Statement by the Communist Party of Canada Concerning Georgia

[Charles Xavier]

On the US/NATO aggression in the Caucasus

The outbreak of a deadly armed conflict in the Caucasus is not only a humanitarian disaster which has already cost some 2,000 lives, but poses a very real threat of wider wars in the region. Imperialism’s preparations and aggressions in Georgia are sparks that can eventually ignite a much larger conflagration, demanding the sharpest condemnation of the international labour movement and all peace and anti-imperialist forces.
Unhindered by a strong socialist bloc of countries, imperialist countries led by the US in the NATO military alliance are using Georgia to prepare future aggressions, in violation of the basic principles of international law such as those in the United Nations Charter.

The Communist Party of Canada condemns the Georgian invasion on August 7, including bombing raids on residential areas, hospitals, and schools in the South Ossetian capital of Tskhinvali, as an unprovoked assault which plunged the Caucasus into war. We give full support to calls from many countries for the complete withdrawal of Georgian forces from South Ossetia as a first step towards a peaceful solution to this conflict, which must not be allowed to expand into all-out confrontation in the Middle East and Central Asia.

We also note that contrary to claims by much of the western media and by the Bush regime, this is not a case of "Russian aggression." The source of rising tensions in the Caucasus is not the presence of Russian troops, which entered South Ossetia in the early 1990s as peacekeepers after Georgia attempted to forcibly annex the area, driving much of the population across the border into North Ossetia, which remained within Russia.
The real origin of this conflict lies in the US/NATO imperialist policies of expansionism. For decades, starting with the Cold War, the US has sought to place a military ring around its rival, undermining allies of the Soviet Union and later Russia, and imposing so-called "pro-Western" regimes which allow US bases on their soil and rely heavily on US military cooperation and support. Recalling the Nazi invasion which cost their country over twenty million lives, Russia strongly opposes such imperialist encirclement.

This is the case with Georgia, which became a U.S. client state at the time of the illegal NATO war against Yugoslavia in 1999. Israel, the main U.S. ally in the region, has also forged close political and economic links with the Georgian government. The high level of US/NATO/Israeli/Georgian military integration makes it clear that the August 7 aggression must have been known in advance and approved by the Bush and Olmert governments. Bolstering this view is the decision on August 9 by the United States to provide military transport aircraft to fly many of Georgia's 2,000-strong troop contingent out of Iraq to join the fighting at home.

The imperialist drive to plunder oil and other vital resources is a key factor in destabilization of the region. Notably, the Baku-Tblisi-Ceyhan pipeline brings oil and gas through Georgia to the Eastern Mediterranean, including a large part of Israel's oil imports from Azerbaijan. Controlled by British Petroleum and built with US support, the BTC pipeline is a vital piece of the military-political bloc including Azerbaijan, Georgia, Turkey and Israel, which the US considers a vital counter-balance against the influence of Russia and China in the region.

In the wake of the US/UK war against Iraq and the continuing efforts by the occupation forces to turn over Iraq's vast oil wealth to the transnational corporations, nobody should underestimate the desire of the ultra-right clique around Bush, Cheney and other Republican hawks to use events in the Middle East and Central Asia to further this strategic push. Seen in this context, Georgia's aggression against South Ossetia, which quickly met powerful Russian resistance, may have been a provocation to create better conditions for expansion of the US/ NATO military presence in the area.

The Caucasus war could also influence the US presidential election, by tilting voter support towards Republican candidate John McCain. It is not a stretch to wonder if these events may be intended to help lay the groundwork for a US strike against Iran, with the long-range goal of imperialist seizure of that country's oil reserves. Such an attack would unleash a war of unforeseeable dimensions, costing millions of lives and spreading far beyond the borders of the Middle East.

In pursuit of its aim of global hegemony, imperialism is playing with fire, and Georgia's latest aggression is part of this wider pattern. The Communist Party of Canada urges full support for international attempts to contain and extinguish this conflict, and for an end to all imperialist meddling in the Caucasus.

Issued by the Central Executive Committee
Communist Party of Canada
August 14, 2008

[Joe Hill's Ghost]

Are you bleeding demised? Georgia is not some grand imperialist aggressor. They're a tiny nation with nominal American support and they're being attacked by a nation that's 1000 times their size, with the largest nuclear arsenal on the planet. I don't understand leftist apologists for Russian imperialism. So long as its anti-American its somehow "anti-imperialist." God, what a bunch of tripe!

[Charles Xavier]

Are you bleeding demised? Georgia is not some grand imperialist aggressor. They're a tiny nation with nominal American support and they're being attacked by a nation that's 1000 times their size, with the largest nuclear arsenal on the planet. I don't understand leftist apologists for Russian imperialism. So long as its anti-American its somehow "anti-imperialist." God, what a bunch of tripe!

Georgia is a pawn in the pocket of the imperialists, their government was installed in a coup. The US has military bases all across Russia's neighbours. This is not a Russia Versus Georgia Conflict. This is Russia versus US lead NATO.

US was probing for a Russian response on this incursion, you cannot expect that Russia bows down to the Hegemonic aims of the US in the region. They had to attack and attack hard. It sounds like you didn't even read the statement.

[Asoka89]

Balanced view of the situation look at http://theactivist.org, imperialism rears its head

[Psy]

Are you bleeding demised? Georgia is not some grand imperialist aggressor. They're a tiny nation with nominal American support and they're being attacked by a nation that's 1000 times their size, with the largest nuclear arsenal on the planet. I don't understand leftist apologists for Russian imperialism. So long as its anti-American its somehow "anti-imperialist." God, what a bunch of tripe!
Georgia is the Isreal of the Caucuses in terms of US military support. Russia found huge Georgian stockpiles of weapons.

[Joe Hill's Ghost]

Georgia is a pawn in the pocket of the imperialists, their government was installed in a coup. The US has military bases all across Russia's neighbours. This is not a Russia Versus Georgia Conflict. This is Russia versus US lead NATO.

US was probing for a Russian response on this incursion, you cannot expect that Russia bows down to the Hegemonic aims of the US in the region. They had to attack and attack hard. It sounds like you didn't even read the statement.

I did and it's basically vestigial tankiesm. "ZOMG! guys, Russia is being attacked! We must help!" It's absurd. Georgia was a Russian client state run by a member of the Nomenklatura. Then popular protests ousted it for a US and EU backed western client state. It's a tiny country of little significance outside of the Ceyhan pipeline, which is also loosing significance because the Caspian doesn't have nearly as much oil in it as we thought. But of course any time a western allied government tries to retake a region that de jure is theirs we all jump to claims to american imperialism. This isn't some grand plan, Georgia thought they could retake an autonomous region. Russia decided this was the time to test their new militarism. The US tries to defuse it in order to protect the pipeline and the government. Nothing too sinister, just normal power politics. Taking sides in an imperialist war (especially a proto fascist state like Russia) is fucking stupid, and not liable to build any sort of international working class movement.

[Psy]

I did and it's basically vestigial tankiesm. "ZOMG! guys, Russia is being attacked! We must help!" It's absurd. Georgia was a Russian client state run by a member of the Nomenklatura. Then popular protests ousted it for a US and EU backed western client state. It's a tiny country of little significance outside of the Ceyhan pipeline, which is also loosing significance because the Caspian doesn't have nearly as much oil in it as we thought. But of course any time a western allied government tries to retake a region that de jure is theirs we all jump to claims to american imperialism. This isn't some grand plan, Georgia thought they could retake an autonomous region. Russia decided this was the time to test their new militarism. The US tries to defuse it in order to protect the pipeline and the government. Nothing too sinister, just normal power politics. Taking sides in an imperialist war (especially a proto fascist state like Russia) is fucking stupid, and not liable to build any sort of international working class movement.
An autonomous region with Russian peace keepers. Attacking another countries troops even when based outside their country is an act of war. So it has nothing to do with Russia militarism and everything to do with Russia defending its standing as a military power when attacked.

[manic expression]

An autonomous region with Russian peace keepers. Attacking another countries troops even when based outside their country is an act of war. So it has nothing to do with Russia militarism and everything to do with Russia defending its standing as a military power when attacked.

I agree for the most part, but at the same time, we must take into account the opportunism of the Russian ruling class. They are clearly using this to further their imperialist interests and throw back their NATO rivals. This holds true even if they did something good for South Ossetians in the process. Russia's actions are inescapably imperialist.

[Psy]

I agree for the most part, but at the same time, we must take into account the opportunism of the Russian ruling class. They are clearly using this to further their imperialist interests and throw back their NATO rivals. This holds true even if they did something good for South Ossetians in the process. Russia's actions are inescapably imperialist.
While true, it is also true that the workers in this region are not organized and have little class consciousness. Do you see workers taking the streets of Tbilisi? Russia just fucked up the Georgian army and right now embarrassing Georgian police forces (like the video where a Russian APC just ran through a police road block effortlessly), the Russian army isn't making it harder for revolution in Georgia but easier (of course not on purpose) it is just the the workers aren't currently trying to overthrow the system.

[Charles Xavier]

I did and it's basically vestigial tankiesm. "ZOMG! guys, Russia is being attacked! We must help!" It's absurd. Georgia was a Russian client state run by a member of the Nomenklatura. Then popular protests ousted it for a US and EU backed western client state. It's a tiny country of little significance outside of the Ceyhan pipeline, which is also loosing significance because the Caspian doesn't have nearly as much oil in it as we thought. But of course any time a western allied government tries to retake a region that de jure is theirs we all jump to claims to american imperialism. This isn't some grand plan, Georgia thought they could retake an autonomous region. Russia decided this was the time to test their new militarism. The US tries to defuse it in order to protect the pipeline and the government. Nothing too sinister, just normal power politics. Taking sides in an imperialist war (especially a proto fascist state like Russia) is fucking stupid, and not liable to build any sort of international working class movement.

Are you one of those Anarchists who is like fuck everyone but myself?

[OI OI OI]

This just proves how far from the ideas of genuine socialism and communism the CPC has moved .

Woe to the supporters of Russian imperialism.
I have explained in the other thread about the same topic which should be the leftist position and why.



It is really sad that so many revolutionaries pick a side in a proxy war between two imperialist superpowers who are striving to enlarge their spheres of influence.
The Russians don't give a damn about the self determination of the Ossetians and the Georgian don't give a damn about them either.

Russia after establishing herself as a strong capitalist nation is striving to "take under her wings" neighboring countries and to show to the Americans who is the boss .

It is increasingly controlling with neighboring nations like Ukraine etc.
We should not take a side on this conflict of slave owners.
Down with Russian and American imperialism.


This is just a brief explanation.

Read this article (http://www.marxist.com/war-in-south-ossetia.htm) to for a more thorough explanation.

[manic expression]

While true, it is also true that the workers in this region are not organized and have little class consciousness. Do you see workers taking the streets of Tbilisi? Russia just fucked up the Georgian army and right now embarrassing Georgian police forces (like the video where a Russian APC just ran through a police road block effortlessly), the Russian army isn't making it harder for revolution in Georgia but easier (of course not on purpose) it is just the the workers aren't currently trying to overthrow the system.

Well, if they took the streets they'd probably be shot down like dogs, so that is a factor, but I do think you have a point on the consciousness of the Georgian workers (to say nothing of the reactionary character of the ruling class and its supporters). At the same time, that won't be helped by this crisis.

The only thing this did for the working class IMO is open up space for the South Ossetians to exercise the smallest bit of self-determination (and you're right, not on purpose). The Georgian working class is, in all likelihood, going to be further bombarded and coerced with chauvinist propaganda, and the US will look to further support the Georgian imperialists.

Another thing that hasn't been discussed too much (although this may be a tangent, bear with me) is how this is indicative of American imperialism's growing problems. I think 10, 8 or even 4 years ago this would have been unthinkable, but now the US is powerless as its adversary wipes the floor with its regional pawn.

[Charles Xavier]

This just proves how far from the ideas of genuine socialism and communism the CPC has moved .

Woe to the supporters of Russian imperialism.
I have explained in the other thread about the same topic which should be the leftist position and why.





This is just a brief explanation.

Read this article (http://www.marxist.com/war-in-south-ossetia.htm) to for a more thorough explanation.

Is In Defense of Marxism
on the payroll of the US government? Aren't these the same people who said 12 year olds are being exploited because they aren't allowed to marry 40 year olds? As for the article in question it sounds like its pure undocumented independent research as if the Georgian attack was done against the wishes of NATO?

And if you read my Party's statement we come to similar conclusions that this is not we are supporting Russian Imperialism. We recognize this as an attack of US Imperialism.

[Psy]

Well, if they took the streets they'd probably be shot down like dogs,

By who? The crushed Georgian army? I doubt Georgian troop are exactly loyal to Saakashvili now, the Bolsheviks (of 1917) would probably find recruiting Georgian troops now as easy as they found recruiting Russian troops in 1917.




so that is a factor, but I do think you have a point on the consciousness of the Georgian workers (to say nothing of the reactionary character of the ruling class and its supporters). At the same time, that won't be helped by this crisis.

You mean like how WWI didn't help the Bolsheviks? If there was a powerful workers movement the Russian counter-attack would have allowed the Georgian workers to recruit Georgian troops that feel betrayed.




The only thing this did for the working class IMO is open up space for the South Ossetians to exercise the smallest bit of self-determination (and you're right, not on purpose). The Georgian working class is, in all likelihood, going to be further bombarded and coerced with chauvinist propaganda, and the US will look to further support the Georgian imperialists.

All true, but this is because there is no powerful workers movement in Georgia.



Another thing that hasn't been discussed too much (although this may be a tangent, bear with me) is how this is indicative of American imperialism's growing problems. I think 10, 8 or even 4 years ago this would have been unthinkable, but now the US is powerless as its adversary wipes the floor with its regional pawn.
True

[Joe Hill's Ghost]

Are you one of those Anarchists who is like fuck everyone but myself?

No I'm one of those anarchist who support working class internationalism. Not proto nationalist "anti imperialism." Which usually amounts to "wow X dictator is great becuase he fought Amerikkka"

[Charles Xavier]

No I'm one of those anarchist who support working class internationalism. Not proto nationalist "anti imperialism." Which usually amounts to "wow X dictator is great becuase he fought Amerikkka"
Regardless if some country is lead by a dictator or not they have the right to self-determination. And not to be leveled and made as a semi-colony of the Imperialist powers. It is the duty of those workers in those countries to solve their internal contradictions.

[bolshevik butcher]

Is In Defense of Marxism
on the payroll of the US government? Aren't these the same people who said 12 year olds are being exploited because they aren't allowed to marry 40 year olds? As for the article in question it sounds like its pure undocumented independent research as if the Georgian attack was done against the wishes of NATO?


Your first point is just pure unspeculated slander and unless you can back it up with evidence I would ask that you retract it.

This article urges that we support neither Russian nor American imperialism and certainly does not state that this was an attack that happened ehind the backs of American Imperialism;

"It is very difficult to imagine that Saakashvili launched the attack against US wishes. The Georgian government is dependent on US aid and support, and US strategists must have endorsed Saakashvili's bet: a serious mistake on their part. But they did so for their own imperialist purposes: to test once again the reaction of Russia. Now that they have disastrously lost their bet, they have two options, either to admit the mistake of not having considered that relations of forces between USA and Russia in the region have changed, or to pretend that the Georgian government fooled them, hiding its intentions."

Why don't you read and comment on the artilces content rather than slander its source and misrepresent the line the article puts forward. OIOIOI summed up te position before. There is no obligation for sociaists to support either side in a clash of two imperialist camps. The victory of either side will not benefit the working class and only mean suffering for the Georgian and Russian peoples and an increase in ethnic tensions in Georgia and the Causcus part of Russia.

[Joe Hill's Ghost]

Regardless if some country is lead by a dictator or not they have the right to self-determination. And not to be leveled and made as a semi-colony of the Imperialist powers. It is the duty of those workers in those countries to solve their internal contradictions.

As if Russia doesn't want to make Georgia a semi colony of its own? You're being absurd. This is a capitalist war, no side is the right side.

[Charles Xavier]

As if Russia doesn't want to make Georgia a semi colony of its own? You're being absurd. This is a capitalist war, no side is the right side.
I have not said that. I have simply said this is an attack of US Imperialism.

[Joe Hill's Ghost]

I have not said that. I have simply said this is an attack of US Imperialism.

You imply that this is an attempt to colonize south ossetia, and you ignore that the Russians want to colonize the whole of Georgia.

And no this isn't US imperialism, this is Russian and US imperialism.

[Charles Xavier]

You imply that this is an attempt to colonize south ossetia, and you ignore that the Russians want to colonize the whole of Georgia.

And no this isn't US imperialism, this is Russian and US imperialism.



No I never implied that you are putting words in my mouth.

[OI OI OI]

Is In Defense of Marxism
on the payroll of the US government?
You know what? If you are going to continue idiotic mindless bullshit about the website and the IMT I won't bother resoinding while I am giving you a negative rep for this.


Aren't these the same people who said 12 year olds are being exploited because they aren't allowed to marry 40 year olds?
What the hell are you saying?



As for the article in question it sounds like its pure undocumented independent research as if the Georgian attack was done against the wishes of NATO?


....What?



And if you read my Party's statement we come to similar conclusions that this is not we are supporting Russian Imperialism. We recognize this as an attack of US Imperialism.


So you mean that theres no Russian imperialism?
We understand that it is a proxy war between the US imperialism and Russian Imperialism.
Does it take a big brain to understand it?
Russia is not the USSR any more !!!! There is Russian imperialism

[DancingLarry]

Comrades, it amazes me that 94 years after the shameful triumph of social chauvinism over proletarian internationalism of 1914 plunged the world into the horrors of World War I that we still somehow believe there can be any benefit to the working masses anywhere in taking sides in conflicts between capitalist regimes. The IWA statement (http://www.ainfos.ca/en/ainfos21246.html)
clearly lays out the hegemonic objectives, whether petty or huge, of all the state actors involved, and the thin tissue of hypocrisy that they seek to conceal those realities with.

For we leftists in the west, the two main forms of propaganda that seek to turn us to supporting one or the other of the bourgeois claques seeking to profit from this violence and mayhem are Cold War stereotypical Russophobia and romantic sovietophile nostalgia for a golden age of the workers' state that never was. Instead of such nonsense we should learn from the catastrophic mistakes of 1914, and heed the enlightened call of proletarian internationalism:


We shouldn't fall under the influence of nationalist demagogy which demands
unity with "our" government, flying the flag of "protecting the homeland". The
main enemy of the simple people is not the poor brothers and sisters on the
other side of the border or of other nationality. Their enemie are the rulers
and bosses of all kinds, presidents and ministers, businessmen and generals,
those who generate wars for the sake of multiplying power and riches. We call on
the working people in Russia, Ossetias, Abkhazia and Georgia to reject the bait
of nationalism and patriotism and to turn the anger on rulers and the rich on
both sides of the border.

Russian, Georgian, Ossetic and Abkhazian soldiers! Do not obey the orders of
your commanders! Turn your weapon against those who sent you to war! Do not
shoot the soldiers of your "opponent" - fraternize with them: a bayonet in the
ground!

Working people in the rear! Sabotage military efforts, leave to go to meetings
and demonstrations against the war, organize yourselves and strike against it!

No to the war and to its organizers - rulers and richmen! Yes to solidarity of
working people across borders and the front lines!

[Charles Xavier]

You know what? If you are going to continue idiotic mindless bullshit about the website and the IMT I won't bother resoinding while I am giving you a negative rep for this.

What the hell are you saying?





....What?





So you mean that theres no Russian imperialism?
We understand that it is a proxy war between the US imperialism and Russian Imperialism.
Does it take a big brain to understand it?
Russia is not the USSR any more !!!! There is Russian imperialism

I mistaken you guys with Spartacus, similar trotskyists.

I dunno you guys are all the same, put words in other peoples mouths, if you would read my party's statement we come to similar conclusions. I would hate to be a trotskyist. Your phrasemongering against my party doesn't relate to reality because nowhere in my Party's statement it says defend Russia. It says put an end to the conflict and for an end to all imperialist meddling in the Caucasus

[OI OI OI]

I dunno you guys are all the same,Nope. A lot different trust me!


put words in other peoples mouths, if you would read my party's statement we come to similar conclusions.No. By supporting Russia and saying that it was ONLY the fault of the US and talking about self determination while we oppose both capitalist/imperialist nations and we realize that it is a proxy war then no we do not come into similar conclusions.


I would hate to be a trotskyist.Reasons?


Your phrasemongering against my party doesn't relate to reality because nowhere in my Party's statement it says defend Russia. Of course you would not say defend russia .If you did then you would take communism to another level!
But your position favours Russian imperialism than US imperialism clearly.

It says put an end to the conflict and for an end to all imperialist meddling in the CaucasusAnd it is apologetic to the Russian imperialism!!!!



I have no personal problem with your party. Only a theoretical!
But you first insulted the IMT or to be more precise slandered the IMT.
So next time watch your language .



PS: I like your name.
My grandpa used to tell me stories about Dimitrov and then he used to cry when he would get to the point where he was hanged. There is also a song for him. Dimitrov is a hero, in front of the noose he stands on his feet, he looks at his judges hashly la la la la la la

[Ismail]

Dimitrov, is this the Communist Party of Canada or the Communist Party of Canada (Marxist-Leninist)? If it's the former, then it isn't surprising. If it's the latter, that's sad.

[Charles Xavier]

I fail to see how this statement supports either side. Except saying Nato was the aggressor. My party does not view Russia as a saviour of Georgia, rather shows this conflict as the result of US meddling. Neither side is looking out for the best interest of Georgian working class.

You cannot expect Russia, even when this was the Soviet Union to stand by idly when their troops are attacked by foreign troops. The response however is different.

Further Dimitrov was never hanged.