In a message dated 5/7/05 5:47:06 AM Central Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
What do you say to those who assert that "an African Union government within the context of a scientific socialist society" is not possible with the current African Union which is a progression from the bankrupt OAU? The alternative therefore is a Revolutionary Pan African Union as an alternative. And that it is the latter that will ensure 'a scientific socialist society'.
I answer thus:
Comrade Kwami,
My positions is as follows:
"Socialism is built from the wreckage of capitalism. So in that narrow sense there are elements of the AU and AU activity that can be utilized to help the people come to the understanding of the need for scientific socialism. For example the AU gives lip service to the internationalization of our struggle; it gives lip service to the education of the masses on critical subject matter and so forth. Whether they mean it is something else again, and we know that the majority of the leadership of the individual states are actively opposed to both scientific socialism and Pan-Africanism. This is even evident in their opposition to/rejection of Libya's modest proposals for a United States of Africa. So the best use of the AU lies in using it as object lesson to educate our people; i.e., just as the OAU was a compromise short of Pan-Africanism, the AU is a compromise short of Pan-Africanism -- however the fact that the neocolonialist agents amongst us have to compromise is prima facie evidence of the strength and endurance of Pan-Africanism in the hearts and minds of the African people. That is the primary use of the AU; a secondary use is if reasonably committed Pan-Africanists, such as Tony Martin as one example, can secure some influence in specific sectors of the AU, they will be able to divert a minuscule part of the energies and resources of those particular sectors to the cause of educating the masses."
"As for a Pan African Union, I would support a Union that reflected the same attributes that a Union government in the Nkrumaism traditions does; i.e., I support Union government.
"As to how we accomplish this union, this Union of African Socialist States, this socialist United States of Africa, I lean almost completely on the prescription given in the Handbook of Revolutionary Warfare. First and foremost it will only come about by open warfare not by mere (non-military) political persuasion and certainly not moral appeals. As such I would and do recommend for all and any who will listen the need for true socialist parties to emerge in the respective states, the need for these socialist parties to seize control from the neocolonialists, that the political leadership of these parties amalgam into a continental agency intended to safeguard and develop Africa along socialist lines, as Nkrumah describes in his call for the All-African Committee for Political Co-ordination, that such a Committee then guide and manage the absolute requirement that the individual national armies thus created in the process of the social liberation of the various states be incorporated into a Pan-African army/armed force along the lines of the regional configuration foreseen by Osagyefo when he describes the All African People's Revolutionary Army. Further I believe that Nkrumah was correct when he predicted that the activity of these two formations would be the main catalyst for the creation of a full-fledged All-African People's Revolutionary Party, as the AACPC would be composed of CC level or equivalent representatives from each party and thus be in position to plan and guide the politico-military fortunes of all Africa a circumstance that would inevitably demonstrate to the peoples of Africa the benefits and strengths of a Pan-African revolutionary party that is comprised of the totality of the African world. Further we must have other agencies of the same kind, such as the All-African Trade Union Federation, All-African women, students, youth generally, farmers/peasants and other specific demographic agencies. Lastly, we would need to continue to work with OSPAAAL to enhance the unity of the "south" countries, as well as take the lead in creating a world socialist fora and agency/agencies and finally we would need vehicles that can interact with the working classes of all nationality in those states that are not yet socialist."
...
"I want to add that I emphasize the role of the popular militias, local defense units and the like as part of the Pan-African armed force, as Osagyefo envisioned in Handbook..."
(end of answer)
I would like to extent that with a little bit from Dr. Nkrumah, so that everyone is clear on my position on the question of the role of the AU, the whole matter of international diplomacy and related issues...
Kwame Nkrumah, in the work Handbook of Revolutionary Warfare, made the following cogent observations, observations, while written at the time in response to the problems emanating from the neo-colonialist bent of the majority of the OAU, hold true in essence for our contemporary struggle vis a vis the obvious limitations and negative of the AU.
"The radical states in the OAU were confronted with the difficulty of finding _expression_ for the aspirations of the broad masses of the people. The struggle seemed to unfold in two different spheres: the one in the streets, villages, workshops and factories; and the other in the hushed and closed atmosphere of air-conditioned houses and offices. In this situation the genuine threat of imperialism and its neo-colonialist agents tended to be under-estimated, and the progressive states placed too much reliance on the OAU.
"...the progressive states, failing to close their ranks, were left to fight inadequately and alone against the massive escalation of imperialism, and the active consolidation of its position through plots and a series of coups d'etat."
"This is obviously why imperialists, although against the idea of political union, will do nothing to break the OAU. It serves their purpose in slowing down revolutionary progress in Africa. This state of affairs is mirrored both in the discouragement of freedom fighters in the remaining colonial territories and South Africa, and in the growing perplexity amongst freedom fighters from neo-colonized territories."
"The struggle for African continental union and socialism may be hampered by the enemy within, -- those who declare their support for the revolution and at the same time, by devious means, serve and promote the interests of imperialists and neo-colonialists.
"Examination of recent events in our history, and of our present condition, reveals the urgent need for a new strategy to combat imperialist aggression, and this must be devised on a continental scale.
"Either we concentrate our forces for a decisive armed struggle to achieve our objectives, or we will fall one by one to the blows of imperialism in its present state of open and desperate offensive."
We must prepare for this fight if we are serious about our liberation and the improvement of our quality of life. This is an objective fact and cannot be wished away. In this struggle other political actions short of armed struggle are also critical, but these actions alone can not replace supersede or otherwise negate the need for a renewed and rejuvenated armed liberation movement.
Part of this preparation would be the construction of strong and innovative Psychological Operations agencies that can upgrade our own forces, and demoralize the forces of our enemies. This is what is sometimes called the propaganda struggle.
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