A new International Brigades

[autonomous_marxist]

What do people think of a modernized International Brigades similar to the ones that fought in the Spanish Civil War; a mechanized fighting unit that would go wherever Communist, Socialist, or Anarchist causes beckoned? For example, if the Bolivian situation got seriously out of hand, volunteers could go and fight to maintain the Morales government. Feedback, please.

[spartan]

How would it be funded, who would buy the weapons, what government/nation would sell us the weapons (bearing in mind a mechanized force would need advanced equipment like APC's and tanks), and how would we get the permission of other neutral countries which we would have to travel over to get to the warzone in question?

I have nothing against your idea I just think it's next to impossible to do it.

I think the best we can hope for is to go to countries like Venezuela if the shit hit's the fan and volunteer our services (with them equipping us with the weapons we need to fight with).

[TheDifferenceEngine]

I think a mechanised force is unlikely.

If a new International brigades were needed then they would most likely take some tips from the foreign fighters in Iraq and Afghanistan today.

Although not funded by rich Saudis of course!

More likely the weapons, equipment and training would be supplied by countries such as Venezuela and Cuba

Maybe with some help from the Russians and Chinese as well, but superpowers are fickle friends who will most likely stab you in the back...

Bugger, lost my train of thought.

[manic expression]

This has been brought up before, and it's mostly a pipe dream at this point. The International Brigades were only possible due to the Soviet Union and the Comintern. Without that organizational and material backing, the Spanish Republic probably wouldn't have seen nearly the same amount of international support. As there is no Soviet Union today, it's improbable at best for the same to happen.

The good news, however, is that there ARE many ways to support comrades around the world. They may be less sexy, but they're needed nevertheless. For instance, there are several organizations which go to Cuba to participate in projects and help propagate support for the revolution in the US. I know in Europe there are Bolivarian Circles, which support the Venezuelan workers' efforts to build socialism; contact your local Venezuelan embassy or consulate for information. There are many ways of doing this, I even found chapters of FMLN (El Salvador's communist party) in NYC and Toronto that I hope to work with if possible.

I hope people start thinking less of the International Brigades and more of the internationalist principles they displayed, principles which we can emulate today in many different ways.

[OI OI OI]

IF you want to help the Bolivian revolution concretely instead of navalgazing go to this site and give some money to the Bolivian activists.

They need it more than ever for guns, propaganda etc


http://www.marxist.com/donation-for-bolivia-2008.htm

Even 5 $ will make a BIG difference.

[thejambo1]

manic expression has hit the nail on the head. there are many ways to support comrades abroad, i think the international brigade idea is just a pipe dream.

[Colonello Buendia]

funding and info spreading are way more important.

[JimmyJazz]

What do you mean "if the Bolivian situation got seriously out of hand"? Leftism is always seriously threatened wherever it appears, at least in the current world political climate. I don't expect either Chavez or Morales to exit the political stage in a peaceful transition of power (through no fault of their own). Well, Morales I don't know well enough; perhaps he would cave into retirement or reformism when threatened. But Chavez I expect will eventually be overthrown through unconstitutional means. In such a situation, when are things ever not "out of hand"?

Anyway it's a cool idea and I wonder if I would have the cojones to take part. Some Italian anarchists have done exactly what you are proposing with the Zapatistas, btw.

[cyu]

if the Bolivian situation got seriously out of hand


While I fully support worker self-defence forces, it would be nice if we prevented stuff from getting out of hand in the first place. It would be much better to convert your potential armed thug into joining your side before they've committed themselves to being one of the oppressors.

[Red October]

I'm sure George Soros would love to fork out a couple hundred million dollars to finance this global leftist military force. Could we build Tesla Coils too?

[RedScare]

It'd be interesting, but seems very unlikely, due to logistical concerns, as well as the fact that I doubt many countries would want such a group to be based in them.

[Cohacq]

I dont think it should be "based" in a country as a regular military force. More likely that it would be made out of people spread all over the world, which come together locally for training, and then globally when there are conflicts that need them.