As the reports come in from Libya and Bahrain about how anti-government demonstrators are being shot down ( 200 reported dead in Libya), it occurs to me that a great number of people on the left and right should, if they have any shame, be highly embarrassed by events in the Middle East.
We never hear much nowadays about the Workers Revolutionary Party (WRP). In the 1970s, even people on the Far Left thought of them as a bunch of sectarian lunatics. They were most well known for the fact that Vanessa and Corin Redgrave were leading members. Less well known was the fact that they were vocal supporters of Colonel Gaddafi's Libya. I cannot be bothered to look at their website, but I hope that the WRP are withdrawing their support for the Bloody Colonel (are those pigs I see, flying in formation over London?).
It also needs to be noted that many MPs, of all parties, have had junkets to Libya and enjoyed the Colonel's hospitality. Western politicians must be hoping that if the Colonel is toppled, whatever government replaces him won't be too piqued at the fact that the West was becoming very friendly with their erstwhile leader.
Who knows? Maybe the Colonel and his followers will seek sanctuary here in the UK? As the Vietnamese say: "Only when the house is on fire do you see the faces of the rats".
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I've just checked the WRP website: no mention of Libya at all. They've all gone quiet over there!
ReplyDeleteLike me, Nev, you will have a fund of stories about the WRP, and the Redgraves. One concerned an IMG member I knew who had once been in the WRP. At that time (the 70s), the WRP held an annual camp at a secret location. This, supposedly, was to stop the CIA and MI6 finding out where it was. While at the camp, this chap sent a postcard home saying that he didn't like the food. As a punishment for this breach of security,WRP "heavies" broke his arm.
ReplyDeleteFar lefties will do anything to shield their ideologies from the impact of reality. In the early 90s, a rep on the hard left in my union was arguing that the Yugoslav National Army, or JNA as he called it, was absolutely right to try to prevent secession from Yugoslavia by force. He simply saw it as attempting to preserve the unity of the communist state against counter-revolutionary forces. He was blind to the nationalist, racial and religious factors that were driving the conflict and which had already signed the communist state's death warrant. He believed what he wanted to believe and was in complete denial of the realities of what was happening.
ReplyDeleteThe Daily Telegraph is reporting that Gaddafi is on his way to Venezuela !
ReplyDeleteRegis Debray once said that, for the Trotskyist, "Reality is a compromise", which bears out what Nev said above. If Chas is right, or more correctly, the Daily Telegraph is correct, Colonel Gaddafi is heading for refuge in a country dear to the heart of all trendy Lefties, as it is led by Hugo Chavez, who has done many things in his time as President, some of which I strongly approve. He has also publicly praised the writings of Trotsky. If Gaddafi does seek refuge with Chavez, perhaps they could read Trotsky together. Chavez will have a hard time explaining to the world why, as a revolutionary himself, he failed to support the Libyan Revolution.
ReplyDeleteIf reality is a compromise, you can justify and conceal mass murder. I despise such deception, wherever it comes from on the political spectrum.
ReplyDeleteIf reality is a compromise, you need never admit that your political ideas are unworkable. It looks as is Gaddafi is still in Libya.When he eventually flees into exile and writes his memoirs (serialised in the Daily Mail) he'll blame everyone else but himself for his downfall.
ReplyDeleteIs it just me, or was Gaddafi's diatribe completely insane? The protesters are all drug addicts - the people should be grateful - he will die to defend his ruthless dictatorship (not his exact words). Sounds rather like Hitler's ranting against the German people in his bunker as the Red Army conquered Berlin.
ReplyDeleteThe sooner he goes, the better, but if he is ousted, I fear it won't be without a lot of bloodshed.
Definately insane !
ReplyDeleteI'm really amused at the way ITN, SKY and the BBC refer to Gaddafi as a dictator in their news broadcasts. They weren't talking about him like that a month ago! Perhaps they've only just found out...
ReplyDelete