Arm-in-arm with US imperialism

Extending that insurance policy to Iraq under Howard could not continue with the election of Labor. Under pressure from below (initially through mass actions and over time through simmering discontent) the ALP differentiated itself to some extent from the Coalition by promising to withdraw troops from Iraq.

This was always a sleight of hand. Advisers remain, and what our ruling class has done is increase its commitment to US imperialism in Afghanistan.

There is another aspect to this. As the Australian economy continues to integrate with the world economy, trade with Asia (especially China) has increased markedly. At the same time Australia will in the next decade, for the first time in its history as a nation, become a net capital exporter, not only to Europe and the US but also into Asia.

This means our ruling class's attempts to dominate the immediate region will grow and the logic of imperialism will force them to support the US in its interventions throughout the world. Iran seems an obvious candidate for our next field of battle, arm-in-arm with US imperialism.

Some argue that Afghanistan is a "good" war, rescuing Afghans from feudal barbarism. These are the same arguments the Russians used. They are echoes of the imperialist idea of the "white man's burden".

Imperialism uses any humanitarian or other excuse to disguise its real intentions. Australia's participation in the invasion of Afghanistan and the ongoing suppression of the Afghan people is about defending the interests of the Australian ruling class. It is in particular about tying the American ruling class to the idea that our imperialist interests are their imperialist interests.

The solution? The withdrawal of all foreign troops from Afghanistan (and Iraq), in accordance with the wishes of the majority of the subjugated people in these countries.

The task for Australian socialists is to build opposition here to Australian imperialism in any of its forms. That won't be easy in the current environment, but as we continue to educate ourselves and build our theoretical understanding of the nature of our enemy, we will eventually be able to couple theory with practice.

The crises of capitalism create their own alternative solutions. From little things, big things grow.