[Marxism] Geopolitics of Syrian Kurds and military cooperation with the US

[Chris Slee via Marxism]

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http://links.org.au/geopolitics-syria-kurds-military-cooperation-united-states

This article explains the reasons for the military cooperation between the US 
and the Syrian Democratic Forces against the "Islamic State", and the limits of 
that cooperation.

The translation is imperfect, but in most cases the meaning is clear.

*

"The YPG/YPJ are the defense forces of Rojava where the Movement for a 
Democratic Society (TEV-DEM) has started a revolutionary process in 
2011TEV-DEM organized in a strong way the Kurdish society, and became the 
biggest political force in Rojava within a short time and together with the YPG 
liberated territories of Rojava starting in Kobani on July 19, 2012

"Shortly after the liberation of most parts of Rojava the Turkish state 
pressured reactionary-chauvinist-jihadist organizations in Syria to militarily 
attack Rojava. The attacks started in November 2012 in Serêkaniye and continued 
in the summer of 2013 when IS (at that time named ISIS/ISIL), Al-Nusra and some 
units of the FSA started a big campaign against Cizîre and Afrîn. All have been 
defeated successfully. There was not any critic[ism] or action by any regional 
or international government against these attacks. Rojava was not part of their 
future plans for Syria

"While in spring 2014 there seemed to be a certain balance in and around 
Rojava, everything changed when the IS took over Mosul in one night on June 8, 
2014 and became a very strong military and ideological power. With the urging 
of the Turkish government, IS started a huge offensive in mid-September 2014 
against Kobani

"Since September 14, 2014 IS was advancing towards Kobanî city with a 
technically superior force, but not as fast as planned and with some serious 
losses. On October 6, 2014 mass protests started in all cities of Bakur 
[Turkish Kurdistan], in the big cities of Turkey and in hundreds of cities in 
Europe and other parts of the world in solidarity with the people of Kobanî and 
against its siege by IS and the support of the Turkish government for IS. In 
Bakur, the Turkish police forces attacked the protesting population and killed 
around 40. Also in the other parts of Kurdistan mass demonstrations were 
happening. Never before in history had so many Kurds in all four parts of 
Kurdistan and in each region risen up together! In Europe, almost all major 
cities were full of daily protests. The world press was already covering the 
war in Kobanî for around two weeks, and had sent journalists to the Turkish 
side of the border to Kobanî. Nearby, tens of thousands were protesting 
continuously the blockade of the border to Kobanî by the Turkish government. 
International media was reporting daily from the border of Kobanî how IS was 
approaching the city which became world famous within two weeks

"It was in this context that when IS entered Kobanî city, the US decided to 
bomb IS from the air. It is worth remembering that just one week before that 
the US Minister for Foreign Affairs, John Kerry, declared that they do not see 
any hope to defend Kobanî. However, in this one week much had happened as 
described above. It can be said that if the US did not support the Kurds in 
Kobanî, it would have faced strong and long lasting criticism by the 
international press, as well as by the world public opinion including the Kurds 
and other peoples in the Middle East

"The fight against the IS is an essential (official) interest of the US in 
their international policies, particularly [after] it took over Mosul in June 
2014. As the KFM [Kurdish Freedom Movement] was resisting the attacks of the IS 
quite successfully, in the special conditions of the summer and fall of 2014 
there was a coincidence of short-term interestsThe military cooperation 
between SDF and US can be compared with the military cooperation of the US and 
the Soviet Union against the Hitler fascism between 1941 and 1945

"This military engagement was done also with the interest to limit the 
influence of Iran in Iraq which increased especially in the years after the 
retreat of the US from Iraq in 2011

"A further reason was to limit the new policy of the Turkish state which aims 
to become a regional power with imperialist characteristics and less 
connections to the NATO

"The cooperation is military, not political

"The efforts to build up communes everywhere never ceased after the start of 
the military cooperation with the US; rather the number of communes doubled. 
Also the creation of cooperatives continued; while in fall 2014 the number of 
cooperatives was around several dozen, today there are a

Re: [Marxism] Volume 2 John Percy's History of the Australian Socialist Workers Party

[Chris Slee via Marxism]

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Do I get a mention?

Chris Slee

From: Marxism  on behalf of David Fagan 
via Marxism 
Sent: Tuesday, 19 December 2017 2:30:53 PM
To: Chris Slee
Subject: Re: [Marxism] Volume 2 John Percy's History of the Australian 
Socialist Workers Party

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Hi Gary,

I have just noticed that sneaky ole Gwynnyth gets more than one mention in
the index:  several as G. Farr and then as Evans.  Strangely even though I
am indexed you are not, despite our appearance in the same paragraph -- go
figure!

D

-Original Message-
From: Gary MacLennan [mailto:gary.maclenn...@gmail.com]
Sent: Tuesday, December 19, 2017 11:36
To: David Fagan ; Activists and scholars in Marxist
tradition 
Subject: Re: [Marxism] Volume 2 John Percy's History of the Australian
Socialist Workers Party

Hi David

That is a blast from the past. The fusion! It was of course a cynical
takeover but that is so long ago now.

Am hoping for great things from the UK when the Tory government finally
falls.

As ever

Gary





Sent from my iPad

> On 19 Dec 2017, at 8:23 am, David Fagan via Marxism
 wrote:
>
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>
> Hi Gary,
>
>
>
> I have only just managed to get a copy of this volume.  We are both
> mentioned in the same para as opposing the Socialist Workers
> League/Communist League fusion, along with Gwynnyth.  Percy (or
> Meyers) misspelled Gwynnyth's first name though I am sure that are
> guilty of many more serious crimes than that in their quest to "build
> the revolutionary party."  No pictures unfortunately.
>
> Dave Fagan
>
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Re: [Marxism] Volume 2 John Percy's History of the Australian Socialist Workers Party

[Chris Slee via Marxism]

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Eight mentions!  I'm famous!

I was expecting to be mentioned at least once, since Allen Myers had contacted 
me to get some info about a minority tendency within the DSP that I was part of 
in 1978.  But 8 mentions is a surprise.  I will have to get the book.

Chris Slee


From: David Fagan 
Sent: Tuesday, 19 December 2017 3:38:18 PM
To: 'Chris Slee'; 'Activists and scholars in Marxist tradition'
Subject: RE: [Marxism] Volume 2 John Percy's History of the Australian 
Socialist Workers Party

Hi Chris,

As per the index – bingo!  You have eight mentions, however you could – we all 
could – have considerably more as the Index hasn’t been very well researched.  
I found another reference to myself that is not indexed (admittedly it was a 
reference to my surname only but it shouldn’t take too much to work out that 
perhaps “Dave Fagan” and “Fagan” are the same person).   I can only imagine 
that many more are there just waiting for us to turn the page.

From: Chris Slee [mailto:chris_w_s...@hotmail.com]
Sent: Tuesday, December 19, 2017 15:29
To: David Fagan ; Activists and scholars in Marxist 
tradition 
Subject: Re: [Marxism] Volume 2 John Percy's History of the Australian 
Socialist Workers Party

Do I get a mention?

Chris Slee

From: Marxism 
mailto:marxism-boun...@lists.csbs.utah.edu>>
 on behalf of David Fagan via Marxism 
mailto:marxism@lists.csbs.utah.edu>>
Sent: Tuesday, 19 December 2017 2:30:53 PM
To: Chris Slee
Subject: Re: [Marxism] Volume 2 John Percy's History of the Australian 
Socialist Workers Party

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Hi Gary,

I have just noticed that sneaky ole Gwynnyth gets more than one mention in
the index:  several as G. Farr and then as Evans.  Strangely even though I
am indexed you are not, despite our appearance in the same paragraph -- go
figure!

D

-Original Message-
From: Gary MacLennan [mailto:gary.maclenn...@gmail.com]
Sent: Tuesday, December 19, 2017 11:36
To: David Fagan mailto:dfag...@gmail.com>>; Activists and 
scholars in Marxist
tradition mailto:marxism@lists.csbs.utah.edu>>
Subject: Re: [Marxism] Volume 2 John Percy's History of the Australian
Socialist Workers Party

Hi David

That is a blast from the past. The fusion! It was of course a cynical
takeover but that is so long ago now.

Am hoping for great things from the UK when the Tory government finally
falls.

As ever

Gary





Sent from my iPad

> On 19 Dec 2017, at 8:23 am, David Fagan via Marxism
mailto:marxism@lists.csbs.utah.edu>> wrote:
>
>   POSTING RULES & NOTES  
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>
> Hi Gary,
>
>
>
> I have only just managed to get a copy of this volume.  We are both
> mentioned in the same para as opposing the Socialist Workers
> League/Communist League fusion, along with Gwynnyth.  Percy (or
> Meyers) misspelled Gwynnyth's first name though I am sure that are
> guilty of many more serious crimes than that in their quest to "build
> the revolutionary party."  No pictures unfortunately.
>
> Dave Fagan
>
> _
> Full posting guidelines at: http://www.marxmail.org/sub.htm Set your
> options at:
http://lists.csbs.utah.edu/options/marxism/gary.maclennan1%40gmail.com

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Re: [Marxism] Volume 2 John Percy's History of the Australian Socialist Workers Party

[Chris Slee via Marxism]

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I suspect that Stuart is jealous because, unlike me, he didn't get eight 
mentions in the book.

***

On a more serious note, I will read the book because I am interested in the 
history of the SWP/DSP, a group that I was part of for several decades.  I 
expect to disagree with some of John Percy's and/or Allen Myers' opinions, but 
that's OK.

It will be an opportunity to be reminded of what the DSP said and did at 
various stages in its development.  This may prompt some reconsideration of 
what we got right, and what mistakes we made.

Nobody has yet demonstrated in practice that they have the complete answer on 
how to  make a socialist revolution in an advanced capitalist country.  Looking 
at past attempts to build a socialist party may be useful in clarifying our 
ideas.

Chris Slee


From: Marxism  on behalf of Stuart 
Munckton via Marxism 
Sent: Tuesday, 19 December 2017 9:45:30 PM
To: Chris Slee
Subject: Re: [Marxism] Volume 2 John Percy's History of the Australian 
Socialist Workers Party

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Anyone who made it thru volume one deserved a medal. Anyone who makes it
thru volume two needs an intervention.


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[Marxism] Protests continue in Iran: “End dictatorship!”

[Chris Slee via Marxism]

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Protests continue in Iran: “End dictatorship!”:



https://anfenglish.com/news/protests-continue-in-iran-end-dictatorship-23936



PJAK calls on peoples of Iran to fight and stand together:



https://anfenglish.com/kurdistan/pjak-calls-on-peoples-of-iran-to-fight-and-stand-together-23940

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Re: [Marxism] Protests continue in Iran: “End dictatorship!”

[Chris Slee via Marxism]

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I don't have a detailed knowledge of what is happening, but I believe the 
protests began over economic issues such as price rises and unemployment, then 
developed into a broader rejection of the regime.  In some cases people have 
linked the economic issues to Iran's foreign interventions such as in Syria - 
see link below.  How widespread this is I don't know.


Chris Slee


https://anfenglish.com/news/protestors-chant-death-to-dictatorship-in-iran-and-rojhilat-23927




From: A.R. G 
Sent: Sunday, 31 December 2017 2:13 PM
To: Chris Slee; Activists and scholars in Marxist tradition
Subject: Re: [Marxism] Protests continue in Iran: “End dictatorship!”

Is there a specific issue that they are protesting around, and/or a specific 
program behind the protests? What is motivating this, specifically?

- Amith

On Sat, Dec 30, 2017 at 9:32 PM, Chris Slee via Marxism 
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Protests continue in Iran: “End dictatorship!”:



https://anfenglish.com/news/protests-continue-in-iran-end-dictatorship-23936



PJAK calls on peoples of Iran to fight and stand together:



https://anfenglish.com/kurdistan/pjak-calls-on-peoples-of-iran-to-fight-and-stand-together-23940

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Re: [Marxism] On the new Cold War between Saudi Arabia and Iran

[Chris Slee via Marxism]

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Yossi Schwartz of the Revolutionary Communist International Tendency explains 
the RCIT's approach towards the "Islamic State" as follows:

"In the battle between ISIL and the imperialists, we took the side of ISIL as 
the imperialists are the worst enemy.  However, when ISIL attacked the Kurds 
when the Kurds defended their enclaves, we took the side of the Kurds.  When 
the Kurds and others served the American imperialists, in the battle of Raqqa, 
we stood with ISIL without giving them any political support.  Yes, ISIL is a 
very reactionary organization, but the main enemy are the imperialist butchers 
and their servants".

The RCIT's shift from supporting "the Kurds" against ISIL to supporting ISIL 
against "the Kurds and others" (i.e. the Syrian Democratic Forces) indicates 
political confusion.

Schwartz claims that in the battle for Raqqa "the Kurds and others served the 
American imperialists".  But the fact that the SDF have a military alliance 
with the US against ISIL does not mean they are "serving" the US.  It just 
means that, for the time being, they are working together against a common 
enemy. 

This cooperation began when ISIL was on the offensive, with Kobani under siege. 
 It continues because both the US and the SDF, each for their own reasons, want 
to crush ISIL.

The SDF want to liberate the people who are living under ISIL's brutal rule, 
which is particularly oppressive to women and religious minorities.

Schwartz speaks of "the battle between ISIL and the imperialists".  But ISIL 
has an alliance with Turkey, a state that is increasingly acting like an 
imperialist power.  Some indicators of Turkey's imperialist character include:

1. Turkish capital has extensive investments in other Middle Eastern countries 
(including Iraqi Kurdistan).

2. Turkish troops have invaded northern Syria and Iraqi Kurdistan.

3. Turkey has a military base in Qatar.

4. There is a semi-colonial relationship between Turkey and Iraqi Kurdistan.  
Turkey buys oil from the Kurdistan Regional Government.  In return, the KRG is 
politically subservient to Turkey.  It allows Turkish troops to enter Iraqi 
Kurdistan and Turkish planes to bomb areas where the PKK is said to be present.

5. Turkey uses some Syrian rebel groups as pawns in its war against the 
Democratic Federation of Northern Syria (DFNS).  For example, some of these 
groups were withdrawn from the battle fronts against the Assad regime in 2016 
in preparation for their participation in Turkey's invasion of northern Syria. 
This contributed to Assad's capture of eastern Aleppo later in that year.

ISIL has until recently been Turkey's main proxy in the war against the DFNS.  
Turkey bought oil from ISIL, helping it to fund its administration and pay its 
fighters relatively well.  Turkey has also supplied weapons to ISIL and 
collaborated in attacks on the DFNS.

The decline of ISIL has forced Turkey to send its own troops into Syria, and to 
rely more heavily on other proxy forces.

Pressure from the US has also forced Turkey to pretend that it is fighting 
against ISIL.  When Turkey sent troops into northern Syria in August 2016, the 
invasion was said to be directed against both the SDF and ISIL.

In reality, Turkey's invasion was essentially directed against the SDF.  It 
came shortly after the SDF had captured Manbij from ISIL.  Turkey's goal was to 
prevent the SDF from capturing other ISIL-held areas in the north of Aleppo 
province, including the towns of Jarablus and al-Bab.  Turkey also hoped to 
drive the SDF out of Manbij.

Initially ISIL offered little or no resistance to the entry of Turkish troops 
into ISIL-controlled territory at Jarablus.  It appeared that there was a deal 
whereby ISIL would withdraw from the border region, handing it over to Turkey.

However, it seems there was disagreement on how far ISIL would have to 
withdraw, leading to serious armed conflict between Turkey and ISIL at al-Bab.

Turkey wanted to control al-Bab with its own forces, presumably because it was 
not confident that ISIL could resist the SDF's advances in the area.  Control 
of the region between al-Bab and Jarablus enables Turkey to block the SDF from 
linking Afrin to the rest of the DFNS.

Once ISIL agreed to leave al-Bab, the alliance between ISIL and Turkey resumed. 
 Turkey attacked the DFNS from the north in an attempt to divert the SDF away 
from its advance on Raqqa.  This was unsuccessful, but Turkey continues to 
attack the DFNS.

Given that ISIL is not just socially reactionary but also an ally of Turkish 
imperialism, there is no reason to support it against the socially progressive 
SDF.

Chris Slee



___

Re: [Marxism] statements on Iran

[Chris Slee via Marxism]

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Statements by the International Alliance in Support of Workers in Iran, the 
Tudeh Party, and
the Frieda Afari:


https://www.greenleft.org.au/content/iran-rocked-mass-anti-regime-protests-fuelled-poverty




From: Marxism  on behalf of Andrew Pollack 
via Marxism 
Sent: Thursday, 4 January 2018 7:30 AM
To: Chris Slee
Subject: [Marxism] statements on Iran

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Some statements:

LeftEast has published “Reflections on the Growing Anti-Regime Protests in
Iran” by Frieda Afary (already on this list from other sources, including
the Alliance of Middle East Socialists (AMES)

http://www.criticatac.ro/lefteast/jan18_protests_iran/



The Socialist Project’s “Bullet” reprinted three statements: by the
International Alliance in Support of Workers in Iran, the Tudeh Party, and
the AMES


James Bloodworth: “Why have left wingers greeted the Iran protests with
miserable silence”

http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/why-have-left-wingers-greeted-iran-protests-miserable-silence-1653446




PSL has a predictable piece – with the ominous claim that anyone with arms
opposing the state must be a spy or some other kind of
counterrevolutionary. I.e., go ahead and shoot them down:

https://www.liberationnews.org/what-to-make-of-irans-demonstrations/
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[Marxism] Resistance continues despite pro-regime demonstrations (ANF)

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https://anfenglish.com/news/resistance-continues-despite-pro-regime-demonstrations-24021/

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[Marxism] The protests continue in Iran and Rojhilat

[Chris Slee via Marxism]

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The protests continue in Iran and Rojhilat



https://anfenglish.com/news/the-protests-continue-in-iran-and-rojhilat-24123


Iranian forces attack people demanding release of protesters

https://anfenglish.com/news/iranian-forces-attack-people-demanding-release-of-protesters-24120



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[Marxism] [UCE] Raqqan women step into freedom from slavery (ANF)

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Raqqan women step into freedom from slavery



https://anfenglish.com/women/raqqan-women-step-into-freedom-from-slavery-24147



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[Marxism] Turkish aggression in Iraq and Syria

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Turkey has recently stepped up its intervention in Iraq and Syria.

Turkey now has about 40 bases in the predominantly Kurdish north of Iraq, and 
regularly attacks areas where the PKK and its allies are present.

In Syria, Turkey and its proxies, including HTS (the former Jabhat al-Nusra), 
regularly carry out small acale attacks (e.g. mortar bombardments) on the 
Democratic Federation of Northern Syria.

Erdogan has made speeches that suggest he is preparing for a large scale 
invasion of the Afrin area, which is cut off from the rest of the DFNS and 
largely surrounded by Turkey and Turkish-occupied areas.

Chris Slee

***

  1.  Turkish intervention in Iraq:

PUK MP: There are some 40 Turkish military bases in Iraq:

https://anfenglish.com/news/puk-mp-there-are-some-40-turkish-military-bases-in-iraq-24176

The Guerrilla resists with spirit of sacrifice:


https://anfenglish.com/kurdistan/the-guerrilla-resists-with-spirit-of-sacrifice-24171


 ***

2. Turkish intervention in Syria

Erdogan threatens Afrin with military operation

https://anfenglish.com/rojava/erdogan-threatens-afrin-with-military-operation-within-a-week-24168

Turkish army and Al-Qaeda in action after Erdogan’s orders


https://anfenglish.com/rojava/turkish-army-and-al-qaida-in-action-after-erdogan-s-orders-24180


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[Marxism] TEV-DEM: People of Syria should stand against Turkish invasion

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TEV-DEM: People of Syria should stand against Turkish invasion

https://anfenglish.com/rojava/tev-dem-people-of-syria-should-stand-against-turkish-invasion-24235

Turkish army attacks villages of Afrin

https://anfenglish.com/rojava/turkish-army-attacks-villages-of-afrin-24238

People of Afrin line up to get arms to defend their land


https://anfenglish.com/rojava/people-of-afrin-line-up-to-get-arms-to-defend-their-land-24233




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[Marxism] Russia approved, Turkey attacked Afrin with 69 jets (ANF)

[Chris Slee via Marxism]

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https://anfenglish.com/news/russia-approved-turkey-attacked-afrin-with-69-jets-24301/

The article refers to an "Afrin-Idlib bargain".  This refers to a deal whereby 
Turkey is allowed to invade Afrin in return for Assad being allowed to 
recapture Idlib, currently held by Turkish-backed rebels.

This follows the 2016 deal where Turkey was allowed to invade parts of Aleppo 
province, including Jarablus and al-Bab, in return for withdrawing some 
Turkish-backed groups from Aleppo city and elsewhere, enabling Assad to capture 
these areas.

Chris Slee
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Re: [Marxism] Northern Syria: Massive ethnic cleansing, humanitarian catastrophe, foreign intervention and betrayal

[Chris Slee via Marxism]

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Michael Karadjis condemns the participation of some Syrian rebels in Turkey's 
invasion of Afrin.  He gives various reasons why they are doing it - for 
example:  "For some, it may be revenge for what the YPG did two years ago..."

But he misses the main reason: the cooption of some rebel groups by the Turkish 
state.  

An article by Loubna Mrie explains the cooption process (without using that 
term) as follows:

"We cannot understand the root causes of such divisions without looking closely 
at the proxy powers and their funding of Sunni Arab rebel forces. Turkey, which 
has long backed the FSA, is the chief country through which support has been 
channelled. Unfortunately, Turkey's suppression of its own Kurds has coloured 
the way it views Syrian Kurds, and thus has aggravated ethnic divisions in 
Syria.

"Because the Syrian opposition desperately needs Turkey's support, it has been 
compelled to embrace Ankara's stance - which is sometimes at odds with the 
greater good of the Syrian people.

"One of the Syrian opposition's greatest mistakes was to buckle to Turkish 
pressure and exclude the Kurdish opposition from the Syrian National Council 
(SNC). This, in turn, led to the political under-representation of Kurds, even 
though there was a robust Kurdish political opposition that was eager to join 
the SNC. 

"It is very important to note here that Turkey was not only supporting the 
armed opposition, but was also the only country that offered a safe space for 
the Syrian political opposition to meet. This dynamic forced the Syrian 
opposition to give up on a Kurdish role in the political opposition, or rather, 
to turn a blind eye to the Kurdish struggle because they did not want to risk 
their relationship with Turkey. 

"In effect, Turkey played a major role in widening Arab-Kurd divisions."

https://www.alaraby.co.uk/english/comment/2017/8/22/the-demise-of-arab-kurdish-solidarity-in-syria/

(The New Arab, 22 August 2017)

The cooption of many rebel groups by Turkey meant that most Kurds viewed the 
rebel movement with suspicion.

The revolutionary movement in Rojava, led by the PYD, remained separate from 
both the Assad regime and the Turkish-backed rebels.  The PYD's initial policy 
was to avoid armed conflict if possible, but to fight back if attacked.  

Mrie notes that Kurdish areas were attacked by several groups:

"The Islamic State group, Ahrar al-Sham, some FSA groups, the Nusra Front and 
HTS/al-Qaeda etc all also played an important role in this division. They all 
attacked liberated Kurdish areas as part of a cynical strategy to gain control 
of oil fields. 

"Whenever these groups took control of a Kurdish area, they tried to impose 
their rules and ideology on Kurdish society. They started asking women to cover 
their head, targeted Christians, and even burned churches in cities like Ras 
al-Ayn."

This history of attacks by Turkish-backed groups helps explain why the Syrian 
Democratic Forces went on the offensive against such groups in early 2016.  

Probably also the escalation of Erdogan's war against Turkey's own Kurdish 
population, and against democratic rights in Turkey, heightened the fear of 
Turkey - and of Turkish-backed groups - amongst Syrian Kurds and other 
supporters of the Rojava revolution.

Another factor was growing Arab support for the SDF. The SDF grew out of an 
alliance between the mainly Kurdish YPG/YPJ and the mainly Arab Jaysh 
al-Thuwar, many of whose members were survivors of attacks by Jabhat al-Nusra 
against other rebel groups such as the Syrian Revolutionaries Front.

The growing Arab participation in the SDF provided additional motivation for 
the SDF to advance into predominantly Arab areas. For many Arab SDF fighters, 
it would have been an opportunity to liberate their home towns from the 
oppressive rule of groups such as Nusra.

The 2016 SDF offensive coincided with the Russian-backed Assad regime 
offensive.  If, as Michael claims, there was collaboration between the SDF and 
the Russian air force, that was a response to the situation created by Turkey's 
policy.  The SDF saw Turkey as the biggest threat, and Russia as a potential 
ally in countering this threat (even if it was an unreliable ally and a 
potential enemy).

Chris Slee



From: Marxism  on behalf of mkaradjis . 
via Marxism 
Sent: Tuesday, 23 January 2018 1:29:58 AM
To: Chris Slee
Subject: [Marxism] Northern Syria: Massive ethnic cleansing, humanitarian 
catastrophe, foreign intervention and betrayal

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Re: [Marxism] Northern Syria: Massive ethnic cleansing, humanitarian catastrophe, foreign intervention and betrayal

[Chris Slee via Marxism]

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I quoted Loubna Mrie's article because it gave a good account of the process of 
Turkey coopting rebel groups.


I disagree with some other points in the article.


- I disagree with Mrie's interpretation of what happened in Rojava in July 
2012.  In fact there was a largely peaceful uprising in Kurdish areas.  People 
surrounded military posts and called on the soldiers to surrender, which in 
most cases they did.  (See Revolution in Rojava, by Michael Knapp, Anja Flach 
and Ercan Ayboga, Pluto Press, 2016, p. 54-56)

The Assad regime, with its hands full elsewhere, accepted this as a fait 
accompli for the time being, though making it clear it wanted to eventually 
regain control of the Kurdish areas.


- Regarding events in Aleppo city in 2016, the conflict between the SDF and 
Turkish-backed rebels in Aleppo had a long history.  See for example the 
Amnesty International report entitled "Syria: Armed opposition groups 
committing war crimes in Aleppo city":


https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2016/05/syria-armed-opposition-groups-committing-war-crimes-in-aleppo-city/


Chris Slee





From: Marxism  on behalf of Louis Proyect 
via Marxism 
Sent: Wednesday, 24 January 2018 12:41 PM
To: Chris Slee
Subject: Re: [Marxism] Northern Syria: Massive ethnic cleansing, humanitarian 
catastrophe, foreign intervention and betrayal

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On 1/23/18 8:12 PM, Chris Slee via Marxism wrote:
> An article by Loubna Mrie explains the cooption process (without using that 
> term) as follows:

You have the AUDACITY to quite Mrie's article, one that states:

The Democratic Union Party (PYD) which currently controls several
Kurdish areas never supported the revolution. In July 2012, it reached
an agreement with the regime to consolidate control over its territories
in return for rejecting the opposition. It later physically fought FSA
units.

Revolutionary Kurdish forces such as those in East Aleppo also turned on
the FSA. By the end of 2016, Kurdish militias were actively helping the
Damascus regime reconquer East Aleppo.
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Re: [Marxism] [Critical-Syria] Re: Fwd: In blow to Trump, Syrian Kurds call on al-Assad to Save them from Turkey | Informed Comment

[Chris Slee via Marxism]

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Here is the text of the statement by the Afrin canton Democratic Autonomous 
Administration:

https://anfenglish.com/rojava/statement-from-afrin-canton-democratic-autonomous-administration-24464/

The statement indicates that Afrin relies primarily on its own defence forces:

"We confirm once again that we will resist these barbaric attacks against Afrin 
and stand against Turkey's attempts to invade the Afrin region".

But the Afrin administration would also like help from the Syrian state, and 
tries to shame the Assad regime into providing it:

"We expect the Syrian state to fulfill its responsibilities and protect Afrin 
and its own borders from Turkey.  We remind Syria of its responsibility that it 
has not fulfilled despite having made an official statement on the matter...".

It is unclear from this statement what sort of help the Afrin administration 
wants.  To me, the most obvious thing would be for Syria to warn Turkey that 
its aircraft entering Syrian airspace to attack Afrin will be shot down.

Given that Assad has a deal with Erdogan whereby Turkey can invade Afrin while 
Assad has a free hand in Idlib, the prospects of Assad helping Afrin are not 
good.  But perhaps the Afrin administration think it is worth a try.

Chris Slee


From: Marxism  on behalf of Louis Proyect 
via Marxism 
Sent: Saturday, 27 January 2018 8:47:10 AM
To: Chris Slee
Subject: Re: [Marxism] [Critical-Syria] Re: Fwd: In blow to Trump, Syrian Kurds 
call on al-Assad to Save them from Turkey | Informed Comment

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On 1/26/18 4:37 PM, Nick Fredman via Marxism wrote:
> The veracity of this report, is a bit unclear. Note previous reports of
> secret deals to hand over Manbij and Raqqa to the regime have proved to be
> completely false.

Yes, we understand that the PYD is opposed to anybody taking Afrin away
from their control but the issue seems to be it urging Assad to repel
the Turks. After all, the Kurds have shown themselves extremely capable
of applying realpolitik to their strategic interests.
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Re: [Marxism] Fwd: In blow to Trump, Syrian Kurds call on al-Assad to Save them from Turkey | Informed Comment

[Chris Slee via Marxism]

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The PYD has always said its aim is not an independent Kurdish state, but 
autonomy within a democratic Syria, with linguistic and cultural rights for 
Kurds and other minorities.

Thus when the Afrin administration says that Afrin is "part of Syria", that is 
nothing new.

The statement aims at exposing the Assad regime's failure to defend Syria's 
"territorial integrity" against the Turkish invasion.  If the statement has the 
effect of prodding the regime into taking some action against the invasion 
(e.g. threatening to shoot down Turkish military aircraft entering Syrian 
airspace), that will help the defenders of Afrin.  In the (more likely) event 
that Assad continues to allow the invasion to go unchallenged, it might lead to 
questioning of his credentials as a defender of Syria.

John Reimann claims that "the Kurdish leaders...accept that the central Syrian 
government - meaning Assad - has final say about what is and is not allowed in 
Afrin.  And they all agree that a powerful anti-Assad movement will be 
prohibited".

In fact the Kurdish and other leaders of the Democratic Federation of Northern 
Syria want the "central Syrian government" to be democratised so that it is no 
longer the dictatorship of Assad.  

But the question is: what sort of movement is needed to bring democracy?  Being 
"anti-Assad" is not sufficient.  Some "anti-Assad" groups are religious 
sectarians and/or ethnic chauvinists.  Some have been coopted into Turkey's war 
on the DFNS.

Democracy can only be created by a multi-ethnic and multi-religious movement 
that can win the support of those Syrians - particularly the religious 
minorities - who currently view Assad as the lesser evil.

Chris Slee


From: Marxism  on behalf of John Reimann 
via Marxism 
Sent: Sunday, 28 January 2018 2:06:52 AM
To: Chris Slee
Subject: Re: [Marxism] Fwd: In blow to Trump, Syrian Kurds call on al-Assad to 
Save them from Turkey | Informed Comment

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thank you, Chris Slee, for giving the complete statement from the Afrin
administration. One thing upon which we all agree, I think, is that the
Kurdish leaders are not stupid or ignorant when it comes to realpolitik.
They must know perfectly well that inviting Assad to intervene will not
stop there. They also must know perfectly well what all their stress on the
region being "part of Syria" and about "Syria's territorial integrity"
means. It means that in the end, despite all the silliness of
decentralization, they accept that the central Syrian government - meaning
Assad - has final say about what is and is not allowed in Afrin. And they
all agree that a powerful anti-Assad movement will be prohibited.

Basically, they are trying to make a deal with Assad: "Let us administer
this region and we will insure that nothing is done to destabilize your
position. Meanwhile, we expect you to step in and protect us from Erdogan."
This shows the limits of their whole strategy. They want some form of
independence (yes, they do) within the limits of capitalism. They are
trying to build a Kurdish rights movement in isolation from all the other
movements around them such as the Arab Spring and what came of it, workers'
strikes in Turkey and Iran. Or put it another way: Just like all such
movements, they need allies. The question is whether they will seek allies
in the working class struggles of the region or from one capitalist regime
or another. Time and again they have sought the latter and time and again
they have been "betrayed". I put that in quotes, because when a lion chases
off a leopard in order to kill and feast on an antelope, that antelope
wasn't betrayed. It was simply a matter of which killer gets to reap the
spoils.

John Reimann

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[Marxism] invasion day protests - Australia

[Chris Slee via Marxism]

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Protests against "Australia Day" which commemorates 230 years of European 
settlement in Australia:


https://www.greenleft.org.au/content/photos-thousands-march-invasion-day-rallies

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[Marxism] Turkey: HDP calls for support for Rojava

[Chris Slee via Marxism]

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The left-wing Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) has condemned Turkey's invasion 
of the Afrin region in northern Syria...

https://www.greenleft.org.au/content/turkey-left-wing-hdp-opposition-calls-support-rojava/

An earlier Green Left Weekly article on the invasion:

https://www.greenleft.org.au/content/afrin-invasion-turkey-northern-syria-democratic-revolution-russia-united-states/

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[Marxism] Fw: The Assad regime: a response to Marcel Cartier (Links)

[Chris Slee via Marxism]

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http://links.org.au/syria-rojava-assad-marcel-cartier

In a recent article, Marcel Cartier denounces the Turkish invasion of Afrin and 
calls for solidarity with Rojava

I fully agree with Cartier's call for solidarity with Rojava revolution, but I 
disagree with some other points in the article.

Cartier rightly condemns the Assad regime for oppressing the Kurds and other 
ethnic minorities   But he gives the regime undue credit in some other respects.

Cartier claims that Assad is popular with a large part of the population

I believe this is overstating Assad's popularity.  It is true that many 
Syrians, particularly religious minorities such as the Christians, support 
Assad as the lesser evil compared to some of the Sunni-sectarian rebel groups.  
But that does not mean that they regard him as progressive.  The lesser evil is 
still evil

Cartier also gives Assad credit for being anti-imperialist

It is true that Assad has in some ways defied US imperialism, particularly by 
supporting Hezbollah in Lebanon.  But in other ways he has at times 
collaborated with US imperialism - e.g. by torturing prisoners sent to Syria by 
the CIA.

>From the point of view of the US ruling class, Assad is a less than ideal 
>ruler of Syria. He has long been allied with Russia and Iran

No doubt the US would prefer to see a more consistently pro-Western government 
in power in Syria.  When the rebellion started, the US talked of replacing 
Assad, and supplied some aid to the rebels (though not enough for them to win).

Since then, however, talk of replacing Assad has largely disappeared

When Cartier talks about "the machinations of imperialism towards a government 
that defied its diktat", he is referring to the actions of the US and its 
allies.  But in my view Russia is now an imperialist power too.

Hence when we talk of imperialist intervention in Syria we should include 
Russia as one of the intervening powers.  Because of inter-imperialist rivalry, 
Russia may intervene in a different way than the US.

Russia's military aid to Assad in suppressing the rebels is a form of 
imperialist intervention.

Russia has also intervened diplomatically, by hosting discussions between the 
Assad regime and Turkey.  This has resulted in Turkish troops entering Syrian 
territory without meeting any opposition from the Syrian armed forces or the 
Russian air force.  First Turkey invaded the Jarablus area in 2016.  Now they 
are invading Afrin.  In both cases there appear to be trade-offs.  Turkey has 
persuaded, pressured or ordered some of the rebel groups it supports to 
withdraw from the battle front against Assad in order to fight against Rojava.  
This has helped Assad regain control over much of the territory previously held 
by the rebels.








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[Marxism] Jaysh al Thuwar commander: Turkey turned ISIS, Al Nusra into FSA (ANF)

[Chris Slee via Marxism]

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Jaysh al Thuwar (Army of Revolutionaries) is a predominantly Arab force that is 
part of the Syrian Democratic Forces, along with the predominantly Kurdish 
YPG/YPJ and other groups.

Jaysh al Thuwar was formed in 2015 by survivors of the Syrian Revolutionaries 
Front and other Free Syrian Army-aligned groups in northern Syria that were 
attacked by Jabhat al Nusra.

Jaysh al Thuwar is helping to defend Afrin against the invasion by the Turkish 
army and some of its proxies that use the name "Free Syrian Army".  Jaysh al 
Thuwar rejects the right of the Turkish-backed forces to use this name.

Chris Slee

***

https://anfenglish.com/rojava/jaysh-al-thuwar-commander-turkey-turned-isis-al-nusra-into-fsa-24891


"The forces gathered under the Jaysh Al Thuwar (“Army of Revolutionaries”) 
umbrella say they are the true FSA and they have come together for the Syrian 
revolution, while those who attack Afrin are ISIS, Hayat Tahrir Al Sham 
(formerly Al Nusra)..."

“Turkey wanted to make us fight against Kurds. They formed the group called the 
Euphrates Shield. We were there at first, but we left when the Nusra people 
arrived. The top level Nusra members in Idlib are all in Turkey now. They all 
say they are FSA, but that is not true. "



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Re: [Marxism] Jaysh al Thuwar commander: Turkey turned ISIS, Al Nusra into FSA (ANF)

[Chris Slee via Marxism]

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Patrick Cockburn has reported that Turkey has been recruiting large numbers of 
former ISIS fighters to its version of the  "Free Syrian Army":

www.counterpunch.org/2018/02/12/is-turkey-recruiting-ex-isis-fighters/

Whether these people can still be considered as ISIS members may be debatable.  
The point the Jaysh al Thuwar representatives are making is that they do not 
consider these (ex?) ISIS members as real representatives of the Free Syrian 
Army.

Regarding HTS, Rod Nordland says in the February 4 New York Times:

"Elements of that same group are among the Free Syrian Army militias, many of 
them Islamic extremists, who are allied to the Turks and fighting in Afrin, 
according to the group and analysts in the area".

www.nytimes.com/2018/02/04/world/middleeast/turkey-afrin-syria.html?

Chris Slee



From: Marxism  on behalf of RKOB via 
Marxism 
Sent: Tuesday, 13 February 2018 9:42:52 PM
To: Chris Slee
Subject: Re: [Marxism] Jaysh al Thuwar commander: Turkey turned ISIS, Al Nusra 
into FSA (ANF)

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It might be useful to think first before forwarding such YPG nonsense!

ISIS and HTS are attacking the Kurds in Afrin?

ISIS and HTS are pretty busy on other fronts! Actually they are
currently killing each other in South Idlib! Check their website, check
other news, check the pro-Turkish news - everyone will confirm this.

No serious source has ever claimed that ISIS and HTS are participating
in the Turkish attack on Afrin.

Why should they?

To support the Turkish army? But Turkey has a) expelled ISIS via their
Operation Euphrates Shield and b) has signed the Astana agreement which
calls for the annihilation of HTS. So why on earth should they help Turkey?!

As Trotsky once said: Even slander should have some logic!

And, by the way, a group like the Jaysh al Thuwar which is - as part of
the SDF - officially financed and supported by the US is not the most
serious source.


Am 13.02.2018 um 11:10 schrieb Chris Slee via Marxism:
>   POSTING RULES & NOTES  
> #1 YOU MUST clip all extraneous text when replying to a message.
> #2 This mail-list, like most, is publicly & permanently archived.
> #3 Subscribe and post under an alias if #2 is a concern.
> *
>
> Jaysh al Thuwar (Army of Revolutionaries) is a predominantly Arab force that 
> is part of the Syrian Democratic Forces, along with the predominantly Kurdish 
> YPG/YPJ and other groups.
>
> Jaysh al Thuwar was formed in 2015 by survivors of the Syrian Revolutionaries 
> Front and other Free Syrian Army-aligned groups in northern Syria that were 
> attacked by Jabhat al Nusra.
>
> Jaysh al Thuwar is helping to defend Afrin against the invasion by the 
> Turkish army and some of its proxies that use the name "Free Syrian Army".  
> Jaysh al Thuwar rejects the right of the Turkish-backed forces to use this 
> name.
>
> Chris Slee
>
> ***
>
> https://anfenglish.com/rojava/jaysh-al-thuwar-commander-turkey-turned-isis-al-nusra-into-fsa-24891
>
>
> "The forces gathered under the Jaysh Al Thuwar (“Army of Revolutionaries”) 
> umbrella say they are the true FSA and they have come together for the Syrian 
> revolution, while those who attack Afrin are ISIS, Hayat Tahrir Al Sham 
> (formerly Al Nusra)..."
>
> “Turkey wanted to make us fight against Kurds. They formed the group called 
> the Euphrates Shield. We were there at first, but we left when the Nusra 
> people arrived. The top level Nusra members in Idlib are all in Turkey now. 
> They all say they are FSA, but that is not true. "
>
>
>
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[Marxism] Fw: Jaysh al Thuwar commander: Turkey turned ISIS, Al Nusra into FSA (ANF)

[Chris Slee via Marxism]

in together with the Turkish Army!

As you will surely be aware that there are many ex-officers and ex-soldiers of 
Assad's army inside the FSA and various Islamist organizations. Should we 
therefore say that "Assad soldiers" are attacking Afrin?! Obviously this would 
be stupid.

The SDF commander is just repeating the silly lies of the YPG and both are 
serving US imperialism.

In my opinion you should be more cautious in uncritically distributing such YPG 
nonsense.


Am 13.02.2018 um 15:40 schrieb Chris Slee:

Patrick Cockburn has reported that Turkey has been recruiting large numbers of 
former ISIS fighters to its version of the  "Free Syrian Army":

www.counterpunch.org/2018/02/12/is-turkey-recruiting-ex-isis-fighters/<http://www.counterpunch.org/2018/02/12/is-turkey-recruiting-ex-isis-fighters/>

Whether these people can still be considered as ISIS members may be debatable.  
The point the Jaysh al Thuwar representatives are making is that they do not 
consider these (ex?) ISIS members as real representatives of the Free Syrian 
Army.

Regarding HTS, Rod Nordland says in the February 4 New York Times:

"Elements of that same group are among the Free Syrian Army militias, many of 
them Islamic extremists, who are allied to the Turks and fighting in Afrin, 
according to the group and analysts in the area".

www.nytimes.com/2018/02/04/world/middleeast/turkey-afrin-syria.html<http://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/04/world/middleeast/turkey-afrin-syria.html>?

Chris Slee



From: Marxism 
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Sent: Tuesday, 13 February 2018 9:42:52 PM
To: Chris Slee
Subject: Re: [Marxism] Jaysh al Thuwar commander: Turkey turned ISIS, Al Nusra 
into FSA (ANF)

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It might be useful to think first before forwarding such YPG nonsense!

ISIS and HTS are attacking the Kurds in Afrin?

ISIS and HTS are pretty busy on other fronts! Actually they are
currently killing each other in South Idlib! Check their website, check
other news, check the pro-Turkish news - everyone will confirm this.

No serious source has ever claimed that ISIS and HTS are participating
in the Turkish attack on Afrin.

Why should they?

To support the Turkish army? But Turkey has a) expelled ISIS via their
Operation Euphrates Shield and b) has signed the Astana agreement which
calls for the annihilation of HTS. So why on earth should they help Turkey?!

As Trotsky once said: Even slander should have some logic!

And, by the way, a group like the Jaysh al Thuwar which is - as part of
the SDF - officially financed and supported by the US is not the most
serious source.


Am 13.02.2018 um 11:10 schrieb Chris Slee via Marxism:



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Jaysh al Thuwar (Army of Revolutionaries) is a predominantly Arab force that is 
part of the Syrian Democratic Forces, along with the predominantly Kurdish 
YPG/YPJ and other groups.

Jaysh al Thuwar was formed in 2015 by survivors of the Syrian Revolutionaries 
Front and other Free Syrian Army-aligned groups in northern Syria that were 
attacked by Jabhat al Nusra.

Jaysh al Thuwar is helping to defend Afrin against the invasion by the Turkish 
army and some of its proxies that use the name "Free Syrian Army".  Jaysh al 
Thuwar rejects the right of the Turkish-backed forces to use this name.

Chris Slee

***

https://anfenglish.com/rojava/jaysh-al-thuwar-commander-turkey-turned-isis-al-nusra-into-fsa-24891


"The forces gathered under the Jaysh Al Thuwar (“Army of Revolutionaries”) 
umbrella say they are the true FSA and they have come together for the Syrian 
revolution, while those who attack Afrin are ISIS, Hayat Tahrir Al Sham 
(formerly Al Nusra)..."

“Turkey wanted to make us fight against Kurds. They formed the group called the 
Euphrates Shield. We were there at first, but we left when the Nusra people 
arrived. The top level Nusra members in Idlib are all in Turkey now. They all 
say they are FSA, but that is not true. "



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[Marxism] Turkey's Idlib incursion and the HTS question (Charles Lister)

[Chris Slee via Marxism]

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I have sent a link to this article by Charles Lister before, but I think it is 
useful to look at it in more detail:

https://warontherocks.com/2017/10/turkeys-idlib-incursion-and-the-hts-question-understanding-the-long-game-in-syria/

The article was written in October last year.  Lister supported the Turkish 
intervention that occurred at that time.  Even though I oppose Lister's 
politics, I think the article is useful in giving some factual information, and 
in explaining the thinking of the Turkish state.  Here are some of the 
article's key points (in quotation marks), and my comments:

"Turkey's soldiers had been provided with an armed escort into Idlib by none 
other than the jihadist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS)."

"According to multiple well-placed opposition and jihadist sources, the Turkish 
move into Idlib was the result of an intensive negotiation process between HTS 
and Turkey."

"Much of the speculation about a potential Turkish intervention in Idlib had 
framed it as an anti-HTS operation. But this misunderstood the dynamics driving 
recent Russian-Turkish negotiations and the priorities of the main players. For 
Turkey, the dominant security concern in the Idlib-Western Aleppo zone has 
always been the YPG and its stated desire to expand west into Idlib."

The Syrian Democratic Forces include fighters from Idlib who were driven from 
their homes by HTS (then called Jabhat al-Nusra).  These people naturally want 
to liberate their home towns from HTS.  HTS obviously wants to prevent this 
happening.  This provides a reason for HTS to collaborate with Turkey in 
fighting against the SDF.

"Many of the Free Syrian Army (FSA) groups based in Idlib, western Aleppo, and 
northern Hama expressed their determination to fight HTS directly on the 
battlefield, liberate their territories, and exact revenge."

However Turkey did not allow this:

"Although nearly 1,000 FSA fighters sat on the border across from Atmeh, not 
one of them was asked to join Turkey’s operation."

"It was the more powerful Islamist groups — particularly Ahrar al-Sham and 
Faylaq al-Sham — that were more acutely aware of Ankara’s thinking."

Thus the FSA fighters were excluded because they wanted to fight HTS, whereas 
Turkey only wanted to fight the Syrian Democratic Forces.

Why did the FSA groups want to fight HTS?  It was due to HTS's  history of 
attacking them:

"Facing compounding internal and external challenges, HTS has repeatedly 
resorted to violently asserting its influence vis-à-vis opposition movements it 
deems to be threats or competitors. These pre-emptive military conquests 
(against the 13th Division, Free Idlib Army, Suqor al-Sham, Al-Jabhat 
al-Shamiya, Tajamu Fastaqim Kama Umrit, and Ahrar al-Sham) consolidated the 
group’s politico-military dominance in at least 60 percent of Idlib, but also 
severely eroded the legitimacy gained in previous years through successful 
anti-Assad operations."

I think it is likely that the FSA groups are feeling frustrated at Turkey's 
refusal to let them fight HTS.  The recent efforts of Jaysh al-Thuwar (Army of 
Revolutionaries - an Arab component of the SDF) to highlight its continuity 
with the FSA may be an attempt to re-establish links with these groups.

"In addition to its alleged covert activities, Turkey is also heavily involved 
in backing a very public revival of the Syrian Interim Government (SIG), under 
the leadership of heart surgeon Jawad Abu Hatab

"Beyond military matters, the SIG is more broadly presenting itself and 
increasingly being presented as the potential public face of a Turkish-backed 
socio-political and territorial alternative to HTS, the YPG, and the Assad 
regime. The SIG currently maintains its in-country headquarters in the Aleppo 
town of Azaz (within the Turkish-protected Euphrates Shield zone) and manages 
12 provincial councils and more than 400 local councils across the country. The 
SIG has also sponsored a number of democratic elections in Idlib — much to the 
chagrin of HTS."

I am dubious about the claim that the SIG "manages" 12 provincial councils and 
400 local councils.  I suspect that Lister is accepting the SIG's claim of 
credit for councils which are actually organised by local people in various 
areas without much help from outsiders.

Similarly the SIG claims to have "sponsored" democratic elections in Idlib 
province.  But there is no mention of democratic elections in Aleppo province, 
even though the SIG has its "in-country headquarters" there.  It would be 
difficult to organise genuinely democratic elections in an area that is under 
Turkish military occupation.

Chris Slee




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Re: [Marxism] Reply on the YPG and the HTS

[Chris Slee via Marxism]

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Turkish imperialism is invading Afrin.  Russian imperialism, which controls the 
airspace, allows Turkish planes to bomb Afrin.  US imperialism says it will not 
intervene, effectively giving the green light to the invasion.

The people of Afrin are resisting with no outside support.  Yet RKOB claims the 
YPG, who are playing a major role in the resistance, are "Washington's foot 
soldiers"!

Turkish troops entered Idlib province escorted by HTS troops,  Yet RKOB asserts 
that HTS are not fighting side by side with Turkish soldiers.  I wonder how 
RKOB can be so confident of that, when the defenders of Afrin say the opposite.

Chris Slee
.


From: Marxism  on behalf of RKOB via 
Marxism 
Sent: Saturday, 17 February 2018 7:28:46 PM
To: Chris Slee
Subject: [Marxism] Reply on the YPG and the HTS

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Look, your reference to Lister’s and other work completely misses the point.

What Lister, an adviser to the U.S. Senate, shows is that Turkey (and
various FSA factions) have put enormous pressure on the petty-bourgeois
Islamist HTS and threaten them. He shows that the Astana process (with
the agreement of the Erdoğan regime) threatens the HTS with
annihilation. As a result, there are divisions inside the HTS emerging
between those (like Jolani) who want to avoid a confrontation with the
Turkish army as long as possible and those who take a more radical stand.

We have dealt with these divisions inside the HTS more in detail in our
latest book (go to the sub-chapter “/The Syrian Revolution: In danger of
annihilation/” which is part of chapter V “/Middle East and North
Africa: Reactionary Offensive, Wars and Popular Uprisings/”;
https://www.thecommunists.net/theory/world-perspectives-2018/).

As we said there it is quite possible that the opportunist forces inside
the HTS might capitulate to the Turkish army.

But you really can not compare all this with the YPG. The YPG leadership
has not discussed in the past years if they should avoid a confrontation
with U.S. imperialism or not. They have decided to act as Washington’s
foot soldiers! Can't you see the difference?!

Just compare it:

The YPG has waged for years the battles of U.S. imperialism to control
Eastern Syria. They fought side on side with the U.S. soldiers. The HTS
(until now) has not waged a single battle for the Turkish army. They are
not fighting side on side with the Turkish soldiers (contrary to stupid
claims of the SDF Quisling you quoted in the first post).

The YPG received for its battles in Eastern Syria the unlimited support
of the US air force, artillery etc. The HTS (until now) has not received
any support of the Turkish air force, artillery etc.

The YPG has officially a joint command with the U.S. army. The HTS has
(until now) not such a joint command with the Turkish army.

But irrespective of all this, comrade, the Green Left Weekly praised and
supported the YPG in all those years. Such a “Marxism” is the worst
caricature possible!



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Re: [Marxism] Signs of Regional-International Agreements Over Manbij, Afrin

[Chris Slee via Marxism]

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I would be skeptical of quotes from an anonymous "Kurdish official".

Chris Slee


From: Marxism  on behalf of John Reimann 
via Marxism 
Sent: Sunday, 18 February 2018 4:16:20 AM
To: Chris Slee
Subject: [Marxism] Signs of Regional-International Agreements Over Manbij,  
Afrin

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*More signs of collaboration between all the major players in Syria,
including the YPG.*


"A Kurdish official told Asharq Al-Awsat on Friday that signs of
regional-international agreements started to appear lately concerning the
division of north Syria, where US-Turkish forces should deploy in the city
of Manbij in exchange of a Russian-sponsored “symbolic presence” of Syrian
regime forces in the city of Afrin.

The official uncovered that contacts were currently held with Damascus to
sign a text deal stipulating the symbolic entrance of regime forces and
security institutions to central Afrin.

“It seems Moscow, which rejected to cooperate two weeks ago, has now agreed
on a new version allowing the presence of the Syrian state in Afrin. Regime
forces are expected to head from Aleppo to Afrin in the upcoming hours,”
the Kurdish official said.

The latest development coincided Friday with a Syrian regime decision to
allow Kurds demonstrate in Damascus against the Turkish military operation
in northern Syria, carrying portraits of Abdullah Ocalan, imprisoned leader
of the PKK.

Ocalan was arrested and then jailed on an island prison in Turkey, after
being kicked out of Damascus 19 years ago following a deal with Ankara.
Since 1999, Turkey considers Ocalan’s PKK party as a terrorist organization.

Kurdish officials said they had informed the US army about their contacts
with Damascus, adding that “the Americans did not mind.”

Turkish sources told Asharq Al-Awsat on Friday that Ankara had proposed to
Washington the deployment of Turkish-US forces in Manbij to kick out
Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG) to east Euphrates.

The Kurdish official said that since the start of Turkey’s “Olive Branch”
operation, leaders from the YPG started to contact Damascus, asking the
regime to send its “Border Guards” to defend Syria’s northern border.

The official said that Russia had prevented Damascus from achieving such
mission, due to a deal signed between Turkey and Russia allowing Ankara to
protect its national security from northern Syria and stipulating the
withdrawal of Russian forces from Afrin to other areas."

--
"No one is going to give you the education you need to overthrow them."
Assata Shakur
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Re: [Marxism] Again on Turkey, the US, YPG and HTS

[Chris Slee via Marxism]

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RKOB disputes that Turkey is imperialist.  I would say it is increasingly 
acting like an imperialist power.

Turkish capital is investing widely in the Middle East region.  Turkey has 
military bases in a number of countries, including Qatar and the KRG-controlled 
part of Iraq.  The KRG is like a semi-colony of Turkey.

Turkey has since 2016 been occupying part of Syria (the Jarablus/al-Bab/Azaz 
area).  Now it has moved into Idlib and is attacking Afrin.

The Firat News Agency has accused Turkey of wanting to permanently occupy part 
of northern Syria:

https://anfenglish.com/features/the-iskenderun-model-invade-settle-hold-referendum-24980/

The SDF have issued calls to "defend the territorial integrity of Syria".  This 
creates the basis for possible cooperation with the Assad regime against the 
Turkish invasion.

However I doubt that the SDF will hand over Afrin to effective control by Assad 
as the price for such cooperation.

Chris Slee


From: Marxism  on behalf of RKOB via 
Marxism 
Sent: Sunday, 18 February 2018 8:04:39 PM
To: Chris Slee
Subject: [Marxism] Again on Turkey, the US, YPG and HTS

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1) Turkey is not an imperialist state in a Marxist sense. If all
aggressive states were imperialists, various states (like Saddam
Hussein's Iraq, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, UAE etc.) would all be
imperialist. This is obviously nonsense. We need a Leninist definition
of imperialism.

We have dealt with the definition of imperialist and non-imperialist
state in length in various books and pamphlets. They are collected for
download here:
https://www.thecommunists.net/theory/china-russia-as-imperialist-powers/.

On Turkey's economy and political regime see e.g. a sub-chapter in our
latest book on the world situation
(https://www.thecommunists.net/theory/world-perspectives-2018/chapter-v/)
as well as our Great Robbery book pp. 222-229,
https://www.thecommunists.net/theory/great-robbery-of-the-south/.

...

5) I am sure comrades have heard that the Syrian government announced
that it has reached a deal with the YPG on collaboration in Afrin
against Turkey. This is also telling and not an argument in favor of
believing YPG claims.


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[Marxism] David Graeber: manufactured ignorance: the strange case of Juan Cole and the Kurdish freedom movement

[Chris Slee via Marxism]

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http://www.focaalblog.com/2018/02/16/david-graeber-manufactured-ignorance/



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Re: [Marxism] David Graeber: manufactured ignorance: the strange case of Juan Cole and the Kurdish freedom movement

[Chris Slee via Marxism]

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Louis Proyect quotes David Graeber:

"While in the early days of the Syrian revolution, Arab communities too created 
directly democratic councils, many on a model inspired by a Syrian anarchist 
named Omar Aziz, the militarization of the conflict had very different effects; 
where in the Kurdish areas, the revolutionaries created their own militias, the 
Peoples Protection Forces (YPG) and the Women's Protection Forces (YPJ), most 
of the secular, left revolutionary organizations in the rest of Syria made a 
conscious decision not to join the armed struggle, leaving that to military 
defectors who made up the Free Syrian Army, then, increasingly, to Islamist 
militias armed and supplied by outside powers such as Turkey, Saudi Arabia and 
Qatar."

Louis comments:

"What unmitigated bullshit.  The "secular, left revolutionary organizations" in 
the rest of Syria focused on providing social services to neighborhoods and 
entire cities under siege.  To help keep them from being annihilated, the FSA 
defended them as best they could.

"In fact, if it wasn't for the FSA, these Bookchinite experiments could never 
have happened since Assad was trying to buy time.  He allowed them to take 
place until his air force was finished exterminating East Aleppo, Homs, Ghouta, 
et al.  Now, he will do the same thing to the Kurds.  Divide and conquer..."

I will concede that Graeber's statement quoted above does not adequately 
recognise the difficult conditions facing democracy activists in areas under 
attack by Assad's forces.  Hence he gives the unfortunate impression of blaming 
the activists for the situation they find themselves in.  I don't think that 
was necessarily his intention, but it could be taken that way.

On the other hand, the PYD - conscious of the oppression of Kurds in Turkey - 
was right to be suspicious of any armed groups backed by Turkey and the Gulf 
states.  Turkish aid to Syrian rebels came with conditions attached, including 
a requirement to be hostile to the Rojava experiment.

For a time, Rojava was less affected by war than some other parts of Syria.  
But this should not be exaggerated.  Rojava was subject to an economic 
blockade, armed attacks by Turkish-backed rebel groups, bombardments by the 
Turkish armed forces, and the threat of a full scale Turkish invasion.

In this context, Rojava (and later the broader Democratic Federation of 
Northern Syria) sought to avoid armed conflict with the Assad regime.  They did 
not want to simultaneously fight both the Turkish army (and its proxies) and 
the Assad regime (and its allies).

Chris Slee

____________
From: Marxism  on behalf of Chris Slee via 
Marxism 
Sent: Tuesday, 20 February 2018 10:58:05 PM
To: Chris Slee
Subject: [Marxism] David Graeber: manufactured ignorance: the strange case of 
Juan Cole and the Kurdish freedom movement

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http://www.focaalblog.com/2018/02/16/david-graeber-manufactured-ignorance/



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Re: [Marxism] David Graeber: manufactured ignorance: the strange case of Juan Cole and the Kurdish freedom movement

[Chris Slee via Marxism]

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Louis Proyect quotes me:

> On the other hand, the PYD - conscious of the oppression of Kurds in Turkey - 
> was right to be suspicious of any armed groups backed by Turkey and the Gulf 
> states.  Turkish aid to Syrian rebels came with conditions attached, 
> including a requirement to be hostile to the Rojava experiment.

He comments: 

"I have no idea what this means. Does anybody in their right mind think
that the FSA was going to ethnically cleanse Rojava because Erdogan gave
them AK-47s?"

The FSA was never a single united organisation, so we can't speak of "the FSA" 
doing anything.  But Turkish-backed groups, some of which use the label "FSA", 
have attacked Rojava on numerous occasions.

Louis says:

"You know something, Chris, I did a search in Greenleft Weekly yesterday.
There is only a single reference to Ghouta from back in 2013 after a
thousand died from Assad's sarin gas attack. The cretinous Tony Iltis
wrote: "In the absence of evidence, propagandists for both sides have
promoted conspiracy theories to explain the attack's motivation." WTF?
Both sides?"

But in the very next sentence, Tony Iltis says:  "Assad would seem to be the 
most likely culprit. His forces are known to possess chemical weapons and the 
civilian casualties were in an opposition-held suburb."  

https://www.greenleft.org.au/content/syria-us-war-drive-halted-now

He explains his caution in drawing a definite conclusion as follows:

"It is very possible that Assad carried out the sarin attack on August 21. 
However, the public has not forgotten that the US and other Western governments 
and intelligence agencies faked evidence that Saddam Hussein possessed weapons 
of mass destruction as a pretext for invasion in 2003. "

At that time such caution was understandable.  Today, following the Khan 
Sheikhoun attack, I personally have no doubt that the Assad regime did it.

Louis continues:

"But when you search for "Rojava", you get ONE HUNDRED AND EIGHTY SIX
ARTICLES."

We prioritise solidarity with the Rojava revolution because of its socially 
progressive nature - women's rights, ethnic and religious inclusiveness etc.

Louis continues:

"And when you wrote about the horrendous assault on Aleppo by Assad, you
once again used the plague on both your houses bullshit. The Socialist
Alliance issued a statement that included this: "The proliferation of
armed groups not subject to democratic civilian control has been a major
contributor to Syrians’ suffering." What does that mean? That Islamist
groups incited Syrian and Russian jets to bomb hospitals? I have heard
the same junk from Netanyahu after the IDF bombed Gaza."

Turkish-backed groups committed war crimes in Aleppo too.  See Amnesty 
International report:

https://www.amnesty.org.au/syria-armed-groups-war-crimes-aleppo/


Chris Slee


From: Marxism  on behalf of Louis Proyect 
via Marxism 
Sent: Thursday, 22 February 2018 10:17:56 AM
To: Chris Slee
Subject: Re: [Marxism] David Graeber: manufactured ignorance: the strange case 
of Juan Cole and the Kurdish freedom movement

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On 2/21/18 5:28 PM, Chris Slee via Marxism wrote:
> On the other hand, the PYD - conscious of the oppression of Kurds in Turkey - 
> was right to be suspicious of any armed groups backed by Turkey and the Gulf 
> states.  Turkish aid to Syrian rebels came with conditions attached, 
> including a requirement to be hostile to the Rojava experiment.

I have no idea what this means. Does anybody in their right mind think
that the FSA was going to ethnically cleanse Rojava because Erdogan gave
them AK-47s?

You know something, Chris, I did a search in Greenleft Weekly yesterday.
There is only a single reference to Ghouta from back in 2013 after a
thousand died from Assad's sarin gas attack. The cretinous Tony Iltis
wrote: "In the absence of evidence, propagandists for both sides have
promoted conspiracy theories to explain the attack's motivation." WTF?
Both sides?

But when you search for "Rojava", you get ONE HUNDRED AND EIGHTY SIX
ARTICLES.

And when you wrote about the horrendous assault on Aleppo by Assad, you
once again used the plagu

[Marxism] As Syria's conflict intensifies, where do democratic hopes lie?

[Chris Slee via Marxism]

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https://www.greenleft.org.au/content/syrias-conflict-intensifies-where-do-democratic-hopes-lie



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Re: [Marxism] David Graeber: manufactured ignorance: the strange case of Juan Cole and the Kurdish freedom movement

[Chris Slee via Marxism]

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Louis Proyect asks for a reference for my statement that:  "Turkish-backed 
groups, some of which use the label 'FSA', have attacked Rojava on numerous 
occasions."

"Turkish-backed groups" include ISIS, which has obviously attacked Rojava.  But 
Louis is probably asking about FSA groups.

Several examples are given in the book "Revolution in Rojava", by Michael 
Knapp, Anja Flack and Ercan Ayboga (Pluto Press, 2016).

Their most detailed account of conflict between the YPG and a section of the 
Free Syrian Army relates to events in Aleppo.  While Aleppo is not part of 
Rojava, the Kurdish areas of Aleppo followed similar policies to those in 
Rojava.  The attacks on the predominantly Kurdish Aleppo neighborhoods of Sex 
Maqsud (Sheikh Maqsoud) and Asrafiye by some Turkish-backed FSA groups reflect 
their hostility towards the Rojava revolution.

"Revolution in Rojava" outlines the conflict as follows:

"Both belligerents - the regime on one hand, and the FSA and other armed 
opposition groups on the other - pressured the YPG to take sides.

"The FSA, flush with money from the Arab-Sunni Gulf states, began 
systematically buying up property in the Kurdish neighborhoodsFSA members 
took to carrying their weapons around outdoors - but the councils [local 
councils established in the Kurdish neighborhoods] took notice and demanded 
that they cease doing so.

"The councils also demanded that the FSA pull out of Sex Maqsud [Sheikh 
Maqsoud] toward Asrafiye.  During Ramadan, on August 19 [2012], more than 3,000 
people demonstrated in support of this demand.  But the FSA didn't withdraw  - 
instead it fired at the residents from buildings.  The YPG fought back, and in 
the hours-long battle, 13 civilians and several FSA fighters were killed...

"But this and other battles drove the FSA out of Sex Maqsud and 
AsrafiyeOver the next months, the FSA kept shooting into the two 
neighborhoods, but now from a distance.

"Since the Kurds had not sided with the regime, the regime forces became 
increasingly brutal.  The army intervened militarily, then began attacking with 
helicopters and planes, each time taking several lives.

"The state shut down the electricityThere was a de facto food embargo

"The Kurds' neutrality angered both sides, the state and the FSA, which 
escalated their attacks

"In the summer and fall of 2013, the YPG defended Aleppo well, pushing back 
attacks by Islamic and other armed opposition groups, as well as parts of the 
FSAIn the spring of 2014, the YPG concluded a ceasefire with the FSA and 
other armed opposition groups.

"Since early 2015, the self-governed parts of Aleppo have repeatedly come under 
attack from jihadists.  The new coalition Jaish Al-Fatah, led by Al-Nusra (Al 
Qaeda) and heavily supported by Turkey, is continually trying to conquer the 
liberated parts of Aleppo, but the people of Sex Maqsud are maintaining their 
self-defence."  (Revolution in Rojava, p. 100- 102)

***

Here is a brief report on events in Serekaniye, a town on the Turkish border:

"In November 2012, about 3,000 heavily armed jihadists - Al-Nusra and parts of 
the FSA , like the Syrian Islamic Liberation Front (SILF) - slipped over the 
Turkish-Syrian border at Ceylanpinar and attacked Serekaniye.  The goal was to 
push on to Qamislo and bring down the self-government in Cizire.  After four 
days of fighting, they occupied Serekaniye.  The FSA touted the invasion as 
"the FSA's liberation of Ras Al-Ayn."  But the "liberation" took the form of 
massacres, devastation and the radical application of Sharia law 

"In June 2013...the YPG/YPJ liberated Serekaniye and expelled Al-Nusra and the 
FSA."  (Revolution in Rojava, p. 225)

Chris Slee


From: Louis Proyect 
Sent: Friday, 23 February 2018 11:37:38 AM
To: Chris Slee; Activists and scholars in Marxist tradition
Subject: Re: [Marxism] David Graeber: manufactured ignorance: the strange case 
of Juan Cole and the Kurdish freedom movement

On 2/22/18 7:17 PM, Chris Slee wrote:
>
>
> The FSA was never a single united organisation, so we can't speak of "the 
> FSA" doing anything.  But Turkish-backed groups, some of which use the label 
> "FSA", have attacked Rojava on numerous occasions.

Reference, please.


> We prioritise solidarity with the Rojava revolution because of its socially 
> progressive nature - women's rights, ethnic and religious inclusiveness etc.

Waiting to see a single article since 2013 about the brutal siege of
East Ghouta. Maybe if Assad left them alone, they'd have a chance to
organize seminars on Murray Bookchin's writings and see the light.

>
> 

Re: [Marxism] David Graeber: manufactured ignorance: the strange case of Juan Cole and the Kurdish freedom movement

[Chris Slee via Marxism]

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Louis Proyect says I have been "seduced by Murray Bookchin's ideology".  I have 
never read anything by Bookchin.

I have read some of Abdullah Ocalan's writings - see my review:

http://links.org.au/understanding-abdullah-ocalan-political-thought-kurdistan-womans-revolution-democratic-confederalism/

But what impresses me is not so much his writings (of which I have some 
criticisms) as the movement inspired by his writings, which is fighting for 
women's rights, ethnic and religious equality, democracy etc.

Of course, it is impossible to build socialism in one country, and still less 
in part of a country, and still less when under siege and subject to an 
invasion.  The experiment may be crushed militarily or degenerate under 
pressure.

But meanwhile solidarity is essential.

Chris Slee

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Re: [Marxism] David Graeber: manufactured ignorance: the strange case of Juan Cole and the Kurdish freedom movement

[Chris Slee via Marxism]

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Louis Proyect says:

"Waiting to see a single article since 2013 about the brutal siege of
East Ghouta. Maybe if Assad left them alone, they'd have a chance to
organize seminars on Murray Bookchin's writings and see the light."

Assad is not the sole problem for democracy activists in eastern Ghouta.  
Reactionary armed groups control the area, and violently repress those who 
challenge their rule.

Four prominent activists, Razan Zaitouneh, Wael Hamada, Nazem Hamadi and Samira 
Khalil,  were abducted by armed men in December 2013 in the town of Douma in 
the eastern Ghouta area.  They have not been seen since.  They are believed to 
have been murdered by the Army of Islam, the strongest militia in the area.

Yassin al-Haj Saleh refers to "the two-fold character of the battle imposed on 
Syrians: against the Assadist necktie fascists and against the Islamist 
long-bearded fascists."  (Quoted in Burning Country, page x)

I don't know if anyone in eastern Ghouta ever read Murray Bookchin's writings.  
But some residents of the area were certainly inspired by Omar Aziz, who 
advocated and worked for the formation of local councils.  Aziz died in one of 
Assad's prisons.

Walid Daou has written an article on "The experience of local councils in the 
Syrian revolution":

http://www.al-manshour.org/node/7415

While supportive of the councils, Daou points out their "shortcomings...at 
least in terms of application."

He says:

"Armed groups remained outside the supervision of local councils. At the same 
time, the Syrian National Council, the Syrian interim government, and the 
National Coalition of Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition forces monopolized 
the "high political rhetoric."

"Thus, the original idea behind the councils became meaningless. Under the 
hegemony of weapons and conditional funding, the space for council work closed 
up. Thus, the possibility of building an alternative, democratic authority from 
below, which could lead the revolution and speak in its name, was diminished."

Another problem was the limited participation of women.  According to Razan 
Ghazzawi:  "Women and youth have very little representation in the ranks of 
either the local councils or the Syria National Coalition".

https://www.opendemocracy.net/north-africa-west-asia/razan-ghazzawi/seeing-women-in-revolutionary-syria

This contrasts with the role of women in Rojava and the broader Democratic 
Federation of Northern Syria.

My point is not to denigrate the work of activists operating in very difficult 
circumstances, under attack from both the Assad regime and reactionary rebel 
groups, but rather to highlight the achievements of the DFNS.

Chris Slee



From: Louis Proyect 
Sent: Friday, 23 February 2018 11:37 AM
To: Chris Slee; Activists and scholars in Marxist tradition
Subject: Re: [Marxism] David Graeber: manufactured ignorance: the strange case 
of Juan Cole and the Kurdish freedom movement

On 2/22/18 7:17 PM, Chris Slee wrote:
>
>
> The FSA was never a single united organisation, so we can't speak of "the 
> FSA" doing anything.  But Turkish-backed groups, some of which use the label 
> "FSA", have attacked Rojava on numerous occasions.

Reference, please.


> We prioritise solidarity with the Rojava revolution because of its socially 
> progressive nature - women's rights, ethnic and religious inclusiveness etc.

Waiting to see a single article since 2013 about the brutal siege of
East Ghouta. Maybe if Assad left them alone, they'd have a chance to
organize seminars on Murray Bookchin's writings and see the light.

>
> Turkish-backed groups committed war crimes in Aleppo too.  See Amnesty 
> International report:
>
> https://www.amnesty.org.au/syria-armed-groups-war-crimes-aleppo/
Syria: Armed groups committing war crimes in Aleppo 
...
www.amnesty.org.au
Armed groups surrounding the Sheikh Maqsoud district of Aleppo have repeatedly 
carried out indiscriminate attacks on civilian targets.



>

Well, at least this Kurdish neighborhood had a non-aggression pact with
Assad at the time or else it would have been hell to pay. Fortunately
for the neighborhood, Russian and Syrian jets liquidated the jihadi
threat to Murray Bookchin's anarchist experiment.

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Re: [Marxism] David Graeber: manufactured ignorance: the strange case of Juan Cole and the Kurdish freedom movement

[Chris Slee via Marxism]

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The picture with the Assad portraits was disconcerting, but I don't think we 
should give it too much significance.

It happened when a pro-Assad militia unit arrived in Afrin to assist in the 
defence of the area against the Turkish invasion.  I think that cooperation 
against the invasion is legitimate.

But I recognise that there are dangers in this cooperation.  If Afrin (and 
Rojava more broadly) becomes dependent on the Assad regime for its defence, it 
could lead to downplaying the struggle for democracy in Syria.

But this is a reflection of the difficulty of making a revolution in a society 
under siege.

Chrs Slee


From: Louis Proyect 
Sent: Friday, 2 March 2018 12:08:49 AM
To: Chris Slee; Activists and scholars in Marxist tradition
Subject: Re: [Marxism] David Graeber: manufactured ignorance: the strange case 
of Juan Cole and the Kurdish freedom movement

On 3/1/18 4:11 AM, Chris Slee wrote:
> d the broader Democratic Federation of Northern Syria.
>
> My point is not to denigrate the work of activists operating in very 
> difficult circumstances, under attack from both the Assad regime and 
> reactionary rebel groups, but rather to highlight the achievements of the 
> DFNS.

But there is nothing in Greenleft about anybody like the 4 disappeared
activists. They still exist, after all.

It is nothing but the Rojava fan club 24/7. 280 articles, for pete's
sake. I wouldn't mind this so much if at least there was an attempt to
engage with the reality that Kurds are now holding up portraits of
Bashar al-Assad as if they were at a rally organized by Tim Anderson.

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Re: [Marxism] David Graeber: manufactured ignorance: the strange case of Juan Cole and the Kurdish freedom movement

[Chris Slee via Marxism]

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Another "supposed damning fact" to add to Nick's list:  the claim that Salih 
Muslim called for the expulsion of Arabs, when on many occasions he said the 
exact opposite.

This false claim was included in Burning Country, which is on the whole a good 
account of the Syrian revolution, but which is biased against the PYD (probably 
because of misinformation supplied to the authors by political opponents of the 
PYD).

http://links.org.au/node/4679/

Chris Slee


From: Marxism  on behalf of Nick Fredman 
via Marxism 
Sent: Saturday, 3 March 2018 7:53:16 AM
To: Chris Slee
Cc: Activists and scholars in Marxist tradition
Subject: Re: [Marxism] David Graeber: manufactured ignorance: the strange case 
of Juan Cole and the Kurdish freedom movement

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Michael has missed the point that my comment was about the actual subject
line of this thread: Juan Cole, who David Graeber shows is systematically
demonizing the PKK and PYD and systematically whitewashing the Turkish
state. I think the egregious and clearly conscious nature of Cole’s
distortions in this regard is very significant, much more than making a big
deal about a picture of what seems like a tiny number of people in Afrin
holding pictures of Assad.

More generally I’m all for an evidenced-based and critical view of the
DFNS, Syria and any other topic. That’s why, as well as paying attention to
the totality of the views and currents of the Apoist current and not just
convenient snippets, I’ve paid attention to independent writers who’ve
spent time in Rojava and interviewed numerous people there, such as Anna
Flach, Michael Knapp and Ercan Ayboga (the Revolution in Rojava book and
many articles), UK socialist feminist Rahila Gupta, and Dutch journalists
Wladimir Wildenberg and Frederike Geerdink, as well as David Graeber.

Such people haven’t been useful idiots but critical analysts: Gupta has
criticised the somewhat odd Apoist analysis of women’s oppression and blind
eye to questions of sexuality and Graeber has pointed out the likely
contradictions ahead of purposefully building a dual-power type political
structure.

It’s also why I’ve pointed out on this list and elsewhere that’s there’s
some dubious “critiques” of and supposed damning facts about the Rojava
revolution that some of the left have spread about in an uncritical
kneejerk fashion. Off the top of my head these include:

* The view that Rojava was handed over in a secret deal, rather than seized
in the popular uprising that’s been described by eyewitnesses (ironically
enough this bit of folk lore is repeated by Graeber in the article of the
subject line here);

* The assertion by Assad a few years ago that he’s armed the YPG/J, and has
the documents to prove it, they’re laying around somewhere...;

* Roy Gutman’s laughable “expose” articles (from Istanbul not Rojava), the
only two non-anonymous sources in which soon after criticising his
distortion of their views;

* The clearly doctored smudgy long-shot photos and brief video clips of YPG
and SAA flags flying together in Aleppo;

* And now, taking a pic of a tiny number of unknown people as representive
of the views of a movement, rather than the clearly stated views of that
movement.

So I’ll take Michael’s points and references on board but I won’t
uncritically accept the veracity of the claims made without checking them
or uncritically accept his interpretations.

On Fri, 2 Mar 2018 at 1:24 pm, mkaradjis .  wrote:

> Sorry Nick, who wrote anything here to whitewash the Turkish state.
> Look, it is not a matter of one statement by Salih Muslim in 2013,
> repulsive as that one was. You need to deal with the fact that the
> PYD's decision to go its own entirely neutral "third way" from the
> very outset has been part of the problem, as well as the problems
> arising from Turkish pressure on the opposition and the opposition's
> own Arab nationalist background.
>
> PYD leader Salih Muslim admits that they effectively declared
> themselves neutral as early as mid-2011:
>
> “Regarding our position in the conflict, the Kurds in Syria had been
> fighting for our democratic rights in a country ruled by a dynastic
> and despotic regime. But a few months after the uprising we realized
> that many who were siding with the insurrection were coming from the
> mosques and we thought that t

Re: [Marxism] David Graeber: manufactured ignorance: the strange case of Juan Cole and the Kurdish freedom movement

[Chris Slee via Marxism]

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Salih Muslim's statement that "many who were siding with the insurrection were 
coming from the mosques" was very unfortunate in its wording.  But I think he 
was referring to the  Islamist (and Sunni sectarian) politics of much of the 
rebel leadership.  He said the goal of the PYD was a "democratic and secular 
state".  The Islamists had a different goal, so they were not allies.

When Salih Muslim talks of the "regime change project", he is not referring to 
the original uprising against Assad, but the attempt to use that uprising to 
instal a new government backed by Turkey and the West.  He makes the point that 
such a government was likely to be repressive towards the Kurds.

Chris Slee



From: Marxism  on behalf of mkaradjis . 
via Marxism 
Sent: Friday, 2 March 2018 1:24:02 PM
To: Chris Slee
Subject: Re: [Marxism] David Graeber: manufactured ignorance: the strange case 
of Juan Cole and the Kurdish freedom movement

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Sorry Nick, who wrote anything here to whitewash the Turkish state.
Look, it is not a matter of one statement by Salih Muslim in 2013,
repulsive as that one was. You need to deal with the fact that the
PYD's decision to go its own entirely neutral "third way" from the
very outset has been part of the problem, as well as the problems
arising from Turkish pressure on the opposition and the opposition's
own Arab nationalist background.

PYD leader Salih Muslim admits that they effectively declared
themselves neutral as early as mid-2011:

“Regarding our position in the conflict, the Kurds in Syria had been
fighting for our democratic rights in a country ruled by a dynastic
and despotic regime. But a few months after the uprising we realized
that many who were siding with the insurrection were coming from the
mosques and we thought that those were not good travel companions for
us.” http://kurdistantribune.com/2016/salih-muslim-time-has-proved-us-right/

Yes, thousands of Syrians were pouring out of mosques – one of the
only safe places – and going to protest for democracy against Assad
from the earliest days; it is immensely sectarian (in the political
sense) to see all these people as your enemies “a few months” into the
uprising, as if every worshipper protesting for democracy and freedom
is a crazed jihadist.

In an interview back in 2011, Salih Muslim (who was curiously allowed
back into Syria by Assad, following years of exile), also used
familiar Assadist tropes in defining the uprising as a western “regime
change” operation:

“As PYD, we believe that the international plan asking for a change in
Syria is not in favor of the peoples … In return for assuming the
leading role on Syria, Turkey received compromises by the West on
suppressing the Syrian Kurds. One of the major reasons of the regime
change project in Syria was to eliminate the Kurdish” (PYD Lideri
Salih Müslim ile Röportaj, “Suriye’de Kürtler yol haritası
çıkartıyor”, Firat News Agency, 12 September 2011, cited in
http://www.todayszaman.com/todays-think-tanks_syrias-pkk-game_271361.html).

Then there were the PYD attacks on Kurdish anti-Assad demonstrations,
beginning in Afrin in February 2012. I quoted from Burning Country on
this in a recent post. here is another report:

“On February 3, 2012, organized attacks by sympathizers of the
Democratic Union Party (PYD) injured at least 17 people in ʿAfrin.
Armed PYD supporters surrounded approximately three hundred supporters
of the Kurdish Patriotic Conference as they were gathering for a
dissident demonstration. The PYD demanded that the demonstrators walk
behind their flag. When the demonstrators refused and chanted “Azadî”
(“Freedom”), they were attacked with billy clubs, knives, chains, and
guns.
… Syrian security forces did not intervene. Numerous demonstrators
were brought to the hospital—however, some of them could not be
treated as the PYD also continued its attacks there.”
http://kurdwatch.org/en/interview8/html?aid=2449&z=en

According to the same report, five demonstrations took place the same
day in al-Qamishli. The regime arrested several people, but also
“during the demonstration in al-Antariyah, PYD thugs attacked
activists who were filming the protests with the explanation that only
employees of the PKK stations Roj-TV and Ronahi-TV were allowed to
make such recordings. Three activists suffe

[Marxism] Turkey’s unexpected empire in Syria

[Chris Slee via Marxism]

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https://ahvalnews6.com/turkey-syria/no-exit-turkeys-unexpected-empire-syria


"By August 2016, Turkey’s government felt impelled to order military operations 
that have led to Turkish control over large parts of northern Syria. 
Culminating with the recent assault on the Afrin region, the primary focus of 
these operations has been to prevent the YPG from seizing more territory along 
the Turkish border

"In the first weeks of this intervention many analysts tried to establish 
whether the Turkish military had an exit strategy that would enable it to leave 
Idlib, Afrin and north Aleppo province once it fulfilled its goals. Yet 18 
months after the first Turkish tanks entered the Syrian city of Jarabulus as 
part of Operation Euphrates Shield it is increasingly clear that a swift exit 
from Syria is impossible

"In northern Syria a partnership is therefore emerging between Diyanet 
officials and Turkish army officers who have become accustomed to governing 
large populations as part of a semi-colonial venture. With Turkey’s strategic 
dilemmas making a withdrawal unlikely any time soon, this network of Syria 
hands within Diyanet and the military is developing a vested interest in 
maintaining long-term control over Turkey’s unexpected empire in Syria."

***

I don't agree with the word "unexpected" in the title of this article.  Turkey 
has been determined to suppress the Rojava revolution from its inception.  
Initially it used various reactionary Syrian rebel groups to attack Rojava.  
When this failed Turkish troops were sent into Syria - first into the 
Jarablus/al-Bab area, then into Idlib, then into Afrin.

A full scale invasion of the Democratic Federation of Northern Syria was 
deterred for a time by fear of the response of the US and Russia.

The US needed the Syrian Democratic Forces to fight ISIS, and therefore warned 
Turkey against attacking SDF controlled areas in north-eastern Syria.

Russia controls the airspace over north-western Syria.  This deterred a Turkish 
invasion of Afrin - until Russia and Turkey made a deal.

The Assad regime may not be entirely happy with the deal, since there is no 
guarantee that Turkey will ever leave the area it has occupied.  This may 
explain why a small contingent of pro-Assad militia has gone to Afrin to oppose 
the Turkish invasion.

Chris Slee





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[Marxism] Syria: Women of Afrin call for global support

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https://www.greenleft.org.au/content/syria-women-afrin-call-global-support


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Re: [Marxism] Turkey’s unexpected empire in Syria

[Chris Slee via Marxism]

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RKOB says that "Turkey is hostile to the HTS", and claims this is the 
background to "the current attack of Zenki and Ahrar against the HTS in the 
north of Syria".

But HTS has previously attacked Ahrar al-Sham and other groups, so the latter 
probably don't need Turkey's encouragement to hit back. 

It is not uncommon for rebel groups to fight each other.  In 2014, for example, 
Jabhat al-Nusra attacked the Syrian Revolutionaries Front, a Free Syrian Army 
coalition with a strong presence in Idlib province.  Some of the survivors of 
the SRF fled to Afrin and later became part of the Syrian Democratic Forces.  
Others fled to Turkey.

I agree that HTS is not fully under Turkey's control.  But they have in the 
past worked together to attack Rojava.

Kurdish sources have claimed that "Jabhat al-Nusra" members have joined the 
Turkish invasion of Afrin.  I am not sure if they are referring to current 
members of HTS, or people who have in the past been members of Nusra and retain 
a similar reactionary ideology.

HTS has had various splits, and reportedly still has internal divisions.  See 
Charles Lister: 

https://warontherocks.com/2017/10/turkeys-idlib-incursion-and-the-hts-question-understanding-the-long-game-in-syria/
 

Hence it is conceivable that one part of HTS is collaborating with Turkey to 
attack Afrin while another part of HTS is busy fighting Ahrar al-Sham.

The RCIT places a lot of importance on the fact that HTS rejects the Astana 
agreement.  But groups should be judged on what they are for, not just what 
they are against.  HTS stands for theocratic dictatorship.  They are enemies of 
the Syrian revolution - if by "Syrian revolution" we mean the struggle for 
democracy that began in 2011.  

Their reactionary politics repel the majority of Syrians, causing some 
(particularly the religious minorities) to see Assad as the lesser evil.

Meanwhile Turkey is invading Afrin with the goal of crushing those fighting for 
democracy and women's liberation.  Solidarity with the revolution in northern 
Syria should be our main task.

Chris Slee




From: Marxism  on behalf of RKOB via 
Marxism 
Sent: Tuesday, 6 March 2018 6:39:57 PM
To: Chris Slee
Subject: Re: [Marxism]  Turkey’s unexpected empire in Syria

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I also read this article yesterday. Hence I saw that it also contains
the following:

"/In Idlib, the establishment of a network of Turkish military bases in
January 2018 has led to a concerted attempt by militias backed by Ankara
to expel Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and other jihadist groups from major
towns. As this attempt to reduce HTS’s power unfolds, Diyanet has also
ramped up efforts to take control of welfare and governance across the
province./"

This is another evidence which totally contradicts what you (and other
YPG supporters) argued just 3 weeks ago: that HTS would participate in
Turkey's invasion in Afrin or, more general, that the HTS would be an
agent of Ankara.

It rather confirms what I, and others, have argued since a long time:
that Turkey is hostile to the HTS and is determined to pressurize,
minimize and defeat them.

This is the background of the current attack of Zenki and Ahrar against
the HTS in the north of Syria.

More on this in our latest articles on Syria:

https://www.thecommunists.net/worldwide/africa-and-middle-east/syria-idlib-the-attack-of-the-astana-conspirators-could-be-repelled-thus-far/

https://www.thecommunists.net/worldwide/africa-and-middle-east/turkey-s-hidden-war-against-hts-in-idlib/


Am 06.03.2018 um 06:01 schrieb Chris Slee via Marxism:
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>
> https://ahvalnews6.com/turkey-syria/no-exit-turkeys-unexpected-empire-syria
>
>
> "By August 2016, Turkey’s government felt impelled to order military 
> operations that have led to Turkish control over large parts of northern 
> Syria. Culminating with the recent assault on th

Re: [Marxism] Once again on GLW, Syria, HTS and YPG

[Chris Slee via Marxism]

rin.  I am not sure if they are referring to current 
members of HTS, or people who have in the past been members of Nusra and retain 
a similar reactionary ideology.

HTS has had various splits, and reportedly still has internal divisions.  See 
Charles Lister:

https://warontherocks.com/2017/10/turkeys-idlib-incursion-and-the-hts-question-understanding-the-long-game-in-syria/

Hence it is conceivable that one part of HTS is collaborating with Turkey to 
attack Afrin while another part of HTS is busy fighting Ahrar al-Sham.

The RCIT places a lot of importance on the fact that HTS rejects the Astana 
agreement.  But groups should be judged on what they are for, not just what 
they are against.  HTS stands for theocratic dictatorship.  They are enemies of 
the Syrian revolution - if by "Syrian revolution" we mean the struggle for 
democracy that began in 2011.

Their reactionary politics repel the majority of Syrians, causing some 
(particularly the religious minorities) to see Assad as the lesser evil.

Meanwhile Turkey is invading Afrin with the goal of crushing those fighting for 
democracy and women's liberation.  Solidarity with the revolution in northern 
Syria should be our main task.

Chris Slee




From: Marxism 
<mailto:marxism-boun...@lists.csbs.utah.edu>
 on behalf of RKOB via Marxism 
<mailto:marxism@lists.csbs.utah.edu>
Sent: Tuesday, 6 March 2018 6:39:57 PM
To: Chris Slee
Subject: Re: [Marxism]  Turkey’s unexpected empire in Syria

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I also read this article yesterday. Hence I saw that it also contains
the following:

"/In Idlib, the establishment of a network of Turkish military bases in
January 2018 has led to a concerted attempt by militias backed by Ankara
to expel Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and other jihadist groups from major
towns. As this attempt to reduce HTS’s power unfolds, Diyanet has also
ramped up efforts to take control of welfare and governance across the
province./"

This is another evidence which totally contradicts what you (and other
YPG supporters) argued just 3 weeks ago: that HTS would participate in
Turkey's invasion in Afrin or, more general, that the HTS would be an
agent of Ankara.

It rather confirms what I, and others, have argued since a long time:
that Turkey is hostile to the HTS and is determined to pressurize,
minimize and defeat them.

This is the background of the current attack of Zenki and Ahrar against
the HTS in the north of Syria.

More on this in our latest articles on Syria:

https://www.thecommunists.net/worldwide/africa-and-middle-east/syria-idlib-the-attack-of-the-astana-conspirators-could-be-repelled-thus-far/

https://www.thecommunists.net/worldwide/africa-and-middle-east/turkey-s-hidden-war-against-hts-in-idlib/


Am 06.03.2018 um 06:01 schrieb Chris Slee via Marxism:


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https://ahvalnews6.com/turkey-syria/no-exit-turkeys-unexpected-empire-syria


"By August 2016, Turkey’s government felt impelled to order military operations 
that have led to Turkish control over large parts of northern Syria. 
Culminating with the recent assault on the Afrin region, the primary focus of 
these operations has been to prevent the YPG from seizing more territory along 
the Turkish border

"In the first weeks of this intervention many analysts tried to establish 
whether the Turkish military had an exit strategy that would enable it to leave 
Idlib, Afrin and north Aleppo province once it fulfilled its goals. Yet 18 
months after the first Turkish tanks entered the Syrian city of Jarabulus as 
part of Operation Euphrates Shield it is increasingly clear that a swift exit 
from Syria is impossible

"In northern Syria a partnership is therefore emerging between Diyanet 
officials and Turkish army officers who have become accustomed to governing 
large populations as part of a semi-colonial venture. With Turkey’s strategic 
dilemmas making a withdrawal unlikely any time soon, this network of Syria 
hands within Diyanet and the military is developing a vested interest in 
maintaining long-term control over Turkey’s unexpected empire in Syria."

***

I don't agree with the word "unexpected" in the title of this article.  Turkey 
has been determined to suppress the Rojava revolution from its inception.  

Re: [Marxism] Once again on GLW, Syria, HTS and YPG

[Chris Slee via Marxism]

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Michael Karadjis says:

"Now, if Chris sees Turkey as an imperialist power...then certainly, at very 
least Iran and Saudi Arabia are imperialist in the region, though I prefer the 
term sub-imperialist for all three."

My very tentative view is that Turkey is in a process of becoming an 
imperialist power.

Foreign investment by Turkish capital has grown rapidly in recent years, not 
only in the Middle East, but in Africa, Russia, etc.

Turkey is the strongest military power in the Middle East.  It has invaded 
northern Syria and northern Iraq.  It has troops in Qatar and Somalia.

Whether we call Turkey imperialist or sub-imperialist, it intervenes very 
aggressively in other countries.  It supported rebel groups in Syria, but this 
support was conditional on these groups supporting Turkey's political aims.  In 
particular, they had to support Turkey's campaign against Rojava and the 
Democratic Federation of Northern Syria - a campaign that began with proxy war 
and escalated into outright invasion.

Michael says:

"RKOB is correct that Turkey's plan to eliminate HTS is evidenced by 'the 
current attack of Zenki and Ahrar against the HTS in the north of Syria'."

Charles Lister (who seems well informed about the Turkish state's thinking) 
says Turkey wants to divide HTS and "co-opt" a section of it, rather than 
"eliminate" it as Michael claims.

Michael says:

"Chris speculates that HTS internal divisions may be at play - that 'one part 
of HTS is collaborating with Turkey to attack Afrin while another part of HTS 
is busy fighting Ahrar al-Sham.'  Too byzantine, there is nothing to it Chris.  
The Turkish incursion into Idlib some months back did split HTS - HTS expelled 
the faction which had opposed leaving al-Qaida."

The expulsion of the al-Qaida faction does not exclude the possibility of 
further splits.  There could still be divisions over relations with Turkey.

However I admit this just speculation.

Chris Slee




From: mkaradjis . 
Sent: Friday, 16 March 2018 3:09:33 AM
To: Chris Slee; Activists and scholars in Marxist tradition
Subject: Re: [Marxism] Once again on GLW, Syria, HTS and YPG

Chris:

"Currently the YPG is resisting the Turkish invasion of Afrin.  Turkey
is increasingly acting like an imperialist power, so we can say that
the YPG is resisting Turkish imperialism. By contrast, the HTS is
offering no resistance whatsoever to Turkish imperialism."

Let me say to both Chris and Michael (RCIT): it will be a frustrating
journey trying to focus on who is resisting which "imperialism", and
it is not the decisive factor, because everyone is manouevering for
survival in Syria. Now, if Chris sees Turkey as an imperialist power
(because it "acts" like one, which does not sound very scientific to
me), then certainly, at very least Iran and Saudi Arabia are
imperialist in the region, though I prefer the term sub-imperialist
for all three. So if the YPG is resisting Turkish "imperialism", while
collaborating with US and Russian imperialism throughout the war, then
HTS has fought both US and Russian imperialism and Iranian
"imperialism", so not sure where that all gets us.

Chris says "When Turkish troops first entered Idlib province, they
were escorted by HTS members.  HTS allowed Turkey to build bases in
the territory it controls on the border with Afrin, in preparation for
the invasion of Afrin." That is true. But that does not prove that
Turkey and HTS like each other. Rather, Turkey's main focus at that
point was the SDF in Afrin, so pragmatically left HTS for now; while
HTS, fighting a joint Assad/ISIS offensive in south Idlib and Hama,
also had a pragmatic interest in not confronting Turkey, at that
point.

RKOB is correct that Turkey's plan to eliminate HTS is evidenced by
"the current attack of Zenki and Ahrar against the HTS in the north of
Syria". Chris tries to avoid this conclusion by saying that HTS has
previously attacked them and so they don't need Turkey's encouragement
to hit back. But at that moment, HTS was not attacking them, and they
chose that moment to "hit back" not out of a sudden desire to liberate
Idlib from HTS, but due to their role as Turkish proxies (in general,
I oppose the language of "proxies", but there is a case that Ahrar
al-Sham has become pretty much fully proxified; Zenki is a once proud
group that degenerated into roguishness a few years ago (and until
recently was part of HTS, due to rejection by most other rebel groups
in the north).

I think Chris is a little uncomfortable with these conclusions because
it suggests that some of the same groups attacking the SDFin Afrin are
also attacking HTS in 

Re: [Marxism] Once again on GLW, Syria, HTS and YPG

[Chris Slee via Marxism]

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Michael Karadjis says:

"Look, I agree that the Turkish regime is a bag of shit, but I think there is a 
tendency to exaggerate our pet hate...

"Turkey has only been able to invade northern Syria and northern Iraq because 
in all cases it had the full support of both US and Russian imperialism and the 
tacit support of both the Syrian and Iraqi regimes, based on deals."

Obviously Turkey is much weaker than the US or Russia.  I agree it required 
their consent to invade Syria and Iraq.

But it is also true that Australia is much weaker than the US, and rarely does 
anything without US approval.  Yet Australia is usually considered as an 
imperialist power.

However I am not primarily concerned with definitions (Is Turkey imperialist, 
sub-imperialist or neither?).

Turkey is invading Syria to suppress an experiment in democracy and women's 
liberation (exemplified by the female fighters of the YPJ, and by the system 
where all the elected bodies in the Democratic Federation of Northern Syria 
have both male and female co-chairs).

The Erdogan regime, which is suppressing socialists, democrats and Kurds in 
Turkey, does not want to see a democratic revolution led by socialists, and 
with a high participation of Kurds, in Syria.  It would be an example for the 
people of Turkey.

The left must solidarise with this democratic experiment and give a high 
priority to campaigning against the Turkish invasion.

Chris Slee



From: mkaradjis . 
Sent: Friday, 16 March 2018 11:59:06 PM
To: Chris Slee
Cc: Activists and scholars in Marxist tradition
Subject: Re: [Marxism] Once again on GLW, Syria, HTS and YPG

"Turkey is the strongest military power in the Middle East.  It has
invaded northern Syria and northern Iraq.  It has troops in Qatar and
Somalia."

Look, I agree that the Turkish regime is a bag of shit, but I think
there is a tendency to exaggerate our pet hate. For some it is Iran,
for others it is Saudi Arabia (Saudi-phobia is the respectable-left
Islamophobia), and I guess for some it is Turkey.

Turkey has only been able to invade northern Syria and northern Iraq
because in all cases it had the full support of both US and Russian
imperialism and the tacit support of both the Syrian and Iraqi
regimes, based on deals. None of those cases showed anything about
Turkish "strength". Turkey was able sweep ISIS out of the
Azaz-Jarablus-al-Bab region because it was operating together with the
local anti-Assad Arab population of that region and their local rebel
formations. Another deal with Afrin - despite Assad's rhetoric, it was
clear along this was only aimed at pressuring the SDF into giving up,
never to actually aiding it against Turkey.

Compare that to Iran. It has thousands of its own troops, and heads
thousands and thousands more troops from Lebanon, Iraq, Afghanistan
and Pakistan organised on a sectarian basis, in both Iraq and Syria.
It owns the Iraqi regime in a joint-venture with the US. Yet it is
also not omnipotent. It provides thousands of the ground troops needed
by the Assad regime to smash the rebels, but neither the Iranian-led
jihad nor Assad's own rabble would have had anything like the success
they've had if not for the imperialist Russian airforce terrorising
the whole country from the sky - and no other power has fought against
the Iranians (Trump's rhetoric aside, actual US-Iranian collaboration
stepped up in Syria in 2017).

But where Israel doesn't want Iran around in the south near the Golan,
Russia let's Israel take pot shots when it pleases. Once Assad is
fully victorious, I predict Russia will have the upper hand if it
decides Iran needs to be kicked out.

Much the same, re both the strengths and the weaknesses, could be said
about the Saudi role in the region.


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[Marxism] Fw: New post published Free Leila Hosseinzadeh and Other Iranian Students Who Are on Trial for Demanding Democratic Rights

[Chris Slee via Marxism]

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From: Alliance of Middle Eastern Socialists 
Sent: Sunday, 18 March 2018 2:36:47 PM

Hello ,

We have published new blog in our website. Free Leila Hosseinzadeh and Other 
Iranian Students Who Are on Trial for Demanding Democratic Rights
It was the leftist students at Tehran University who stood in solidarity with 
the nationwide protests and chanted “Reformist or principalist, this story has 
come to an end!”, a powerful slogan that challenged party-centric establishment 
politics and immediately became popular across the country.

by Sina Zekavat

March 16, 2018

After a wave of …
You may view the latest post at 
https://www.allianceofmesocialists.org/free-leila-hosseinzadeh-and-other-iranian-students-who-are-on-trial-for-demanding-democratic-rights/
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[Marxism] Peoples stand up for Afrin worldwide

[Chris Slee via Marxism]

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Peoples stand up for Afrin worldwide:


https://anfenglish.com/news/peoples-stand-up-for-afrin-worldwide-25714


Arms factory supplying Turkey occupied in Naples:

https://anfenglish.com/news/arms-factory-supplying-turkey-occupied-in-naples-25713


Turkey, the most militarily powerful state in the Middle East, is invading 
northern Syria using weapons supplied by its NATO allies such as Italy and 
Germany.  It has received a green light from Russia and the US.


In this context international solidarity is crucial.


Chris Slee


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[Marxism] Southern Kurdistanis speak up against the Turkish invasion

[Chris Slee via Marxism]

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The Turkish army and air force are increasing their intervention in southern 
Kurdistan (northern Iraq).  The Kurdistan Regional Government, which has a 
semi-colonial relationship with Turkey, is allowing this invasion to occur 
without any protest.  But some opposition parties and ordinary citizens are 
protesting.

Chris Slee

***

Southern Kurdistanis speak up against the invasion

https://anfenglish.com/kurdistan/southern-kurdistanis-speak-up-against-the-invasion-25972

Call for action against Turkish occupation of Southern Kurdistan


https://anfenglish.com/kurdistan/call-for-actionhttps://anfenglish.com/kurdistan/


Turkish jets bomb villages in Hewler countryside


https://anfenglish.com/kurdistan/turkish-jets-bomb-villages-in-hewler-countryside-25975

12 Turkish soldiers killed in Southern Kurdistan


12-turkish-soldiers-killed-in-southern-kurdistan-25976





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[Marxism] KCK: South Kurdistan under threat, time for national unity

[Chris Slee via Marxism]

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KCK (Kurdistan Communities Union) statement:

https://anfenglish.com/kurdistan/kck-south-kurdistan-under-threat-time-for-national_unity-26039

"The Turkish state has more than 15 military bases in Bashur Kurdistan [south 
Kurdistan, i.e. northern Iraq]."

"The struggle against the chauvinist and widespread aggression of the Turkish 
state is also a struggle for freedom, democracy, peace and stability of all the 
peoples of the Middle East"

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[Marxism] FARC Santrich arrest: a hard blow to Colombian peace process

[Chris Slee via Marxism]

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FARC Santrich arrest: a hard blow to peace process



https://anfenglish.com/news/farc-santrich-arrest-a-hard-blow-to-peace-process-26040


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[Marxism] Use of chemical weapons by Syrian rebels

[Chris Slee via Marxism]

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In a recent interview Stephen Zunes noted that, while the Assad regime has 
carried out most of the chemical weapon attacks in Syria, including the recent 
attack on Douma, rebel groups have also carried out some chemical attacks.  
Some people have disputed this, but Zunes is correct.

One example is the use of chlorine against the predominantly Kurdish Sheikh 
Maqsoud neighbourhood in Aleppo in 2016:

https://www.amnesty.org.au/syria-armed-groups-war-crimes-aleppo/

The rebels have used chlorine, not sarin.  Only the Assad regime has used 
sarin.  Chlorine is much easier to manufacture and handle.  It is also less 
deadly than sarin.  The symptoms are quite different.

Chris Slee

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[Marxism] ‘The Middle East is already living World War III’

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Report on Sydney demonstration, including speech by Iraqi refugee Dima 
al-Msodny:


https://www.greenleft.org.au/content/%E2%80%98-middle-east-already-living-world-war-iii%E2%80%99



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Re: [Marxism] ‘The Middle East is already living World War III’

[Chris Slee via Marxism]

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RKOB says:

"...why does the report not say a single critical word about the bombing in 
Syria by Russia which is much more significant than the US-NATO bombing..."

I agree we should denounce Russia's bombing that is carried out in support of 
the Assad regime.

RKOB says:

"Furthermore, calling for a 'political settlement' is the logic of the UN and 
the Great Powers and liberals but certainly not of Marxists!  Why does your 
paper not criticize this?"

It depends on the details of the "political settlement".  The outcome of 
negotiations will reflect the political and military balance of forces.

Currently Assad has the upper hand.  With Russian and Iranian help, he has won 
military victories.  In addition, the Russian deal with Turkey strengthens 
Assad by taking some Turkish-backed rebel groups out of the fight against Assad 
and using them to attack the Democratic Federation of Northern Syria.

In this situation Assad probably sees no need for a "negotiated political 
settlement".  He is probably confident of winning the war.

This might change under certain circumstances.  For example:

1. If Russia or Iran cut back their support to Assad, for economic reasons or 
because of political discontent at home;

2. If there was a popular upsurge in Turkey that forced its withdrawal from 
Syria;

3. If anti-war protests broke out amongst that section of the Syrian population 
that currently regards Assad as the lesser evil compared to the rebels (this 
includes the religious minorities).

In these circumstances, Assad might be forced to seek peace.  This might create 
an opportunity for a renewed struggle for democracy that brings people together 
across religious and ethnic divides.

If the DFNS is able to participate in any negotiations that may occur, that 
would provide a platform for publicising its ideas on democratising Syria.  But 
so far the DFNS has been excluded from all negotiations.

Chris Slee

From: Chris Slee 
Sent: Tuesday, 24 April 2018 3:28:59 PM
To: marxism@lists.csbs.utah.edu
Subject: ‘The Middle East is already living World War III’


Report on Sydney demonstration, including speech by Iraqi refugee Dima 
al-Msodny:


https://www.greenleft.org.au/content/%E2%80%98-middle-east-already-living-world-war-iii%E2%80%99



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[Marxism] May Day in Turkey

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May 1 in Diyarbakır: Time to stop AKP-MHP

https://anfenglish.com/kurdistan/may-1-in-diyarbakir-time-to-stop-akp-mhp-26408

Thousands in Istanbul shout: AKP-MHP will fall!



https://anfenglish.com/news/thousands-in-istanbul-shout-akp-mhp-will-fall-26412


84 people detained in Istanbul on May Day:



https://anfenglish.com/news/84-people-detained-in-istanbul-on-may-day-26416
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[Marxism] PKK’s message for May 1 and a “united struggle against fascism”

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PKK’s message for May 1 and a “united struggle against fascism”:


https://anfenglish.com/news/pkk-s-message-for-may-1-and-a-united-struggle-against-fascism-26386
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[Marxism] Meredith Tax: A Road Unforeseen (book review) - Links

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 http://links.org.au/road-unforeseen-kurdish-women-fight-islamic-state-syria



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[Marxism] Selahattin Demirtaş: The people’s candidate in Turkey's presidential election (ANF)

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https://anfenglish.com/features/selahattin-demirtas-the-people-s-candidate-26471


https://anfenglish.com/features/demirtas-the-hdp-will-be-the-best-surprise-of-the-election-26470
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[Marxism] Fw: Meredith Tax: A Road Unforeseen: Women fight the Islamic State (book review) - Links

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When Meredith Tax saw pictures of gun-toting Kurdish women defending the 
northern Syrian town of Kobane against Daesh (the so-called "Islamic State") in 
2014, she was inspired to find out more. This book is the eventual outcome of 
her research.

 http://links.org.au/road-unforeseen-kurdish-women-fight-islamic-state-syria


(I am sending this again.  I was expecting it would promote some debate.  The 
lack of response may indicate that people have not read it because the heading 
was unclear about the content)


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[Marxism] Former FARC guerrilla killed, peace struggling in Colombia (ANF)

[Chris Slee via Marxism]

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https://anfenglish.com/news/former-farc-guerrilla-killed-peace-struggling-in-colombia-26577
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[Marxism] Mass protests against weapons giant Rheinmetall (ANF)

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"Rheinmetall, the largest weapons manufacturer in Germany who modernized the 
Turkish state’s tanks, was protested in mass demonstrations in two cities."



https://anfenglish.com/news/mass-protests-against-weapons-giant-rheinmetall-26565
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[Marxism] "There can be no question of fair elections in Turkey" (ANF)

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https://anfenglish.com/news/there-can-be-no-question-of-fair-elections-in-turkey-26597
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[Marxism] Turkey: HDP election manifestos (ANF)

[Chris Slee via Marxism]

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Turkey will be holding presidential and parliamentary elections on June 24.


With thousands of political prisoners, the political climate is very 
repressive.  Nevertheless the HDP (Peoples Democratic Party) is participating 
in the elections.


Selahattin Demirtaş, the HDP presidential candidate, is currently in prison, as 
are many other HDP members.


***


HDP election manifesto:


https://anfenglish.com/news/hdp-election-manifesto-we-will-change-this-power-26673


Selahattin Demirtaş election manifesto:


https://anfenglish.com/news/demirtas-s-manifesto-vows-to-end-the-one-man-rule-26672


***


notes on the parties:


AKP - Erdogan's party - Islamist


MHP - right wing Turkish nationalist


CHP - sometimes described as social democratic, but also described as Kemalist, 
meaning Turkish nationalist and hostile to Kurdish aspirations


HDP - leftist, for Kurdish rights


Currently the AKP and MHP rule in coalition.


Chris Slee



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[Marxism] The Rojava Revolution favours new education system

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https://anfenglish.com/rojava/the-rojava-revolution-favours-new-education-system-26700

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[Marxism] PKK condemns Gaza massacre; HDP denounces Erdogan's hypocrisy (ANF)

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PKK condemns Gaza massacre:


https://anfenglish.com/kurdistan/pkk-condemns-gaza-massacre-26697


HDP co-chair: Palestine turned into propaganda material in Turkey:

https://anfenglish.com/news/hdp-co-chair-palestine-turned-into-propaganda-material-in-turkey-26703

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[Marxism] FARC Jesus Santrich suspends hunger strike (ANF)

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https://anfenglish.com/news/farc-jesus-santrich-suspends-hunger-strike-26799
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[Marxism] Argentina haunted by the ghost of the financial crack (ANF)

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https://anfenglish.com/news/argentina-haunted-by-the-ghost-of-the-financial-crack-26781
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[Marxism] Colombia election - results of first round (ANF)

[Chris Slee via Marxism]

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https://anfenglish.com/news/ivan-duque-and-gustavo-petro-go-to-second-turn-in-colombia-26995


"Colombian voters voted on Sunday 27 May in the first round of the presidential 
elections

"The results returned as winner Iván Duque, the candidate and godson of the 
ex-president Alvaro Uribe, representative of a right linked to the most 
conservative and his old violent practices, with a total of the 39% of votes.

"Second place for the "incorrect" candidate, Gustavo Petro, representing the 
center-left and social democratic positions, who managed to get just over 25% 
of the vote."



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Re: [Marxism] [UCE] Discussing the nature of the Chinese state

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A couple of my articles on the nature of the Chinese state:

1. Capitalism and workers' struggle in China:

http://links.org.au/node/2349

2. Are Russia and China imperialist powers?

http://links.org.au/node/3795

Chris Slee


From: Marxism  on behalf of Andrew Pollack 
via Marxism 
Sent: Tuesday, 29 May 2018 10:54:04 PM
To: Chris Slee
Subject: [Marxism] [UCE] Discussing the nature of the Chinese state

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Discussing the nature of the Chinese state with Professor Dic Lo

by Au Loong-Yu

http://internationalviewpoint.org/spip.php?article5537
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[Marxism] Colombia: FARC denounce 3 more killings of former guerrillas (ANF)

[Chris Slee via Marxism]

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https://anfenglish.com/news/farc-denounce-3-more-killings-of-former-guerrillas-27049
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Re: [Marxism] [UCE] Kurdish Military Delegation Visits Israel

[Chris Slee via Marxism]

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Barzani's KDP, which controls the Kurdistan Regional Government (in the Kurdish 
region of Iraq), has long had a close relationship with Israel.


It also has a close relationship with Turkey, based in part on a shared 
hostility to the PKK and PYD.


Chris Slee



From: Marxism  on behalf of RKOB via 
Marxism 
Sent: Tuesday, 5 June 2018 3:40 PM
To: Chris Slee
Subject: [Marxism] [UCE] Kurdish Military Delegation Visits Israel

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https://www.qasioun-news.com/en/news/show/148657/Kurdish_Military_Delegation_Visits_Israel

--
Revolutionär-Kommunistische Organisation BEFREIUNG
(Österreichische Sektion der RCIT, 
www.thecommunists.net)
www.rkob.net
ak...@rkob.net
Tel./SMS/WhatsApp/Telegram: +43-650-4068314



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[Marxism] Turkey: After Afrîn occupation, Erdoğan dreams of empire

[Chris Slee via Marxism]

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https://www.greenleft.org.au/content/turkey-after-afrin-occupation-erdogan-dreams-empire


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[Marxism] Turkish election June 24

[Chris Slee via Marxism]

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Presidential and parliamentary elections will be held in Turkey on June 24.


The HDP (Peoples Democratic Party) presidential candidate, Selahattin Demirtaş, 
is in prison.  Erdogan has threatened to have him executed:


https://anfenglish.com/news/demirtas-responds-to-erdogan-s-death-penalty-message-27365


HDP campaign workers are being intimidated and harassed.  See for example:


https://anfenglish.com/news/hdp-members-detained-election-vehicle-seized-in-Izmir-27372


https://anfenglish.com/news/14-hdp-members-detained-in-police-crackdown-in-Izmir-27354


Nevertheless the HDP is campaigning vigorously, with large rallies being held:


https://anfenglish.com/news/hdp-s-buldan-we-will-bring-the-akp-regime-down-27367


https://anfenglish.com/news/hdp-s-buldan-erdogan-is-about-to-expire-27342


https://anfenglish.com/news/hdp-s-temelli-we-ll-end-the-all-war-policy-of-the-akp-27276


The government is using voter suppression tactics, refusing to set up polling 
booths in Kurdish villages where most people are expected to vote for the HDP.  
Other dirty tricks are also likely.


Nevertheless the HDP is hopeful of exceeding the 10 percent threshold for 
representation in parliament.


Chris Slee

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[Marxism] Turkey: HDP report: Over 200 detentions, 57 attacks in 45 days (ANF)

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HDP report: Over 200 detentions, 57 attacks in 45 days:


https://anfenglish.com/news/hdp-report-over-200-detentions-57-attacks-in-45-days-27384


“HDP will succeed no matter where they move the ballot boxes”:


https://anfenglish.com/kurdistan/hdp-will-succeed-no-matter-where-they-move-the-ballot-boxes-27377
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Re: [Marxism] Has the Trump-Kim Summit Opened the Road to Peace in East Asia?

[Chris Slee via Marxism]

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Michael Karadjis says:  "... the Israel-Iran clash is a
war of rhetoric, predicated on geographic distance."

It is not purely a war of rhetoric.  Israel has bombed Iranian targets in Syria.

While Iran is distant from Israel, Lebanon is not.  Israel is worried at the 
growing strength of Hezbollah, which is an ally of Iran.  Hence Israel takes 
military action against the Iran-Hezbollah alliance.


Neither RKOB nor Michael Karadjis mention the conflict between the Turkish 
state and the Kurdish people, even though I would have thought that this was 
one of the "fundamental and long-term conflicts of interest" in the Middle 
East.  Turkey is currently occupying parts of northern Syria and Iraq, with the 
goal of suppressing Kurdish self-determination as well as the broader struggle 
for democracy.

Chris Slee





From: Marxism  on behalf of mkaradjis via 
Marxism 
Sent: Monday, 18 June 2018 1:28:19 AM
To: Chris Slee
Subject: Re: [Marxism] Has the Trump-Kim Summit Opened the Road to Peace in 
East Asia?

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Some comments on your reply. Stressing again that I am in agreement
with the great majority of what you say, especially on Syria.

> In our RCIT statements we have not given a timeline for the next war. But I
> think we have to look at the fundamental, irreversible lines of class
> contradictions. Against the background of a global crisis of capitalism, the
> contradictions both between the Great Powers as well as between the regional
> powers are accelerating. I think that we can agree on this.

In general terms yes. But (a) as you say there is no timeline for "the
next war", so it may, when (and if) it comes, be very far away in time
from whatever the current rounds of rhetoric are, keeping in mind that
rhetoric serves its own purposes, (b) growing contradictions between
powers, and war (of any substantial scale) are not the same thing, and
(c) the main contradictions between various powers may be very
different to which powers happen to hurling the most rhetoric. So, on
that point, it seems the main competitors with US imperialism are
European imperialism and Chinese imperialism. That thus looks a little
different to your list of what you call "fundamental and long-term
conflicts of interests" in the Middle East, where you list:

> U.S. vs. Russia
> Iran vs. Saudi Arabia
> Israel vs. the Palestinian people
> Israel vs. Iran/Hezbollah
> U.S. vs. Iran
> Russia vs. U.S. vs. Iran vs. Turkey vs. Assad in Syria

The one and only fundamental contradiction I see in that list is
between Israel and the Palestinian people, which of course has no
connection to the inter-imperialist contradictions we are talking
about. Rather, it is part of the more general main contradiction in
the region, that between all the imperialist and regional reactionary
regimes you listed, on one side, and the peoples of the region on the
other. In the last 7 years, this has above all meant the Syrian
people, though earlier in the Arab Spring it also meant the Egyptian,
Bahrainian etc people.

As such, where you claim that one of the "fundamental" contradictions
is "Russia vs. U.S. vs. Iran vs. Turkey vs. Assad in Syria", then
respectfully I disagree. I see no fundamental contradiction in any
sense between the Russia, the US, Iran, Turkey and Assad (or Saudi
Arabia or Israel) in Syria. The differences are largely tactical (eg,
over how best to crush the revolution), or reflect secondary alliances
and trying to get some ally's interests a little ahead of someone
else's within the overall fundamental agreement that exists over the
counterrevolutionary victory.

The only other contradiction on your list that I think has a powerful
reality and so I suppose comes close to "fundamental" is the Iran vs
Saudi Arabia one: clearly these are two sub-imperialist powers who are
rivals for regional domination, and this geopolitical rivalry often
takes on sectarian overtones. By contrast, the Israel-Iran clash is a
war of rhetoric, predicated on geographic distance. It might be easier
to explain it as rivalry like the Saudi-Iran clash, but over what?
Given that Israel can have zero influence in the Arab world (unless it
did some kind of deal with Palestine, the opposite direction from
Israeli governments for at least 20 years).

The much hyped US vs Russia one may have some more importance to

[Marxism] Turkish expansionism in Iraq and Syria - the Golan Heights model

[Chris Slee via Marxism]

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Iraqi Kurdish writer Kemal Rauf says that the aim of the Turkish invasion of 
northern Iraq is changing the demography of the region: “Turkey is working hard 
to this end in Bradost. They have begun to give identity card to some people. 
They're working to make some of them village guards. Turkey's plan looks like 
the plan imposed by Israel in the Golan.”


https://anfenglishmobile.com/kurdistan/writer-kemal-rauf-turkey-plans-to-occupy-all-kurdistan-27575



Turkey is also invading northern Syria.  It currently occupies Afrin, and the 
Jarablus-Azaz-al-Bab area.  Erdogan has publicly stated his intention to invade 
Manbij.


The people of Manbij have rallied and pledged to defend the city:


https://anfenglishmobile.com/news/people-of-manbij-rallied-to-say-no-to-turkish-occupation-27576


Chris Slee

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[Marxism] Turkish elections

[Chris Slee via Marxism]

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Presidential and parliamentary elections will occur in Turkey on Sunday.

There are six presidential candidates.  The three main ones are:

Recep Tayyip Erdogan, representing the current government, an alliance between 
the Islamist AKP and the reactionary Turkish nationalist MHP;

Muharrem Ince, representing the social democratic/Kemalist CHP;

Selahattin Demirtas, representing the leftist HDP.

Demirtas is in prison, as are thousands of HDP members.

The Turkish media is pro-Erdogan.  However by law, all presidential candidates 
are allowed to do a broadcast on state TV.  Demirtas did his broadcast from 
prison.  He has also issued other statements, sent out of prison via his 
lawyers.




Demirtaş' TV speech from prison:


https://anfenglishmobile.com/news/demirtas-tv-speech-from-prison-27522

Demirtaş: We will cancel HED projects:



https://anfenglishmobile.com/news/demirtas-we-will-cancel-hed-projects-27564



Hundreds of thousands of people flock to HDP rally in Amed:



https://anfenglishmobile.com/news/hundreds-of-thousands-of-people-flock-to-hdp-rally-in-amed-27580




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[Marxism] Liberals criticize the Korea summit from the right (Sarah Lazare)

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http://links.org.au/liberals-criticize-korea-summit-wrong

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[Marxism] Turkish elections - statement by HDP

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(The AKP has claimed victory though the results have not yet been officially 
announced)

***

First statement by HDP Buldan and Temelli:
(Statement by HDP co-chairs):



https://anfenglishmobile.com/news/first-statement-by-hdp-buldan-and-temelli-27715



A new period of struggle is awaiting Turkey:
(ANF comment):



https://anfenglishmobile.com/news/a-new-period-of-struggle-is-awaiting-turkey-27716

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[Marxism] Poll shows 58% of ‘Millennials’ in Australia favourable to socialism

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https://www.greenleft.org.au/content/poll-shows-58-%E2%80%98millennials%E2%80%99-australia-favourable-socialism

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Re: [Marxism] DSA member Ocasio-Cortez elected

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Louis Proyect says that "Fidel Castro started out as a bourgeois politician".

It is true that Castro was a member of the bourgeois Cuban Peoples Party, and 
was chosen as a candidate for that party in the 1952 elections, which were 
never held because of Batista's coup.

But Castro was not simply a "bourgeois politician".  He was the leader of a 
radical current within the CPP.

He later explained his thinking at that time as follows:

"I saw that the Cuban communists were isolated due to the pervasive atmosphere 
of imperialism, McCarthyism and reactionary politics. No matter what they did 
they remained isolated …

"So, I worked out a strategy for carrying out a deep social revolution — but 
gradually, by stages …

"I realised that the masses were decisive, that the masses were extremely angry 
and discontented. They did not understand the social essence of the problem; 
they were confused. They attributed unemployment, poverty, and the lack of 
schools, hospitals, job opportunities and housing — almost everything — to 
administrative corruption, embezzlement and the perversity of the politicians.

"The Cuban Peoples Party had harnessed much of that discontent, but they did 
not particularly blame the capitalist system and imperialism for it …

"The people were confused, but they were also desperate and able to fight … The 
people had to be led along the road of revolution by stages, step by step, 
until they achieved full political consciousness and confidence in their future.

"I worked out all these ideas by reading and studying Cuban history, the Cuban 
personality and distinguishing characteristics, and Marxism."

(Interview with Frei Betto, cited in Fidel: My Early Years, Ocean Press, 
Melbourne, 2005, p. 155-157)

Castro later established the July 26 Movement, which fought for democracy and 
radical social reform, but was not explicitly socialist.

It was only several years after the overthrow of Batista that the Cuban 
Communist Party was established through the merger of the July 26 Movement, PSP 
and Revolutionary Directorate.

See:  http://links.org.au/node/1451

The conclusion I would draw from this is that we should not be too schematic 
about party building methods.  I am not proposing to give any advice to US 
comrades on what they should do.

Chris Slee


From: Marxism  on behalf of Louis Proyect 
via Marxism 
Sent: Saturday, 30 June 2018 1:04:39 PM
To: Chris Slee
Subject: Re: [Marxism] DSA member Ocasio-Cortez elected

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On 6/29/18 10:49 PM, Nick Fredman wrote:
>
> But it seems to me that it’s the exactly the absence of an NDP or Labor
> Party that has meant the US Democrats have absorbed the functions that
> such parties play in other capitalist countries.

Well, look. In this hemisphere, there are no labor parties or socialist
parties of any significance outside of the NDP in Canada. I don't have
the time nor the energy to explain how that happened. I should add that
there was one in Chile but it got destroyed after Pinochet.

The USA, like all these other countries to its south, has two major
bourgeois parties--one liberal and one conservative. Nicaragua was a
prime example. Even Sandino was a partisan of the Liberal Party. Cuba
had the same deal. Fidel Castro started out as a bourgeois politician.
What made Fidel Castro and Carlos Fonseca stand out was their defiant
break with the Liberal/Conservative hegemonic system.

In the USA, we had someone like that. His name was Malcolm X and they
killed him because of his intransigence. If you want to run as a
Democrat, just do the left a favor and stop calling yourself a socialist.


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[Marxism] Manbij: developing democracy, resisting the Turkish threat

[Chris Slee via Marxism]

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After the invasion of Afrin, Manbij is likely to be the next target of Turkish 
military intervention in Syria.  (Turkey is also intervening in Iraq).

During the Turkish election campaign, Erdogan claimed that Turkish troops had 
already entered Manbij.  This was untrue, but it indicates Erdogan's intentions.

The people of Manbij are preparing to resist:

https://anfenglish.com/rojava/manbij-military-council-establishes-4th-regiment-27852/

Meanwhile, according to Emel Dede, a representative of the Turkmen people in 
the Manbij Democratic Civil Administration:  "We will not give up developing 
democracy in Manbij".

https://anfenglish.com/features/emel-dede-we-put-manbij-back-on-its-feet-27982/


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[Marxism] Question

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Theodor Postol argues that the rebels are responsible for the release of sarin 
at Khan Sheikhoun.  His key argument is that the damaged missile found at the 
site could not have been bent in the particular way it was if it was dropped 
from the air.  Instead he says it was damaged by an explosion on the ground.

Has there been any refutation of this argument by a technical expert  (Sorry if 
this has already been answered and I missed it)

On the whole I tend to believe the Assad regime did it.  If Nusra (or any other 
rebel group) had access to sarin, it is strange that they have not (as far as I 
am aware) used it against Assad's troops or regime controlled areas.  (They 
have used chlorine)

  Still, I would like an answer to the technical question.

Chris Slee

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[Marxism] Pro-government marchers flood Venezuela’s capital amid right-wing violence, coup threats

[Chris Slee via Marxism]

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https://www.greenleft.org.au/content/pro-government-marchers-flood-venezuela%E2%80%99s-capital-amid-right-wing-violence-coup-threats


Tens of thousands of Venezuelans took to the streets of the capital on April 19 
in huge pro-government rallies marking the country’s independence day.  
Thousands of right-wing opposition also took to the streets in often violent 
protests. The day after the large pro- and anti-government marches, more 
right-wing violence broke out. The government accused opposition protesters of 
attacking public institutions, including a maternity hospital, on April 20. Ten 
people were also confirmed dead after a riot in Caracas. On April 19, thousands 
of red-clad supporters of President Nicolas Maduro mobilised in four separate 
marches that culminated in a mass rally along Bolivar Avenue in downtown 
Caracas. “I am here to support the Revolution … because I love my country,” one 
marcher told Venezuelanalysis.com. “I’m a Chavista in the flesh and I support 
Chavez and Maduro.

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[Marxism] "Khiyana" on Rojava

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I have recently read the book "Khiyana: Daesh, the Left and the Unmaking of the 
Syrian Revolution" (edited by Jules Alford and Andy Wilson).

I won't review the whole book at this time.  I have previously reviewed Burning 
Country, by Robin Yassin-Kassab and Leila al-Shami (al-Shami is also a 
contributor to Khiyana) : 
http://links.org.au/node/4679

I will just comment on Khiyana's coverage of the Rojava revolution.  While 
acknowledging some positive developments in Rojava, the authors are hostile to 
the PYD.

The book contains an interview with Shiar Neyo, a Syrian-Kurdish activist who 
has lived in exile for a decade.  Neyo says that the situation in Rojava is 
"complicated":

"On the one hand, it seems that the experience has begun to achieve commendable 
gains, such as secular management of the state apparatus, ensuring greater 
rights for women and the participation of minorities in administration, a 
greater participation and more agency for the local population in the 
management of their affairs...

"On the other hand, however, the experiment may well end with the strengthening 
of the PYD's dominance and the increase of oppression in the name of protecting 
these gains, along with their gradual squandering in return for narrow 
political interests." (Khiyana, p.242)  Neyo accuses the PYD of suppressing 
dissent (arresting political opponents "under a variety of excuses", closing a 
radio station, etc).  

Responding to similar accusations from Human Rights Watch, the Rojava 
administration has said it is committed to democracy and human rights, but 
faces severe objective difficulties:   "However, it is necessary to bear in 
mind the extraordinary circumstances under which we live: the constant threat 
of war, the devastating blockade, the flux of refugees, the shortages of basic 
services related to communication, electricity, water and many other 
challenges..."  

They say they do not punish people for their political views, but only for 
criminal actions. (See the Democratic Self-Rule Administration's response to 
Human Rights Watch report)

I am not in a position to judge the validity of Neyo's claims. But if the 
Rojava revolutionaries sometimes fall short of their own democratic principles, 
this would not be surprising.  Societies at war or under siege often suppress 
dissent.

Rojava has been under continous military attack by ISIS, Jabhat al-Nusra and 
other groups backed by Turkey.  There have also been intermittent attacks by 
the Assad regime.

Rojava has also been under a blockade by Turkey and the Kurdistan Regional 
Government (i.e. the government of the Kurdish region of Iraq, which is 
extremely hostile to the Rojava revolution). 

The ENKS, a coalition of Kurdish political groups opposing the PYD, is aligned 
with the KRG.  Hence the KRG's blockade of Rojava would be expected to cause 
hostility to the ENKS.

Neyo recognises that Rojava has been attacked by Turkish-backed forces.  He 
says that some activists who have been critical of the PYD have now joined the 
YPG/YPJ to fight against these forces:

"After armed Islamist factions - the Islamic State of Iraq and Sham (ISIS) and 
Jabhat Al-Nusra in particular - started to attack Kurdish areas in mid-2013, 
igniting a war that continues unabated between them and the PYD forces, many 
Syrian-Kurds started to change their position towards the PYD and the YPG 
forces that it dominates.

"The Islamist factions are fighting this battle under an Islamist banner some 
times and under an Arabist banner at others. But the real engine behind them is 
the Turkish government, the arch-enemy of the Kurds... 

"The combination of these factors has pushed many Kurdish-Syrians to accepting 
the PYD's authority out of self-defence or out of fear that the radical 
Islamists might win and subsequently impose their rule and their values that 
are alien to the local population, like what happened in al-Raqqa...

"Even those most critical of the party started to see it as the 'lesser of two 
evils'.  I know many Kurdish activists in Qamishli, Amuda and other areas  who, 
before these developments, used to organise demonstrations and write against 
the PYD, but have now suddenly started volunteering in the ranks of the YPG, 
which is largely controlled by the PYD, to fight against the Islamists for the 
reasons previously mentioned".  (Khiyana, p. 240)

I would add that some parties previously part of the ENKS have left it and 
begun to participate in the Rojava revolution.

Neyo does not discuss the political ideas of the PYD.  He doesn't  mention the 
PYD's program of democratic confederalism.  Those interested should read the 
b

[Marxism] The people of Shehba [northern Syria] angry at the Turkish state

[Chris Slee via Marxism]

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https://anfenglish.com/rojava/the-people-of-shehba-angry-at-the-turkish-state-19985
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[Marxism] Syria: Amid terror, blockades, autonomous democratic federation struggles to meet refugee needs

[Chris Slee via Marxism]

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https://www.greenleft.org.au/content/syria-amid-terror-blockades-autonomous-democratic-federation-struggles-meet-refugee-needs

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Re: [Marxism] The people of Shehba [northern Syria] angry at the Turkish state

[Chris Slee via Marxism]

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Michael Karadjis says:  "Tal Rifaat and the surrounding areas were not regions 
the YPG liberated from ISIS with help from US air strikes, they are 
Arab-majority areas the YPG conquered from the FSA/rebels with help from 
Russian air strikes, in February 2016".

But Tal Rifaat, before the Syrian Democratic Forces took over, was not 
controlled solely by groups using the name Free Syrian Army.  Jabhat al-Nusra 
and Ahrar al-Sham were also present.  Given that these groups had a history of 
attacking Kurdish areas, and given also the oppressive nature of their rule in 
the areas they control, it is not surprising that the Syrian Democratic Forces 
wanted to drive them out of Tal Rifaat.

Michael says:  "This is the town, by the way, from where the FSA rebels 
launched their massive attack on ISIS in January 2014 that permanently cleared 
ISIS out of the whole of western Syria".

While ISIS was driven out of western Syria in 2014, Jabhat al-Nusra remained 
and continued to oppress people (e.g. the forced conversion of the Druze).  
Later in 2014 Nusra attacked and wiped out the Syrian Revolutionaries Front, a 
coalition of FSA groups in Idlib province.  Some of the survivors fled to 
YPG-controlled areas, and later helped form the Syrian Democratic Forces.  
Others capitulated to Nusra, or allowed themselves to be used by Turkey in its 
war against Rojava and the northern Syria federation.

The crushing of the SRF by Nusra weakened secular rebel groups in north-western 
Syria.  They could survive only as junior partners of Islamist groups and/or 
the Turkish state.

Chris Slee



From: mkaradjis . 
Sent: Saturday, 13 May 2017 11:07:31 PM
To: Chris Slee; Activists and scholars in Marxist tradition
Subject: Re: [Marxism] The people of Shehba [northern Syria] angry at the 
Turkish state

yes we should condemn any Turkish bombings of course, but I am just
wondering why Chris felt it important to send this piece of standard
Stalinist-style propaganda? The "FSA gangs" did this and that, as we
know because the media of a US-backed and Assad-backed one-party state
says so.

"The areas intensely targeted by the Turkish state after the Astana
Treaty are villages and hamlets like Sheikh İsa, Tal Rifat, Um-Hosh
and Ayn Daqne liberated by the revolutionary forces in intense clashes
last year."

Yeh, Tal Rifaat and the surrounding areas, were not regions the YPG
liberated from ISIS with help from US air strikes, they are
Arab-majority areas the YPG conquered from the FSA/rebels with help
from Russian air strikes, in February 2016. They expelled the
population of Tal Rifaat, who live in Azaz and other towns closer to
the Turkish border. In a famous scene, YPG thugs gloated over the
corpses of FSA defenders of Tal Rifaat. This si the town, by the way,
from where the FSA/rebels launched their massive attack on ISIS in
January 2014 that permanently cleared ISIS out of the whole of western
Syria.

As for Sheikh Isa, this is a town between the YPG-conquered Menagh air
base and the (still) rebel-held town Mare, which hadn't been conquered
by the Russian/YPG attack in February 2016. Around half way through
last year, ISIS was launching a furious offensive against Mare from
the east. At that point, the ultra-opportunist YPG (sorry, "SDF"),
decided this was a good time to *collaborate with ISIS* by launching
an offensive against the rebels in Sheikh Isa and Mare from the west.
Under attack from both sides, the Mare rebels were offered the great
deal by the YPG that they only have to cede Sheikh Isa, and the YPG
will stop aiding the ISIS attack on Mare.

"We do not accept the Turkish state’s invasion operation." No, but the
Russian state's invasion, that's OK, we collaborate with that. But not
as much as with the Americans - they are fantastic.

On Sat, May 13, 2017 at 12:50 PM, Chris Slee via Marxism
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>
>
> https://anfenglish.com/rojava/the-people-of-shehba-angry-at-the-turkish-state-19985
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Re: [Marxism] Fwd: U.S. Helps Drive 200, 000 Syrians From Their Homes

[Chris Slee via Marxism]

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Roy Gutman was in northern Syria as a guest of the Turkish government.  He 
effectively admits this when he says:

"Reporting on the civilians displaced by the Raqqa offensive has been sparse, 
partly because of limited access.  Citing security concerns, the Turkish 
government restricts reporters' access to the territory that it controls.  The 
government permitted a Daily Beast reporter to travel here only under escort 
and provided an armored SUV and armed Syrian rebel units in two pickup trucks 
for protection".

Thus, Gutman was embedded with the Turkish army and its allied militias.  He 
seems to be Turkey's equivalent of Vanessa Beeley.

Hence it is no surprise that this article contains allegations of anti-Arab 
racism on the part of the Syrian Democratic Front.  These allegations should be 
treated with skepticism.

Gutman cites UN reports, but draws incorrect conclusions from them.  He says:  
"According to a May 28 UN report, 200,000 civilians have been made homeless 
since November - all from ISIS-controlled towns and villages surrounding 
Raqqa".  This is the result of heavy fighting in the area, but Gutman talks of 
"ethnic cleansing".

He admits that some of the displaced people have returned to their homes, but 
implies that most will not be allowed to do so.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs report is critical 
of some measures taken by the SDF (e.g. "lengthy security checks", involving 
"confiscating ID cards and travel documents", and "delayed return of IDs or 
travel documentation").  But it makes no suggestion that these practices are 
ethnically motivated, or that there is an intention to permanently prevent most 
of the displaced people from returning to their homes.

Some displaced people have been unable to return home due to hazards such as 
unexploded mines.  For example, the UN report mentions that in the town of 
Tabqa, "The process of removing mines continues in the National Hospital and 
its surroundings".  

Despite this, the report says that more than 15,000 displaced people have 
returned to Tabqa, bringing its population up to 35,000, compared to 80,000 
before the fighting.  

(More recently, according to Kurdish sources, the population of Tabqa has 
reached 65,000)

The UN report gives a number of other examples of people returning home, 
including the following:

"People continue to return to their communities of origin in the villages of 
the Ar-Raqqa sub-district such as Tal Elsamen Dahham, Sukariyet Tal Elsamen, 
Thulth Khneiz, Abbara, Kalta, Hilo Abed and Rohayat...

"On 21 May SDF allowed approximately 6,000 people to return to their home town 
Hazima..."

Despite its bias, Gutman's article does make one useful point.  He points out  
that the US is not giving any aid to refugees in SDF-controlled areas.  The UN 
is only able to send a small amount of aid, due to the blockade by Turkey and 
the [Iraqi] Kurdistan Regional Government.

Chris Slee



From: Marxism  on behalf of Louis Proyect 
via Marxism 
Sent: Thursday, 1 June 2017 10:59 PM
To: Chris Slee
Subject: [Marxism] Fwd: U.S. Helps Drive 200,000 Syrians From Their Homes

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After U.S. bombing ousts ISIS militants from the villages they’ve
occupied, the proxies on the ground set up by the U.S.—the Syrian
Democratic Forces—enter the villages and order the mostly Arab
population to leave at gunpoint. People say they are stripped of their
identity cards and herded like livestock to a transit camp.
The SDF, which has Arabs in its ranks but is dominated by Kurds, tells
these internally displaced persons, or IDPs, as they are called in
humanitarian jargon, that they can return to their homes if they find a
local sponsor. Otherwise, their only option is to exit the region. Many
arrive in Jarablus bearing only travel papers authorizing a one-way trip
out of the Raqqa area within 24 hours.

full:
http://www.thedailybeast.com/us-helps-drive-20-syrians-from-their-homes
[http://img.thedailybeast.com/image/upload/v1496285931/170530-Gutman-Syria-03_ucwzue.jpg]

U.S. Helps Drive 200,000 Syrians From Their 
Homes
www.thedailybeast.com
The latest round in Syria’s humanitarian catastrophe

Re: [Marxism] Fwd: U.S. Helps Drive 200, 000 Syrians From Their Homes

[Chris Slee via Marxism]

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I have not looked at his previous writings.


He might have been good 20 years ago.



From: Louis Proyect 
Sent: Tuesday, 6 June 2017 11:13 AM
To: Chris Slee; Activists and scholars in Marxist tradition
Subject: Re: [Marxism] Fwd: U.S. Helps Drive 200,000 Syrians From Their Homes

On 6/5/17 8:33 PM, Chris Slee wrote:
> Thus, Gutman was embedded with the Turkish army and its allied militias.  He 
> seems to be Turkey's equivalent of Vanessa Beeley.

No, he is just being Roy Gutman. When he was writing articles denouncing
Milosevic as a genocidal monster, he never got on your shit list, did he?
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[Marxism] Fw: The Need For A New U.S. Foreign Policy Toward North Korea

[Chris Slee via Marxism]

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~~ T h e B u l l e t ~~~
A Socialist Project e-bulletin  No. 1431  June 13, 2017


The Need For A New U.S. Foreign Policy Toward North 
Korea
Marty Hart-Landsberg

USA-North Korean relations remain very tense, although the threat of a new 
Korean War has thankfully receded. Still the U.S. government remains determined 
to tighten economic sanctions on North Korea and continues to plan for a 
military strike aimed at destroying the country's nuclear infrastructure. And 
the North for its part has made it clear that it would respond to any attack 
with its own strikes against U.S. bases in the region and even the U.S. itself.

This is not good, but it is important to realize that what is happening is not 
new. The U.S. began conducting war games with South Korean forces in 1976 and 
it was not long before those included simulated nuclear attacks against the 
North, and that was before North Korea had nuclear weapons. In 1994, President 
Bill Clinton was close to launching a military attack on North Korea with the 
aim of destroying its nuclear facilities. In 2002, President Bush talked about 
seizing North Korean ships as part of a blockade of the country, which is an 
act of war. In 2013, the U.S. conducted war games which involved planning for 
preemptive attacks on North Korean military targets and “decapitation” of the 
North Korean leadership and even a first strike nuclear attack.

I don't think we are on the verge of a new Korean war, but the cycle of 
belligerency and threat making on both sides is intensifying. And it is always 
possible that a miscalculation could in fact trigger a new war, with 
devastating consequences. The threat of war, perhaps a nuclear war, is nothing 
to play around with. But -- and this is important -- even if a new war is 
averted, the ongoing embargo against North Korea and continual threats of war 
are themselves costly: they promote/legitimatize greater military spending and 
militarization more generally, at the expense of needed social programs, in 
Japan, China, the U.S., and the two Koreas. They also create a situation that 
compromises democratic possibilities in both South and North Korea and worsen 
already difficult economic conditions in North Korea.

Continue reading

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Re: [Marxism] Fwd: After Turkey's decision to deploy troops in Qatar, Syrian Kurds express willingness to cooperate with Saudi Arabia - ARA News

[Chris Slee via Marxism]

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We should not jump to conclusions on the basis of this brief report.   

Pro-Assad commentator "Moon of Alabama" claims that: "The anarcho-marxists of 
the YPG, always proudly showing off their feminism, are suddenly bowing down in 
front of the medieval Wahhabi nutters".  But the YPG/YPJ have not changed their 
feminist policies in the areas they control.

Ilham Ehmed's statement does seem to indicate a desire by the Syrian Democratic 
Council to make use of the rivalries amongst Middle Eastern states - in this 
case Saudi Arabia versus Turkey and Qatar - but what it would mean in practice 
is unclear.  

We can speculate on some ways in which the SDC might benefit from the 
Saudi/Turkish conflict.  Perhaps Saudi Arabia will criticise Turkey's 
intervention in Syria.
Perhaps the SDC might receive some sort of material aid from Saudi Arabia.  
Perhaps Saudi Arabia might use its influence on some Syrian rebel groups to 
persuade them to make peace with the Syrian Democratic Forces.

The Saudi/Qatar/Turkey conflict may have already had an impact in Syria.  "Moon 
of Alabama" claims there have been armed conflicts between Turkish-backed and 
Saudi-backed groups.  The SDC may be hoping for a ceasefire between the SDF and 
Saudi-backed groups.

But talk of cooperation between the SDC and Saudi Arabia is only a theoretical 
possibility, not a reality, as far as I am aware.

Both Turkey and Saudi Arabia are committing terrible crimes.  Saudi Arabia is 
waging war on Yemen and blockading Qatar, as well as repressing its own people. 
 Turkey is waging war on its own Kurdish population and suppressing the Turkish 
left and democratic forces, as well as intervening  to suppress the democratic 
revolution in northern Syria, including by carrying out ethnic cleansing in the 
areas it controls.

Qatar is aligned with Turkey.  There are strong economic links, and Turkey has 
troops stationed in Qatar.  Turkey and Qatar have supported the same rebel 
groups in Syria.  Turkey is using some of these groups against the Syrian 
Democratic Forces.

If Saudi Arabia, in an attempt to put pressure on Turkey and Qatar, were to 
give some sort of aid to the north Syrian federation, this would be a good 
byproduct of a generally very bad policy.

Of course, in such a case the danger of cooption would exist.  Aid from the 
Gulf states, with the accompanying pressures, played a role in the degeneration 
of some anti-Assad rebel groups.

The SDC, because of its greater political clarity, should be better able to 
resist such pressures, but the danger would still exist.

Chris Slee





From: Marxism  on behalf of Louis Proyect 
via Marxism 
Sent: Wednesday, 14 June 2017 7:22 AM
To: Chris Slee
Subject: [Marxism] Fwd: After Turkey's decision to deploy troops in Qatar, 
Syrian Kurds express willingness to cooperate with Saudi Arabia - ARA News

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What would Murray Bookchin have thought of this, I wonder.

http://www.aranews.net/2017/06/after-turkeys-decision-to-deploy-troops-in-qatar-syrian-kurds-express-willingness-to-cooperate-with-saudi-arabia/

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[Marxism] Why the Assad regime attacks the SDF

[Chris Slee via Marxism]

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A few days ago the US shot down a Syrian air force plane that had been bombing 
a village held by the Syrian Democratic Forces south-west of Raqqa.  This 
highlights the growing conflict between the Assad regime and the SDF.

Assad regime forces have recently been attacking the SDF in an effort to 
prevent them liberating Raqqa from ISIS.

The regime wants to eventually regain control of the whole country.  Having 
recaptured eastern Aleppo, it wants to expand its territory further.  But the 
growing strength of the SDF makes it an obstacle.  If the SDF succeeds in 
liberating Raqqa, it will become even stronger, and more of an obstacle to 
Assad's plans.

Russia has shifted from a superficially friendly attitude towards the SDF to 
open hostility.

Meanwhile, Turkey is continuing to attack SDF-controlled areas in northern 
Syria.  Turkey seems to have abandoned the idea of overthrowing Assad.  It is 
focused on waging war against the Kurdish people and suppressing democratic 
forces, both in Turkey and in Syria. 

This creates the basis for collaboration with Assad.  Kurdish newsagency ANF 
reports that Turkey and the Assad regime are preparing for a joint attack on 
SDF-controlled areas in northern Syria: 

https://anfenglish.com/rojava/turkey-and-syria-prepare-for-an-embargo-and-attack-on-rojava-20600

Turkey's relations with Russia and Iran have improved.

Chris Slee

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Re: [Marxism] Why the Assad regime attacks the SDF

[Chris Slee via Marxism]

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The Saleh Muslim quote comes from a 2013 interview.  My interpretation is that 
he was arguing for peace negotiations in which Assad would participate.  Saleh 
Muslim was arguing that Assad's participation was necessary because he had the 
support of the Alawis.

The reference to two million deaths was exaggerated, but Muslim was trying to 
highlight the danger of a massacre in the event of a military victory by the 
rebels.  We should remember that the rebels included highly sectarian groups 
such as Jabhat al-Nusra, as well as other people who understandably wanted 
revenge.

Chris Slee

From: Marxism  on behalf of Louis Proyect 
via Marxism 
Sent: Friday, 23 June 2017 8:32:33 AM
To: Chris Slee
Subject: Re: [Marxism] Why the Assad regime attacks the SDF

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On 6/22/17 6:23 PM, Nick Fredman wrote:
> Then they could make a pristine revolution with no compromises and
> agreements with anyone, just like the Bolsheviks.

Who is talking about a pristine revolution? I am talking about Saleh
Muslim saying that “A solution without Assad means the death of 2
million Alawites." Awful.

Read more:
http://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/politics/2013/10/syria-kurds-assad-solution-salih-muslim.html
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Re: [Marxism] Fwd: Syria, Seymour Hersh and the Sarin denialists – Brian Whitaker – Medium

[Chris Slee via Marxism]

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Brian Whitaker says:


"Winning a Pulitzer obviously means a reporter’s work has impressed the judges 
but it’s not necessarily a guarantee of factual accuracy."


The same applies to Roy Gutman.   Gutman is not a reliable source.  He visited 
the Turkish-occupied part of northern Syria as a guest of the Turkish 
government, where he made false accusations of ethnic cleansing by the Syrian 
Democratic Forces, while failing to notice the ethnic cleansing being carried 
out by the Turkish army and its allied militias.

Chris Slee



From: Marxism  on behalf of Louis Proyect 
via Marxism 
Sent: Sunday, 2 July 2017 7:12 AM
To: Chris Slee
Subject: [Marxism] Fwd: Syria, Seymour Hersh and the Sarin denialists – Brian 
Whitaker – Medium

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https://medium.com/@Brian_Whit/syria-seymour-hersh-and-the-sarin-denialists-6c1f0ddf3988
[https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/1200/0*EKqBqyBVzPuP4W7m.jpg]

Syria, Seymour Hersh and the Sarin denialists – Brian Whitaker – 
Medium
medium.com
Do news organisations have a duty to publish stories from anonymous sources 
when there is reason to believe they are untrue? Apparently…



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Re: [Marxism] US enforces its No Fly Zone over Rojava, leading to World War III …

[Chris Slee via Marxism]

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Michael Karadjis says:

'As the SDF advances on Raqqa, US airstrikes (and SDF artillery) are creating 
what UN war crimes investigators described as a “staggering loss of civilian 
life.” The US is literally carpet bombing Raqqa, “destroying the town to save 
it.” '

The UN report does not use the term "carpet bombing", nor say that the US is 
"destroying the town to save it".  However it is true that the report talks of 
a "staggering loss of civilian life" in Raqqa:
  
www.ohchr.org/EN/NewsEvents/Pages/DisplayNews.aspx?NewsID=21741&LangID=E

Undoubtedly the aerial bombardment of Raqqa has killed a lot of civilians.  The 
US air force often bombs with reckless disregard for civilian lives.

The US currently has an agreement with the Syrian Democratic Forces on military 
cooperation in fighting ISIS.  But this does not mean that the US bombing of 
Syria is dependent on the consent of the SDF.  US bombing began before the 
agreement was reached, and would undoubtedly continue to occur if the agreement 
was terminated.

The presence of the US air force has been a deterrent to Turkish or Assadist 
bombing of SDF-controlled cities.  Both Assadist and Turkish planes have 
carried out some bombing raids on SDF areas, but only on a small scale.  
However, Turkey has carried out frequent ground artillery bombardments of 
SDF-controlled areas, and would undoubtedly carry out large-scale aerial 
bombardments if not restrained by the US.

It would be preferable if the SDF could defeat ISIS and deter its other enemies 
without US aid.  But I can understand why a society under siege, such as the 
Democratic Federation of Northern Syria, makes use of whatever allies it can 
get.

The US is an unreliable ally.  As Michael says: "Finally, as the SDF leaders 
are no doubt themselves aware, neither the Assad regime, Russia nor the US are 
ever going to be reliable allies, and so they will need to constantly watch 
their backs. Yet this means the only real ally of the Syrian Kurdish people are 
the Syrian Arab people. "

I agree that there is a need for unity between Kurds and Arabs (and other 
nationalities).  The SDF leaders are certainly aware of this.  There are 
increasing numbers of Arabs in the SDF.  This includes fighters from a Free 
Syrian Army background.

However, there are several obstacles to unity between the SDF and most 
anti-Assad rebel groups.  

Many such groups are dependent on Turkish aid, which would be cut off if they 
cooperated with the SDF.  Some groups have been coopted into Turkey's war 
against the SDF.

In addition, many rebel groups are Sunni-sectarian, or allied with 
Sunni-sectarian groups. A democratic revolution must unite people across 
religious and ethnic lines.  Sectarian groups can't do this, because they 
oppress religious minorities.  Hence the SDF can not unite with such groups.

But the relative isolation of the SDF creates its own problems.  Just as an 
isolated socialist state - such as Cuba - is likely to be distorted by the 
pressures of a hostile world, so too a democratic revolution that is isolated 
in one part of a country - such as northern Syria - is subject to pressures 
that are likely to distort it, and may cause it to completely degenerate.

If this happens, the critics will be able to say "I told you so".  But the 
revolution is still continuing, and has spread to non-Kurdish areas, so we 
should not give up hope yet.  

An example of a non-Kurdish area that is part of the Democratic Federation of 
Northern Syria is Manbij (Minbic), a predominantly Arab town:

http://kurdishquestion.com/article/3941-a-trip-to-liberated-minbic-in-northern-syria-from-hell-to-paradise


Chris Slee




From: Marxism  on behalf of mkaradjis . 
via Marxism 
Sent: Tuesday, 27 June 2017 10:37 PM
To: Chris Slee
Subject: [Marxism] US enforces its No Fly Zone over Rojava, leading to World 
War III …

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https://mkaradjis.wordpress.com/2017/06/26/us-enforces-its-no-fly-zone-over-rojava-leading-to-world-war-iii/


US enforces its No Fly Zone over Rojava, leading to World War III …

… well, not quite, just the continuation of six years of genocidal war
as Assad, Russia and the US pulverize Syria

By Michael Karadjis

For the first time in the 6-year Syrian war, the US shot down an
Assadist warplane on June 18, in defence of its allies in 

[Marxism] Syrian Democratic Council calls on Arab and international community to pressure Turkey over war plans

[Chris Slee via Marxism]

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The Syrian Democratic Council (SDC/MSD) has released a statement in relation to 
recent threats by the Turkish government against Rojava's Afrin Canton and 
condemned the practices of the Turkish state while calling on the Arab and 
international community to pressure Ankara to stop its aggressive policy.

“Together with the International Coalition, the SDF (Syrian Democratic Forces) 
are clearing Syrian lands of terror and making history in Raqqa city which ISIS 
declared its capital. The Turkish state, unable to achieve its goals [in Syria] 
is waging a war through the media. In addition, it is dispatching weapons to 
Mare and Azaz, massacring civilians, shelling villages and displacing the local 
people," the statement read.

"With its attacks on Afrin Canton and the Shehba region, the Turkish state 
threatens to invade the areas that serve as a safe area for thousands of 
refugees, and seeks to deal a blow to the Democratic Federation of Northern 
Syria (DFNS) project.

We warn that a military intervention by the Turkish state will mean a general 
mobilisation and declaration of war, and we state that this will not be for the 
benefit of the region's peoples. As the peoples of Syria we will continuing 
building new relations and strengthen our friendship with the peoples of Turkey.

We strongly condemn the Turkish state's and army's intervention on Syrian 
lands, and call on the Arab and international community primarily - the US, 
Russia and European Union states - to pressure the Turkish state.”

Source: ANF


http://kurdishquestion.com/article/3952-syrian-democratic-council-calls-on-arab-and-international-community-to-pressure-turkey-over-war-plans



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[Marxism] Arab revolutionary groups issue statement on Turkish invasion of Syria

[Chris Slee via Marxism]

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"Arab revolutionary groups in Shehba [an area of northern Syria between Efrin 
and Kobane cantons] issued a joint statement regarding Turkey’s invasion 
attacks and said they aim to free all of Syria’s lands from terror".


https://anfenglish.com/rojava/revolutionary-groups-in-shehba-we-will-retaliate-all-the-attacks-20836

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[Marxism] Efrin: mass demonstration against Turkish attacks

[Chris Slee via Marxism]

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"The people of Efrîn have risen by tens of thousands against the military 
attacks of the Turkish state and gave message of resistance in today's mass 
demonstration".


https://anfenglish.com/rojava/message-from-efrin-we-ll-never-allow-invasion-to-get-a-foothold-20809

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Re: [Marxism] How egalitarianism enters into historic materialism?

[Chris Slee via Marxism]

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Certainly there can exist a society in which the means of production are 
collectively owned, but which have a very unequal distribution of money income 
and/or access to scarce material goods. (e.g. the former Soviet Union)


The only way to prevent this is to have a working class that is politically 
educated and organised, and has democratic rights.  This is necessary for 
making the revolution, defending it against capitalist counter-revolution, and 
preventing bureaucratic degeneration and capitalist restoration.


Trotsky wrote about this. If I have time I will try to find some references.


Chris Slee


From: Marxism  on behalf of Kazimir 
Majorinc via Marxism 
Sent: Thursday, 13 July 2017 8:48 PM
To: Chris Slee
Subject: [Marxism] How egalitarianism enters into historic materialism?

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I understand the idea that, due to development of productive forces,
capitalism will enter the crisis, and that private property will have to
be replaced with collective property.

However, I do not know why Marx believes that future society will have
some form of egalitarian distribution, like those from Critique of Gotta
Programme? It is not logical necessity. One can imagine collective
property and planned economy, yet inegalitarian, discriminating
distribution. Why egalitarian distribution is historical necessity?

Did Marx or some other Marxist thinker addressed it and what do you think?
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[Marxism] Syrian Arab women form self defense battalion

[Chris Slee via Marxism]

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"Arab women have announced the foundation of "Martyr Amara Arab Women's 
Battalion"
under the umbrella of the Syrian Democratic Forces".

https://anfenglish.com/women/first-time-in-arab-history-women-form-self-defense-battalion-20936



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[Marxism] The revolutionary feminists fighting ISIS

[Chris Slee via Marxism]

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The revolutionary feminists fighting ISIS



https://www.greenleft.org.au/content/revolutionary-feminists-fighting-isis

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