Former left-wing Zionists for imperialism?
As far as I know, nobody has taken the time to make a detailed criticism of this critique of the Euston Manifesto, written by some chaps from the World Socialist Website. The general response seems to be to laugh at it, and that a more detailed discussion of the article would be pointless.
But I'm used to doing things that are pointless. I'm writing a blog, for heavan's sake. So here goes:
The manifesto was drafted by a number of former left and liberal academics and journalists.
That's my emboldening. Hmm, I'm not so sure about that one. I'll let it pass, as the "you're not right wing" argument is getting a little tiresome. Being to the right of mad revolutionary socialists does not make you necessarily "right wing".
Many come from a left-Zionist background
What's this got to do with anything? Don't just cry "Israel", it's not sensible or clever.
Most of its prominent supporters defended the Iraq war based on the premise that US and British imperialism should be entrusted with opposing dictatorship and spreading democracy.
No, sorry. Norman Geras' remarks on "imperialism" can be found in this Golden Strawberry post.
Any signatories who may have opposed the Iraq war now have no difficulty in aligning themselves with the pro-war majority within the group.
That's because you didn't have to agree with the invasion of Iraq to agree with the basic priniples in the Manifesto, as said in the very first post on the Golden Strawberry.
Even Amnesty International is attacked for making a “grotesque public comparison of Guantanamo with the Gulag.”
That's because it is a silly comparison to make. The Gulags killed 16 million people, Guantanamo Bay, although repulsive, has not killed 16 million people. It's like saying the crimes of Fred West are comparable to those people killed in the Second World War.
“Leftists who make common cause with, or excuses for, anti-democratic forces should be criticised in clear and forthright terms,” they state, portraying opponents of the occupation of Iraq as de facto allies of Islamic fundamentalists.
Don't get me started on this one...
The US continues to be “the home of a strong democracy with a noble tradition behind it and lasting constitutional and social achievements to its name,” the manifesto declares, obscuring the fact that these very “achievements” are under ferocious assault by the US administration and ruling elite.
But nevertheless, the US and UK are still "better" (despite their faults which need to be rectified) than Iran, Iraq under Saddam, North Korea etc etc.....
That will do for now. I used to wish those at blogs such as Harry's Place would not post as much about the antics of the far left. It all got a little repetitive and tiresome. But now I find that once you've started chronicling the antics of Respect and the like, it's very hard to stop. It's addictive, but necessary.
-posted by Roy
