Major world events occuring; Capital shoring up its rule

[Nothing Human Is Alien]

Let's recap some of the things that have been happening recently:


- Berlusconi resigns in Italy (http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/13/world/europe/silvio-berlusconi-resign-italy-austerity-measures.html), replaced by "government of experts" hand picked by banks.

- Communist Party (one of the few remaining "mass parties") and major union mobilized alongside police in defense of the rule of capital in emergency effort as tens of thousands prepared to storm parliament in Greece (http://www.revleft.com/vb/kke-assisting-police-t163031/index.html?p=2269323)

- Preparations being made (and in some cases already being carried out) nationwide for crackdowns on occupy encampments across the United States (http://wsws.org/articles/2011/nov2011/prot-n14.shtml).

- Britain unleashes forceful police attack on small student protest (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2058726/Police-right-rubber-bullets-Wednesdays-student-protests-London.html), showing inability of the state to tolerate any kind of political activity which could spark something larger

- Arab League suspends Syria (http://articles.cnn.com/2011-11-12/middleeast/world_meast_syria-unrest_1_arab-league-bashar-al-assad-president-bashar?_s=PM:MIDDLEEAST), isolating it, and quite possibly signifying further preparations for another military adventure (lots of indications for this possibility in recent weeks, with major media covering defections by military brass who want NATO support ala the Libyan rebels). Remember that the Arab League suspended Libya before NATO started its attacks there.

- Provocations and "public opinion" building that may signify preparations for military intervention in Iran (U.S. claims Iran behind conspiracy to assassinate Saudi ambassador in the states (http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/oct/31/iran-demands-apology-assassination-plot), Obama demands inspections of Iran's nuclear program (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/8285794.stm), inspectors say Iran is building nuclear weapons (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/iran/8878002/Iran-is-building-nuclear-arms-say-UN-inspectors.html) in something reminiscent of the bullshit that came before the invasion of Iraq, "leaked info" that Israel is pushing for an attack (http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/indepth/2011-11/07/c_131233178.htm), now Bahrain accuses Iran of supporting terrorists operating in country (http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/nov/14/bahrain-terror-iran-revolutionary-guard) and Israel publicly announces a refusal to notify US in advance if it decides to attack Iran (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/israel/8886543/Israel-refuses-to-tell-US-its-Iran-intentions.html) which could itself be aimed at allowing the US to claim ignorance).

The world has been in tumult for some time, but there are some general trends emerging here and some new (or at least "new" for this millenium) things starting to happen.

I think these things are important to analyze and discuss.

[Lenina Rosenweg]

But how can you say capitalism is in crisis, there's no evidence for this whatsoever!

On a more serious note, I am aware of the Iran war rumours. These have been floating around since the second Bush Administration. The rumours themselves may serve a political purpose. as for a US-Iran war, the ruling class doesn't want this. The potential instability could be enormous, with a blocking of the Strait of Hormuz just for starters, and the ruling class wants stability above all. True, traditionally the start of a war will give a POTUS a bump in the ratings, which Obama badly needs, but this time its a different situation. The rumours themselves are put out for a purpose.

As for the other events, the powers that be are deathly afraid of a global snow ball effect, particularly after even more austerity is imposed on us..

[Ocean Seal]

Let's recap some of the things that have been happening recently:

- Berlusconi resigns in Italy (http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/13/world/europe/silvio-berlusconi-resign-italy-austerity-measures.html), replaced by "government of experts" hand picked by banks.


Nothing to discuss here. He wasn't replaced in anything other than name only. He was just a bourgeois leader that looked bad and thus the bourgeoisie replaced him. Just like Nixon.



- Communist Party (one of the few remaining "mass parties") and major union mobilized alongside police in defense of the rule of capital in emergency effort as tens of thousands prepared to storm parliament in Greece (http://www.revleft.com/vb/kke-assisting-police-t163031/index.html?p=2269323)

Too much going on for me to understand.



- Preparations being made (and in some cases already being carried out) nationwide for crackdowns on occupy encampments across the United States (http://wsws.org/articles/2011/nov2011/prot-n14.shtml).

An interesting one really. I think just the fact that the US is cracking down shows that these protests were a bit more than just liberal hippy circles. The fact that some of them became more militant shows that the workers movement in the United States at least has some seedlings planted. I never expected occupy to go this way.



- Britain unleashes forceful police attack on small student protest (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2058726/Police-right-rubber-bullets-Wednesdays-student-protests-London.html), showing inability of the state to tolerate any kind of political activity which could spark something larger

Yes, it was quite odd that the state cracked down so harshly on what was mostly a benign student protest. The state might be entering a period of hyper-repression. Its time to test the waters here. See how long they can keep it up.




- Arab League suspends Syria (http://articles.cnn.com/2011-11-12/middleeast/world_meast_syria-unrest_1_arab-league-bashar-al-assad-president-bashar?_s=PM:MIDDLEEAST), isolating it, and quite possibly signifying further preparations for another military adventure (lots of indications for this possibility in recent weeks, with major media covering defections by military brass who want NATO support ala the Libyan rebels). Remember that the Arab League suspended Libya before NATO started its attacks there.

Libya 2



- Provocations and "public opinion" building that may signify preparations for military intervention in Iran (U.S. claims Iran behind conspiracy to assassinate Saudi ambassador in the states (http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/oct/31/iran-demands-apology-assassination-plot), Obama demands inspections of Iran's nuclear program (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/8285794.stm), inspectors say Iran is building nuclear weapons (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/iran/8878002/Iran-is-building-nuclear-arms-say-UN-inspectors.html) in something reminiscent of the bullshit that came before the invasion of Iraq, "leaked info" that Israel is pushing for an attack (http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/indepth/2011-11/07/c_131233178.htm), now Bahrain accuses Iran of supporting terrorists operating in country (http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/nov/14/bahrain-terror-iran-revolutionary-guard) and Israel publicly announces a refusal to notify US in advance if it decides to attack Iran (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/israel/8886543/Israel-refuses-to-tell-US-its-Iran-intentions.html) which could itself be aimed at allowing the US to claim ignorance).

No, I personally don't think that the US wants to attack Iran. Iran does what they want it to do. They need a figure like Iran to maintain the idea of a threat against American safety. The United States has too many wars going on right now. Iran isn't a practical or productive target.

The world has been in tumult for some time, but there are some general trends emerging here and some new (or at least "new" for this millenium) things starting to happen.

I think these things are important to analyze and discuss.