Re: Re: US-UK split now public
At 02/07/02 10:02 -0400, Proyect wrote: Burford: What is so significant about this split over immunity of allied occupation forces in Bosnia from potential prosecution by the new International Criminal Court, which the US refuses to recognise, is that this is a split in the position of bodies of armed men in relation to international law. There is nothing particularly new about this. The European powers tend to be less barbaric than the USA. During Reagan's war against Nicaragua, they endorsed the verdict of the World Court that the US broke international law when it mined the harbors of Managua. They also tended to be critical of the war in Vietnam. However, this has little to do with armed men in relation to international law. The USA and Europe play hard cop and soft cop respectively to the 3rd world. Take Nicaragua for example. While the USA organized killings and economic blockade to make the FSLN cry uncle, the Europeans were putting pressure on them to abandon their socialist perspectives. I agree with the broad description of hard cop and soft cop. These are two types of imperialist policies that relate to the different political and economic strengths of Europe and the USA. But Blair can no longer always bridge that contradiction. And I assert there is indeed something new in world history and even more important, about this. Global juridical forms are being created in front of our eyes. These are important components of a future world state in creation. The USA and Europe are in contention about which model is to prevail. The result will be determined by the resultant of forces. My prediction is that the European model will prevail over the next decade at the latest. It will do so by small consensual advances. The US-Bush first-strike model will magnify the effect of the USA's overwhelming military advantage but it will get bogged down in complaints about bombing weddings. Its imperialist rivals do not have to confront it directly in order to defeat it. They can gossip and outmanoeuvre. It is important we grasp what is new in this: in the course of this contradiction, indeed dialectically, a world state is being created. (in the interests of course, of imperialism) Chris Burford London
US-UK split now public
For the first time Tony Blair has publically split with Bush and voted with Europe. Europe seethes as defiant US goes its own way White House threat to pull out of UN peacekeeping the latest in a series of quarrels shaking transatlantic alliance Richard Norton-Taylor, Ewen MacAskill, and Ian Black in Brussels Tuesday July 2, 2002 The Guardian America's European allies expressed deep regret yesterday over US threats to pull out of UN peacekeeping operations, the latest in a string of disputes shaking the transatlantic alliance. The Bush administration said it would not budge in its opposition to the new international criminal court, which was created yesterday. Threatening to block a renewed mandate for the Bosnian peacekeeping force, it argues that the ICC could be a forum for politically motivated actions against its troops serving overseas. http://www.guardian.co.uk/bush/story/0,7369,747743,00.html On Sunday the Telgraph featured a major story about UK government criticisms of Bush. One unattributed but no doubt senior spokesperson is quoted as saying words to the effect of you have got to remember that this is a rather unpleasant administration - the fact that we generally try to support it does not change that fact. There are also criticisms of blundering US military tactics. Although the Conservative Party has not signalled agreement, it has not rushed to the defence of Bush, and the article placed with th e Telegraph will have its effect on Conservative thinking. Prominent members of the Liberal party are dissociating themselves from the US strategy, and giving cover and support to the British government. Hugo Young, a significant figure close to the thinking of New Labour, has a contemptuous article about the Bush strategy also in today's Guardian. http://www.guardian.co.uk/bush/story/0,7369,747744,00.html The tide of estrangement from Bush's US across the political arena in the UK cannot be over-estimated, and is beginning to counterbalance the caution shown towards Europe. What is so significant about this split over immunity of allied occupation forces in Bosnia from potential prosecution by the new International Criminal Court, which the US refuses to recognise, is that this is a split in the position of bodies of armed men in relation to international law. The Europeans will take over the armed forces in the Balkans entirely, while the Bush administration increasingly asserts the right to first stike options by its forces anywhere and at any time to defend itself and its values against terrorism. This is a significant moment at which Britain is falling in with Europe politically, juridically, and financially. The impending global econmic crisis no doubt concentrates everyones minds. There will not be an immediate war. (see Hari Kumar's question) But we could be only a few years away from the time when armed forces of Europe and armed forces of the USA find themselves in the same area of the world, not even as *nominal* allies. Chris Burford London
Re: US-UK split now public
Burford: What is so significant about this split over immunity of allied occupation forces in Bosnia from potential prosecution by the new International Criminal Court, which the US refuses to recognise, is that this is a split in the position of bodies of armed men in relation to international law. There is nothing particularly new about this. The European powers tend to be less barbaric than the USA. During Reagan's war against Nicaragua, they endorsed the verdict of the World Court that the US broke international law when it mined the harbors of Managua. They also tended to be critical of the war in Vietnam. However, this has little to do with armed men in relation to international law. The USA and Europe play hard cop and soft cop respectively to the 3rd world. Take Nicaragua for example. While the USA organized killings and economic blockade to make the FSLN cry uncle, the Europeans were putting pressure on them to abandon their socialist perspectives. Louis Proyect Marxism mailing list: http://www.marxmail.org
