The NATO bombing campaign in Serbia and Kosova has been met with some dire responses from important figures of whom we would normally expect better.
Ken Livingstone and Michael Foot, for example, not only support the bombing but call for NATO troops to be sent in. They argue that opposition to ethnic cleansing can only effectively be carried through by these means.
Tony Benn on the other hand correctly opposes the intervention, but refers to the struggle of the Kosovar people for self-determination as a "civil war".
The far-left is mostly on the right side as far as the bombing of Serbia is concerned and opposes Milosevic’s dirty war in Kosova.
Being on the right side in the bombing, however, whilst providing the basis to campaign against it, does not mean there is a common view on a solution to the war or as to the strategic aims of NATO or US imperialism — which ultimately controls NATO.
In fact there are widely diverse views on these things on the far left which need to be discussed.
The SWP is an example of these contradictions. To their great credit they are playing an important role in the mobilisation of an anti-war movement.
They have called meetings in many places across the country and invited all to get involved. This has provided a service to all those who oppose the war.
The SWP see the bombing campaign as the central issue, and seem to have a good analysis of the role of NATO and of US imperialism in the region.
The weakness of their approach to the war (as far as this can be gleaned at the present stage from their publications and the speeches of their leading spokespersons) is on the national question, which is the political core of the problem.
They do support the right of the Kosovars to self-determination, (though this is not prioritised in their propoganda). But when this right is exercised in the demand for immediate independence now (as it is by 80% of Kosovars) the SWP are less enthusiastic.
We are told that independence "is not the immediate issue", or that it is "very difficult because of the ethnic mix in the region", or that arming the KLA would "make things worse".
They are left with little between their immediate demand for the ending of the bombing and their ultimate demand for a socialist society to be achieved by "workers’ unity across the Balkans".
Socialists, of course, are in favour of worker’s unity across the Balkans. We arc also in favour of it across Britain, or across Ireland: but that does not in itself resolve the issue of the denial of legitimate national rights.
It is true that the demand for independence now for Kosova is fraught with political problems, not least who should deliver it.
The KLA, and most Kosovars will call for NATO troops to establish and protect an independent Kosova – something which we should oppose. But we cannot refuse to support the call for independence on the basis that our enemies might support it as well.
We have to support the Kosovan people in their demand for independence, and be in favour of them having the means to achieve it. Anything less denies a solution to the problem, and would simply leave the ethnically cleansed in the refugee camps for the foreseeable future.
At the opposite end of the spectrum of opinion in this is the Alliance for Workers Liberty. They seem to be soft on Nato, and argue that the overwhelmingly most important issue in the situation is the ethnic cleansing by the Milosevic regime and the resultant plight of the refugees.
The AWL argue that Serbia is "sub-imperialist", and that it is the actions and aspirations of Serbia which are the key factor in the situation, not the actions of NATO or US imperialism. They argue that the absolutely key demand therefore is Kosovan independence now.
The AWL oppose the NATO bombing (on the basis that it is not effective in protecting the Kosovars) but argue that it is a very secondary issue. They deny any overarching agenda of US imperialism to strengthen its role in the world though this kind of military intervention and deny any policy of NATO to strengthen its influence in the Balkans region.
While the priority for socialists needs to be mobilising opposition to the war, this can only effectively be done by answering those who are genuinely concerned about the horrendous situation of the Kosovan people.
Socialist Outlook took a position of support for Kosovar independence before the imperialist offensive - our conviction that this is the right position for socialists has been further strengthened by the events of these last weeks.