prevent nuclear war
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PreventNuclearWar
DonCurrie,EditorFocusOnSocialism,ChairCPSFebruary17,2012
www.FocusOnSocialism.ca
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PreventNuclearWarCanadians
for
Peace
&
Socialism
www.FocusOnSocialism.ca
Box168SlocanBCV0G2CO
12503552669
DearFriends
Wehavebeenreceivingalotofmaterialfromgoodsourcesandearnestcommentaryabout
manycausesfroma lotofpeoplewepayattentiontowith interestandrespect.Here isa
small partial response to some big issues that are being discussed, offered in the full
knowledge that we are a modest voice engaged like everybody else, in attempting to
understandourtimeandtomakeacontributiontothecauseofpeacehumansurvivaland
progress.
Wearenotscholarsandmakenoclaimtohaveanydeeperknowledgeofeventsthanthat
ofothers.Onebriefemaildoesntcut it,yetthere isan imperativeforeveryonetostatea
positiononwhattheybelievetobeprimaryatthistime.Thisisours.Silenceisnotanoption.
TheworldisonthevergeofanothermajorUSNATOinstigatedwarofregimechangeinthe
Middle East andour federal government is actively involved inpromoting it. That reality
musttrumpallother issuesat themomentsince ithasthepotentialof ignitingaregional
conflict in which the use of nuclear weapons is clearly a possibility.
http://www.focusonsocialism.ca/random.asp?ID=645
ThedemonizationofIranandSyriainthemediaattheactiveinstigationofunelectedshills
operatingoutof thePMO, theDepartmentofForeignAffairsandDefence, is themeans
beingusedbytheHarperConservativeGovernment tobefuddleandnullify the instinctive
beliefofmostCanadiansthatrejectmorewarastheanswertoanyofourproblems,foreign
ordomestic.
Thewar solution isaminoritysolutionofa separatecorporate interest thatmakesprofit
fromwar. Ithasneverbeen thepreferredoptionofworkers, farmers,pensionersandall
whorelyonwagesandhardworktolive.Workingpeopleareoneandarealwaysthevictims
ofwar.WeharbournoanimositytoourbrothersandsistersinIranorSyria.Weexpressour
solidaritywiththeirstrugglesforabetterlife,thatarenotdissimilartoourown,inthefirm
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belief that their problems cannot be solved by NATO regime change war. Foreign
interventionwillimposeaforeignsolutiononthepeopleofSyriaandIrananddeprivethem
oftheir
right
to
determine
their
own
destiny.
TheSyrianandIranianpeoplearecapableofsolvingtheirownproblemswithoutthehelpof
ourPrimeMinister.Thelasttimewelookedwecouldfindnoevidenceofgratuitousadvice
fromthe leadersofIranorSyriaorderingPrimeMinisterHarpertostepdownforthwithso
Canadians can govern themselves according to the precepts of Prime Minister Harpers
politicalopponents.
Fear mongering has gone viral. Iran we are told is on the cusp of developing nuclear
weaponsandassoonasitdoesitwillunleashthemagainsteveryone.
Allrationalpeace lovingpeopleareopposedtonuclearproliferation.Canada isasignatory
totheNuclearNonProliferationTreaty.So isIran.Chinahascalledforaccordingthesame
right to Iran as enjoyed by other signatories to the peace use of nuclear energy.
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2012%5C02%5C17%5Cstory_1722012_pg14_5
Canadahasadevelopednuclear industryandutilizesnuclearpowerforpeacefulpurposes.
That is not an exclusive right that is a universal right.At the same time Canada exports
uraniumtoothercountries.IranisnottellingtheCanadiangovernmentdailynottodareto
producenuclearweaponsandtostopsupplyingtherawmaterialtothosecountriessuchas
theUSA
that
do.
Iran
seems
to
accept
Canadas
declaration
that
it
is
a
nuclear
weapons
free
country and has no interest in producing suchweapons and restricts its use of nuclear
energytopeacefulpurposes.ThatiswhatIranassertsitisdoing.
JohnBaird,StephenHarperandPeterMacKay,miredintheCF35boondoggleandwithouta
shred of credibility on that file, seek to convince Canadians that they know best when
someone is truthfulora liar. It isbecomingabit richeven for themain streammedia to
acceptsuchunctuousdoublestandardsthatpouroutdailyfromthePMO.
WhetherIranistruthfulornotisasmallpartofthematter.Therealquestionisfromwhere
doesthe
threat
of
nuclear
war
emanate
today?
Which
states
are
likely
to
instigate
it?
The
obviousanswer is those states thatpossessnuclearweapons inabundanceandhave the
technicalcapabilityofdeliveringthemnowtotarget.Irandoesnothavethatcapabilitynor
doesNorthKorea.
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2012%5C02%5C17%5Cstory_17-2-2012_pg14_5http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2012%5C02%5C17%5Cstory_17-2-2012_pg14_5http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2012%5C02%5C17%5Cstory_17-2-2012_pg14_5http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2012%5C02%5C17%5Cstory_17-2-2012_pg14_5http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2012%5C02%5C17%5Cstory_17-2-2012_pg14_5http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2012%5C02%5C17%5Cstory_17-2-2012_pg14_5 -
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Atamomentwhen the leadingnuclearpowersbetween themhaveabout 14,000nuclear
warheadsandthecapabilityoftheirdeliverytoalmostanypointontheplanetandwhen
Israelhas
at
a
minimum
a
hundred
nuclear
war
heads
within
striking
distance
of
its
neighbours,andwhen there isonlyonecountry intheworld, theUSA thathaseverused
nuclearweaponsoncivilianpopulationsandretainsafirststrikenucleardoctrineasthecore
ofitsmilitarypolicy,isitnotludicrousandpresumptuousintheextremeforourapoplectic
ForeignMinistertoidentifyIranastheonlymortalthreattoworldpeace?
TheUSNATOIsraelicabalwant Iranianoil, justastheywantedIraqiandLibyanoil.Period!
Andthiscriminalenterpriserisksthepeaceoftheworldtogetit.Theconnectionbetween
NATOwars of regime change and appropriation of the oil resources of other nations is
obvioustoeveryoneexceptthosewhooutoffearorselfinterestwishtobedeceived.
ThereareCanadiansthathavethecouragetosweepasidemediahysteriaandtellthesimple
truth.
TheCodirwebsite seems toprovide factualandcredible informationoneventsunfolding
betweentheG7NATOIsraeliplanstoattackIran,andtheleftprogressiveforcesinsideIran
andglobally thatarestruggling forpeaceandattemptingtoavoidwhatcanescalatetoa
massive regional war and the use of nuclear weapons. Yves Engler is a knowledgeable
sourceofinformationaboutCanadianforeignpolicy.Hiswork,TheBlackBookofCanadian
Foreign Policy should be at hand for all advocates of an independent Canadian foreign
policyofpeace.
The most credible analytical source in our view is Global Research.
http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=29234
The World Peace Council statement on the Middle East is a must read and should be
circulatedwidely.http://www.solidnet.org/worldpeacecouncil/2579wpcstatementonthe
situationinthemiddleeasten
ThecurrenttourofCanadabyDaveMcKeethePresidentoftheCanadianPeaceCongress
willbe
a
significant
contribution
to
a
strengthening
of
the
anti
imperialist
pro
peace
forces
in
Canada.Seetheaboveattachmentfordates.AregularvisittotheCanadianPeaceCongress
website will keep all informed about the Congress and WPC statements and activities.
www.CanadianPeaceCongress.ca
http://www.codir.net/http://www.codir.net/http://www.codir.net/http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=29234http://www.solidnet.org/world-peace-council/2579-wpc-statement-on-the-situation-in-the-middle-east-enhttp://www.solidnet.org/world-peace-council/2579-wpc-statement-on-the-situation-in-the-middle-east-enhttp://www.solidnet.org/world-peace-council/2579-wpc-statement-on-the-situation-in-the-middle-east-enhttp://www.solidnet.org/world-peace-council/2579-wpc-statement-on-the-situation-in-the-middle-east-enhttp://www.solidnet.org/world-peace-council/2579-wpc-statement-on-the-situation-in-the-middle-east-enhttp://www.solidnet.org/world-peace-council/2579-wpc-statement-on-the-situation-in-the-middle-east-enhttp://www.solidnet.org/world-peace-council/2579-wpc-statement-on-the-situation-in-the-middle-east-enhttp://www.solidnet.org/world-peace-council/2579-wpc-statement-on-the-situation-in-the-middle-east-enhttp://www.solidnet.org/world-peace-council/2579-wpc-statement-on-the-situation-in-the-middle-east-enhttp://www.solidnet.org/world-peace-council/2579-wpc-statement-on-the-situation-in-the-middle-east-enhttp://www.solidnet.org/world-peace-council/2579-wpc-statement-on-the-situation-in-the-middle-east-enhttp://www.solidnet.org/world-peace-council/2579-wpc-statement-on-the-situation-in-the-middle-east-enhttp://www.solidnet.org/world-peace-council/2579-wpc-statement-on-the-situation-in-the-middle-east-enhttp://www.solidnet.org/world-peace-council/2579-wpc-statement-on-the-situation-in-the-middle-east-enhttp://www.solidnet.org/world-peace-council/2579-wpc-statement-on-the-situation-in-the-middle-east-enhttp://www.solidnet.org/world-peace-council/2579-wpc-statement-on-the-situation-in-the-middle-east-enhttp://www.solidnet.org/world-peace-council/2579-wpc-statement-on-the-situation-in-the-middle-east-enhttp://www.solidnet.org/world-peace-council/2579-wpc-statement-on-the-situation-in-the-middle-east-enhttp://www.solidnet.org/world-peace-council/2579-wpc-statement-on-the-situation-in-the-middle-east-enhttp://www.solidnet.org/world-peace-council/2579-wpc-statement-on-the-situation-in-the-middle-east-enhttp://www.solidnet.org/world-peace-council/2579-wpc-statement-on-the-situation-in-the-middle-east-enhttp://www.solidnet.org/world-peace-council/2579-wpc-statement-on-the-situation-in-the-middle-east-enhttp://www.solidnet.org/world-peace-council/2579-wpc-statement-on-the-situation-in-the-middle-east-enhttp://www.solidnet.org/world-peace-council/2579-wpc-statement-on-the-situation-in-the-middle-east-enhttp://www.solidnet.org/world-peace-council/2579-wpc-statement-on-the-situation-in-the-middle-east-enhttp://www.canadianpeacecongress.ca/http://www.canadianpeacecongress.ca/http://www.solidnet.org/world-peace-council/2579-wpc-statement-on-the-situation-in-the-middle-east-enhttp://www.solidnet.org/world-peace-council/2579-wpc-statement-on-the-situation-in-the-middle-east-enhttp://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=29234http://www.codir.net/ -
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Forthoseno longer intimidatedbythecoldwaradailyvisittowww.solidnet.orgwillkeep
oneawareofwhatishappeningintheInternationalCommunistandWorkersPartiesofthe
world.We
also
recommend
www.northstarcompass.org
for
a
Canadian
view
of
events
in
Russia.
TheroleofChina in internationalaffairsistransformativeofall internationalandeconomic
relations. Itdeserves special studybecause it isadualpower state inwhich the struggle
between socialism and capitalism is not historically resolved. However until we can be
convincedotherwise,webelieveitisincorrecttodefineChinaasanimperialiststateofthe
same typeas theG7.Historyhasnotdecided thatmatterasyet.TheChinesepeoplewill
havesomethingtosayonthatscore.
Atthe
same
time,
as
China
exports
capital
it
exploits
working
people
of
other
states.
Basic
internationalismrequireseverycommittedlabourmilitanttoactinsolidaritywiththosewho
arethevictimsofcapitalistoppressionregardlessfromwhereitemanates.
While China is exporting capital and seeks natural resources,we see no evidence that it
seekstoachieveitsdevelopmentgoalsbymilitarythreatsorwagingworldwar.Atthesame
time there is little doubt that it will defend itself and its claim to Taiwan and what it
considersitsterritorialwatersandintegrity.
What renders the analysis more complex is the fact that China is also extending trade
benefitsto
newly
emerging
economies
in
South
America
including
Cuba
and
Venezuela.
ChinacastingthevetointheUNSecurityCouncilforthefirsttimeinalongtimeagainstUS
plansforregimechangewarinSyriaistobewelcomed.
Thepettybourgeois radicalized left,motivatedat theoutsetof theChinese revolutionby
antiSovietism,hasoverthedecadeshadaninconsistentChinapolicyrangingfromhysterical
anticommunism,andlatersupportfortheDalaiLamasTibetanfeudaldespotism.Theother
extremewasuncriticalidealizingofwhatwasadifficultandrevolutionarypathbyChinato
independenceandworldprominence.
Weare
where
we
are
today.
China
is
rising
and
has
been
identified
by
US
imperialism
as
its
mainstrategicrival.
WhatconcernsCPS istheneedtoopenlydiscussanddevelopaconsistent internationalist
stance towardsChinaCanada relationsbasedonwhat is in thebest interestsofCanadian
andChineseworkersandthecauseofpeace.Thatwilltakeworkandcannotbedeveloped
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in the frameworkof anticommunism thatwas imposedonorganized labourby its right
wing leaders during the coldwar. To cling to that outmoded analysis is just what the
Conservativegovernment
wants.
CanadaChina relations has its own history. It falls in the realm of nonbelligerence and
mutualself interest in theareaoftradebutcorruptedbyanticommunism in therealmof
foreign policy that continues to this day. The trip to China by the Harper Conservative
Government was dictated by Canadian finance capital and its strategic profit and inter
capitalistcompetitivegoals forpowerand influence inAsia. It speaks toa risingappetite
amongsomecirclesoffinancecapitalforamoreassertiveimperialroleforCanada.Harper,
abitplayeron the internationalstage, receivedhismarchingorders frombigoilandhigh
financeandhewinced,marched,andputhispatheticclaimstoideologicalpurityinhisback
pocket.Quitethevolteface.HoweverwhenthechipsaredownCanadaselitesareunlikely
asyettobreakwithWashingtonsdesignationofChinaasitsprincipalrisingcompetitor.
Asthe internationalworkingclass forges itsownunderstandingofwhataprincipledclass
approachtointernationalrelationsentails,thetasksofthepeaceandprogressiveforcesof
Canada are clear. Theutmost vigilancemustbe shown towards the foreignpolicyof the
Harper Government and its successor towards China. All uncritical support for the US
imperialiststrategicgoalofdestroyingChinabynuclearencirclement,military threatsand
warmustbeopposed.We havemade somepreliminary commentson thatproblem, far
fromdefinitive
or
conclusive
but
our
stance
to
now
can
be
viewed
at
http://www.focusonsocialism.ca/random.asp?ID=644
www.FocusOnSocialism.ca concentrates on Canadian foreign and domestic policy. Our
recent reading of the capitalist press tells us that there is a growing criticism of the
duplicitous double standard of the Harper Governments foreign and domestic policy
beginningtoappearintheGlobeandMailandothermassmedia.Suchcriticismisweakand
indicativeofdivisionsoccurringamong the rulingelites. Itwillgrow in the leadup to the
nextfederalelection.It isan indicationthattheglobaleconomiccrisisisfarfromoverand
that theupcoming Flahertybudgetwillbe an antilabour, antiworking class, antipeople,
bigbusinessausteritywagecuttingprogramdictatedbytheIMF,theWorldBankonbehalf
ofCanadaselitesofwealthandprivilege.
The timidityof theNDP top leadership and themuzzlingof its substantial Parliamentary
oppositionatthiscriticaltimeisinourviewdeliberateandbeingorchestratedbytheDavid
MulchaircampanditsproZionistbackersintheNDPleadershiprace.TheNDPsweakkneed
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proNATO and proIsraeli foreign policy stance is fatal for its parliamentary ambitions.
Canada doesnt need another Conservative Partywith a pretty face. Timidity on foreign
policyissues
weakens
the
NDPs
effectiveness
on
domestic
issues
affecting
wage
and
salary
earnersand themajorityofCanadiansdependentonpublicly fundedanduniversalhealth
careandpensions.http://www.focusonsocialism.ca/random.asp?ID=646
TheHarperConservativeGovernmenthasnopeacepolicyitonlyhasaproNATOwarpolicy.
If theNDPoppositiondoesnthave thecourage toexpose that factandenunciateanew
foreignpolicyofpeace, itis incumbentontheentireleft,withoutexceptiontodoso. The
NDPshouldgetnofreepassonaflawedforeignpolicy.
The cynical detachment of theHarperGovernment from its active participation inNATO
atrocitiesin
Libya
and
now
possibly
Syria
and
Iran
cannot
be
the
stance
of
the
NDP,
the
Canadian Labour Congress (CLC), the Green Party and the many well motivated
environmentalandsocialactivistcoalitions inourcountry.Thesemovementsalsohave to
declarewheretheystandonforeignanddomesticpolicy.
ThefictionthattheCanadiangovernmenthasasupportablehumanitarianforeignpolicybut
an unsupportable antisocial domestic policy is political opportunism plain and simple.
Fawningbefore theConservativegovernmentsplans toparticipate in thenextUSNATO
regime change war in Syria or Iran guts the left progressive forces and weakens the
supportable stanceoforganized labour in its struggles for jobs, tradeunion rights, rising
wagesandliftingallboats.
Thesourceof theweaknessofmobilizingaunitedandpowerfulpopular resistance toG7
NATOwarsandaneffectiveantimonopoly labour strategyathome, continues tobe the
openandtacitsupportaccordedbysocialreformismto imperialism, inthemistakenbelief
that imperialists can by exposure, be persuaded to be less imperialist. When has that
happened?
Our definition of imperialism is themerger of finance capitalwith themilitary industrial
complex
now
dominated
by
privately
owned
and
controlled
energy
financiers
and
the
banks
thatmanage thewholecabal.Today thatcomplexseeks to rulemoreopenlywithout the
inconvenienceofParliament.UpagainstthebeliefofCanadians indemocracy,theimperial
powerseekstorenderParliamentstrictlyformal.Itdoesthatbymakingdecisionsofpeace
andwarandenergyacquisitionatNATOheadquarters inBrusselsandfiscalmonetaryand
socialpoliciesattheIMFandtheWorldBank.ThenthesepoliciesareimposedonParliament
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byanorchestratedchorusofFlahertys,MacKays,HarpersandBairds declaringanyone
thatopposesthemasbeingunpatriotic,softonterrorismorwiththepornographers.Such
sophistryis
what
passes
for
politics
in
our
country
today.
Media
pundits,
malleable
academicsmakeacomfortablelivingoutofspreadingsuchpap.
TheentireleftsuffersfromtalkingtoitselfinsteadofdirectlytotheCanadianpeoplewhoin
theirmajoritywantpeace,armsreductions,nucleardisarmamentandresolvinginternational
disputes by negotiations. Canadians want to keep and further develop what they have
workedsohardforsinceWW2. Socialprogramsforall.Labourrights.Careforchildrenand
pensioners. Protection for our beautiful countrys natural heritage. Friendship and
cooperation andmutual support among allof our people fromQuebec, Canada, all First
Nationsandnewarrivals.
TheHarperGovernmentisacrudedivideandrulepoliticalapparatus.Itinsiststhatitcando
whateveritwantsbecauseithasaParliamentarymajority.Noitcant.Itcanonlydowhatit
wantssolongastheCanadianpeopleallowit.
TherealParliament isabout33millionstrong. Itwillhave itssay,Conservativemajorityor
not.
DonCurrie,ChairCanadiansforPeaceandSocialism
www.FocusOnSocialism.ca
http://www.focusonsocialism.ca/http://www.focusonsocialism.ca/