European Young Socialists oppose war on Iraq

by Timothy Wed Mar 12, 2003 20:47

The Irish Labour Party is a sister-party of Tony Blair's New Labour and a fellow member of the Socialist International. Have Irish Labour raised this issue at the S.I.? Have they formally written to Tony Blair?

by ipsiphi=iosaf Wed Mar 12, 2003 22:16

as readers might not know coz I have not told them, several of the prisoners arising from the Reclaim the City event in Gotenburg where readers might remember the Swedish Police opened fire on protesters are currently in their third week of hungerstrike.
Perhaps Labour Youth picked up on this?

or are they slow on the uptake? coz i was under the impression that all the socialists from age ten up had adopted "anti-war" positions this year.

Any thoughts New Brave Young Labour?

or do I have to go write ye all an article?

by Marx is Dead get over it! Thu Mar 13, 2003 11:09

what? all ten of them??????

by SD Thu Mar 13, 2003 13:27

We all know about the British labour party's position on the war, buts lets look at some of the other 'socialists'.

HOLLAND: Openly said that they would support a war in Iraq if it was in return for cabinet positions after the the recent elections.

GERMANY: Despite what their 'opposition' to the war they have allowed US warplanes overfly German airspace and have allowed the US refuel and stop over in Frankfurt.

SWEDEN: Responsible for cutbacks and neo liberal policies left right and centre. Support the Euro. Have ruthlessly forced inocent peole arrested at Gothenburg onto hungerstrike. Supporters gave roses and cheered the police that shot live ammo into peacefull protesters. Has allowed US warplanes overfly Sweden and has signed arms deals with the US.

Similar stories all over Europe. The Social Democrats are not firends of the ordinary people of Europe. They are all parties of big business. In reality they all support war in Iraq and their opposition is only there because of the material interests of their own bourgeoisie.

by Naic Thu Mar 13, 2003 13:52

Any time we critisise the Social Democratic parties in Europe for various attacks on the working class war mongerin etc we are met with cries of, 'These people are no the same as the Irish LAbour Party'.

So Cian you are now claiming to be associated with these parties?

if so can you justify Blairs stance on the war or the firefighters? I'd like to get an answer.

by Cian Thu Mar 13, 2003 19:32

I never would defend Tony Blair and his stance on the fireworkers or on the war or on any major policy initiative that he has taken.

Blair has shown cowardice in his entire political approach, not just on the war and on the fireworkers but also on his governments policy of detaining asylum seekers, on his verbal attacks against protestors at the G-8 in Genoa, on his reintroduction of tuition fees and on his general failure to reverse any of the hallmarks of Thatcherism that have polluted British politics.

In fact Blair's New Labour has actually spent less proportionately on the NHS than the Tories!

I never have and never would support Blair. Note also that nowhere in the article did I praise or defend the general record of any left or so-called left party in Europe.

I think the reason that I posted the original article and cosidered it news is BECAUSE the so called social democratic left across Europe has such a bad record. Otherwise it would hardly be news that the youth parties had adopted a strong anti war stance. It was also significant that the resolution passed was against war in Iraq even with a second resolution.

None of this would be news if the European social demoratic and socialist parties affiliated to the Socialist International had a long and proud tradition of defending workers rights and opposing wars that massacre people.

Is this not obvious?

by OK - SP Thu Mar 13, 2003 20:28

I know that there will be a 'split' in Labour over the UN backing of the war. I think that some will support a war with a UN resolution, and others will not. That's no surprise in my book.

But what I do find strange is Pat Rabbitte's backing of Blair. He says that no Social Democrat would start a war, and that Blair is in a coalition with Bush so that he can be a voice of restraint!

I think that this is a position that is very hard for any serious person to justify. How can Rabbitte be against war and for Blair? answer is come out with the excuse that Blair is trying to restrain Bush!!