Against "America's War": Build a Mass Anti-War Movement

by Hamid Sodeifi


As the US military builds up its already obscene presence in the Persian Gulf and the Indian Ocean, everyone who is opposed to military intervention has a responsibility to build as broad a movement against this war as we can. The US government has already made it clear that in this "crusade" it will not limit its venom to any single target, be that target an individual, an organization or a nation. This is "America's War" against all who oppose its policies and refuse to fully submit to its domination. As such, this may become one of the most ambitious, and most murderous, imperialist ventures in human history.

Already, the US (and its allies like the UK and Canada) are trying to prepare the public for massive casualties on both sides. So far as American casualties are concerned, this war offers an opportunity to finally put an end to the "Vietnam Syndrome" and restore the US government's ability to commit ground troops and get the population to accept the casualties that go along with this.

So far as casualties on the "other" side are concerned, racist hysteria is used to make them palatable. Racism is an extremely effective tool not only to isolate, harass, and kill "others" (anyone who looks different, who has a different colour, custom, religion or clothing) amongst "us", but also to de-humanize and demonize those in other countries who are about to get slaughtered. Imperialist policy has always been accompanied by a generous dose of racism. This war is different only in that the dosage is stronger. To engage in a military campaign of this scope and to inflict the level of human casualties such a war requires, the Western ruling class needs to ensure that domestic opposition is effectively silenced. This, in turn, necessitates suspension of basic civil liberties. In this regard, too, they have been unusually frank. Under the guise of "fighting terrorism," they have talked quite openly about intercepting people's private communications, intruding into their lives and detaining them without charges or legal recourse. Here too racist stereotyping will come into play. People of colour, especially Muslims or those with Middle Eastern ancestry, will be targeted most directly. But so too will other people who question this insane war.

What Needs to Be Done?

Before it is too late, we need to build broad coalitions in every city and town of all those who are opposed to racism and war. This military campaign, more than any other, requires racism to justify it. As such, the issue of racism cannot be separated from that of "America's new war." We need to mobilize publicly to demonstrate that many people are against this war and the racism associated with it. This is not to say that public demonstrations are the only tactics that should be used. However, given the state of fear governments are creating, it is critically important not to abandon public spaces. By taking to the streets, we can show those who are opposed to racism and war that they are not alone. We can also show those who are asking questions that there are people with powerful arguments about what's happening.

There is another aspect to this looming war that is hard to ignore. To understand the events of September 11 and the current war build-up, one must pose questions about US foreign policy, especially in the Mid-East, and the role of imperialism in general. We must use this opportunity to draw attention to the injustices inflicted by imperialist powers, foremost amongst them the US, and work to create a better world for all. Unless we are prepared to live in the Brave New World of George W, where Big Brother gets to watch every move people make, where the US military gets to roam freely around the world and kill whomever it chooses, we had better get involved and do our part to make sure the US does not succeed in its war against humanity.

Hamid Sodeifi is an editor of NEW SOCIALIST.