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I think socialists really need to reflect on the direction the colonial revolution has taken over the years, because Ortega is not some lone exception. In Zimbabwe, Mugabe led a left wing guerrilla struggle against colonialism and racism for years, and look at where he ended up. We have the ANC in South Africa, which is in a similar situation. Even Assad: Yes, he inherited the throne from his right wing father, but consider the longer term history. It all comes from the Ba'ath Party which had a left wing anti-colonialist element to it. How has the colonial revolution degenerated so much? Isn't what we're seeing visible proof of the theory of permanent revolution? After all, the leadership of none of these revolutions linked the colonial revolution with the overthrow of capitalism itself. As for the confusion of the protesters: In Iran a wing of the protesters there today is monarchists, calling for a return to the old Pahlevi dynasty. Does that mean we should reject the protests? And in Syria, "socialism" is reported to be widely discredited exactly because it's associated with Assad. With the collapse of the socialist movement, with the extreme weakening of the working class traditions all around the world, confusion is inevitable in any new movement. Just because some right wing ideas infiltrate the movement doesn't mean that we should not support protests against a repressive, pro-capitalist and corrupt regime. John Reimann -- *“In politics, abstract terms conceal treachery.” *from "The Black Jacobins" by C. L. R. James Check out:https:http://oaklandsocialist.com also on Facebook _________________________________________________________ Full posting guidelines at: http://www.marxmail.org/sub.htm Set your options at: http://lists.csbs.utah.edu/options/marxism/archive%40mail-archive.com
