What is the war really for? What is the war really for? µNEW A union led boycott of Israel?
Please scroll right down the page to see that there is more to this war than is being generally presented.... if you don't believe in conspiracies, it's probably because there are seven or eight very powerful people in a room somewhere making sure that you don't. Usually though, they are not called conspiracies - they are called "summits", "trade talks", "agents of regime change" etc
We CAN help to stop the war
Saturday 23rd September, Labour Party Conference, Manchester
60,000 people took part... click here for my photographs
In 2004, the US presented a plan for a "Greater Middle East Partnership" to the G8 - aggressive plans for intervention to transform the region politically and economically - promoting the neoliberal agenda of US big business & politicians.
("The 'Greater Middle East' refers to the countries of the Arab world, plus Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran, Turkey, and Israel" - US State Department)
Click here for the US "Greater Middle East Partnership" document
The key aim is to develop a cross border privatised capitalist economy in the region under the control of "G8 private sector leaders" (not my description - but that of the USA) - big business leaders of the 8 most powerful and wealthy nations.
Some illuminating extracts from the US proposals
All of the following are direct quotes from the US 2004 document - only the bits in italics and brackets are mine.
"Key to transformation will be unleashing the region's private sector potential, especially small and medium enterprises, which are the primary engines of economic growth and job creation. The growth of an entrepreneurial class in the GME would also be an important element in helping democracy and freedom flourish."
"The G-8 could agree to co-finance a corporation modelled on the International Finance Corporation to help incubate medium and larger-sized businesses, with an aim toward regional business integration. The corporation could be managed by a group of G-8 private sector leaders." (my emphasis)
"The G-8, along with creditors in the GME region, could establish a new regional development institution modelled on the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) (The EBRD was the vehicle for the privatisation of all the industries and services in Eastern Europe) to help reforming countries finance basic development priorities. The new institution would pool the resources of wealthier GME nations... Lending (or grant-making) decisions would be governed by each borrower's ability to demonstrate measurable reform results." (you only get support if you play by our rules)
"To advance reform of financial services in the region, and to better integrate the GME into the global financial system, the G-8 could offer a new partnership to reform leaders in the region. This partnership would aim to liberalize and expand financial services in the Greater Middle East, by providing a basket of financial sector technical assistance and expertise focused on...
Implementing reform plans that reduce state dominance of financial services;
Removing barriers to cross-border financial transactions;
Modernizing banking services;
Introducing, refining, and expanding market-oriented financial instruments; and
Building regulatory structures that encourage the liberalization of financial services"
(deregulation, marketisation and privatisation - with G8 control)
"The G-8 could commit to establish a new initiative designed to promote trade in the Greater Middle East, comprised of
World Trade Organisation Accession: Once WTO accession is complete, the focus would move on to the signing of additional WTO commitments such as TRIPS and Government Procurement Agreement and linking continued technical assistance to implementing these WTO commitments. (These are the main globalised privatisation "agreements")
Trade Hubs: the G-8 would establish hubs in the region focused on improving intra- regional trade and customs practices. The hubs would provide a variety of services to support private sector trade flows and business to business contacts, including "one stop shopping" for foreign investors (my emphasis)
Business Incubator Zones (BIZ): building on the success of export processing zones and special trade zones in other regions, the G-8 could help establish specially designated zones in the GME that would encourage regional cooperation in the design, manufacturing, and marketing of products, The G-8 could offer enhanced access to their markets for these products, and provide expertise in establishing the zones.
Greater Middle East Economic Opportunity Forums: to encourage enhanced regional cooperation, the G-8 could establish a MEEOF, which would bring together top officials from The G-8 and GME (with possible side meetings of non-governmental officials and individuals from the business community) to discuss economic reform issues."
It is my view that the current war, and the attitude of US and UK towards Israel's attacks, can only be understood in this context.
Neither fundamentalist Islamic governments or Arab nationalist governments would be a natural partner in the proposals quoted above - but the State of Israel certainly would be.
Please view these videos... then do whatever you can to stop the massacre and the attack on whole nations that is taking place in the name of "fighting terrorism", but with the intent of imposing "globalisation".
Israel's attacks will only strengthen the appeal of the groups they purport to deal with... and everybody knows it. The war is used by the Israeli State to justify its continuing illegal occupation of territory, and the detention without trial of 10,000 Palestinians. The war is also used by those who seek the destruction of the State of Israel to justify their position. The action of one is used to justify the acts of the other. Meanwhile, the whole conflict is used by the USA to promote its self-appointed "world policemen" role to enforce its interests.
But there are Israeli citizens opposed to the war, and Palestinians and others attacked by Israel who support a just and sustainable "Two State solution" - recognising Israel's right to exist as part of a real "peace process". Our Union has played - and continues to play - a huge role in encouraging these forces through the teacher trade unions in the region.
Whatever you think of my arguments, there is a massacre taking place... and that includes our colleagues in the Lebanon, and the children they teach. We need to make sure that the voice of teachers in England & Wales is heard. Stop the massacre - there must be an immediate ceasefire!