From: Christopher Arthur (cjarthur@waitrose.com)
Date: Wed Feb 12 2003 - 10:17:10 EST
I. I just read MECW 49 and was struck by Engels's defencist line with respect to a putative war with Russia and France. This no doubt was still influential in 1914. 2. I believe there is a thoroughy researched book by Hal Draper on Lenin and defeatism, but I do not have the exact ref. 3. Re Hallas. All his bluster cannot obviate the fact it is hard to denounce Thatcher as imperialist when the dearest wish of the Falklanders was to be liberated, not of course as a nation but as part of Britain. Of course previously such a claim was on the way out and only recognised by Thatcher when the geo-physical relevance of the Falklands came up. Incidentally the same is true of Ulster - very few Protestants consider themselves a nation, they consider themselves British and ironically the British do not so consider them and would gladly be shot of them were other issues not involved. 4. Oh for the days when there were good guys (Fidel, Ho) and bad guys (US imperialism). Now we have to indirectly fight for the Taliban and Saddam! Incidentally all reports say next Saturdays anti-war demonstration in London will be huge. Blair's popularity is in a nose dive. But once war starts patriotism will kick in, and once it is won it will be drinks all round and soon forgotten. I expect the CIA will stash some anthrax in the desert for the British troops to "find" and retroactively justify it all. Chris A 17 Bristol Road, Brighton, BN2 1AP, England
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