the other press Macdonald Stainsby DSU External Relations Germany, France and Belgium. Now Russia and China. The bulk of the Third World, even normally useful American puppet states, are starting to look at the war that is being offered to the global population and say that it is mere snake oil. Not even a placebo to the pain of the threat of terrorism, so go the arguments of many these days; it will bring about more terror. Why, after support- ing American policy against the Iraqi government for over ten years, and backing the American-led NATO assault on Yugoslavia and the UN-approved bombing of Afghanistan, would these European countries start to oppose this chapter of the “War on Terrorism”? Perhaps because even Americas best friends can no longer convince their populations that the proposed war is one on Terror. Perhaps because it is such a glaring prop- aganda job being offered. Perhaps it is because these countries can tell that this isn’t about Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD). It’s about oil. But don’t take my word for it, rather listen to the former head of the French army: “The French can, for example, secure the oil fields,” stated Admiral Jacques Lanxade. This, apparent- ly, is Plan B being proposed. The French should know. Their government, along with that of the Russian and Germans, has trade agreements with the current govern- ment in Iraq for when the sanctions are lifted (further evidence that the Iraqi regime has reason to want to co- operate with the UN, who imposed the crippling sanc- tions in the first place.) Those treaties are with the Ba’ath government of Saddam Hussein, and would not be rec- ognized by any force that occupies the Iraqi people after an American aerial slaughter and invasion. The oil fields of the second largest reserves in the world—as well as the cheapest to extract and refine—would come under the direct control of the US, and the American oil interests (who utterly infest this current un-elected junta) would gain a pre-eminence in global economic relations unpar- alleled in human recorded history. The target is not Iraq per se, but rather it is a combi- nation of Europe and the People’s Republic of China. The battlefield is Iraq, and will be Saudi Arabia, Syria, Libya, and Iran. These countries are not to be the targets, they are to be the spoils. Viewed this way, the Continental European response begins to become clear. While Europe continues to consolidate their new eco- nomic bloc, the competition to American capitalism— most specifically the US dollar as the global exchange— has come under threat. The Chinese “Socialist Market Economy” has created a massive human cost to their population, but it has also achieved stunning economic growth in global market share. In the world today, 1.3 billion people cannot double their energy needs (as China is predicted to do in the next decade) without becoming totally dependant on petroleum. The EU is already an imperialist consumer of cheap oil from the Middle East. If it grows and the Chinese energy needs continue to escalate, we have the makings of a classic imperialist fight over global resources. But this time the caveat is something far more sinister, more critical. This conflict, to occur over the next 10 to 20 years, will deci- mate the world and decapitate any hope for humanity, the planet, and all of the inhabitants. The consequences of total global war for resources should be clear to all by he Conquering Starts in Iraq, but They are fot the Target Features http://otherpress.douglas.bc.ca now. “No blood for oil” is what the anti-war movement says, but it isn’t quite said with the right understanding. Oil is the very fabric of all consumer and imperialist driven markets. It is woven through the computer screens, plas- tic potato chip bags and military hardware. It is the McDonald’s, not merely the fuel that gets you through their “drive-thru” window at 2a.m. When the oil equa- tion is put with that understanding, then calculate what it means that we are in permanent decline for oil stocks and recovery rates. We have gone far past the peak of oil production. This has become the common understand- ing of resource-based research in all of the major states, regardless of ideology. This is not only no longer denied by current oil magnates, it is also clearly the unifying theme of all the American Junta’s threats to attack some Third World states and “democratize” them with the car- pet bombings of B-52’s. Such is why the “North Korean crisis” is being touted as solvable through diplomatic channels. That this reduction in what is recoverable for oil is taking place during this global surge of energy demands and re-divide along state lines means that the American talk about “re-shaping” the entire Middle East is not mere bluster. It is policy. Every state that contains any of the global oil reserves of consequence must be eliminated. Iraq is round two of an endless war. A war against the people of the world as spoils, and those in Europe and anywhere else that would dare challenge American hegemony. Seen through this prism, the increasing American role in non-front page conflicts such as Colombia and the Philippines has its heart in this global American initiated war. More so does the struggle in Venezuela reflect this. The lockout that was recently abandoned by the proper- ty owning classes in Caracas and across the country sought to destroy the Bolivarian revolution, a govern- ment that has held multiple referenda and two govern- mental elections since the beginning of 1997. The target industry to disrupt has been oil, to bring down this pop- ular government. The move has failed, though it was clearly instigated to help get the American’s number one oil supplying country in the world as a “backup” source in the event of war. You won't find two governments more different than that of Hugo Chavez Frias, a left wing former paratrooper who runs one of the most dem- ocratic states in the world, and of Saddam Hussein—who is known to have murdered every opponent that posed even a slight threat to his rule in Iraq. Oil unifies and makes the seeming inconsistencies make sense. That Chavez has survived thus far is a victory for the forces of peace in Iraq and indeed, the entire Middle East, includ- ing the long suffering Palestinian people. The war isn’t Bush's policy. It is definitely not the fancy prose of the war-spin machine to garner a way to feel “proud to be American after 9/11,” nor is it about elimi- nating terrorists, terrorism and WMD. It is obvious to all but the most flag-waving analysis that the Bush policies will turn the entire world into a seething cauldron of hatred and venal cunning out to destroy everything American, even baseball and jazz music. The truly terri- fying part is that the American ruling class has signed on for this conflict, and they have little choice but to do so. February 19, 2003 Imperialism is about control and growth just as capital- ism is, indeed imperialism is only the most grotesque form of capitalism. Inherent to this system is the need for this global race-war we are being led into. But we do not need to tell one another to despair. To quote Mumia Abu-Jamal, political prisoner in the United States: “Contrary to popular belief, conventional wisdom would have one believe that it is insane to resist this, the mightiest of empires...But what history really shows is that today’s empire is tomorrow's ashes, that nothing lasts forever and that to not resist is to acquiesce in your own oppression. The greatest form of sanity that anyone can exercise is to resist that force that is trying to repress, oppress, and fight down the human spirit.” People have often said that knowledge is power, but that is only true if it is also a guide to action. We have a chance to start to climb out of the darkness, the fear, the artificial and nurtured-from-above racism, the laws of the jungle. Once we start to speak with one another not in the language of the threatening forces, we can start to see our way out. WE need, at all costs, to move into taking the same proactivity of the “anti-globalization” move- ment and meld it with the stark facts of the ultra-heavy- state long-term war being plotted. States are not wither- ing away, they are back with the greatest imperial force behind them in history. We must start to think anew. Let me recount two examples. In the Vietnam War era, the United States invaded Cambodia—they went in 15 miles. The anti-war movement in Vancouver responded by invading Washington State, 15 miles. And right now, there are people trying to put together a “rooting out evil” coalition to conduct an inspection of Washington DC for WMD (of which they have more than the rest of the world). Finally, there was a recruitment centre in San José, California a few months back that got burned to the ground by mysterious arsonists. It wasn’t reported widely at all, but the perpetrators tried to get the message out. They had spray-painted the side of the building with the slogan “Pre-emptive strike.” Of course, the media didn’t give more than page C32 a small paragraph on this. They didn't want to give you ideas. I, on the other hand, wouldn't want to call for a felony. Such actions usually happen when a movement is stagnant or in decline, and not while the anti-war movement is massively and rapid- ly growing. Yet, the current size of the antiwar movement is almost as unprecedented as the Bush vision of perma- nent war. The war hawks are making global plans for decades into the future. So must we, and be as free think- ing and free of their tunnel vision as possible. Humanity itself is at stake. The saying goes: “When in Rome, do as the Romans do.” The American Empire is as strong as the Roman one once was. But in keeping with the cliché the Roman Empire was ultimately brought down by its own popula- tion, and the empire was reduced to ashes by the hands of the internal slaves. We can only demand the same from North America. Now that is “Reality Television,” but the networks will all be out of commission that fine day. Come to an all-day, anti-war conference instead, on Saturday, Mar 1, 2003. It will be in room 2201, and Douglas students pay nothing. Contact: page 17 ©