Fwd: Muslim fundamentalism

This is a good discussion by Carlile on the real threat of Muslim Fundamentalism against the so-called Western Civilization:

From: "Karl Carlile"

Subject: Muslim fundamentalism

Reply to: communism@lists.econ.utah.edu

Many Muslims have been declaring that all Muslims must obey the declaration of

a holy war by the Taliban mullahs.

This view that emanates from many Muslims flies in the face of the facts.

Muslims have over the years violently attacked each other. In Afghanistan the

Northern Alliance consists of Muslims. Yet they have been engaged in combat with

the Muslim Taliban. The current Musharrif military dictatorship in Pakistan

violently ousted a democratically elected leader of Pakistan. Saddam Hussein,

leader of Iraq, has imprisoned and killed many a Muslim. The Iranian theocracy

has been responsible for the deaths of many a Muslim. The last King of Jordan

engaged in a massive attack on the Black September in Jordan. The Syrian regime

have been responsible for similar killings.

The degree to which Muslims internationally will obey the declaration of a holy

war is questionable. Fundamentalism is not as strong as it is often portrayed.

It can suit both sides to engage in hyperbole to promote the particular

political interests that each respectively represent. The Taliban is a

reactionary regime that is bitterly hostile to communism. The entire programme

of the Taliban is the active hindering of the economic and political development

of Afghanistan.

In any anti imperialist war movement we cannot take either the side of the US

led imperialist coalition nor the Muslim organisations or states that may be

subject to attack from this reactionary coalition. We must mount a popular

attack on this prospective imperialist war on the basis of an attack on the

capitalist state. Such a movement must challenge the very existence of

capitalism and the forces that support it such as the Taliban, the Iranian state

and, above all, the imperialist states. Indeed Muslim fundamentalism is

capitalism's saviour. Its ideological and political function is designed to

prevent the masses from turning towards communism. In Iran where a revolutionary

situation emerged the Muslim movement led by Khomeni was the form assumed by the

counter revolution. It prevented the Iranian working class from deepening the

revolutionary process and thereby challenging capitalism. The Afghanistanian

mujahideen was sustained by imperialism through the CIA and the Pakistani state

in the struggle to preserve and develop the class interests of imperialist

capital.

Islamic fundamentalism is not as strong as it has been presented even by its

apparent enemies. There has been much hyperbole in this regard. If it posed a

threat to the stability and development of capitalism it would not be compelled

to resort to terrorism. The current condition of the Palestinians is irrefutable

evidence as to the weakness of Islamic fundamentalism. Islamic fundamentalism in

the Middle East has shown its complete political bankruptcy. Instead of the

situation improving as a result of its growing influence the situation has been

deteriorating. This is because its strategy is incapable of solving the problems

of the Palestinian masses. Its sectarianism has generated division and further

polarised Jew from Arab. The problems of the Palestinian masses can be only

solved when Jewish and Arab worker join hands against Middle East capitalism and

its states --the Israeli, Jordanian, Syrian and Egyptian states. There is no

essential difference between the Israeli and Jordanian state. All such states

ultimately exist to perpetuate the class interests of imperialist capital. All

must be abolished. An attack on the Middle East capitalist states is an attack

on imperialist capitalism.

Muslim fundamentalism, and Islam in general, is a sectarian religious ideology

and even political philosophy and practice. It essentially promotes the class

interests of imperialism. Muslim and Christian fundamentalism are particularly

sectarian. Muslim fundamentalism has been effectively promoting polarization

between Eastern and Western workers at a time when the globalisation of the

working class into a unified political reality is an urgent necessity. While

attacking racism it sustains racism a multiplicity of ways because it is

inherently racist.

The conflict now developing between US state and Islam fundamentalism has its

source in the needs of US imperialism. US imperialism to survive must

relentlessly extend and deepen its influence economically, politically and

ideologically. The developing global economic crisis is testimony to this.

Consequently it must engage in specific geopolitical actions in pursuance of

this aim. It cannot tolerate relatively autonomous, albeit contradictory, forces

that hinder it in its desperate effort to extend and deepen its influence.

Muslim fundamentalism is, largely speaking, one such force. Its destabilising

character in the current situation outweighs its benefits for imperialism. It

is a destabilising force in Asia and the Middle East. Regimes that American

imperialism has needed are threatened with destabilisation and even collapse by

Muslim fundamentalism. Iran is a classic example where Muslim fundamentalism led

to the collapse of an actively pro-imperialist regime that was the lynchpin of

US geo political regional strategy.

However imperialism is a contradictory force which means that it engages in

policies and actions that lead to its own undermining. Although the function of

Muslim fundamentalism, as a counter revolutionary force, is the prevention of

the development of the working class into a communist working class it is these

unique characteristics that, in the immediate sense, obstruct imperialist

expansion. Consequently imperialism's relationship to fundamentalism has a

contradictory character. It uses it in pursuance of its class interests while

simultaneously undermining it. In the same way Muslim fundamentalism is

contradictory. While actively sustained by imperialism it at the same time

attacks imperialism its very source of nourishment. Bin Laden personifies this

contradictory relation. While sustained by the CIA in his struggle in

Afghanistan he turns his guns on it.

In many ways Muslim fundamentalism is similar to Stalinism. Stalinism is a

counter revolutionary force that prevents the existence of communism.

Consequently it serves imperialism's interests. Yet to maintain its unique role

as a counter revolutionary form it has acted, at the same time, in a way that

obstructs imperialism. This generates conflict between the two forces. The Cold

War was just such a conflict.

Muslim fundamentalism is a religious and political ideology and practice that is

petty bourgeois. It serves the class interests of small capital. It is this that

makes it reactionary. However the very fact that it serves the interests of

small capital in the context of increasing capitalist globalisation is what

lends it its acutely anachronistic image in the eyes of the Western working

class. However it is its specific class character that gives it its appeal to

the masses that exist outside of western capitalist society. Its representation

of the interests of small capital means that it expresses a hostility to big

capital. And what bigger capital than US imperialist capital --the Great Satan.

It is this hostility by small capital against big capital that gives its

anti-imperialist appearance. It is this anti-imperialist appearance that lends

its anti-oppressive appearance. Consequently the Muslim masses identify with it.

Despite its anti-imperialist appearance it ultimately serves imperialism class

interests --essentially it cannot exist independently of global capitalism.

Muslim fundamentalism is a politics of the image. This is why it presents itself

as quixotic pageantry -- religious rhetoric, images, long beards etc. This form

of politics assumes a religious form because it is a politics of appearance. And

what more suitable a form for such a contradictory politics than its disguising

itself in religious --the class image system.

Given the political character of Muslim fundamentalism there is no possibility

that it can successfully resist the enormous power of capitalist imperialism

bearing down on it in the form of this Washington led coalition of "Infinite

Justice". Only the modern working class can effectively challenge the might of

the imperialist bourgeoisie.

Note: Forgive the unpolished character of this posting since it was written in a

hasty manner because of the pressure of time and the fast pace of developments.

Regards

Seyed javad