Why the silence on the Middle East?
By JACK GOLDBERG SOMETHING rum is happening in Libya. According to Western media Gadaffi is in
If the poor survives a mysterious sickeness depression, would still have to wrestle with mutineers and fellow officers or face the wrath of his people.
There is no doubt that under a smokescreen
US imperialism hellbent on creating conditions for thicker smokescreen is thrown by the events in the Arab world, many which directly triggered by the attack on Libya. events have been reported, they were purported to be isolated incidents of
The reality is quite different. For the first time in many years, the Arab masses were united in their hatred of imperialism condemnation of their bourgeoisies imperialist strategists.
collaboration between the Arab regimes and US imperialism was by no means nakedly open Egypt having resisted US prompting boisterous and dangerous neighbour was plain to be seen.
anti-imperialist sentiment engulted the entire region countries. The reaction of the Arab rulers was swift and in many cases
In neighbouring Tunisia — which a few years back almost merged with Libya - the Army quench peaceful demonstrations in olood. Dictator for life President Bourguiba grasped the opportunity to deliver a powerful blow to his opposition.
Historically tied to US interests, Bourguiba has, for the past few years, been preparing his succession in the face of powerful unrest. repressed in blood several bread riots, he has recently unleashed a sharp offensive against the power-mad disinformation
Gaddati the main particular.
protagonists, bourgeoisie.
General
Secretary
(mouvement be debarred from backfire as the trial becoming treatens to fuel more unrest.
cause
Having
Socialist Viewpoint No. 13 July 1986 p9 of have
Giza, industrial were
Central several and strikes.
Despite uprising, collaboration against Libya.
organisations of the working class, trade union UGTT
In
This time, he moved against what he preceived to be his strongest the nationalist
Ahmed
Mestiri
MDS of the des Démocrates
Socialistes) was arrested and charged with sedition. If convicted, he would the presidential election. Bourguiba's plans can still of Mestiri is célèbre and conscious masses,
Egyptian Premier Mubarak
In neighbouring Egypt, the mood frustration and defiance exploded into massive rebellion. The scars of the February uprising were too fresh and the regime still thirsty for blood. During the qun battles that raged through
Son Hel want Madinnt al Nasr, dozens of conscripts were killed
The young policemen who rebelled years. They total about a quarter of a million and are used to supplement the regular police force. Drawn from the poor peasants, their poor pay was too small to keep them, let alone their families. A decision by the regime to extend their service from three to four years sparked a battle that lasted for
To the bloody repression that ensued, the working class responded by demonstrations the crushing of the Mubarak was only too conscious of the consequenes of any
US imperialism This is the simple
The final country where the state had to use all its might to crush demonstrations was incident was confined to the of Yarmouk and only involved students. The ferocity the precision of the repression lifted any doubts about the preparedness of King Hussein to confront any dissent.
This was followed by a crackdown in the Jordanian Communist Party. fifties, the Party has been more or less tolerated. This time 23 of its leading members, including Fayek Warrad, its General Secretary, were arrested.
is no doubt that the anti-imperialist feeling - reminiscent of the Suez crisis thirtee of the power of their masses and are fully prepared to meet any act of dissent with blood. Unlike the fifties which saw the rise of radical lett nationalist regimes in response to, and to fit into the aspirations of the the movement that may develop today would be spontaneous, powerful, but also shortlived in the absence of a revolutionary party of the working class.