US troops are worse than scabs
peon in the US | 06.12.2003 23:05 | Analysis | Anti-militarism | Education
A working class perspective on the US anti-war movement's adaptation of the slogan "Support Our Troops".
Scabs cross picket lines during strikes. They bust unions and take workers jobs, causing economic hardship for the union workers and their families. What could be worse than scabs?
US troops:
1) Cross international borders and slaughter workers and their family members.
2) Take women and children as hostages.
3) Torture and murder prisoners.
4) Assassinate labor leaders so as to undermine the labor movements in third world countries.
5) Seize public land, resources and assets and turn it over to foreign investors.
6) Poison the environment with toxic substances like depleted uranium.
7) Bomb homes, schools, hospitals, water treatment facilities, food storage facilities and TV stations.
8) Shoot journalists, ambulances with the wounded and civilians trying to flee.
Many anti-war activists in the US have adopted the ‘Support Our Troops’ slogan - the same slogan the imperialists war mongers use. How can peace activists support murderous imperialist troops in an illegal invasion and occupation?
They say US troops are members of the working class who joined the military because they needed jobs. They say young people who join the US military are too young to realize what they’re getting into. But these are exactly the same excuses the scabs use. In other words, their argument for supporting US troops is a scab argument.
The irony of it is that these same anti-war activists claim they support the labor movement!
Who would ever think of carrying a placard that reads ‘Support Our Scabs’ during a strike? What strike was ever won by employing such a strategy? Workers have nothing but disdain for scabs. Workers remind scabs that what they are doing is shameful, dishonorable and cowardly. Scabs are not our working class brothers and sisters, rather they are collaborators, traitors to the working class.
Why should we treat US troops, who do the dirty work for the imperialist bosses and who are far worse than scabs, any different? Their conduct in Iraq up to this point in time does not merit our support, i.e., they are not collectively organizing a mutiny and/or disobeying orders like the US troops did in Vietnam. They are, for the most part, following orders and doing their job, i.e., murdering, torturing, kidnapping and raping Iraqis.
The ‘scabniks’ need to be flushed-out so we can build a real anti-war movement here in the US, one that’ll attract all sectors of the population, not just middle and upper class whites - one that doesn’t cling to imperialist patriotism and its rotten slogans. In short we need an anti-imperialist peace movement in the US.
US troops:
1) Cross international borders and slaughter workers and their family members.
2) Take women and children as hostages.
3) Torture and murder prisoners.
4) Assassinate labor leaders so as to undermine the labor movements in third world countries.
5) Seize public land, resources and assets and turn it over to foreign investors.
6) Poison the environment with toxic substances like depleted uranium.
7) Bomb homes, schools, hospitals, water treatment facilities, food storage facilities and TV stations.
8) Shoot journalists, ambulances with the wounded and civilians trying to flee.
Many anti-war activists in the US have adopted the ‘Support Our Troops’ slogan - the same slogan the imperialists war mongers use. How can peace activists support murderous imperialist troops in an illegal invasion and occupation?
They say US troops are members of the working class who joined the military because they needed jobs. They say young people who join the US military are too young to realize what they’re getting into. But these are exactly the same excuses the scabs use. In other words, their argument for supporting US troops is a scab argument.
The irony of it is that these same anti-war activists claim they support the labor movement!
Who would ever think of carrying a placard that reads ‘Support Our Scabs’ during a strike? What strike was ever won by employing such a strategy? Workers have nothing but disdain for scabs. Workers remind scabs that what they are doing is shameful, dishonorable and cowardly. Scabs are not our working class brothers and sisters, rather they are collaborators, traitors to the working class.
Why should we treat US troops, who do the dirty work for the imperialist bosses and who are far worse than scabs, any different? Their conduct in Iraq up to this point in time does not merit our support, i.e., they are not collectively organizing a mutiny and/or disobeying orders like the US troops did in Vietnam. They are, for the most part, following orders and doing their job, i.e., murdering, torturing, kidnapping and raping Iraqis.
The ‘scabniks’ need to be flushed-out so we can build a real anti-war movement here in the US, one that’ll attract all sectors of the population, not just middle and upper class whites - one that doesn’t cling to imperialist patriotism and its rotten slogans. In short we need an anti-imperialist peace movement in the US.
peon in the US
Comments
Hide the following 4 comments
shameless
07.12.2003 19:29
Unlike scabs, servicemen can't leave their posts. They can't go home. And many of them currently serving in Iraq desperately want to-- many of them didn't want to go at all. But they have to, unless they want to be punished by a system that expoits its soldiers, as well.
Telling us to continue demonizing individuals who are confused, scared, and at constant risk of being blown up because the fat white men in power wanted more oil...? That just gives them more of an opportunity to demonize us.
Incorrigible
reply to last comment
08.12.2003 02:17
There’s even been an increase of U$ flag waving at peace rallies, replacing the stars with peace signs. A “creative” yet futile action we can only guess is intended to wash the blood off of that racist symbol of imperialist war & endless greed, detested by the vast majority of the world’s inhabitants.
Said flag is burned in effigy all over the world, from the Middle East to Latin America to Asia to Africa, even in Europe. It’s hated for good reason. Much as the Nazi symbol was & is detested by peace & democracy loving people the world over. A Nazi flag, no matter if it’s designed with little tiny peace signs, is still a Nazi flag… & so is the U.S. flag of conquest & world domination. Mark Twain, following the U.S. invasion, massacre, & occupation of the Philippines in the early 1900’s, while a member of the Anti-Imperialist League, said “…the U.S. flag should be replaced by the skull & cross bones…”
It’s quite apparent that some “peace” activists are expressing solidarity w/the troops, & by implication w/their violent & macabre deeds.
Are US invading troops really the victims of “evil terrorist Iraqis” who are “arrogant enough” to defend themselves & their homeland?
We all know US troops are not the victims of this war, yet some activists feel compelled to show their “patriotism,” manifesting some degree of “loyalty” to the US culture of colonialism. This vacillation seems to be motivated by the need to not appear “un-American.” Well, considering the “manifest destiny” & racist history of the US, & witnessing what it continues to do, it’s not a bad idea to be “un-American.” In fact, the world is calling on us to break w/Americanism. After all, not one demonstration outside the US chanted the slogan “SUPPORT U.S.TROOPS.” On the contrary, tens of millions of people from all over the world have been quite explicit about their outrage toward US Imperialism, its Commander in Chief & his loyal troops.
Let’s face facts, US men & women were not forced into the military. Iraqis are not invading the US. Iraqis have not committed any terrorism against the American population. It’s US troops that have gone half way around the world, as agents of the US Oil Cartel, to slaughter Iraqis & destroy their homes & country. Their mission: secure control over Iraqi autonomy & seize the oil fields. Kill & destroy any Iraqi opposition to this blatant rape, theft & colonial act.
US troops volunteered to “serve,” they were not drafted. They chose to join the most violent, well-equipped, gangster-like, & imperialist military in history, some actually looking forward to “combat.” Others, no doubt, joined the military for economic reasons. But, do a job & an “educational” opportunity really justify actively & in many cases enthusiastically participating in the mass murder of innocent people?
The “logic” of “Peace” leaders that call on the peace movt to “support our troops” is extremely backward & contradictory, considering they claim to be pacifists. How the hell can you be a pacifist & support highly-armed, motivated, stone-cold killers? In Rome these pacifists would have denounced Caesar yet supported the Roman troops that crucified Jesus & colonized a great portion of the world’s population, arguing “the troops have no other economic alternatives.” Would they’ve supported the cavalry troops that slaughtered Native Americans or the troops that defended slavery? After all those men were also poor. How ‘bout the Israeli troops that terrorize Palestinians? How ‘bout Colombian govt troops that attack the population for wanting freedom? The troops are always from the poor/working classes. Rich bastards never do their own dirty work.
Yet, regardless of the economic pressures, most poor youth do not choose to be pawns for the rich & turn themselves into murderers. If supporting US troops is a correct & ethical position based on the “economic” argument put forth by these pacifists, then according to this illogical “logic” we should also support scabs - the class traitors who choose to cross picket lines & betray honest & courageous union workers & their families. Scabs plead that they were forced to do it &/or tricked into doing it because they needed jobs and that they were too young to understand that what they were doing was wrong. These are the same excuses US troops use when they join the military and murder, brutalize, torture & rape thousands of Afghans, Iraqis, & whomever the govt wants colonized. In short, the notion that we should “support our troops” is based on the same excuses that the scabs have been using for centuries.
Men & women who sacrifice by striking for better working conditions do it not only for themselves but also for all working people. Similarly, the Iraqis are fighting back against corporate colonial greed & arrogant expansionist power, not only for Iraq, but also for the dignity of a world that won’t bow down to AmeriKKKa. For doing this they are falsely & maliciously labeled terrorists by the US corporate owned media.
Some working people join the police force for economic reasons as well, usually ex-military. Is this really a coincidence? We ask the “peace” activists who “support the troops”: are cops also victims when they beat, shoot & murder Blacks & Latinos in particular & working class people of all colors in general? Supporting the troops & the police is supporting fascism, & the ruthless imperialist economic order they loyally protect.
Calling for peace by demanding immediate US withdrawal from the Middle East is demanding the return of US troops, along with the independent re-building of Iraq on Iraqi terms, without falling into patriotic abyss. US patriotism, conservative or liberal, is an opportunist & destructive disease which continues to split us from the rest of the world. It’s impossible to be both internationalists & yet… supporters of US troops. Just as it was impossible for abolitionists to be against slavery yet supporters of slave catchers, even if… according to the pacifists economic argument, said slave catchers needed jobs.
If this war is murder, as many protestors' signs correctly say, then how can we support those who commit the murder? Why, because they’re Americans? The message the world receives is damn clear & reeks of racism… “US troops’ lives hold more value than the lives of Iraqi men, women, & children.”
peon in the US
diversity
08.12.2003 17:01
But it strikes me that to try to force the whole anti-war movement into one attitude or the other is a split in the making. The reason the anti-war campaign is relatively strong in the UK is because of that magical combination of unity + diversity. Our banner says only 'Stop the War' so people who disagree about whether we support the troops (or whatever else) can still stand together under it.
(with, to be accurate, one caveat: no racism) (for obvious reasons)
Stop the War Coalition:
kurious
Response to kurious’ comment
09.12.2003 09:43
Complex? It’s only as complex as you want to make it. Both sides can make a convincing case? Nonsense!
Mafia thugs have working class backgrounds too. Poor working class youths from the ghetto are recruited into the mafia. They are attracted to the economic benefits, the macho image, the code of honor, the uniforms (suits), the travel, etc, i.e., the same reasons that compel young people to join the US military. Should the people who are against mafia violence adapt the slogan “Support Our Mafia Thugs”? Will this convince people to get out of the mafia? Hell no! But it’s the same argument these “Support Our Troops” anti-war activists are using.
Scabs are exploited working class lads and lasses too but we don’t sympathize with them. The “Support Our Troops” crowds’ strategy is to woo the US troops into turning against the war with ridiculous imperialist slogan. Can the volunteers of the most murderous military organization in history be wooed? Can scabbery be wooed? Hell no!
The best medicine/education the anti-war movement can give the US troops at this moment - as they willfully slaughter the Iraqis - is a good dose of scorn and condemnation for obeying illegal orders and not rebelling as the US troops did in Vietnam. Trying to woo the US troops only shows them how silly and cowardly the anti-war movement in the US is.
A divisive issue? Diversity? We all really need to be in agreement on this important issue. The UK and the rest of the world’s anti-war movements do not carry the “Support The US Troops” banner. It’s only in the US where we see a clear departure from everyone else concerning this issue.
peon in the US