Freedom Institute's dissection of RBB

Tuesday March 15, 2005 19:30

by X

.

Richard Boyd Barrett is no democrat
http://www.freedominst.org/2005/03/richard-boyd-barrett-is-no-democrat.html

Today's Irish Times Letter's page opens with a missive from the ubiquitous Richard Boyd Barrett. At the time of the invasion of Iraq, the Irish Anti-War Movement was a significant voice in the debate, raising some sensible objections to the war as well as some not so sensible objections. The not so sensible objections seem to be the more popular among the rump of the IAWM, which has been beset by several splits and defections, many over the control exercised over the dwindling group by the Socialist Worker's Party.

.....

The problem is not that Mr. Barrett opposed the war. The problem is his contempt for democracy, his condescension towards those who risked so much in voting in Iraq, those Iraqis who gave their lives defending polling stations, and those who no risk much in protesting for democracy and their freedoms in the Lebanon. The end result and the composition of governments are secondary to the means by which the will of the people is heard or ignored. This is a moral claim that all should be able to agree on, while differing on the expediency or justness of certain policies. It's a pity the Irish Anti-War Movement and the leader have chosen to sit out in the cold with so many other groups opposed to democracy.

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Comments (14 of 14)

no surprises there

by clw

Wed Mar 16, 2005 00:50

This is just clutter.

ho hum

by Badman

Wed Mar 16, 2005 00:56

More of the usual tripe from the rich kids, but one interesting point that they missed in their excretion is actually quite interesting:

"US propaganda about democracy in Lebanon has been answered by 500,000 Lebanese on the streets rejecting calls for Syrian withdrawal and telling the US to stay out of their affairs."

Are the SWP really so stupid as to take sides in Lebanon with the Syrian state?

by jack white

Wed Mar 16, 2005 10:48

goold ole freedom institute

Death of Indymedia

by Ted

Wed Mar 16, 2005 11:10

I guess with this posting we can officially declare the death of indymedia. The ramblings of a right wing, Bush supporting think tank are posted to condemn a left wing activist and nobody seems to reagrd this as ironic given the original intention of Indymedia.

Farewell indymedia, it was a good idea

Ted

by Chekov - 1 of IMC

Wed Mar 16, 2005 12:30

The Freedom institute often post their drivel here. It is routinely received with the derision it deserves. If you care to notice, the comments above are all uniformly dismissive of the FI, so why on earth are you having a pop at indymedia about it?

Not Indymedia's fault

by Dave - swp

Wed Mar 16, 2005 13:20

As chekov says it not indymedia's fault that such arse is posted on their site. It seems to be just baiting us to tear strips out of each other. Don't think we should fall for it.

Thanks Dave

by Me

Wed Mar 16, 2005 13:59

I love a bit of irony.

the irony of freedom

by redjade

Wed Mar 16, 2005 14:20

Yep, if the Freedom Institute posts snippets here as 'other press' they are following Indymeida.ie guidelines - so be it.

The real irony is that they can freely post here and add comments here (as anyone can) yet their own site does not allow comments.

So much for the 'freedom' the 'Freedom Institute' supposedly advocates.

a response?

by Paul

Wed Mar 16, 2005 16:20

Is anyone actually going to deal with the substance of the Freedom Institute article? I notice that the only comments the SWPers make are complaining that the post was put here at all.

Surely Indymedia is for all views, even those of the loony right? So is anyone gonna refute the FI's claims?

Why the Freedom institute?

by jeff

Wed Mar 16, 2005 18:19

They are rubbish.They use blogspot.com to post up their drivel. They are about as popular as the Adam Smith Institute are in the UK, except they have more money.

Basically, they are crap, and will always be as popular in this country as, oh lets say, The Trinity college Young Unionist party.(Whatever happened to them?)

What is most ironic about these proper youngf men is the fact that they are against immigration. Being ardent free marketeers, they logfically should be in favour of the free movement of workers, especially so that companies can hire foreign workers and pay them much less! The Free Market! It is Dynamic!

Response

Wed Mar 16, 2005 18:29

The Freedom institute article uses basic catchphrases combined with some arguments to make it look like all people oppossed to war in Iraq are actually crypto fascists and subversives.

RBB should have been more analytical in his assesment of the situation in Lebanon. In my view, it is not safe to state that what is happening in Lebanon is a broad democratic revolution akin to the Prague Spring; it is a polarised society that consistently been ripped apart by factional, soci-economic, political, religious, and finally ethnic conflict.

As to the Iraqi elections. I was against this war as it has created a dangerous precedent. Nonetheless, I support the elections there. My fear is though, that the main Shia party will not be able to deliver on it elections promises, that is, allowing much of the Iraqi economy to remain in the hands of the Iraqi people. Mass privitisation of it's economy has already taken place, it's assets sold off to multi national corporations.

The SWP needs to broaden itself when it comes to analysis of international events, otherewise the majorety of centre left people( most of whom are NOT SWP members) get branded by polemicists such as the FI, thanks to the black and white rethoric espoused by the SWP.

good points

Wed Mar 16, 2005 18:33

well said jeff.

The SWP have made some pretty odious political choices in the past with regards to the Iraq situation. "Support the Iraqi Resistance" for example.

Since they run the "Irish Anti War Movement", it gives everyone the impression that they speak for the whole movement.

RE: Jeff

by Phllip O'Sullivan - Freedom Institute

Sun Mar 20, 2005 13:56

"What is most ironic about these proper youngf men is the fact that they are against immigration. Being ardent free marketeers, they logfically should be in favour of the free movement of workers, especially so that companies can hire foreign workers and pay them much less! The Free Market! It is Dynamic!"

Actually that's untrue. The Freedom Institute has a policy document, freely downloadable, calling for a free and unrestricted immigration policy in Ireland. We stand for individualism, so to suggest that we would deny people the right to come here is ridiculous.

The report is available from here: http://www.freedominst.org/immigration.php

RBB boosts Hamas, Sadrists, Muslim Brothers

by Peter Nolan - Freedom Institute

Sun Apr 24, 2005 03:27