EDITORIAL

The Law Of The Jungle

AS we go to press, the unilateral US aggression against Iraq has begun.  As human civilisation enters the third millennium AD, US imperialism is turning back history to well beyond third millennium BC.  The savagery and barbarism that dictated the social ordering in antiquity is being brought back with a vengeance behind the smoke screen of "modern civilisation". 

This is no "clash of civilisations" as some argue. This is the resurrection of barbarism.  It is a tragedy of immense proportions that this law of the jungle -- might is right -- is being unleashed on lands that in antiquity laid the foundations for this very modern civilisation. By the rivers of Babylon emerged the first ruler to have laid down a code of law -- Hammurabi.  Those in today's Europe and America, who did not reach humanity's transition to come down from living on treetops are today unleashing this barbarism on lands which were one of the cradles of human civilisation. 

By now, it is amply clear that the US imperialist aggression against Iraq is devoid of any rationale except that of establishing unquestioned US hegemony on the world. All excuses advanced by the USA have turned out to be specious, to say the least.   Even the objective of controlling the oil resources in the region is only part of the story.  The real meaning of this war is to send a clear signal to the world that no one dare take any position of opposition to US imperialism.

The ramifications of this quest of US imperialism are, indeed, ominous. At least four of its potential consequences must be properly understood. 

Firstly, the strengthening of US hegemony in this world is directed at drastically re-ordering the international situation. The political, military and economic stranglehold, in the days to come, will tighten. Economically, the efforts to recolonise the third world countries will intensify. Militarily, the deployment of nuclear weapons in outer space and the consequent threats to sovereign independent countries will, likewise, intensify. 

Secondly, all international institutional frameworks are sought to be systematically destroyed.    The US president, a person who lost the popular vote in the elections, has declared to reduce the United Nations to a "debating club".  The sanctity and credibility of the UN has been severely eroded.   Clearly, the United States is seeking the reordering of the international institutions where the world will be held to ransom by it. The NATO and the European Union likewise are no longer cohesive. The disruption of the European Union (which in any case is the consolidation of the rule of capital in Europe and hence anti-people) suits US imperialism by preventing the former from posing any challenge in the future.   The US disrespect to international agreements was clearly demonstrated in recent years when it refused to accept the Kyoto Protocol on environment protection and the UN conference on racial discrimination.  This is not the failure of US diplomacy (as reflected in its ability to carry its traditional allies) as some naively argued. This is the beginning of a new world order that the USA is seeking to impose. An order in which USA will frame the rules. While it shall not be accountable to anybody and no rules would apply to it, it shall play the role of both policeman and judge!

Thirdly, this new world order clearly suggests that no regime in any independent and sovereign country will be allowed to continue, if it does not serve US interests.  The direct interference in domestic politics of independent countries is the obvious consequence.  The doctrine of "regime change" means nothing else but to put in place compliant regimes in all countries of the world. 

Fourthly, this aggression against Iraq is only going to feed the vicious circle of State terrorism provoking individual terrorism. Instead of the world being a safer place to live in after the cold war, a claim made by the imperialist ideologues, insecurity and fear will rule the roost. 

This, in turn, will be used by reactionary regimes to impose an authoritarian order in their countries.  In the name of fighting terrorism, draconian laws severely curtailing civil liberties and democratic rights will be put in place. All in the name of democracy!

In the name of liberty, freedom, dignity etc, US imperialism has mounted this barbaric aggression precisely to destroy these values that should have shaped the future of human civilisation. 

The statue of liberty was a gift of the French to the USA. Upon seeing it recently, a French tourist has reportedly exclaimed, "I did not know that the US commemorates its dead by erecting statues"!

The majority of the world's people, who are already on the streets protesting against this war, must not allow this barbaric murder of liberty and human dignity.