WORLD WORLDWIDE GREECE UKRAINE News Journal Update - (en) Greece: Presentación de la Iniciativa Libertaria de Tesalónica en el evento "Oportunidades y Riesgos de la Tercera Guerra Mundial" (ca, de, it, pt, tr)[machine translation]

 The war that broke out last year in Ukraine suddenly disturbed the

illusion of "normality" and "peace" of the Western bourgeois democracies
and their subjects, who until then had been convinced that war is
something that happens "elsewhere", in Asia, Africa and first of all in
the Middle East, but certainly not on European soil. ---- The war in
Ukraine is being waged for the interests of the ruling classes of both
camps and their allies, with the victims of the poor, the working class.
This imperialist war currently being waged between Ukraine supposedly,
but actually between NATO on one side and Russia on the other,
demonstrates to the oppressed and exploited everywhere, especially those
on the European continent, that capitalism, the which cannot recover
from the crisis that broke out in 2008 and is sinking more and more into
recession and its internal contradictions, it cannot guarantee a better
life, a better future for those at the bottom.

A few years ago the same imperialist camps - with the addition of the
camp of Turkey, which must now be understood as a distinct pole, as it
participates in NATO and has linked its interests with it, but is now
more and more openly attempting to constitute and independent
imperialist power in the Middle East- clashed with other terms in Syria.

The conflict in Syria broke out in the context of the so-called Arab
Spring, but it followed a completely different course from the other
Arab countries. Since July 2012 a vibrant revolutionary process has been
developing in the North and East Syria / Western Kurdistan region,
Rojava, standing up against capitalism, imperialism, fascism,
fundamentalism and patriarchy. The liberating social project of
Democratic Confederalism consists in the peaceful association of peoples
in terms of real/radical democracy, is based on social ecology and
radical feminism, and tries to organize acratically,

The war in Ukraine, like the war in Syria, reflects the conflict between
rival imperialist camps with key disputes over zones of influence,
geostrategic power and control of energy flows. In Syria, powerful and
regional imperialist powers competed and still compete with each other
for power, wealth-producing resources and energy flows. And in the midst
of these interstate rivalries and conflicts is the camp of the social
revolution of the peoples of Kurdistan. From the beginning, Russia
mainly bet on serving its interests in the Assad regime, but made fluid
tactical choices of alliances during the war. Turkey has been steadily
trying in recent years to become an independent imperialist factor by
targeting the territories of the Autonomous Administration of Eastern
Syria, both with military operations that lead to the occupation of
territories of the Autonomous Administration, which in turn become its
new colonies, and with drone attacks on its territories, with artificial
water shortages because it controls the dams in Turkish Kurdistan/Bakur,
and other means. At the same time, it is steadily trying to crush the
anti-colonial struggle of the Kurdish liberation movement, as it is now
attacking with chemical weapons both Bakur and Iraqi Kurdistan / Basur.
 From the beginning of the war, the Turkish state was associated with
and supported the fundamentalist forces of the region. The US initially
did the same, but seeing the impasse of this "investment" they chose a
temporary tactical alliance with the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).
Once their interests were served again, they turned to the position that
strategically corresponded to them: to contain the revolutionary attempt
in the region.

The following two questions are automatically raised regarding the
struggles of the oppressed and exploited. What can we do to exert
political pressure in the direction of stopping the imperialist war?
What can we do to overthrow capitalism?

First we should recognize the very nature of this particular war as
imperialist, that is, as a conflict between warring bourgeois classes
and states. On this basis the proletarians are not going to have any
material interest in the outcome of the war. Thus their support and
participation in this war in either camp merely serves the class
interests of their oppressors.

Putin has maintained since the start of the war that Russia's act of war
against Ukraine is aimed at propping up Russian-held Crimea and the
so-called Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics from Ukraine's pro-Nazi
regime, which is flirting with Western-led membership in NATO. Less than
24 hours after the declaration of war, Russia recognized the
independence of its informal protectorates in the Donbass, exacerbating
the already existing tension with the Euro-Atlantic axis that supports
the Ukrainian regime.

The war did not break out of nowhere. Ukraine has been waging a
low-intensity civil war since 2014, when the then pro-Russian government
of President Yanukovych was toppled by an "Orange Revolution" that
brought to power a pro-Western regime willing to align itself with the
Euro-Atlantic axis. The US-led Euromaidan coup derailed Ukraine from
Russia's sphere of influence. It also empowered the Ukrainian far-right,
which gained seats in parliament and developed paramilitary units that
committed atrocities against Russian-speakers and trade unionists. This
regime is recognized and financially and militarily supported by the
states that belong to the European Union and NATO (at the same time that
images of swastikas on public buildings were leaking through social media),

Russia, on the other hand, from the beginning was not willing to lose
its imperialist foothold in Ukraine and especially in the Crimea region,
regardless of the will of the Ukrainian people. The Euromaidan uprising
may have resulted in the pro-Nazi regime that it did, but there is no
one who deludes himself that the non-acceptance of this regime arose out
of Russia's "anti-fascist" sentiment or its "need to protect Russian
citizens". Besides, Putin's autocratic regime in Russia rewards Nazis
and fascists inside the country by simultaneously imprisoning and
killing anti-fascists, while the numerous interventions of Russian
imperialism in areas of the former USSR did not need similar
justifications. Russia wanted and wants one: to impose its own terms on
the evolving imperialist rivalries. It will not tolerate NATO's military
encirclement, the installation of nuclear weapons on its doorstep, the
Western push for Ukraine to join NATO, the attempted energy blockade of
its natural gas supply to EU countries and the reduction of control in
the former Soviet region.

On the other side, the US and the Euro-Atlantic camp, prominently the
UK, are pushing in violation of international pacts for NATO's eastern
expansion, economic and energy pressure on Russia in favor of US
liquefied natural gas (LNG) and the control of the Arctic trade route,
opened by the melting of the ice due to the destructive effect of
capitalism on the natural environment and ecosystem. Both Russia and the
USA are trying to export their internal crisis abroad, while attempting
to cause rearrangements in the global imperialist hierarchy.

Ruling classes and nation-states have traditionally employed nationalism
and chauvinism as ideological tools in order to erode the class
consciousness of the subject masses, draw them into destructive wars for
the interests of economic and political elites. Today we see the slogan
"the more they steal our lives the more they feed us with nation and
race" taking shape all over the planet, with the rise of nationalisms
almost everywhere fueled by sovereignty.

In order to oppose the capitalist looting that gives birth to hundreds
of dead, the working class and its organized vanguards have to promote
class and international solidarity. The cooperation and mutual aid
between the exploited who divide them artificially and from above the
borders erected by the nation-states. This cooperation and mutual
assistance is based on the common class position and common interests of
the oppressed and exploited, as subjects of class exploitation and
political oppression within the framework of the capitalist system.

Faced with transnational alliances and globalized capitalism on the one
hand and transnational rivalries and imperialist conflicts on the other,
however, a pacifist strategy is not enough, of course. And this is the
nature of international relations today: cooperation and conflict "go
hand in hand". And if we focus more on the conflict in today's debate,
it is not because their "peace" does not wreak havoc through poverty and
hunger, but because their "war", now ever expanding, wreaks even greater
havoc.

Capitalism is riddled with internal contradictions and has historically
resorted to war conflicts to overcome structural crises of
over-accumulation. To destroy fixed and variable capital, redistribute
the zones of influence and economic exploitation, rearrange the global
division of capital and labor, and restart a period of capitalist
reconstruction and development until the next crisis. As long as
capitalism, states and power exist, there will also be interstate wars
for the interests of capitalists. Therefore, subversive social and class
movements must work out strategies for the overthrow of capitalism and
the solidarity of peoples through the radical, revolutionary change of
the dominant social and economic paradigm.

Examining the Greek reality, we realize that the interests of the local
bourgeoisie and its political representatives are intertwined with those
of Euro-Atlantic imperialism, hence Greece's accession to NATO and the
European Union. As the Greek state is beholden to the dictates of US
imperialism, Greek territory has today become an advanced NATO outpost,
with the Greek state performing a supervisory role in the Balkans and
the Eastern Mediterranean on behalf of the US. This finding is supported
by the NATO bases that are constantly being upgraded and the deeper
involvement of the Greek state in NATO plans, especially against the
background of the war in Ukraine.

The recent NATO summit in Vilnius, Lithuania foreshadows the sharpening
of interstate rivalries and imperialist tensions and conflicts. The US
appears to have no interest in immediately stopping the war in Ukraine
and amid its own existing economic pressures, but also due to the fear
of losing its global primacy in the imperialist chain is attempting to
contain the main adversaries, namely Russia and China, with tensions,
military conflicts, sanctions and diplomatic pressure. At the same time,
as long as the war in Ukraine rages, the American arms companies will
have the opportunity to hoard, not only by sending arms to Ukraine, but
also by increasing the armament expenditures of NATO members. A minimum
of 2% of the domestic budget for each NATO member state was set as a
minimum for armament expenditure. The Greek state, of course, which is
determined to upgrade its role in NATO's geostrategic plans, has
currently exceeded 3% of the state budget for armaments, as it will
annually spend 7 billion euros, which will be grabbed from the people's
pockets and fueled a murderous war machine, instead of being used to
strengthen public health and education, to support workers and
strengthen public welfare structures and services.

Also, after the accession of Finland to NATO, the accession of Sweden is
now being discussed, while on the horizon is of course the accession of
Ukraine, which is "freezing" for the time being. The deployment of new
NATO forces in the Baltics and in Bulgaria (NATO's so-called rapid
reaction force stationed in Europe is expected to increase to over
300,000 troops), but also the formalization of military cooperation
between NATO and Ukraine as equal partners in frameworks of the
NATO-Ukraine Council paint the picture of the military encirclement of
Russia and the preparation of an even fiercer imperialist conflict which
will probably not be without the use of nuclear weapons.

NATO is currently actively involved in the Ukraine war and at the same
time is preparing for the escalation and expansion of the war. On June
13-23, 2023, the NATO exercise Air Defender 23 took place over German
airspace. It is the largest aerial military exercise in NATO history. It
was prepared for 4 whole years and 6 air bases were used. 10,000
soldiers from NATO member states participated in this exercise. Greece
was among them. Some time later, between July 10 and 14, 2023, the NATO
military exercise Neptune Strike 23-2 took place in the Adriatic Sea,
the Ionian Sea, in areas of mainland Greece and the Southeast
Mediterranean, with the participation of land, air and naval forces, as
well as forces special businesses.

The involvement of the Greek state in the war in Ukraine through the
provision of arms to the Ukrainian army, the political support of the
Zelenskyi government, the shipment of military equipment to Ukraine
(20,000 Kalashnikovs seized in 2013 from the ship Nour-M, 2 transport
aircraft C- 130 loaded with weapons, medicine and food) and the
exploitation of NATO bases have not gone unnoticed by the Russian state
and the Putin government, which has taken care to threaten those who
militarily support Ukraine. The deeper involvement of the Greek state in
this war and interstate rivalries on behalf of NATO and the USA is sure
to involve the working class in bloody adventures.

Between NATO on the one hand and Russia on the other, the movements
cannot and should not choose an imperialist camp. The strategic alliance
of a movement with an imperialist power inevitably means its death. It
makes sense for us, as part of Greek society, to primarily target NATO,
the domestic bourgeoisie and its political staff aligned with
Euro-Atlantic interests. Greek territory is full of NATO bases. Troops,
vehicles, ships and aircraft go to and from the country's military and
transit hubs. We know that the enemy is in our own country, that is why
we also target its strategic allies. We act locally, think
internationally, and stand by the revolutionary politics of the working
class.

The chronic skirmish between the Greek and Turkish states creates a
constant climate of tension, militarism and nurtures nationalist
sentiments on both sides of the Aegean. The sovereigns of the two states
seek to prepare their subjects for a possible war conflict. Centered on
the position in the NATO alliance, the favor and support of the USA and
the exploitation of the energy deposits in the Aegean, the two warring
ruling classes and their respective states are fueling this tension and
competition. We know that if a joint exploitation solution is not found
in the Aegean - a solution that, whatever it is, is understood to serve
purely capitalist interests - a heated episode or a clash between the
two states is likely. So that is why, our anti-war and internationalist
reflexes should be on alert, because we do not wish and are not going to
kill each other for EEZs, the profits of monopolies and multinationals,
nor for redemptive and chauvinistic purposes. This is why we must
already establish relations of cooperation with the working class of
Turkey in the context of preventing a possible war. Our trust must
clearly be in the oppressed. Only the organized social base can
guarantee security, peace and prosperity for those below. We are not
going to entrust our future to NATO, which on behalf of capitalist
interests and US hegemony plants hotbeds of war, "empties" even its
previously strategic allies and maintains war zones, to weaken his
rivals and for the arms companies to accumulate more profits. After all,
the Turkish state, NATO's second largest military power, is a stronger
partner in the alliance and logic dictates that in a possible conflict
the US would take its side; a conclusion that even the most pro-NATO had
no difficulty in drawing observers after the developments in Ukraine.

The revolutionary task that anarchists have today, as an organic part of
the working class, is to actively promote proletarian internationalism
and anti-militarism as countervailing forces to the constant
militarization and participation of states in imperialist wars. We must
strengthen the anti-war and anti-imperialist movement by maintaining a
revolutionary and internationalist strategy, which can in no way be
determined by the choice of imperialist camp within the logics of the
lesser evil or the victor of the imperialist war. The proletarians can
only rely on their own strength, on class and international solidarity.
Therefore, today a revolutionary and internationalist anti-war and
anti-imperialist movement cannot be aligned directly or indirectly with
either Russia or NATO. In addition to highlighting class and
internationalist solidarity among the oppressed and exploited
everywhere, demonstrating and publicizing the class nature of the
imperialist war that serves capitalist interests and trying to turn the
national war into a class war, i.e. to create the conditions for the
revolutionary overthrow of the state and capitalism on an international
scale: and this is what the comrades of the Kurdish freedom movement
call "opportunities of the third world war", in other words, but with
the same meaning. On the other hand, it is clear that a social
revolution cannot survive, without degenerating and slipping from its
goals and principles, if it still remains surrounded and dependent on
the state agent and imperialist forces. In other words, it is necessary
to expand the revolution on an international scale and especially in the
neighboring regions.

However, in order to achieve the above objectives, it is necessary to
organize the masses of the oppressed and exploited based on their social
and class position, in the direction of conflict with state and
capitalist interests, which entails the rise of the level of class
consciousness and the awareness of their revolutionary duties. Without
the organization of the oppressed and exploited, it is not possible to
build a rival awe against the domination and brutality of the state and
capital. Without this determinant our lives will continue to be defined
by capitalist dictates and state decisions. And we know well that the
lives of the poor, the workers are not counted by capital. That's why
they target us for meat in their shells, while at the same time they are
fortifying themselves internally and preparing for the suppression of
impending social uprisings and revolutions. In short, our class
adversary is constantly organizing, fortifying and arming, seeking blood
and profit and constantly advancing, while our own class camp is in
protracted retreat and disorganization.

Because we stubbornly refuse to accept bourgeois narratives of the end
of history and the absence of an alternative (TINA), it is time to
overturn existing power relations, not only for the sake of meaningfully
improving and reshaping our societies, lives and daily lives into new
liberating and equalizing frameworks, but now for our very survival. We
must organize on every front where class warfare and social competition
rage. In workplaces, neighborhoods, schools, universities. To structure
within the shell of the aging capitalist system, within our
organizations and structures, a culture counterbalanced and hostile to
individualism, aristocracy, competition, sexism, racism, the basic
components of capitalist and liberal ideology, that have infiltrated
each and every one of us. A culture of solidarity, collectivization,
camaraderie and struggle, which will be intertwined with enlistment in
the cause of social revolution. A culture, in other words, of love for
others, love for life.

In parallel with the struggle against the state and capital, we must,
through our political and class organization, draw up a revolutionary
plan and a program for the universal transformation of the existing
society, on new bases that will be governed by the principles of
libertarian communism. We need to communicate this revolutionary
alternative counter-proposal to as many sections of the working class as
possible, to organize the counter awe that will attempt to overthrow
this rotten system. Because it is rather a common admission that we have
lost ground. Despite the resistance that the movements continue to
project, we are still unable to present to society a revolutionary
program and a revolutionary strategy.

We only know this. That the road opens by walking. That this is clearly
a difficult road that requires collective commitment and organization.
But it is undeniably worth going down this road. So that we don't live
like slaves. Because we cannot come to terms with injustice, oppression
and exploitation. Because we believe in the emancipatory powers of the
oppressed and exploited. Because we want and need another society, a
different life. And we will do everything in our power to win.

Iniciativa Libertaria de Tesalónica

Tesalónica,

julio 2023

https://libertasalonica.wordpress.com/2023/07/22
_________________________________________
A - I N F O S  N E W S  S E R V I C E
By, For, and About Anarchists
Send news reports to A-infos-en mailing list
A-infos-en@ainfos.ca