This essay by comrade Ajamu Baraka is an excellent examination and critique of U.S. imperialism as well as a timely call for organizing on the home front of this global predator state. I am not sure about the political actors and organizations that are referenced in the claim about the ideological collaboration and alignment by left forces with the imperial project. If political organizations and individuals are not committed to the liquidation of capitalism and the establishment of a socialist society (stateless, classless and self-managed), they are not a part of the left. Social democrats are ideologically committed to philosophical liberalism in 2014 (at least since the 1930s) and are not a part of the left. As a consequence of this theoretical and ideological confusion, we are not able to meet the challenges posed by the new strategic innovations introduced in Obama’s speech at West Point, innovations that not only have a military component but powerful cultural and ideological elements. The confusion generated by the “bring our girls back” campaign where we have African Americans calling on the U.S. to intervene in Nigeria is understandable. But what it dramatically demonstrates is that it is absolutely imperative that we embark on a massive educational campaign with our folks that will expose the real intentions of the U.S. on the continent and worldwide. Black Left forces must engage in respectful ideological discussions with our people at every level, from community organizations and youth groups to church groups where we once again attempt to determine “who is a friend and who is an enemy” related to U.S. policies. Global militarism and the growing domestic police state are fundamentally linked: Both are expressions of the desperate moves by capital to maintain its hegemony. But its growing dependence on military options, as dangerous as that is, still provides revolutionary forces some strategic educational and organizing opportunities.
Posted on: Sat, 28 Jun 2014 05:56:00 +0000