the Voice of
The Communist League of Revolutionary Workers–Internationalist
“The emancipation of the working class will only be achieved by the working class itself.”
— Karl Marx
the Voice of
The Communist League of Revolutionary Workers–Internationalist
“The emancipation of the working class will only be achieved by the working class itself.”
— Karl Marx
Aug 25, 2008
The war in the Caucasus began when Georgia attempted forcibly to reestablish its authority over the small secessionist province of South Ossetia and Russia strongly intervened to stop it. But the roots of this attack by Georgia are part and parcel of the “Cold War,” which the Western imperialisms have never stopped waging.
When NATO was established in 1949, its founders pretended its aim was to prevent the expansion of “communism.” In reality, it was Western imperialism that was expanding. NATO was an open military pact aimed at surrounding the Soviet Union, while pacifying areas in Europe where the population was still mobilized.
The Soviet Union broke apart in 1991. But NATO still exists. Moreover, it has gotten bigger, for U.S. imperialism, with the participation of its European satellites, moved to bring into NATO countries that until recently had been part of the Soviet bloc. Until quite recently these territories made up Russia’s buffer zone. A part of the ex-USSR’s former territories are being brought into a military organization which is by nature hostile to Russia. Russia could hardly be expected to like this move.
When Georgia’s leaders invaded South Ossetia, the U.S. was preparing to incorporate Georgia into NATO. Georgia had already sent some of its own troops to fight with the U.S. in Iraq. Apparently Georgia’s leaders thought it could invade South Ossetia without paying any consequences. Maybe they expected Western leaders to intervene on their side. After all, the region is an important passageway for oil and natural gas lines going to the West. But when Russia responded, U.S. leaders contented themselves with hostile declarations toward Russia–so far, anyway. And Georgia was forced to bring back its troops from Iraq.
The rapidity with which this incident blew up shows that the “Cold War” could easily heat up again, because Western imperialism, with its tentacles spread around the globe, is still looking to impose its rule more strongly on the peoples of the world.