tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2062509833711600070.post5136148775863011714..comments2024-01-19T04:00:42.885-05:00Comments on Permanent Revolution: War in the Ukraine: the socialist response, Part IIIAlex Steinerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09128453587484101609noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2062509833711600070.post-25808149754863206912022-06-05T19:52:19.386-04:002022-06-05T19:52:19.386-04:00How is it a slur to point out that Lenin an Trotsk...How is it a slur to point out that Lenin an Trotsky did attack Poland after the Poles invaded Russia? It is a fact, something you seem to be allergic to. Your claim that I didn't even pretend to explain their motivation is nonsense. They attacked Poland after Poland attacked them, Trotsky hoped that the red army would be in a position to provide military aide to a communist insurrection in Germany after conquering Poland. We both know that didn't happen. Let's get back to the current war. Your claim of 'Russian imperialism' is nonsense since Putin let Ukraine deal with its problems for eight years, another fact you seem allergic to. What kind of imperialist, avid for markets, waits that long to move in on his victim? Putin, in my opinion, has turned Stalin's "Socialism in one Country" into "Capitalism in one Country". This worldview is based on the fact that Russia is big enough to develop based on its resources. I find it bizarre that you should concern yourself with the 'independence' of Ukraine in light of your awareness of the influence people like Victoria Nuland wield over the political class of that nation. Your 'discovery' of 'Russian imperialism' seems to me to be a fig leaf to hide that reality. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2062509833711600070.post-64761466407348862262022-04-30T17:20:44.244-04:002022-04-30T17:20:44.244-04:00Reply to Anonymous:
This slur on Lenin and Trotsk...Reply to Anonymous:<br /><br />This slur on Lenin and Trotsky, comparing them to Putin, without even the pretense of an explanation, is typical of the kind of anti-communist drivel that populates social media. Nothing more need be said.Alex Steinerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09128453587484101609noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2062509833711600070.post-20596250416901437082022-04-30T17:02:01.783-04:002022-04-30T17:02:01.783-04:00Reply to Karin,
As Marxists, unlike Mr. Mearshei...Reply to Karin,<br /><br />As Marxists, unlike Mr. Mearsheimer, we are not looking for who is blameworthy in the current conflict. That is a moral approach to war that has nothing to do with an objective evaluation of the dynamics in the current conflict. We ask the question of what is the nature of the participants in this conflict and how do they interact within the context of the global economic and political system of capitalism. Above all we try to understand the underlying class forces at work in these conflicts and what kind of response is required in order to strengthen international class solidarity in the struggle for a socialist United States of Europe. Mr. Mearsheimer, does not share these concerns as he is not and does not pretend to be a Marxist. Mr. Mearsheimer may perhaps have some important facts about the conflict that could help in developing an overall assessment, but his methodological approach of trying to decide who is to blame is something I would leave to Sunday school teachers. Alex Steinerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09128453587484101609noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2062509833711600070.post-8120059057560702022-04-26T09:20:29.372-04:002022-04-26T09:20:29.372-04:00You do a nice job listing the provocations of Ukra...You do a nice job listing the provocations of Ukraine against Russia, yet, by labeling Russia imperialist your concern is only for Ukrainians enjoying true self determination under socialism! What about the plight of Russian speakers in Ukraine? What kind of imperialist waits 8 years to attack Ukraine? It seems to me that Putin is a reluctant imperialist because he took his time responding to NATO provocation.The man is reactionary but he ended up doing the same thing Trotsky and Lenin did by going to war with Poland in 1918-1920 because geo-politics doesn't care about ideology. The Russians did what they have always done when attacked by Western forces.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2062509833711600070.post-52636264276615671632022-04-22T09:53:22.860-04:002022-04-22T09:53:22.860-04:00I decidedly disagree with the position that the U....I decidedly disagree with the position that the U.S. and Russia are playing analogous roles in the Ukraine war; I’m opposed to an attitude worthy of Solomon, assigning an equal share of blame to both sides. <br /><br />Taking a different point of view on this issue is possible independently of expressing any support for Putin, as is demonstrated, e.g., by American political scientist John Mearsheimer, apparently a left-leaning, non-socialist scholar. If you, Frank, or Alex have any information on Mearsheimer enjoying a reputation as willfully blind apologist for Putin, I’d appreciate your pointing it out to me. <br /><br />Since I haven’t been able to find online any freely available text by Mearsheimer, I’m transcribing below some statements from one of his talks, the upshot of his detailed analysis of the background of the war. <br /><br />He says, <br /> “It is of tremendous importance to understand who caused this situation because it involves assigning blame. (…) The question of who caused it and who bears the blame really matters. (…) Whoever you argue caused the crisis is responsible for this disaster.(…) In my opinion the West bears primary responsibility for what is happening today. (…) There‘s no question the Russians are doing the dirty work — I don‘t want to make light of that fact — but the question is, what caused the Russians to do this? In my opinion, the answer is very simple: the United States of America.” (1) <br /><br />(1) The title of tthe YouTube video is, <br />“John Mearsheimer Ukraine-Russia 2022 Analysis”<br /><br />KarinKarin Hilpischnoreply@blogger.com