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| Police disperse protesters, six dead |
There are clearly attempts to increase religious division and raise the threat of Iran gaining from the protesters struggles as many of them belong to the Shia majority. There is widespread discrimination against the Shia along with the suppression of democratic rights in general. The attempts to raise further the religious division are coming from the ruling monarchy and US capitalism. It confirms the bankruptcy of capitalism in the imperialist epoch in that it supports an absolute monarchy against those fighting for a republic. The vast majority of the uprisings in the Middle East, even those of the minority Shia, are overwhelmingly about democratic rights and political reform, not over any allegiance or desire to emulate the mullah's in Tehran, although US foreign policy may well strengthen that trend over time if the rebellions are defeated.
The Bahraini opposition has made its intentions clear, "The position opposition parties and the federation of trade Unions denounce the state of emergency declared by the regime and the escalation of the security situation and the use of the military to resolve a political crisis caused by the regime itself. " (Wall Street Journal) Even the WSJ admits, "There is no evidence that Iran is arming or funding the opposition in Bahrain" . The evidence is overwhelming though that the Saudi's, the Bahraini's, the former Egyptian dictator Mubarak, were and are all armed to the teeth with US weaponry.
US capitalism has its trusted flunkies, the Saudi's go in to maintain the monarchy. The usual calls for "calm and restraint" from "both sides" are spewing out of the White House propaganda machine. But both sides are not equal. There were "both sides" in South Africa too. There are "both sides" in the Israeli/ Palestinian issue also. But both sides in these conflicts are not equal. The call for restraint from both sides is a stand in favor of the status quo and for the defeat of the revolutionary forces.
It is beginning to look more and more like Gaddafi will win out over the rebels in Libya and there will be a bloodbath following.There will be "no mercy" for those that fought his regime, Gaddafi said in a speech yesterday. They send the Saudi's in to Bahrain, yet as Gaddafi prepares to crush and slaughter an opposition demanding democratic reform, the advanced capitalist countries dicker around; what hypocrites they are for all to see.
The capitalist class are talking about not knowing exactly what to do. In reality, they are waiting it out. The nations of the UN supply most of the world's arms so in one way or another they'll make a deal with Gaddafi if they have to, and after this they'll better equip him and his mercenary army in a trade for oil if necessary.
The jury is still not in on Libya but as workers we must oppose any intervention on the part of the advanced capitalist countries, the UN, which is their club, or their stooges in the region as the Saudis are doing in Bahrain. We have an alternative. If a regime attempts to crush or wins a struggle for power against an opposition more favorable to the aspirations and needs of workers and the middle class then workers internationally must launch a campaign to refuse to move, transport, handle any or all communications and goods from that country. It is international working class solidarity that can defeat the forces of reaction. The imperialists will make a deal with dictators like Gadaffi, Monarchists like the Saudi's or a Theocracy like Iran, as long as profit taking and the market are preserved.
This sort of response is what will build international solidarity between workers and undermine religious and racial division that the capitalists use as a means to undercut the class struggle, their divide and rule response to an offensive of the working class. It is the only response that can open the road to a safe and secure future for all.
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