The Empire is in Charge, the Colonies Obey

Frei Betto and Joao Pedro Stedile

Photo: The Empire is in Charge, the Colonies Obey

The Empire is in Charge, the Colonies Obey

After the Second World War, when Allied forces were victorious, the U.S. government tried to take advantage of its military victory. It integrated the United Nations General Assembly headed by a Security Council composed of the seven most powerful countries with veto power over the decisions of others.

They imposed the dollar as international currency, referred Europe to the Marshal Plan, which meant economic subordination, and installed more than 300 military bases in Europe and Asia, where governments and media will never speak out against this intervention.

The whole world was not bowed to the White House because there was the Soviet Union to balance the correlation of forces. The U.S. fought a relentless war against it, trying to defeat it politically, militarily and ideologically (*but it never succeeded, contrary to popular media propaganda).

From the 90's, the world was under the total hegemony of the government and the U.S. and of capital, which began to impose its decisions on all governments and peoples, treated as colonial vassals.

When all seemed calm in the global empire, dominated by Uncle Sam, there was emerging resistance. In Latin America, Cuba and other nations, anti-imperialist governments were elected. In the Middle East, the U.S. had to resort to military invasions in order to maintain control over oil, sacrificing thousands of lives of Afghans, Iraqis, Palestinians and Pakistanis.

In this context, the government in Iran decided not to submit to U.S. interests. Within its national development policy, to install nuclear power plants is intolerable for the Empire.

The White House does not accept democracy between people. This signifies that all countries have equal rights. They do not accept the national sovereignty of other peoples. They do not admit that every people and their respective government should control their own natural resources.

The U.S. has transferred nuclear technology to Pakistan and Israel, which today have a nuclear bomb. But they do not tolerate Iran's access to nuclear technology even for peaceful purposes. Why? From where do such imperial powers arise? From any international convention? No, only from their military power.

In Israel, more than twenty years ago, Moshai Vanunu, who worked at their atomic plant, was concerned about the insecurity that it represents for the whole region, and he reported that the government already had the bomb. The Result: he was kidnapped and sentenced to life imprisonment, commuted to 20 years, after much international pressure. Up until today, he lives under house arrest, prohibited from contact with any foreigner.

We are all against military weaponry and foreign military bases in our countries. We oppose the use of nuclear energy, due to the high risks, and the abuse of so many economic resources on military spending.

Iran's government dares to defend its sovereignty. The USAmerican government did not militarily invade Iran because it has 60 million inhabitants, is an oil power and has a nationalist government. The conditions are very different from the quagmire called Iraq.

Fortunately, Brazilian diplomacy and other governments are engaged in the dispute. We hope that the rights of Iran are respected, like any other country, without military threats.

We can only hope to increase the campaigns all over the world, for military and nuclear disarmament. Let us hope as soon as possible that the resources and spending intended for the military will be used to solve problems like hunger, which affects over one billion people.

Social movements, environmentalists, churches and international organizations recently met in Cochabamba, for a world ecological conference, convened by President Evo Morales. It was decided to prepare a global plebiscite in April 2011. People will be convened to debate and vote on whether they agree with the existence of foreign military bases in their countries, with excessive military spending and whether the countries in the Southern Hemisphere should continue to pay the bill for the damage to the environment caused by polluting industries in the North.

The fight will be long, but this week we can celebrate a small victory over imperialism.

* editor´s note: The Cold War ended in 2010 with the defeat of the last colour revolution.

The Orange Revolution on Russia’s western frontier (Ukraine) fell on its face after nearly destroying the country's economy and standing in the international community, and the orange trouble makers were shown for the fascist wannabes they are. Saakashvili suffered abject humiliation as the leader of the Rose Revolution on Russia's southern flank (Georgia) with his disasterous adventure into playing Hitler #2 with the invasion of South Ossetia, now in Central Asia the Tulip Revolution has not only wilted but has been uprooted and destroyed.

As we have seen, the Colour Revolutions failed because they placed in power incompetent, greedy thieves whose only claim to fame was to make the right soundbites in Washington’s direction and as happens so often, Washington gets it all wrong.

Translated from the Portuguese version by:

Lisa KARPOVA

PRAVDA.Ru