Syria, war and the class war

There is nothing clear about anything at this point in time of what actually took place in Syria. We have only the conveniently supplied rebel footage, which when viewed objectively, tells us nothing much at all, except that many appear to have been killed but not how they died. More importantly, they do no indicate which side was responsible. The entire event conveniently happened on the same day as the UN inspection team arrived? Is that a coincidence?

An expanded war in Syria could become regional or global with uncontrollable consequences.  Syria, Lebanon, Iran, the Gulf states, Saudi Arabia, Russia, China, the United States and the NATO countries. Just creating a “no fly zone” would involve bombing urban areas and unavoidably killing large numbers of people.  Both sides in Syria have used horrible weapons and committed horrible atrocities. It is just as insane to arm one side in a conflict that involves similar abuses by both? An escalation in the war making the Syrian people worse off is not a way to help them.

On the 20th March 2003 Tony Blair addressed the nation to let them know that in spite of the fact that a million people had marched through the streets of London to say they did not support his war with Iraq, he had just ordered the British military to go to war anyway.

The British people were deceived by its trusted leaders, leaders with many centuries of experience practising deceit and treachery. No matter whether or not these great leaders actually believed their lies; the simple fact was they were lies. Were the lies of Blair’s government aberrations? Were they rare and exceptional deviations from otherwise benevolent and honest systems of government? Of course they weren’t. Politicians deliberately misinforming and lying to the people is as old as the hills.

One of the most powerful controlling illusions that our trusted leaders use is the illusion that they can be trusted. We’re conditioned from birth to trust those who control our lives – not only trust them, but hero-worship and emulate them. We all trust our leaders so much that we all obediently join the army to risk our lives fighting a war that cannot be won and, which is even worse, kill for a war that cannot be won. A very few do see an alternative path towards social justice, and tried to encourage others to follow it; but as is invariably the case when this happens, their numbers are too small and they are widely viewed as cranks and traitors.

All countries have histories that extol the virtues of kings and queens, with monuments and paintings all suggesting greatness. People from all over the world are encouraged to gawp at the vast palaces, castles and country houses of these “great” leaders – and never learn about the massive campaigns of murder, plundering and looting that that always  paid for each and every one of these monstrosities.

This is how we are all conditioned to trust our leaders, to believe that no matter what, they are really on our side; and will defend us with just as much loyalty as we’re expected to show them. It’s a total lie. When things go wrong the first people out the door are always, always, our trusted leaders, trampling over those who supported them, clutching as much of their ill-gotten loot as they can carry.

The capitalist class plunder for all they are  worth whatever part of the planet they have at their control. The steal all the natural resources they can get their greedy hands on, and sell at extortionate prices water and energy to people who can barely afford to feed themselves. They keep for themselves as much of the loot they make from all this as they possibly can. The capitalists control the political and legal system such that no annoying bureaucratic obstacles appear – such as currency controls or paying taxes. They exploit the labour market, importing desperate immigrants to ensure a permanent supply of impoverished people prepared to sell their labour in whatever conditions for whatever pittance you’re prepared to pay them. They prevent people from joining trade unions or combining for improved conditions. They collude with their 1% accomplices in the media to ensure that all of this is sold as virtuous and even benevolent actions, and get them to make movies and TV shows where real-life captains of commerce and industry are portrayed as heroic role-models whose ruthless practices should be admired and copied by all young people. And most important of all, they make off with their treasure buried in tax-haven Caribbean islands like the pirates of old and assure themselves immunity from prosecution for their war crimes.

The 1% using rules invented, written, controlled and policed by the 1%, to benefit the 1%. The time for re-writing the rules is here and now.

Adapted from this article

NO WAR BUT THE CLASS WAR