WORLD WORLDWIDE GREECE News Journal Update - (en) Greece, Against the participation of the Greek state in the imperialist war and the massacre of the Palestinian people (ca, de, it, pt, tr)[machine translation]

 

GATHERING IN THE MINISTRY OF DEFENSE --- BLOCK TO THE PARTICIPATION OF
THE GREEK STATE IN THE IMPERIALIST WAR AND THE MASSACRE OF THE
PALESTINIAN PEOPLE --- Against the participation of the Greek state in
the war in Ukraine and their assistance in the operation against the
Houthis in the Red Sea, in the strategy cooperation with the murderous
state of Israel diplomatically, economically and militarily and in its
active participation in the EU's one-sided war on migrants, spreading
death on its land and water borders. --- Freedom in Palestine ---
Solidarity with the people of Yemen and all peoples who are resisting.
Let the foundations of death be closed now.
To bring the war to the rear of the western metropolises
GATHERING AT THE MINISTRY OF NATIONAL DEFENSE
SATURDAY 24 FEBRUARY 14.00
anarchist group Dysinios Ippos (Patra) /

Thefollowing is the joint statement:

AGAINST THE GREEK STATE'S PARTICIPATION IN THE IMPERIALIST WAR, THE
MASSACRE OF THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE AND THE ONE-SIDED WAR OF THE EU
AGAINST IMMIGRANTS

"We are ready to do everything Kugi to serve the national interests"

Lt. General e.a. and Member of Parliament of New Democracy, March 2021

On December 5, the Minister of National Economy and Finance, Kostas
Hatzidakis, spoke with absolute clarity on a television show: the
reduction of VAT on basic necessities is not possible for two main
reasons: first, the general economic environment is undermined by the
service of the excessive of government debt (i.e. primarily in the
repayment of loans from the mechanisms of the European Union, such as
the EFSF and the ESM) and secondly, why priority must be given to the
war preparations of the Greek state and the strengthening of the
"defense" of the country, as: "The frigates, the planes, they're in
line, they have to be found somewhere." In two words: the war is moving
to the supermarket shelves. The basic social needs must be sacrificed on
the altar of the plans for geopolitical upgrading of the Greek state,
which, as a middleman of the bourgeoisie, attempts to extract income
from the distribution of the spoils of the imperialist war (to the
extent that it belongs, of course, and not to the extent that may would
like). The arms race that has been going on for years is absolutely
indicative. Only for 2022, Greece was first in military spending among
NATO countries, after spending 3.54% of its GDP, surpassing even the USA
(which, of course, reflects the relative and not the absolute size of
military spending). Another indicative element for the attempt to
strengthen the field of military power of the Greek state is that
armament expenditures represent 45.3% of Greece's total defense
expenditures, which is the second highest percentage after Hungary
(48%). This underestimation of social needs over war preparation
spending is expected to become even more acute after ecofin's decision
to exclude defense spending from the Greek state deficit (ie, loosening
fiscal discipline ONLY for military spending).

After the farce of the alleged "multifactorial foreign policy" sold by
the SYRIZA-ANEL coalition in the first months of its government, the
Greek state fully aligned its foreign policy with the aspirations of
NATO and the EU, turning into a vast military base, in war base and
outpost of Euro-Atlantic imperialism. Because the state has continuity,
as they said themselves. The main narrative of the Greek state is that
it is a bulwark of stability in the region, a reliable pillar for NATO's
southern flank and a hub of security in an arc of generalized
geopolitical turmoil. And the formulation of this policy is a constant
of the Greek state that is not disturbed by the changes of governments.
As the Greek armed forces wrote in their "White Paper" in 2014: "Greece
plays an important role in the regional and international security
system, with an unwavering ambition to become a driver of stability in
the wider region of Southeast Europe. In order to succeed in this
difficult task, our country maintains (...) extremely important
installations and facilities that give a unique advantage for a possible
deployment of air and naval forces of the allies in the wider region of
the Eastern Mediterranean and the Middle East. This element is vital to
the development and support of multinational efforts (...)

As the case of Libya demonstrates, we have created a comprehensive and
multifaceted support force structure to align with NATO's respective
operational and training requirements."

Based on this strategy, the Greek state has participated in dozens of
missions abroad, within the framework of its contractual obligations to
NATO and the EU. Let us not forget that a basic condition for the
parallel accession of Greece and Turkey to NATO was the participation of
both of States in the US Expeditionary Force in the Korean War (1950 -
1953). Joining NATO was the only way forward for the Greek state. Or, as
Nikolaos Plastiras put it: "It should not be said that Greece can follow
another policy". And some decades before, a necessary condition for the
provision of geopolitical income in the aftermath of World War I was the
participation of the Greek state in the allied invasion of Ukraine in
1919, with the aim of suppressing the revolution. What business does the
Greek army have in Ukraine and Korea? "Reflective influence", it is said
in the cynical language of diplomacy.

Today, according to GEETHA data, the Greek armed forces are
participating in 13 allied missions abroad: "ENDURING FREEDOM" (Iraq,
Indian), "SEA GUARDIAN" (Mediterranean), "NATO Activity in the Aegean to
deal with the Migration Crisis " (Participation SNMG-2), Kosovo Force
(KFOR)/ (Operation) "JOINT ENTERPRISE", "NMI" (Iraq), "EMASoH /AGENOR"
(Strait of Hormuz), "Link Belgrade", "ALTHEA" (Bosnia) , "EUTM MALI",
"EUTM SOMALIA", "ATALANTA" (Horn of Africa), "EUNAVFOR MED"
(Mediterranean) and "UNIFIL" (Lebanon). To these missions we must add
the participation of a Greek frigate in the "Prosperity Guardian"
operation in the Red Sea.

As we see, therefore, the basic rhetoric about the arms race of the
Greek state, as it is allegedly done for the protection of "defending"
Greece against "Turkish aggression", is completely refuted in practice.
After all, the urban competition between Greece and Turkey takes place
within an alliance framework, as both countries are members of NATO,
while Turkey seeks to reactivate the EU accession processes, which have
been frozen in recent years. In this context, the conflict between the
Greek and Turkish states is primarily defined by the arbitration role of
the USA, which is also their main supplier of weapons systems. However,
when the perpetual "negotiations" take a military form through the
accumulation of military forces on both sides in the Aegean, as happened
in the summer of 2020, then the possibility of an "accident" and direct
military involvement (wide or limited scale) cannot be ruled out.

THE DEEPEST INVOLVEMENT IN THE IMPERIALIST WAR AND THE COMPLICATION OF
THE GREEK STATE IN THE MASSACRE OF THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE

It is obvious that the bases and military installations of the NATO war
machine that are scattered on Greek soil are not just decorative. They
have been used many times in military expeditions and missile attacks,
such as in Iraq, Yugoslavia, Syria, etc. At the same time, the scenarios
for the re-installation of nuclear weapons on the territory of Greece
are increasingly intensifying, as the Greek state sees this possibility
as a "window of opportunity". to strengthen the country's role within
NATO and gain strategic advantages. Greece, in the past, was one of the
seven NATO countries that hosted US nuclear warheads at the Araxos base
until the 1990s, as part of NATO's "burden sharing". Araxos already has
the appropriate infrastructure for nuclear re-installation, while the
similar use of Souda is already being discussed, where there is the
possibility of hosting strategic bombers (type B2 Spirit), as well as
nuclear submarines.

This adventurous policy is becoming more and more dangerous in an
environment of crisis, constant fluidity, instability, geopolitical
realignments, sharpening of oppositions and redefinition of alliances
and rivalries. In an environment where "hot" and "cold" regional
conflicts are constantly intensifying and the possibility of the
generalization of the imperialist war is constantly visible. The danger
of nuclear ignition is also immediately visible. The example of the
direct and multifaceted conflict (the military side of the war is only
one aspect) between the EU/NATO and Russia on the territory of Ukraine
is indicative of the danger of the sharpening of rivalries in the
imperialist/capitalist system.

 From the beginning of the war in Ukraine, the Greek state chose the
path of deep involvement. Not, of course, for "moral reasons", as the
government claims. The deep involvement in the war is the natural
continuation of the strategic choice of hitching to the chariot of
Euro-Atlantic imperialism and it is perfectly adapted and aligned with
the US-NATO-EU "Security Architecture" for dual deterrence of Russian
and Chinese influence. And this does not only concern the current
government, but all governments, "left" and right, neoliberal and social
democratic. After all, even during SYRIZA there was an active
participation of Greece in exercises of geostrategic encirclement of
Russia, while it deepened the alliance with Israel even more, in the
context of the so-called 3 + 1 scheme (Greece - Cyprus - Israel, under
the auspices of the USA). It was SYRIZA that rabidly supported
Euro-Atlantic energy plans, choosing the apartheid state of Israel as a
strategic partner (like the East Med plan). Greece's current involvement
in the slaughter of the Palestinian people is, therefore, nothing more
than a natural continuation of this pro-war and adventurous strategic
choice.

Within this context, the current Greek government has given land and
water to pave the ground for the massacre. The frigate "Nikiphoros
Fokas" (which replaced the frigate "Psaras)" accompanies an aircraft
carrier that supports the attack on the Palestinians (under the umbrella
of the operation Standing NATO Maritime Group Two-SNMG 2), while other
warships are in a state of readiness for any possibility of
entanglement. Souda is used for logistics services for US Navy ships
operating in the area, while US spy planes are constantly taking off to
provide intelligence to the Israeli and US armed forces. The military
airport of Elefsina has been granted for the purposes of the American
Army, while on December 21 the Minister of "Defence", Nikos Dendias,
announced the final decision of the government for the participation of
a frigate of the Greek Navy in the operation Prosperity Guardian, under
the auspices of the USA . The operation is directed against the Shia
Houthi rebels in Yemen and its essential purpose is to protect the
navigation of Israeli ships in the Red Sea, which are being attacked by
the Houthis in "retaliation" for the massacre in Gaza. This decision
marks the most direct and active participation of the Greek state in the
bloodshed of the Palestinian people.

Let's not forget that Greece and Israel also have intense military
cooperation, while the Israeli army conducts exercises with live fire on
Greek territory, as happened in June 2012 when the Greek state granted
for this purpose the Karavia islands to Israeli aircraft to conduct such
exercises kind of military exercise. On March 15, 2023, the Defense
Cooperation Program between Greece and Israel was signed in Tel Aviv.
According to GEETHA, the agreement includes 58 activities for 2023, of
which 25 military exercises, 15 trainings and 18 other actions that will
take place in both countries, and concern among others: -

Participation in interdisciplinary exercises, as well as in
corresponding to the individual Branches of the Armed Forces.

- Joint training of Special Forces - Special Operations Forces.

- Participation of trainees in national - interdisciplinary schools and
multinational schools, as well as in seminars.

- Staff meetings and conversations on matters of mutual interest.

- Co-training courses in Crisis Management, Electronic Warfare, as well
as Search and Rescue.

On the same day, the Joint Action Plan of the armed forces of Greece -
Cyprus - Israel for the year 2023 was also signed, which includes:
participation of media and personnel in joint and national exercises,
cooperation in the field of cyber defense, cooperation in the field of
Military Police - MP), joint training of Special Forces - Special
Operations Forces and staff meetings and talks on matters of mutual
interest.

On August 9, 2023, two months before the slaughter in Gaza began, the
"Defense" ministers of Greece and Israel, Nikos Dendias and Yoav Gallad,
were meeting in Tel Aviv for an in-principle cooperation agreement in
the field of Research and Development (R&D ) of the war industries of
the two countries. Dendias then declared that Israel is Greece's
preferred partner for defense and strategic reasons.

The Greek state, therefore, is not a "source of stability" and an "oasis
of peace" as it advertises itself. He has taken a fighting position and
is complicit with the murderers, his hands are dipped in the blood of
the Palestinian people. The meeting with Mitsotakis Netanyahu in
Jerusalem on October 23 and the explicit commitment on the part of the
Greek side to essentially unconditional support - beyond some
easy-to-digest wording - for "Israel's right to self-defense against
terrorism" confirms exactly this.

We, from our position, must erect ramparts of resistance against the
ever-deepening involvement of the Greek state in the ongoing ethnic
cleansing and send a strong message of solidarity to the struggling
Palestinian people who continue to stand up against the occupation
regime and deliver to all of us dignity lessons.

THE GREEK STATE'S PARTICIPATION IN EUROPE'S WAR - A FORTRESS AGAINST
IMMIGRANTS

"Don't force Europe to become black"

Anna Diamantopoulou, November 2023

Beyond the conventional war that we all know, there is another war going
on: the one unilaterally declared by Europe - Fortress against
immigrants. The crime of Pylos is not the only one, nor the last.
Escalating anti-immigrant militarization and violent deterrence
operations are spreading death across Europe's land and water borders.
The thousands of migrant drownings are not simply "accidents" caused by
the unseaworthiness of boats, but the legal result of the policy of
preventing the entry of "migrant flows" through the process of
militarization and close surveillance of the European borders. This
process of creating a high tech panoptic system on the borders of Europe
is of course accompanied by a highly profitable economy of surveillance
for a business/political/military complex, which does business on the
dead bodies of the infernal. And this gigantic investment by the EU is
proving to be particularly productive: from 2014 until today, more than
28,000 dead and missing migrants have been recorded in the
Mediterranean, on the border with "civilized" Europe. 2500 are dead this
year alone, in 2023. But in reality, the death toll is even higher and
we will never know, since we are only talking about the recorded cases...

Naturally, the Greek state is the protagonist in this undeclared and
one-sided war. Immigrants and refugees, i.e. people uprooted due to the
interventionist policy of the West, are now considered "invaders". We
also saw it in the anti-immigrant pogroms in Evros, where officially the
Greek state was talking about a "hybrid war", targeting the immigrants
as "Erdogan's agents". Thus, the anti-immigration policy was identified
with guarding the borders from "invaders". In other words, the
immigrants are officially defined as an enemy and a military target of
the Greek state! In July 2022, during the passage of a law systematizing
the application of barbaric legislation against refugees and immigrants,
the then Minister of Immigration and Asylum, Notis Mitarakis, was very
clear about this identification: "We guard our borders and by extension
the borders of the EU". The application of this inhumane policy was
expressed more clearly by the current parliamentary representative of
the New Democracy, Thanos Pleuris: "guarding the borders cannot exist if
there are no losses and, to be understood, if there are no dead!
Guarding the border has dead people! (...) And those who now live here
will have the logic of counter-incentives. When you're here, you won't
have social benefits, you won't be able to eat, you won't be able to
drink, you won't be able to go to the hospital. And you will tell the
others in Pakistan that we have a worse time here than in Pakistan. If
they don't have a worse time, they will come. They must be having a
worse time! Hell must seem like heaven to what they will live here."

But if killing immigrants at the border and imprisoning them in modern
hells and concentration camps is half of the war, the other half is
"integrating" them where capital needs them. Immigrants are turned into
cheap fuel in the capitalist meat grinder. Through the process of their
illegalization, an extremely undervalued working class is created, which
is used as a lever for the general depreciation of the labor force. And
with the new "Kairidis regulation" passed last December, now officially
the number of refugees and immigrants entering the country will be
directly dependent on the needs for labor in the territory, that is, on
the profitability needs of capital. Institutional "anti-racism" is
what's left of the bombs. It is part of the war that capital and
imperialism have waged against the poor.

GATHERING AT THE MINISTRY OF NATIONAL DEFENSE - SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 24 AT
2:00 PM

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