Egypt calm for a moment but stalemate doesn't exist in the game being played there

As we explained in a previous blog, there are certain important lessons we can draw from the events in Egypt, Tunisia and throughout the Middle East and one is the crucial role that organization and leadership plays in such situations. When the working class rises to the occasion struggling to find its feet in order to resolve the crisis that affects our lives; every current, cult, sect and nutcase scrambles to take the leadership of the movement.  The most dangerous being the capitalist class that offers up a more moderate replacement to its former and discredited regime.

Just as in a strike, heroism and guts is not enough.  In order to make a successful revolution or strike we have to study history, become familiar with the struggles of workers before us.  We have to look at those revolutions that have failed and why, become familiar with the Paris Commune, the great Russian Revolution, the Spanish and German revolutions of the post WW11 period.  We have to familiarize ourselves with the degeneration of the only successful taking of state power in history by workers, the Russian Revolution of 1917 and why and how the working class came to relinquish that power.

The events of China in 1926-27 and the 1949 revolution when the Maoists took power as well as the failures in Spain in 1936 and the victory of fascism and reaction in Chile in 1973 all are important issues for us as workers to familiarize ourselves with. 

The counterrevolution and state forces in Egypt have gone on the offensive as numerous postings have pointed out in the last two days and the overwhelmingly more numerous revolutionary forces have been taken by surprise. It is impossible for me sitting here to gauge exactly where things stand but a stalemate doesn't exist for long in this game.  Just like when a contract is signed at work or after a strike, the bosses begin violating it the before the ink is dry. More so with a revolutionary process.  there is much at stake here, and from afar it is clear that the working class lacks a coherent and well organized leadership that is necessary to challenge what will be an increased offensive on the part of the capitalist state and its imperialist allies; this means it must be built.  This crisis of leadership and organization is worldwide but there is a life and death struggle going on in Egypt and the workers only road to success is independent organization and a conscious struggle for state power.

We can already see the effects of the uprisings as leaders throughout the Arab word are calling for reforms, with the exception of the Saudi's who are armed to the teeth by US taxpayers.  Due to the rise of the Arab masses throughout North Africa and the MIddle East, changes are already being implemented in order to stave off rebellion.  Algeria's 19-year state of emergency will be lifted in the "very near future",  Abdelaziz Bouteflika, the president, is saying. He is also advocating that all opposition political parties be given access to the state media. "Protest marches, banned under the state of emergency, would be permitted across the country of 35 million except in the capital." Al Jazeera reports.  It's amazing what a little uprising does.

Algeria's curbing of democratic rights has echoed that of the US; it is necessary to fight terrorist groups like Al Quaeda.  So any time a legitimate opposition threatens an autocratic regime, all that has to be done is declare them a terrorist group; it has been suggested that Wikileaks be labeled as such by US politicians.  Al Quaeda is useful for that purpose as was the IRA in Britain. If you haven't seen the film, "In the Name Of The Father", you should.

In Egypt, the member's of the opposition's steering committee are a myriad of groupings from the Muslim Bortherhood to representatives of the youth movement and social networking sites that have played such an important role in the organization of demonstrations. Each youth group have been asked to send 3 to 5 members.  they are the 6th of April Youth Facebook group that was formed in solidarity with striking workers, the group suporting the Egyptian bourgeois, Mohamed El Baradai, the Muslim Brotherhood Youth and the National Democratic Front Youth. From what I understand, Trade Union organs have also been set up but I am less familiar with this development although there has been newly formed Federation of Egyptian Trade Unions.

As Alan Woods wrote in a piece we posted yesterday:
"The calling of a nationwide general strike is the only fitting answer to the use of thug tactics against unarmed demonstrators. In order to prepare for this and keep order, action committees should be set up everywhere (workplaces, neighbourhoods and barracks) and linked up at local, regional and national level. This way the revolutionary people can take power and elect their own representatives, not those who are self-appointed “leaders” or people put in place by the US ambassador."

There is a lot of support for this popular uprising.  Al Jazeera reported today that Shahira Amin, who worked for the state controlled Nile TV.  told the network, "I quit my job because I don't want to be part of the state propaganda regime, I am with the people.  I feel liberated and relieved. I have quit my job and joined the people in Tahrir Square."

The military is apparently now keeping the two sides apart but favoring the  demonstrators.  This could reflect an increased division between the military and the police but in order to be successful, workers organizations must appeal to the rank and file of the military to break from their officers and link with workers organizations and committees.

Perhaps CNN's Anderson Cooper and other more "liberal" minded US newscasters would consider taking Shahira Amin's road. Liberated is good. Cooper and folks like him can start by not referring to those attacking the protesters as "Pro Mubarak supporters".  These are thugs of all sorts led by the police.  They are the equivalent of the Citizens Councils and the KKK of the US south and the Pinkertons and hired thugs that US employers used against striking American workers.