GEORGE Bush's threat to dispatch fighters to Saudi Arabia marks an escalation in the US proxy-war aimed at the peoples of the Middle East.
Though Bush has claimed 'There are no threats, that's not what this is about', the claim lacked something socialist - the fortnightly ›aper of the Socialist Movement was launched on 25th September. And it's available in newsagents across the nation(s), including WH Smiths and Menzies.
It's a tremendous gamble to launch such a paper at a time of decline of e Left and of economic recession. The decision to proceed reflects a determination to try to take the political initiative in the new international situation Yes! I want to subscribe to Socialist Outlook. 1 Please send me: " Europe: 1year £18 • Six months £10 • Rest of the World: 1 year 222 J Six months £12 J 1 linclude a donation of £...... I'd like to know more about Socialist Outlook O Name ...
Address.. ready substantial US naval forces in the Gulf and eastern Mediterranean, these add up to a substantial military arsenal on Iraq's doorstep. It is a new threat to the Iraqi people - those that suffered most in the Gulf war - to add to the economic war of starvation waged since formal war ended.
a new left paper is and for the post-election period in Britain.
socialist aims to stimulate and co-ordinate a wide layer of the Left who remain committed to a socialist perspective but are currently unorganised by any one current The paper will have three main components: news and information not readily available elsewhere which Left activists need tor their cam.
aigns and activities; debate and discussion on the major underlying issues which socialists need to address; and a culture and living section which deals with day to day Loading up the B52s for air-raids during the Gulf War And socialists should not be fooled by the US administration's 'UN rhetoric'. First, the use of fighters and bombers to 'take out selected nuclear sites could wreak a level of destruction through fallout that would make Chernobyl pale into insignificance.
Second, the record of the US administration in preventing issues of interest to activists from a left perspective.
socialist has a breadth of backing and sponsorship uniue on the Left - from Tony enn and Dawn Primarolo to Marjorie Thompson and John Pilger.
Broad alliance
It is not a revolutionary paper. But it does together a broad alliance. those prepared to side with the oppressed and exploited and who support a serious af tempt to redefine a socialist project for the 90s and beyond. Printed by Tridant Press, Edenbridge, Kent. Published by Idolrare Ltd, 377 City Road, London ECIV nuclear proliferation is hardly a proud one. In fact, preventing proliferation as such has not interested them. Their interest has always been in restricting possession of nuclear weapons to their client states - which is why they have never shown any great interest in the nuclear programmes pursued by Israel, South Africa, Pakistan and others. Free! Trade union special socialist arises from two years discussion and reparation within the Socialis! Movement Frustrated by its inability to realise its full potential or to really develop the network of local groups and political campaigning the Movement decided to launch its own politiCal babel.
The sectoral organisations which the Movement helped to found - Women for Socialism, the Trade Union Committee, the Red /Green Network and Labour Party Socialists - faced similar difficulties of consolidating their influence without a higher profile.
At the same time the space on the Left for a new paper steadily grew as Tribune, Marxism oday, New Socialist and New Statesman steadily moved to socialist's potential readership thus numbers tens of thousands - most of whom have probably never heard of the Socialist Movement or its sister organisations.
Potential
The launch issue shows the potential for socialist to take the political initiative, with the US fighters and Patriot missiles have no part to play in guaranteeing peace in the Midale East. The greatest step forward for peace in the region would be to allow Iraq to sell its oil, giving it the revenue to buy the food and medicines necessary to stop the cholera, dysentery and other disease that is now spreading through the population.
launch of a campaign for an 80% reduction of the defence budget to fund massive programme of public services. Such a high profile Truth political campaign would have been qualitatively harder for the Socialist Movement to launch without its newbasel It would be foolish to pretend that there are no problems with the project. During the two years of discussion and the various pilot issues the balance between the paper's political and journalistic emphasis has not always been right.
It has made mistakes and disappointed some potential supThe Socialist Move porters. ment itself is an alliance of the Labour left, revolutionaries and libertarian socialists. Therein lies its strength and its weakness - inevitably reflected in the paper.
Preparations
But just as Socialist Outlook has systematically supported the Socialist Movement project since its outset, so we have been involved in the preparations for its paper, socialist. Its launch is the best opportunity for the development of an organised alternative on the Left to the dead-end perspectives of the SWP or Militant.
It has the capacity to bring together the best forces from the Labour Left with those camLabour Party enfecials de the Labour approach a potentially new political situation opened up by an election.
Socialist Outlook supporters are encouraged to do everything they can to make the project a major success.
Subscribe to the new Socialist Outlook 1 year's subscription (24 issues): £13 • Six months' subscription (12 issues): £7 • Please return to Socialist Outlook, PO Box 1109, London N4 2UU
socialist Time to fight