aspect of Radical course, was the elimination of the Black The first statewide free public schools in iron. the stocks and other barbarous fom1s Codes and the guaranteeing ofjuridical rights the South were established during Radical of punishment which had up to that time pre­ for Afro-Americans, including the right to Reconstmction. The Black lawmakers sought vailed. They reduced capital felonies from serve on juries, hold office, speak. organize. schools for both Blacks and whites and pre­ about twenty to two or three. In an age of and serve in the police and militias. Other ferred integrated schools. Integration for all extravagance they were extravagant in the important refonns were also achieved. An schools was established by law in Louisiana sums appropriated for public works. In all enormous demand went up from the Afro­ and at the university level in other states. In that time no man's rights of person were in­ American people for schools. There was most cases separate schools were established vaded under the fonm of laws." Pathfinder more interest in education among the ex­ because most whites insisted on all-white The governments under Radical Recon­ slaves than among the poor whites. who were schools before they would allow their chil­ stmction were in many ways the most demo­ Readers Club 25% DISCOUNT not caught up in such a profound social trans­ dren to attend. When schools of higher learn­ cratic the South has ever had up to the SPECIALS fom1ation as was the Black population. ing were integrated many whites withdrew. present day. Leon Trotsky on France An assessment of the social and economic crisis that shook France in the aftermath of Hitler's rise to power in Germany, and a program to unite IF YOU LIKE THIS PAPER, LOOK US UP the working class and exploited peasantry to Where to find Pathfinder books and Zip: 48244-0739. Tel: (313) 554-0504. AUSTRALIA confront it. $24.95. Special price: $18.75 distributors of the Militant, Perspectiva E-mail: DetroitMISWP(a netscape.net Svdnev: I st Fir. 3 281-287 Beamish St.. Mundial, New International, Nouvelle MINNESOTA: St. Paul: 113 Bemard St.. Can;psie.' NSW 2194. Mailing address: P.O. Maurice Bishop Speaks lnternationale, Nueva lnternacional and West St. Paul. Zip: 55118. Tel: ( 65 I) 644- Box K879. Haymarket. NSW 1240. Tel: (02) The Grenada Ny International. 6325. E-mail: tcswp(c~qwest.net 9718 9698. E-mail: cl_australia~(bigpond.com Revolution, UNITED STATES NEW JERSEY: Newark: I 68 Bloomfield 1979-83. Avenue. 2nd Floor. Mailing address: BRITAIN Speeches and ALABAMA: Birmingham: 3029A Riverfront Plaza. P.O. Box 2001 I 7. Zip: London: 4 7 The Cut. Postal code: SE I 8LL. interviews by the Bessemer Road. Zip: 35208. Tel: (205) 780- 07102-0302. Tel: (973) 481-0077. Tel: 020-7928-7993. E-mail: swpnewark(a yahoo.com central leader of the 0021. E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: cllondon@ onetel.net.uk workers and farmers CALIFORNIA: Los Angeles: 4229 S. NEW YORK: Garment District, 545 8th CANADA government in the Central Ave. Zip: 900 I I. Tel: (323) 233-9372. Ave., 14th Floor. Mailing address: Montreal: 1237 Jean Talon E. Montreal, Caribbean island of E-mail: 74642.326@ compuserve.com P.O. Box 30. Zip:l0018. Tel: (212) QC. Postal code: H2R I WI. Tel: (514) 284- San Francisco: 3926 Mission St. Zip: 941 I 2. Grenada. $24.95. 695-7358. E-mail: swpnygd@;attglobal.net: 7369. E-mail: Librpath(c!:sympatico.ca Tel: (415) 584-2135. E-mail:sfswp Upper Manhattan: 599W. 187 St. #lA Zip: Special price: $18.75 (2L hotmai !.com 10033. Tel: (212) 740-4611. E-mail: Toronto: 2761 Dundas St. West. Postal swpuptown(iL usa.net code: M6P IY4. Tel: (416) 767-3705. COLORADO: Craig: 6 West Victory Way. E-mail: milpathtoronto({L"sympatico.ca Zip: 81625. Mailing address: P.O. Box 1539. :\ORTH CAROLINA: Charlotte Area: Zip: 81626. Tel: ( 970) 826-0289 .E-mail: 200 I A N. Cannon Blvd. Kannapolis Mailing Vancouwr: 2645 E. Hastings. Room 203. westemcoloradoswp~L yahoo.com address: P.O. Box 5624. Concord. Zip: 28087. Postal code: V5V IZ5. Tel: (604) 872-8343. E-mail: clvancouver!a cs.com of Radical FLORIDA: Miami: 8365 NE 2nd Ave. Tel: (704) 932-0821. E-mail: Reconstruction #206 Zip: 33138. Tel: (305) 751-7076. E-mail: CharlotteSWP(c1 aol.com FRANCE PETER CAMEJO miamiswp((l,bellsouth.net: Tampa: 1441 E. OHIO: Cleveland: 11018 Lorain Ave. Zip: Paris: Centre MBE 175. 23 rue Lecourbe. The challenges­ Fletcher. Suite 421. Zip: 33612. Tel: (813) 910- 44111. Tel: (216) 688-1190. E-mail: Postal code: 75015. Tel: (01) 47-26-58-21. ranging from literacy 8507. E-mail: TOCI004~~caol.com I 03253.11 I I (acompuserve.com E-mail: 73504.442(a compusen e.com drives to land GEORGIA: Atlanta: 2791 Lakewood Ave. PEN:\ISYLVA:\IIA: Hazleton: 69 North ICELAND reform-confronted by Zip: 303 I 5. Mailing address: P.O. Box Wyoming St. Zip: 18201. Tel: (570) 454- 162515. Zip 30321. Tel: ( 404) 763-2900. Reykjavik: Skolavordustig 6B. Mailing the popular revolution­ 8320. Email: swpnepa(c1 intergrafix.net address: P. Box 0233. IS 121 Reykjavik. Tel: E-mail: atlpathfinder(c~;cs.com ary governments of Philadelphia: 523 7 N. 5th St. Zip: 19120. Tel: 552 5502. E-mail: milpth(c1 mmedia.is Radical Reconstruction ILLINOIS: Chicago: 1212 N. Ashland (215) 324-7020. E-mail: Philadelphia that arose in the United States following the Suite 20 I. Zip: 60622. Tel: (773) 342-1780. SWP(c1 yahoo.com Pittsburgh: 5907 Penn NEW ZEALAND Civil War, and the counterrevolution that E-mail: ChicagoPathfinder((Lcompuserve.com Ave. Suite 225. Zip. 15206. Tel: (412) 365- Auckland: Suite 3. 7 Mason Ave., Otahuhu. 1090. E-mail: pghswp(h bigzoo.net subsequently overthrew them. $18.95. Special IOWA: Des Moines: 3720 6th Ave. Zip: Postal address:P.O. Box 3025. Tel: (9) 276- 8885.E-mail: [email protected] price: $14.25. 50313. Tel: (515) 288-2970. E-mail: TEXAS: Houston: 619 West 8th St. Zip: swpdesmoines~L cs.com 77007. Tel: (713) 869-6550. E-mail: Christchurch: Gloucester Arcade. 129 Gloucester St. Postal address: P.O. Box 13- Join the Pathfinder Readers MASSACHUSETTS: Boston: 12 swphouston(a ev !.net Club for $10 and receive 969. Tel: (3) 365-6055. Bennington St .. 2nd Floor. East Boston. WASHINGTON, D.C.: 3437 14th St. NW E-mail: pathfinder.militant0iparadise.net.nz discounts all year long Mailing address: P.O. Box 26 I. Zip: 02128. Zip: 20010. Tel: (202) 387-1590. E-mail: Tel: (617) 569-9169. E-mail: I 03426.3430 dc-swp(c~;starpower.net SWEDEN ORDER ONLINE AT @compuserve.com WASHINGTON: Seattle: 5418 Rainier Stockholm: Domargrand 16, S-129 47. WWW .PATHFINDERPRESS.COM MICHIGAN: Detroit: 4208 W. Vernor St. Avenue South. Zip: 98118-2439. Tel: (206) Hiigersten. Tel: (08) 3 I 69 33.E-mail: Mailing address: P.O. Box 44739. 323-1755. E-mail: swpseattle(a qwest.net [email protected] 14 The Militant October 21, 2002 -EDITORIALS------City bonds are not a 'public service' Back West Coast dockworkers BY JACK WILLEY The letter from reader Beatrice Einhorn taking issue The federal government's decision to invoke the Taft­ Americans" is a deadly trap-there is no such "we." There with an article in the September 23 issue on municipal Hartley Act against the West Coast dockworkers-under is the working class with common interests around the bonds (see page 12) provides a useful opportunity to dis­ the banner of "national security"-is a serious attack on world, whether we were born in the United States orYemen cuss a few points about this subject. The article describes the entire labor movement that must be loudly condemned. or Mexico. And there is the employers' class-them. The how the wealthy bondholders in New York reap profits The U.S. rulers are trying to use their drive toward a war U.S. government, White House and Congress alike, rep­ while the city government slashes wages and services. ofplunderin the Middle East to step up their war on work­ resents them, not us. The big-business media promotes the myth that bonds ing people at home as well. They hope to deal a blow to The big-business press spilled pages of ink warning offer a public service to help finance schools, public trans­ the International Longshore and Warehouse Union and to about the national repercussions of a 10-day lockout on a portation, and other things that benefit working people. It send a warning to any other workers who stand up and fragile U.S. economy. This was presented as another jus­ also tries to foster the illusion that some workers and those fight in their interests. tification for invoking the antilabor law. Workers, how­ in the middle class can assure themselves a measure of This intervention by the U.S. government in a union ever, can never start with the profit needs of the exploit­ stable income through investing in bonds. struggle for a contract is part of the broader escalation ers. Our starting point must be: how we can strengthen Bonds, however, are designed primarily to enrich the of assaults by the U.S. rulers on workers' rights. While our class to resist more effectively the conditions imposed superwealthy, taking a little more of the surplus value that the use of the Taft-Hartley Act against the dockworkers on us by the ruling rich. An IL WU victory would be a workers produce. Municipal governments run on deficit is an overtly antiunion action, it is of a piece with a victory for all working people. budgets and float bonds-which serve as loans-to make range of other assaults on the ability of working people The last time the federal government tried to use the up for the shortfall. The overwhelming majority of these to organize and fight: efforts to increase FBI spying and Taft-Hartley Act was in 1978, when Democratic presi­ coupons are bought up by multimillionaire and billionaire harassment, the spreading use of secret detentions and dent James Carter invoked it during the 11 0-day coal min­ families who have enough money capital to purchase cou­ of the North American trials, and the establishment ers strike. But the miners simply refused to recognize the pons and skim off interest until the principal is paid back in Command. This latter measure-the establishment of strike-breaking law and stayed on the picket lines until the U.S. military command to deploy troops on U.S. they won a contract. They called Carter's bluff and came soil-is an indication that the U.S. rulers are anticipat­ out stronger. In fact, the U.S. rulers felt they could not use ing and preparing to crack down on bigger working­ this measure again for another 25 years. REPLY TO A READER class struggles as the resistance to the employers' of­ This kind of government intervention in the unions is fensive grows. not an exception. It will happen more and more as work­ full years later. As a bonus, it's usually all tax-free. The bosses and their government aim to convince work­ ing-class resistance grows. And it underscores the fact that In times of economic crisis, the government uses the ing people that in the name of "national unity" we must working people need to be organized not only on the shop "budget deficit" argument to justify slashing social ser­ subordinate our class interests to those of the exploiters. floor but in the political arena, charting a political road vices and city and state jobs. Capitalist bondholders are "Now is not the time to strike-it's time to unite behind independently from the bosses' parties, the Democrats and protected by the "full faith and credit" of the government the flag," say the Democrats and Republicans. They want Republicans. This is a road that leads to working people coupons they hold, however, and continue to receive pay­ taking political power and establishing a government us to set aside our struggles and instead rally behind their of ments on interest and principal. In the "budget debate," patriotic campaign to shore up the profits of big business workers and farmers. their profits come first, while the burden for the financial through bloody wars to redivide the natural resources of Today, as the capitalist government uses its power to crisis is placed on the backs of working people. In other the world to their advantage. The "national unity" argu­ back the shipping bosses, working people need to rally words, to ensure interest payments to the rich coupon­ ment will be used again to further chop at our wages, behind the dockworkers, who are fighting for safety, for clippers, workers are told we must accept cutbacks. working conditions, and rights on the job. This is a good jobs, and for the right to organize free from government A prime example is the current New York budget. This example of how the bosses' nationalist rhetoric about"we intervention. It is our fight too. year Mayor Michael Bloomberg has tried to drive through the slashing of funds to the Administration for Children's Services, pension and health benefits owed to city work­ ers, and the building of new schools, among other services. Today, some workers in the Bronx who have been pushed out of their homes have the blessing of staying in an abandoned prison, with lead paint on the walls, that serves as a city shelter. Meanwhile, in 2002 the city will Against Canadian imperialism spend 20 percent of its budget to pay debt service straight into the hands of the billionaire coupon clippers. The following statement was released October 8 by ditions that Canada's rulers can only be reverse by ex­ Beverly Bernardo, Communist League candidate for panding their control of markets and territories abroad, Nest egg for workers? mayor in Vancouver, British Columbia. Bernardo, 57, and assaulting the jobs, wages, and social conditions of The rulers try to convince the middle class and layers is a meat packer at Britco Pork in Langley. workers and farmers at home. of the working class that they can ensure a stable source In this sense, the wars that Canada's employer class are of income, and even get ahead, by investing in stocks, Workers, farmer, and youth across Canada have a vital carrying out against working people abroad are an exten­ bonds, or 401 (k) retirement schemes. The labor bureau­ stake in opposing Canadian imperialism's stepped-up sion of the escalating war they are waging against our cracy ties billions of dollars earmarked for workers' pen­ march to war in the Mideast. class at home. Among the recent examples of these at­ sions into these paper values. They feed into the myth The escalating aggression against Iraq is not about tacks, and of the working-class resistance they generate, fostered by the rulers that "we"-exploited and exploit­ Saddam Hussein. It is an imperialist grab for oil and a are: the government's slashing ofbasic social services such ers alike-have a stake as "stockholders" or "bondhold­ drive to redivide the world among those who pillage it­ as health and education, Bombardier's layoff of 2,000 ers" in maintaining the capitalist system. a direct product of the accelerating crisis of world capi­ workers, the lockout of 600 grain handlers in Vancouver, These illusions can be rapidly shattered, however, not talism as it drags humanity into an economic depression the five-month strike by 2,200 workers at Videotron in only by a collapse in stock and bond markets-as we are of catastrophic proportions. Quebec to defend their jobs and union, and the fight by seeing today-but by mass layoffs that often leave work­ The Canadian government has postured as a force com­ hundreds of Algerian refugees against the threat of de­ ing people with no protection. mitted to "peace" and negotiations in the Mideast, sup­ portation. Einhorn asks what kind of program socialists put for­ posedly in contrast to Washington and the "U.S." war The Communist League campaign urges you to join ward. As the U.S. economy spirals deeper into a depres­ against Iraq. But this is nationalist demagogy. As a smaller with us in linking up with other working people who are sion, it is easier to see the need for workers and farmers to imperialist power, this is how Canada's ruling class has part of this resistance to the employer offensive, as well fight around a program that defends the interests of all acted since World War II to try to convince working people as meeting youth who are repelled by the brutality of capi­ working people against the ravages of the capitalist sys­ to support every single one of its wars-from the imperi­ talism. Ours is a working-class campaign against imperi­ tem. Such a program should begin with the demand of alist assault on Korea 50 years ago to the war on the alism and its inherent march to war and economic catas­ jobs for all at union-scale wages, a demand that helps cut Yugoslav workers state less than a decade ago. trophe. We urge you to read and help circulate the social­ across the biggest division in the working class-that be­ Canada's imperialist rulers are driven to war by the same ist press-the Militant and Perspectiva Mundi al-as well tween the employed and unemployed. This includes call­ lawful motions of capitalism as Washington and the rest as books that explain how working people can chart a ing for a public works program to build schools, housing, of their imperialist allies and rivals. Two years ago, at course to put an end to the very system of oppression and day-care centers, parks, and recreation centers, and other Can$124 a share, Norte! 's stocks reined supreme on the exploitation that produces these wars and social devasta­ services that benefit workers. Toronto stock market, comprising some 30 percent of its tion. The starting point of labor's demands cannot be what overall prices. Today these pieces of paper are worth less This course of action is part of the historic fight to build is profitable for the ruling rich, but what working people than a dollar. Bleak reports are published almost daily a revolutionary leadership that can lead working people in need to protect ourselves against attacks on our social about other major big Canadian corporations. These facts this country to take power out of the hands of the capitalist wage. As part of that, the demand for a steeply graduated are representative of the depression that Canada and the warmakers, establish a government of workers and farm­ income tax on the wealthy, excluding workers and work­ capitalist world as a whole have entered-long-term con- ers. and join the international struggle for a socialist future. ing farmers, also strengthens the hand of the exploited. Opposing views in meeting on October 1962 Crisis

Continued from page 9 said, "If we had wanted to invade, we would have smashed the numerous continued U.S. attempts to assassinate the "was not primarily about missiles but about the Cuban Revo­ Cuba," alleging that it was thanks to Kennedy that an in­ Cuban leader. lution, which the U.S. government was determined to over­ vasion did not take place. Schlesinger replied that the assassination attempts all throw because of the example it set for workers and farm­ Disputing that view, Koppel had pointed out that on Oct. issued from the CIA, and that Kennedy never knew what ers around the world, including in the United States." He 26, 1962, Kennedy was informed by the U.S. Joint Chiefs was happening. He did not mention that the president's encouraged those attending the meeting to read the newly of Staff that a U.S. invasion of Cuba would cost more than brother, Attorney General Robert Kennedy, was a regu­ published Pathfinder book October 1962: The 'Missile' 18,000 U.S. casualties in the first I 0 days, more than the lar participant in meetings of top officials that discussed Crisis as Seenfinm Cuba by Tomas DiezAcosta. This book, U.S. casualties in the first five years of the Vietnam war­ Washington's plans to try to overthrow the Cuban Revo­ Koppel said, details how the Kennedy administration be­ a political price Washington was not willing to pay. lution. gan planning for a direct U.S. invasion of Cuba following Another member of the audience pointed to a Penta­ The majority of the audience appeared to be in agree­ Washington's defeat at the Bay of Pigs, and describes the gon memo dated September 25 of that year laying out ment with the speakers. A number of people, however, mobilization and determination of the Cuban people to contingency plans to carry out an invasion of Cuba on as stopped by a literature table outside the meeting that was defend themselves that stayed the U.S. rulers' hand. little as two days' notice. staffed by supporters of the Socialist Workers campaign. "There were no plans to invade Cuba," said Smith in Another participant in the meeting questioned the seri­ They purchased $120 worth of books, including three cop­ response. "There were no troop movements to the south" ousness of Kennedy's professed attempts to make peace ies ofOctober 1962: The 'Missile' Crisis as Seenfrom Cuba or other evidence of such plans, he added. Schlesinger with the Cuban government after the "missile" crisis, given and several other titles on the Cuban Revolution. October 21, 2002 The Militant 15

.__ THE MILITANT Scotland: textile strikers defend gains

BY PETE WILLSON travel a day," she noted. "For women with HAWICK, Scotland-"Our four-day con­ children that's impossible, and a lot don't tract is signed and sealed: We strike for the have a car." Other workers pointed out how right to save this deal," read a colorful ban­ there is no direct bus service to Innerleithen. ncr displayed on the picket line October 2 at Workers in this town are keenly watching Barrie Knitwear here. Made by women tex­ the fight at Barrie Knitwear. Of the popula­ tile workers at the plant, whose 170-strong tion ofjust under 16,000, Redhead explained, workforce struck solidly that day and the there are still up to 3,000 working in the tex­ next, the banner captured the determination tile industry. "I fthey break the four-day week of the strikers not to hand over hard-fought­ here," he said. "others will do the same.'' for conditions. Members of the General, That week's edition of the Hmrick News Municipal and Boilermakers and Allied reported rumors that Pringles, a textile com­ Trades Union (GMB) at the plant had earlier pany currently working only the guaranteed voted 83 percent in favor of the action. four days. is considering closing up shop in 'Tm really pleased with the turnout here," the town. Strikers at Barrie reported that commented Cammy Renwick, pointing to GMB members at Lyle and Scotts mill have the nearly 80 workers who had turned out been on a longtime overtime ban over a pay for picket duty early in the morning. Driv­ claim. At Johnstone mill workers recently ers of passing vehicles tooted their horns in struck for a few days to secure a pay raise. response to an appeal on a placard, while On the picket line strikers were unani­ any appearance by the plant bosses was ap­ mous in challenging the company's claim propriately jeered. that it had problems as a result of Septem­ "They're trying to take our rights away," ber II. "Every year they come up with a said Renwick, who has been at the plant for different excuse as to why they have prob­ 17 years. lems," said Renwick. ''Before September II Militant/Harry Laws Striking textile workers picket outside Barrie Knitwear in Hawick, Scotland. Union steward Gary Cook explained that it was an earthquake in Japan!" while the dispute had begun in January over Whatever the bosses' excuse, say work­ a wage claim, the parent company Dawson ers, they have been on a drive to reorganize alized hours proposal under which hours companies' latest threats. But workers have International "wants to change our condi­ production at the company's plants, at the could vary throughout the year. Most work­ mounted resistance that they hadn't ex­ tions. There's no money on the table until expense oflong-established conditions. Sev­ ers saw through this as another way to chip pected to face. ''We're not letting them get we accept that. They want to 'harn1onize' eral months after the company's January away at the four-day agreement. away with it," said Redhead. conditions here with their Innerleithcn plant, rejection ofthe union's pay claim. 39 work­ The proposal contained no guaranteed so we sign away the guarantee to a four-day ers were laid off including two union stew­ weekly wage. "It was all bone with no meat," Pete Willson is a meat H·orker and member week." ards who are challenging this through a tri­ commented Gary Cook. After workers re­ of the Union o/ Shop Distrihuth·c and A/­ Workers at most of Hawick's mills won a bunal. The company then floated an annu- jected the annualization deal, then came the lied Workers. four-day working week through a five-week strike in 1972 that involved 5,500 union members. Other workers, including those 28 miles away at Innerlcithcn, were never Farmers demand gov't drought relief granted the improved conditions. With the seasonal nature of much of the BY KAREN TYLER June slaughter cattle were selling for 64 cents number of cattle she keeps from harvesting work in the area, known for the production CRAIG. Colorado-Like much of the a pound. "I figure I lost about S I 00 per head 12 acres. This year, out of 34 acres she of high-price cashmere garments, workers west, Colorado has been experiencing the on that bunch," he said. While cattle prices pulled just 250 bales. see a guaranteed week as an important pro­ worst drought on record. Rivers that usually were up in September. hovering around 80 The CRP is a federal program that offers tection. run white rapids are barely running at all. This cents, the supply is smaller because offorced payments and assistance to remove cropland Rob Redhead, a veteran of the 1972 fight, is the third and worst year of the drought, sales earlier in the summer. Hog prices have from production and plant acres in grass. said, "They want to be able to transfer work­ made worse by a light snowfall last winter sunk to less than S20 per hundred weight in Government officials have announced that ers at the drop of a hat to Innerleithen." and virtually no rain the entire summer. Huge August from a high of S60 in 1997. CRP annual rental payments will be reduced Workers at the latter plant have only just tires have burned throughout the Rockies this In states. such as North Dakota. the 25 percent to account for the areas hayed or secured an agreement to get a guaranteed summer, consuming tens of thousands of drought has caused $845 million in damage grazed. Only if a fanner donates the grass four days' weekly work in the first month acres of forest and pasture lands. so far. Estimates arc that S222 million was will previous payment levels be maintained. oflean times, followed by a three-day week. Those most affected by this crisis are lost on crops and cattle and S623 million in This is in stark contrast to the solidarity On the day following the strike Dawson farmers and ranchers throughout the area, a related costs. Duane Claymore, who raises shown by fam1crs around the country who issued "90-day notices" giving workers un­ growing number of whom face mounting cattle on the Standing Rock Indian Reserva­ have donated hay to the drought stricken ar­ til January I to sign up to the company's debts and loss of their land and livestock. tion, said 30 of the reservation's 60 ranchers eas. demands or be fired. The notices are "a gun Neither state nor federal government offi­ could be forced to sell off their herds and go at people's heads," said Cook. cials have offered much in the way of mean­ out of business. "Some of those people still Farmers organize solidarity 'haylifts' Union fighters are "encouraging workers ingful relief. have debts from the last drought," he said. Several"haylifts" have been organized by not to sign up for the deal," said Redhead, Some have likened this situation to the With winter approaching and little hay farmers and others to try and ease the af­ speaking after an October 5 meeting attended Dust Bowl of the 1930s. In areas of Ne­ available. prices for feed have soared. Hay, fects of the drought. Etlorts have been or­ by 90 workers. 'The mood's really militant braska and Wyoming a scant two inches of which is in short supply. is being sold for ganized in Oregon. Wisconsin, Iowa, Mis­ now," he added. "We've had enough." rain has fallen all year-30 percent less than Sll5 to S 175 per ton, up from S80 to SIOO sissippi, and Indiana to ranchers in the west The meeting discussed plans for a fur­ the worst drought years of the '30s and 80 per ton just a year ago. and southwest who need hay. ther one-day strike on October 23, a march percent below norn1al. One effort was begun in July by the through the town involving workers from In the North Platte River area of Ne­ Meager aid from government officials Janowiak family in Wisconsin. Matt other mills, and a ballot to specifically re­ braska, some 90 percent of farn1ers are in With farmers and ranchers already fac­ Janowiak, who cunently lives in Durango, ject the "harmonization" plans that give the financial trouble. Wheat production in the ing billions of dollars in losses as a result of Colorado, and works for the Bureau of Land go-ahead for further actions. "The only way United States is down 14 percent from last the drought, the state and federal govern­ Management, contacted his family in Merrill, to sort this out now is a longer strike," said year, and corn. soybean and cotton have ments have been slow to offer much in the Wisconsin. "This drought was just wiping Redhead. experienced similar losses, according to U.S. way of assistance. President George Bush people out in Colorado while Wisconsin was Doreen Purves, who was an apprentice Department ofAgriculture (USDA) figures. earlier this year said that any drought aid having a good year," said Barb Janowiak. in 1972, recalled the strike of three decades Many ranchers have been forced to sell off for farmers and ranchers would have to Matt asked the family if they would help co­ ago. "The whole town turned out," she said. their herd. including their breeding stock come out of the 2002 farm bill enacted in ordinate the donations and transportation. Jim "Almost every mill won a four-day week." and land, which will take years to recover. May. Finally, in September the Bush admin­ and Barbara Janowiak said yes. As word The proposed new agreement, she added. is For thousands of ranchers this will be their istration announced that S752 million would started to get around. tons of hay were do­ "harder on women. Having to work in last season farming. be made available to western ranchers most nated. ''We've had over 80 fanners donate to Innerleithcn could mean another two hours' Ron Gillen, 66. a small rancher in south­ affected by the drought. Maximum payouts the effort so far. Over 2.000 tons has been western Colorado, has only 20 cows left will be no higher than S40.000. Under this received and more trains are being lined up From Pathfinder from a herd of 450, after having been forced plan ranchers would receive up S 18 per head to take the hay," stated Barb Janowiak. to sell off his livestock and land to cover his of beef cattle. $31.50 for dairy cows. and The Janowiaks are also appealing to Iowa debts. Bank officials have advised him to S4.50 for sheep. farmers for help. An article in The Iowa The Working Class & find some other line of work, he noted. But The I\ational Farmers Union and the Farmer Toda1· described the ''grass roots" the Transformation after a lifetime of ranching, "where would I I\ational Farmers Organization arc backing efforts to provide needed aid. Eastern Colo­ of Learning go to find work? Welcoming people at Wai­ a bill pending in Congress sponsored by rado ranchers are willing to make weekend Mart'?" Gillen stated. His story is being re­ South Dakota Senator Tom Daschlc that trips up to Iowa to pick up the hay to save by Jack Barnes peated throughout the region. Dry-land would release S6 billion in drought relief~ on transportation costs, the journal reported. "Until society is reorganized so that farmers, who either cannot afford the ex­ separate from the federal budget. A haylift has also been organized from education is a human activity from the pensive irrigation water or are too far away At the end of September. Secretary of the Klamath Basin in Oregon with farmers time we are very young until the time we to be able to use it. are most affected. Agriculture Ann Veneman authorized the there donating in just one week 350 tons of die, there will be no education worthy of A jump in the number of livestock being release of Conservation Reserve Program hay and money to cover the cost of diesel to working, creating humanity." $3.00 brought to market has led to a decline in (CRP) acres for emergency grazing and drive the loads. Independent truckers have prices that farmers receive. According to a haying. Much of the hay and grass on these donated their rigs to bring the hay to September USDA report, about 50 percent Available from bookstores, lands, however. are already dried up. Genie Trinidad, Colorado. Other solidarity efforts of cattle in the state were forced to market. including those listed on page 14. Voloshin, a Moffat County rancher. told the have been made from farmers in the Mid­ Charles Klassen, a cattle producer from local paper that she usually gets enough west and upper Midwest who have not been Crawford, Colorado, reported that in mid- hay-about 850 bales-to feed the small effected by the drought.

16 The Militant October 21, 2002