Who are these losers in the London streets?

[igloo]

November 18, 2003, 11:02 a.m.

The London Streets

Who are these anti-Bush people?

By Amir Taheri

LONDON — George W. Bush's visit to London this week will be historic for at least two reasons. He will be the first U.S. president to come to Britain on a state visit. He will also observe a bizarre political marriage: one between the remnants of the Marxist-Leninist Left and militant Islamists. Negotiated over the past two years, the "wedding," will be celebrated in a mass demonstration against Bush's visit.

The demonstration is organized by a shadowy group called "Stop the War Coalition," part of the Hate-America-International, which has orchestrated a number of street "events" in support of the Taliban and the Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein since 2001.

When I called the coalition to ask whether the idea was to stop all wars, a spokeswoman assured me that this was not the case.

She referred me to the first article of the coalition's charter that states: "The aim of the coalition is simple: to stop the war currently declared by the United States and its allies against 'terrorism.'"

"We really want to stop Bush and Blair from going around killing babies," she said. "Our objective is to force the U.S. out of Iraq and Afghanistan."

But what if a U.S. withdrawal means the return of the Taliban and Saddam Hussein?

"Anything would be better than American Imperialist rule," she snapped back.

Who are these nostalgics of the Taliban and Saddam Hussein?

The coalition has a steering committee of 33 members. Of these, 18 come from various hard left groups: Communists, Trotskyites, Maoists, and Castrists. Three others belong to the radical wing of the Labour party. There are also eight radical Islamists. The remaining four are leftist ecologists known as "Watermelons" (Green outside, red inside).

The chairman of the coalition is one Andrew Murray, a former employee of the Soviet Novosty Agency and leader in the British Communist party. Cochair is Muhammad Asalm Ijaz of the London Council of Mosques. Members include John Rees of the Socialist Workers' party and Ghayassudin Siddiqui of the Muslim Parliament. Tanja Salem of the Al-awdah (The Return) group, an outfit close to Yasser Arafat, is also a member along with Shahedah Vawda of "Just Peace," another militant Arab group, and Wolf Wayne of the "Green Socialist Network."

A prominent member is George Galloway, a Labour-party parliamentarian under investigation for the illegal receipt of funds from Saddam Hussein. In his memoirs, Galloway says that the day the Soviet Union collapsed was "the saddest day" of his life.

Galloway says the only terrorism in the world today comes from the United States, not from organizations such as al Qaeda or the remnants of the Iraqi Baath party.

The coalition was created in London in September 2001, at first as an exclusively leftist concoction bringing together the remnants of the Stalinist "peace movement" of the 1950s, diehard "no nukes" activists, and some fellow travellers.

The coalition has succeeded beyond the wildest dreams of its founders. For the first time ever it has brought together all radical leftist and anarchist groups. Under its umbrella march such traditional former archenemies as Stalinists and Trotskyites.

But the coalition's biggest success is the alliance that it has forged between the extreme Left and militant Islamist groups. This would have been unthinkable even a couple of years ago. The Left always regarded Islam as a "relic of feudalism" and an instrument of reactionary Arab regimes. For their part, the Islamists regarded leftists as atheist enemies who had to be put to the sword.

The first to advocate a leftist-Islamist alliance against Western democracies was Ayman Al Zawahiri al Qaeda's #2.

In a message to al Qaeda sympathizers in Britain in August 2002, he urged them to seek allies among "any movement that opposes America, even atheists."

The idea has received strong support from Ilich Ramirez Sanchez, the Venezuelan terrorist known as "Carlos the Jackal."

In his book Revolutionary Islam, published in Paris last month, Carlos, who says he has converted to Islam, says he has advised Osama bin Laden, the al Qaeda leader, to forge an alliance with "all guerrilla, terrorist and other revolutionary groups throughout the world, regardless of their religious or ideological beliefs."

Carlos says Islam is the only force capable of persuading large numbers of people to become "volunteers" for suicide attacks against the U.S.

"Only a coalition of Marxists and Islamists can destroy the US," he says.

This week's anti-Bush demonstration in London will mark the emergence of a coalition the hard core of which consists of the radical Left and militant Islamism. Around it we find other groups who hate the U.S. for different reasons. There are supporters of free abortion, opponents of capital punishment, anti-globalization fanatics, advocates of the Kyoto protocol on the environment, and anti-Semites who believe the Jews control the United States. But a good part of the planned demonstrations will, as always, consist of what Lenin called "the useful idiots", men and women of good faith whose political naiveté makes them natural targets for experts in agitprop.

But why are these people taking to the streets?

One reason is that the parties, groups, and individuals involved have consistently failed to find a place in the normal institutions of British democracy.

The 60 or so leftist and Islamist groups involved in this odd enterprise have never managed to win more than one half of one percent of the votes in any British general election. Nor have they succeeded in winning a single seat in parliament or a majority in a single municipal council.

Those who can never win elections, always take to the streets. Street politics enables them to escape debate on complex issues that cannot be reduced to a few simplistic slogans.

Britain's participation in the war against terrorism was the subject of four exhaustive debates in the House of Commons in 2001 and 2002, each followed by a vote that Prime Minister Tony Blair won.

Street politics is for those who wish to abolish individual political judgment, the cornerstone of democratic life. Street politics encourages the irrational tendencies of crowds that could turn into hunting packs or lynch mobs. Power won in the streets produces only ochlocracy (rule by the worst).

To make sure that no discordant voice is heard, the organizers of the demonstrations have announced that only "authorized" t-shirts, hats and other paraphernalia will be allowed. Only four slogans are permitted: "Stop Bush," "Stop Blair," " U.S. Out of Iraq and Afghanistan," and " Bush Go Home!"

The demonstration's security force, made up of muscular Marxists and Islamists, has instructions to prevent any sign of pro-American sentiments. A group that has said it wants to take part in the demonstrations with t-shirts saying "Bush-Cheney: Four More Years!" has been warned of "dire consequences."

The London demonstration is planned and will be supervised in the best Stalinist traditions still in force in North Korea.

In countries that suffer under despotism, the street is, at times, the only space available to the opposition. This is why we hear so much about the so-called "Arab street." But do we need a "British street" that disdains the institutions of democracy, including mainstream political parties, and the parliament?

Amir Taheri, and NRO contributor, is an Iranian author of ten books on the Middle East and Islam. Taheri is reachable through www.benadorassociates.com.

[igloo]

for marksimons

[pattbateman]

o god i cant wait to hear this one

[marksimons]

I have a big smirk on my face.

that article is a load of horseshit.

the 'shadowy' stop the war coalition, part of 'international-hate-america' whatthefuck... !!!

ooooh dear.

"Those who can never win elections, always take to the streets. Street politics enables them to escape debate on complex issues that cannot be reduced to a few simplistic slogans."

I mean seriously, that's a fucking j-j-j-j-j-joke isn't it? I mean what about ghandi? what about jesus didn't he go out in the streets and subvert the normal electoral process.

fuck that.

taking to the streets is what you do when you feel your voice isn't being herd, and because political debate has been reduced to a few simplistic slogans 'war on terror' 'weapons of mass destruction' 'shock and awe' 'compasionate conservatism' 'with us or against us'.

the bullshit it spews forth

"To make sure that no discordant voice is heard, the organizers of the demonstrations have announced that only "authorized" t-shirts, hats and other paraphernalia will be allowed. Only four slogans are permitted: "Stop Bush," "Stop Blair," " U.S. Out of Iraq and Afghanistan," and " Bush Go Home!""

yes, because of the 300,000 people there that day they made sure that people only shouted fours slogans, and only war perscribed t-shirts.

what balls.

george galloway is an interesting fringe character.

muslim groups and british politics... well that's an interesting one, could talk about the british electoral system and a whole load of other things...

but what's the real fear? oooh right, let's go back to the good ol' red threat of marxist inspired communism...

""Only a coalition of Marxists and Islamists can destroy the US," he says."

yes. that's what it's all about. we all want to turn the us into a muslim led communist dictatorship.

please.

my sides.

they are a splittin'.

do you actually believe this, that this is what the peace movement wants?

there may be some nutters who do, but that's not the point. the vast majority of people are just fed up with war and the political, social and economic systems that support it.

the US is not under attack from the peace movement, this is to show Americans what they can do, what they should do, how to empower yourselves in a democracy where you feel divorced from the decision making process.

the paranoia eminating from some of the things you're posting is very worrying igloo.

[igloo]

Originally posted by marksimons

I have a big smirk on my face.

that article is a load of horseshit.

the 'shadowy' stop the war coalition, part of 'international-hate-america' whatthefuck... !!!

ooooh dear.

"Those who can never win elections, always take to the streets. Street politics enables them to escape debate on complex issues that cannot be reduced to a few simplistic slogans."

I mean seriously, that's a fucking j-j-j-j-j-joke isn't it? I mean what about ghandi? what about jesus didn't he go out in the streets and subvert the normal electoral process.

fuck that.

taking to the streets is what you do when you feel your voice isn't being herd, and because political debate has been reduced to a few simplistic slogans 'war on terror' 'weapons of mass destruction' 'shock and awe' 'compasionate conservatism' 'with us or against us'.

the bullshit it spews forth

"To make sure that no discordant voice is heard, the organizers of the demonstrations have announced that only "authorized" t-shirts, hats and other paraphernalia will be allowed. Only four slogans are permitted: "Stop Bush," "Stop Blair," " U.S. Out of Iraq and Afghanistan," and " Bush Go Home!""

yes, because of the 300,000 people there that day they made sure that people only shouted fours slogans, and only war perscribed t-shirts.

what balls.

george galloway is an interesting fringe character.

muslim groups and british politics... well that's an interesting one, could talk about the british electoral system and a whole load of other things...

but what's the real fear? oooh right, let's go back to the good ol' red threat of marxist inspired communism...

""Only a coalition of Marxists and Islamists can destroy the US," he says."

yes. that's what it's all about. we all want to turn the us into a muslim led communist dictatorship.

please.

my sides.

they are a splittin'.

do you actually believe this, that this is what the peace movement wants?

there may be some nutters who do, but that's not the point. the vast majority of people are just fed up with war and the political, social and economic systems that support it.

the US is not under attack from the peace movement, this is to show Americans what they can do, what they should do, how to empower yourselves in a democracy where you feel divorced from the decision making process.

the paranoia eminating from some of the things you're posting is very worrying igloo.

:laugh:

retard

[marksimons]

g-g-g-g-g-g-get retarded

great way to make me feel like my argument is a load of horse shit.

I'm a retard. fuck. that undermines my whole argument.

[igloo]

Originally posted by marksimons

g-g-g-g-g-g-get retarded

great way to make me feel like my argument is a load of horse shit.

I'm a retard. fuck. that undermines my whole argument.

"We really want to stop Bush and Blair from going around killing babies," she said. "Our objective is to force the U.S. out of Iraq and Afghanistan."

But what if a U.S. withdrawal means the return of the Taliban and Saddam Hussein?

"Anything would be better than American Imperialist rule," she snapped back.

This defines you. And is to my point that you spend more time wailing and protesting against the U.S. and Bush than you do about Saddam Hussein and the Taliban.....especially hypocritical since you claim to be so worried about Iraqi civilians.

hypocritical fraud.............You spend so much time trying to impress people with your rants, why don't you spend a little time exploring your own hypocrisy...

"But a good part of the planned demonstrations will, as always, consist of what Lenin called "the useful idiots", men and women of good faith whose political naiveté makes them natural targets for experts in agitprop.

But why are these people taking to the streets?

One reason is that the parties, groups, and individuals involved have consistently failed to find a place in the normal institutions of British democracy."

[marksimons]

they have a spokesperson who is a little over zealous.

lol

urgh

look what is the point about protesting against saddam now? or the taliban?

remember, the US govt was happy to work with the taliban, as were others.

what the secretary for the stop the war coalition snaps on a phone - she is probably raaather busy - is less important than the actions of countries in my book.

why do I go on about america soo f'ing much?

well because the taliban and saddam only fucked up their own countries, america has a hand in a lot more.

then there's the elections, very important elections, what happens in america will, given the war on terror have an impact on the whole world.

if we're doing bodycounts igloo, the US has had a hand in far more murder than saddam or the taliban.

that's not an opinion, that's a fact.

also, taking to the streets is a symtom of discontent with the british political process, I'll freely admit that, our political process has always been fucked up.

it needs reform, and I'm hoping I can actually be a part of that a few years down the line, once I have a bit more experience and might be in a position to help...

the thing is, I intend to try and get involved in the politics of the US and UK at some stage, once I force myself to be a bit less lazy.

that article tries to portray the organisation and protesters in a certain light.

if I was analysing this for history I'd have to point out some of the blatent bias....

time to take a crap and start a book about the cold war!

[igloo]

Originally posted by marksimons

they have a spokesperson who is a little over zealous.

lol

urgh

look what is the point about protesting against saddam now? or the taliban?

what the secretary for the stop the war coalition snaps on a phone - she is probably raaather busy - is less important than the actions of countries in my book.

why do I go on about america soo f'ing much?

well because the taliban and saddam only fucked up their own countries, america has a hand in a lot more.

!

You are defending the spokesperson?????....sad and unacceptable

And is not just the spokesperson, but the majority of these protestors...your failure to admit that or recognize that diminishes your credibility.......

And I am not talking about protesting Saddam and the Taliban now....I am talking about protesting them when they were taking "care" of the civilians you claim to be so concerned about...

WHere was the passion and drive then?...You can only muster up that energy against Bush and the U.S.? Did you even wonder about the possibilities if you and your cronies ever exhibited the same energy against these truly "evil" entities? Did you ever wonder about how it would effected the Iraq war if you gathered your cronies and protested against the right entity?..Ever wonder what that would have meant to the Iraqi people?

And your reasoning for railing against the U.S. and not the Taliban or Saddam is a disgrace......and clearly demonstrates you are a fraud and a hypocrite, anti-American, and quite frankly, lost....

[marksimons]

so you're saying I should protest against two regimes who are no longer in power?!

[igloo]

Originally posted by marksimons

so you're saying I should protest against two regimes who are no longer in power?!

My exact quote from the post you responded to:

And I am not talking about protesting Saddam and the Taliban now....I am talking about protesting them when they were taking "care" of the civilians you claim to be so concerned about...

Perhaps you should spend more time learning to read instead of on your rambling jibberish.....

And as usual, nice job avoiding the challenge to your hypocrisy

[normalnoises]

Pretty easy to support a war when you don't have to fight it, isn't it Igloo?

Now go tend to your war profits. I know that is the reason why you support it, shitfuck.

So, how many dollars per human lives do you make?

[jamiroguy1]

Originally posted by normalnoises

Pretty easy to support a war when you don't have to fight it, isn't it Igloo?

Now go tend to your war profits. I know that is the reason why you support it, shitfuck.

So, how many dollars per human lives do you make?

What's the reason why?

[igloo]

marksimons and your cronies should be dancing in the streets regarding Hussein's capture like the Iraqi citizens.......right?........yeah right....

[normalnoises]

Originally posted by igloo

marksimons and your cronies should be dancing in the streets regarding Hussein's capture like the Iraqi citizens.......right?........yeah right....

Then how come you''re not dancing in the street for the same reason?

[igloo]

Originally posted by normalnoises

Then how come you''re not dancing in the street for the same reason?

This says it all about this misfit

[igloo]

marksimons....

Were you and your pals happy that Saddam Hussein was captured?

I noticed you ran hard and fast from this thread...don't blame you....you were getting a serious ass kicking....

But come back...I was wondering if you and your anti-American dickheads hit the streets as hard as you did against the U.S., but this time for the Iraqi people and the joy they are experiencing to finally be out of Saddam's shadow....

Hint: You don't have to answer. I am not really looking for an answer, since you and your bullshit has already been exposed.