Stop the War!

New Socialist Magazine


Prime Minister Jean Chretien has pledged Canada's full support for the war against "international terrorism." Canadian support for the US-led war effort means Canadian planes, ships and troops taking part in the attacks on Afghanistan and probably other countries. As is often case, the main victims will not be the terrorists who carried out the horrific attack on the World Trade Centre but thousands upon thousands of civilians.

In reality, state terrorism sponsored by governments like the US claims far more lives than acts of individual terrorism. In a globally unjust world, poverty, hunger and curable disease remain the greatest killers.

The movement for global justice has rightly targeted the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, the World Trade Organization and the G-8 as being responsible for much of the poverty and misery in the world. Canada participates in these bodies and in the exploitation of resources and cheap labour by global capital. It is no accident that other imperialist countries like Canada and the UK are involved in the US-led war.

We need to clearly demand an end to Canadian participation in the war and Canadian withdrawal from war alliances like NATO.

The war will have large and sometimes hidden costs. Warmongers are claiming that Canada has too few troops and not enough modern military equipment to participate as an effective war partner (despite the fact that Canada spends over $10 billion annually on national defense).

State security agencies are using Canada's alleged weakness on terrorism in a bid to dramatically strengthen their powers and resources. The Canadian government is now moving to rush "anti-terrorist legislation" into Parliament. This could entail dramatic increases in the use of legalized wiretapping, the seizing of assets, revocation of the charitable status of groups alleged to have funded "terrorists" even indirectly and making it illegal to participate in "a terrorist organization."

But who are the terrorists? By the national security definitions of groups like the FBI and CSIS, the list could include virtually all national liberation struggles in the world, or those who revolt against murderous US client states or the extreme injustice imposed by international financial institutions. It could include numerous domestic groupings, even those opposed to the war-like role of US and Canadian imperialism.

In response to September 11, US and Canadian governments are seeking to impose further controls on immigrants and refugees. One proposal, a North American security perimeter, would make it far more difficult for feared "others" to enter. Clearly, the big losers would be immigrants and refugee claimants. Under Canada's new Bill C-11, refugee claimants in desperate need of assistance could be denied entry as a security risk, jailed until their hearing or deported, with virtually no legal recourse.

War propaganda demands the creation of enemies and their dehumanization. Despite requests from Chretien and Bush to avoid racist attacks, racism is an inherent part of the war. War also involves the building of national unity, the forging of consensus against the external enemy, the setting aside of internal differences and the demand for civilian sacrifice. But who will pay the price?

Before September 11, many signs of international recession and global capitalist instability were evident. Now propagandists will attempt to blame September 11 for economic woes. But in reality, budget surpluses have been squandered on tax cuts for corporations and the wealthy. As spending increases for the military, national security and repressive forces, cuts will intensify for social spending, health care and education. As recession tightens its grip, thousands of workers will be laid off. The war on workers, immigrants and refugees and the poor will continue to deepen if resistance isn't mobilized.

The fear-mongering jingoism of the Canadian Alliance allows the Liberals to pose as moderates. And we cannot rely on the NDP to resist the war abroad and increased powers of surveillance and repression at home. Although the NDP's support for the United Nations, an International Criminal Court and avoiding civilian casualties make it seem pro-peace, the NDP leadership's acceptance of global capitalism and "national unity" means it cannot effectively oppose the new militarism and state security measures.

What's needed now is a large, vibrant and visible movement that actively opposes racism and makes itself heard over the pro-war "national unity" chorus that is drowning out the voices of workers and oppressed people here and around the world.