Russia?s deployment of troops in Crimea, formerly an 'autonomous' region of the Ukraine,
has caused much consternation to the USA and fear of escalating conflict for working class
people throughout the region. ---- This came in the wake of a rightwing and fascist
'revolution', supported by the west, that saw control of the Ukrainian state being taken
by hard-line nationalists, the far right Svoboda party and the paramilitary Right Sector.
The political upheaval, and the fears of ethnic Russian's in the Ukraine, gave Putin's
regime the opportunity:to implement their long-standing imperial and expansionist
aspirations in the Crimea and eastern Ukraine where it has strong economic, financial and
political interests (from the Declaration of Internationalists against the war in Ukraine).
Upwards of 6,000 Russian troops have been deployed in Crimea, the Ukrainian military have
been deployed and reservists called up.
Some responses to Russia's invasion and western interference in the region from the 'left'
seems to either imagine Russia as the USSR facing down US imperialism or describe Russia
as a 'former power eager for a piece of the pie'. This betrays wilful misreading of the
situation and an extremely crude understanding of what imperialism actually is. While the
USSR is no more (to the inexplicable dismay of some on the 'left') Russia does not
represent a 'former power'. It is the major imperialist economic and military power in the
region.
Much of Europe?s economy is also highly dependent on Russia. As a result the US looks
unlikely to get support even for economic sanctions.
On the ground Ukrainian and Russian nationalism have been whipped up, the new Ukrainian
government immediately attacked Russian and other minority language rights and there have
been armed clashes between nationalist groups. While Kiev has installed a reactionary
pro-western government the:
political elite of Crimea and eastern Ukraine does not intend to share their power
and property with the next in turn Kiev rulers (ibid)
and are instead placing their faith in the Russian government.
Those who will pay for any escalation of this conflict, those who have paid so far, have
and will be the regions working class, no matter their ethnicity:
Warring cliques of bosses, as usual, force us ordinary people to fight for their
interests: wage workers, unemployed, students, pensioners... Making us drunkards of the
nationalist drug, they set us against each other, causing us to forget about our real
needs and interests: we don't and can't care about their "nations". We are concerned with
more vital and pressing problems ? how to make ends meet in the system which they found to
enslave and oppress us.
We will not succumb to nationalist intoxication. To hell with their state and
?nations?, their flags and offices! This is not our war, and we should not take part,
paying with our blood for their palaces, bank accounts and the pleasure to sit in soft
chairs of authorities. And if the bosses in Moscow, Kiev, Lviv, Kharkiv, Donetsk and
Simferopol start this war, our duty is to resist it by all available means!
NO WAR BETWEEN ?NATIONS? - NO PEACE BETWEEN CLASSES!
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