The Terrorist Attack in the USA and the Imperialist War

• Latest News
• Background

Latest News

• The Fall of Kabul
  Events inside Afghanistan are moving quickly. So quickly that it is difficult to keep up with the lightening changes in the situation. The fall of Kabul came more quickly than anyone could forsee. Washington hoped that it would be able to hold back the Northern Alliance's advance until it had succeeded in putting together a coalition of non-Taliban forces (read: American stooges) to take over the country. However, in war, events cannot be directed like an orchestra under the conductor's baton. Alan Woods explains how this affects the situation on the ground in Afghanistan.

• Pakistan and the Imperialist Aggression in Afghanistan A War Doomed to Defeat
  With every day that passes, the fear of the military regime in Pakistan is becoming more and more intense. The frustration of the U.S. high command is also very evident. Three weeks is long time in this era of advanced tech warfare. This has been one of the most vicious bombing campaigns on one of the poorest country in the world. Yet after almost three weeks of intense aerial bombardment not a single key target has been hit, nor any significant war aim achieved. The masses are bewildered at what is going on and what is about to happen. It is a country not directly at war and yet all the social and economic implications of a war are very much present. (Lal Khan, Editor Asian Marxist Review, reports from Pakistan, October 25, 2001)

• Economic Repercussions of September 11 Continue to Spread
  The ripple effect of the terrorist attacks has spread far and wide. It was clear from the beginning that the airline and insurance industries, as well as the stock market in general (except for the armaments industry!) would suffer. But there have been other consequences that no one could have predicted. From a drop in the use of film at tourist sites to shrinking sales of toilet paper and tissues to hotels, these sorts of knock-on effects will continue to be felt in the coming months and years. Eastman Kodak, the world’s largest photography company reported a 77 percent drop in third-quarter earnings. Also of interest are the areas that have benefited from the crisis - canned soup sales, video rentals, and florist orders have all risen. But in the atmosphere of paranoia and confusion that the Bush administration has created, it is no wonder people are not confident about the future.(John Peterson, 11/2/01)

• The First Casualty of War
  Alan Woods and Ted Grant look at how the "War on Terrorism" is unfolding, the repurcussions it is having around the world, especially in the Middle East, and the lies and distortions of the bourgeois media.

• Operation Infinite Madness
  With violent anti- American demonstrations spreading from Pakistan to Indonesia and from the West Bank to Malaysia, Bush’s anti-terrorist rhetoric is becoming increasingly hollow. Rob Sewell exposes the hypocrisy of US/British imperialism and their coalition partners and reviews the deepening economic crisis worldwide. October 14, 2001.

• Into the whirlwind - The first week of the war in Afghanistan
  Alan Woods reports from Russia on the developments during the first week of the war on Afghanistan and particularly the way in which Russia is advancing her interests in the whole of Central Asia and the Caucusus on the back of the 'war on terrorism'. Woods also outlines the difficulties which the US will increasingly find in this campaign. Moscow, October 12, 2001.

• PTUDC report from Quetta
  K.A.Khan Kashmari, the Pakistan Trade Union Defence Campaign organiser in Quetta reports on the demonstrations and clashes against US aggression in Afghanistan and the general mood of the workers there. October 8, 2001

• "Capitalism is a system of the past - Socialism is the future"
  "In the first decade of "the end of history" and the "new world order" the "only super power" in the world is yet again engaged in another major war of aggression. As the missiles and bombs of the imperialist assault devastate the already ruined and rugged landscape of this unfortunate country, its impact will go far beyond the borders of Afghanistan. The echelons of power and the regimes across Asia are trembling in their shoes. These already decaying states are being shaken to their foundations. Starting from the Pakistan dictatorship the rulers of the whole region terrified about the fate of their rule." Editorial of the Autumn issue of the Asian Marxist Review. Lal Khan , Lahore, Pakistan, October 9, 2001

• US and British airstrikes start Oppose imperialist war in Afghanistan!
  "The bombing of Afghanistan has now begun. The most powerful and richest country in the world, the USA, is bombing one of the poorest countries on this planet. And Britain, as usual, is behaving as an obedient lapdog to US imperialism. However they may try to disguise it, this war is not about “justice” or “fighting terrorism”. The aim is to terrorise the peoples of the former colonial countries, to bully them into submitting to the will of the rich and powerful. It is a warning: 'either you do as we say, or you get bombed!'". A first emergency analysis by Fred Weston. (October 8, 2001)

• Protest action against imperialist aggression and fundamentalist terror
  Three public meetings were recently organised by the PTUDC in Pakistan to protest the impending Imperialist attack on Pakistan and the terrorism perpetrated by the Islamic fundamentalist organisations. They were held in in Hyderabad, Thatta and at the Pakistan Steel Mills near Karachi. The meetings were attended by hundreds of workers who resolved to launch an anti-war campaign throughout the country and also made an appeal to workers in Europe for support (by Khalid Bhatti, National Organiser, Pakistan Trade Union Defence Campaign, Lahore, October 1, 2001.)

• On The Brink
  Everything on a world scale is now subordinated to the perspective of war. The fact that the attack on Afghanistan (and other countries) has been delayed does not mean at all that the risk of hostilities has diminished. Alan Woods looks at the world situation as the build up towards war unfolds. (October 3, 2001)

• Breaking with the Bourgeoisie: Students not Duped
  In the aftermath of the Sept. 11 attacks, the American ruling class and its media microphone have been sounding the call of nationalism, expecting everyone else to fall in line. Unfortunately for them, a significant number of students have decided not to adhere to this most "democratic" ideal, rejecting the bellicose rhetoric of the bourgeoisie and fully understanding the hidden implications of the "us vs. them" mentality.(by M.J. Alam)

• Afghanistan, bin Laden and the hypocrisy of American imperialism
  "Many people have been shocked at the media pictures of the unfolding tragedy in Afghanistan. The Taliban regime has carried out a reign of terror, with ethnic cleansing ... severe repression against oppressed nationalities and members of other religions, the smashing of statues of Buddha, the public execution of women in Kandhar the whipping... The howling of the oppressed women of Afghanistan reverberates throughout Asia. The question is: who is responsible for this bloody civil war, all these deaths, the hunger, ethnic cleansing and sheer barbarism? The answer is very simple. It was American imperialism which reduced Afghanistan to the level of the Dark Ages and completely destroyed civilisation there." Pakistani Marxist Doctor Zayar explains the responsibility of US imperialism in bringing the Talibans to power, explain the current situation in Pakistan and Afghanistan, and makes an appeal to the American working class. Quetta, September 26, 2001.

• Signs of Things to Come
  The flag is an important symbol to many people. To many it represents all the hard work and sacrifice that has gone into building this country. But in who has benefited from all that effort? The massive income gap between the average worker and the handful of capitalists who control the vast majority of society answers that question! While the rich have gotten richer, the rest of us have seen a drop in real wages, unemployment and incarceration skyrocket, and job security and benefits disappear. In spite all the appeals for "national unity" and the calls to "rally behind the flag", many workers can already see through the lies of the ruling class. They know from their own experience that the capitalist class and working class have nothing in common! And in relation to the rest of the world, many see the flag as a symbol of US militarism and imperialism. They feel that if they are going to wave the American flag, it should be the flag of the united working class!(By David May)

• The First War of the 21st Century
  Alan Woods and Ted Grant analyse in detail the perspectives for the so-called 'war against terrorism', the effects this will have in Afghanistan, Pakistan and the Middle East, and strongly denounce the hypocrisy and double standards of Bush and US imperialism in general.

• Nationalize the Airlines!
  One week after what is being called the "attack on America" the aftershocks continue to be felt. The far-reaching effects of this recent terrorist attack are sending shockwaves not only the through the American but also the world economy. In Monday's trading stocks were down nearly across the board (with the exception of many armaments companies!) with many investors wondering how the attack will affect the bottom line. But no sector was as hard hit by the attack or on Wall Street as the airline industry.(By Sean O'Quinn)

• The Tipping Point
  Our economics correspondent, Michael Roberts, looks at the different attittude of working people and capitalists when faced with tragedy and explains how the terrorist attacks on September 11 are likely to be the tipping point which will plunge the world economy into recession.

• What Sort of Unity?
  John Peterson, from Youth for International Socialism in the US explains the mood of the American workers after the terrorist attacks, outlines the tasks of Marxists and argues against the reactionary idea of "national unity". (September 16, 2001)

• Patriotism, Fear and Panic - What's Next?
  The events of the morning of September 11th have shaken the entire world. One single terrorist attack has not only shocked masses of people out of their daily lives, it has crippled the world economy. Already, the Mayor of New York City, Rudolph Giuliani, has stated that the dead will be counted in the thousands.(David May - September 13, 2001)

• Nationalism or Socialism?
  In light of the recent events in NYC M.J. Alam examines the question of Nationalism or Socialism?(September 13, 2001)

• US Suicide Bombing - Terrorism Aids Reaction
  On Tuesday September 11, 2001 the world was shaken by news of the most devastating terrorist attack in history. Alan Woods and Ted Grant make a first urgent analysis of the events and their meaning for world politics.

• What About the Working Class?
  John Fisher in New York takes a brief look at the toll the destruction of the WTC takes on the Working Class (September 12, 2001)

• The Economic Effects of the Terrorist Attacks on the World Trade Center
  John Peterson takes an initial look at some of the potential economic effects of this unprecedented situation. In addition to the tragic loss of life, the already weak economy will come under increased strain which could push it into recession. (September 11, 2001)

• For the Workers At Windows on the World
  A short piece by someone who worked at the WTC building and participated in an organising effort there. (September 12, 2001)

Background

• The Menace of Islamic Fundamentalism and the Hypocrisy of Imperialism
  We have added to our special coverage of the crisis opened by the terrorist attacks in the US this article by Lal Khan, editor of the Pakistani Marxist magazine Class Struggle. The article, which was first published in the Asian Marxist Review in the Autumn 2000 issue, explains the origins of Islamic fundamentalism and how in modern times it has been used funded by US imperialism in an attempt to divert the masses' attention from socialism in the Arab countries and beyond. This article should be read in conjunction with Lal Khan's earlier article Fundamentalist Resurgence. Causes and Prospects (1994).

• Why Marxists Oppose Individual Terrorism
  An excellent outline of the basic reasons why Marxism and individual terrorism are not compatible. Our power is in our mass, united action against the oppressor, not in individual acts of terror which serve as an excuse for increased state repression and which alienate the masses from the cause of socialism.

• Fundamentalist Resurgence: Causes and Prospects
  The collapse of the Soviet Union has resulted in one of the most turbulent and disturbed periods in human history. Instead of being the precursor of "The end of history," capitalism is enmeshed in a crisis yet unforeseen. There is not a single region of the planet which is not engulfed in social, economic or political crisis. Capitalism on a world scale has proved to be incapable of resolving this crisis, and develop society further.As a reaction to these crises new, and some not so new, phenomenon have emerged on the political horizons of most countries. In most of the "Third world," "Islamic" countries there is the resurgence of Islamic fundamentalism. This article written in October 1994 by Lal Khan, editor of the Pakistani Marxist paper The Struggle, analyses fundamentalism, its causes, history and prospects.

• Marxism and the Struggle Against Imperialism
  It is nearly eight years since George Bush, the then president of the US, made his famous "New World Order" speech. This was in 1991. In the build-up to the Gulf War the main imperialist power on earth promised a world without wars, without dictatorships and, of course, a world firmly under the control of a single all-powerful world policeman--the US. After the fall of Stalinism, US imperialism really thought that the world would be firmly under their command and they would be able to dictate the destiny of each and every country. All conflicts in the world were to be solved through dialogue in a kind of "Pax Americana." Now all these dreams have been reduced to rubble. In this document Ted Grant and Alan Woods make an in-depth analysis of the history of the imperialist domination of the Third World and the way forward. Written in June 1998.