Against the war. About situation in Ukraine

Statement

24th February 2022
SHARE

(Ed. As I edit this and prepare it for posting, it seems that Russia has sent Coloumns of tanks into Ukraine at several points and Kaliber cruise missles strike several airports and SU-25's launch surgical attacks on civil and military infrastructure.)

English translation of a text composed by the Italian Anarchist Federation at their meeting on 20 February 2022.

In the context of the military escalation in Eastern Europe, where Ukraine and Russia are facing each other, pushing the military escalation to the limits of direct confrontation, and with the heavy involvement of the United States and of the European Union, our position can only remain the rejection of the imperialism of the contending states and coalitions, NATO and OTSC.

The power politics of states, nationalism, small homelands, are only screens to hide the exploitation of the working classes, resources and territories. The consequences of this confrontation, even if it does not lead to open war, will be in any case extremely serious, first and foremost for the civilian populations of the areas concerned, who have been in a situation of conflict and material deprivation for years.

But this conflict already affects workers throughout Europe, who are already seeing their incomes slashed by increases in the cost of energy and basic necessities, as well as by cuts in public social spending for the benefit of increased military expenditure.

The current conflict is part of a world scenario of increasing political and military unrest. Although the United States is still the world's leading power, it has been in obvious difficulty for years, both externally, as evidenced by its precipitate withdrawal from Afghanistan, and internally, as is shown by the 2020social uprisings and the resurgence of class conflict.

For its part, the Russian Federation finds itself in a defensive position that forces it to attack in order to stay on its feet. The crisis in the Russian sphere of influence, which became evident with the social mobilisation in Belarus in the summer of 2020 and the protests in Russia in January 2021, shows the fragility of the Russian state both externally and internally. A fragility that could be fatal if even one of the neighbouring states were to collapse, as the brutal and hasty repression of the uprising in Kazakhstan in January 2021 shows.

Italy is heavily involved in the confrontation, with US and NATO military bases all over the country, and in particular with the installations in Sicily used to control the Russian fleet in the Mediterranean. Moreover, the Italian state has a direct presence in Eastern Europe with its own troops, and is therefore taking a concrete part in the spiral of war. In Latvia, troops with tanks and snowmobiles are deployed as part of NATO's 'Baltic Guardian' mission; in Romania, near Constanta, there is a squadron of four Typhoon fighters as part of the 'Air Black Storm' mission; in the Black Sea, there is the FREMM frigate 'Margottini' and the minesweeper 'Viareggio', as well as the aircraft carrier 'Cavour' with F-35s fighters.

This deployment of forces was authorised with a budget of 78 million euros, which the government will certainly have to increase. The intention to send another 2000 Italian soldiers to the area has already been announced. The increasing military expenditure is justified on the grounds of our security, but nobody says that security should instead mean education and health, income for all and not war.

As anarchists, we intend to raise the flag of solidarity between the exploited classes, beyond and against any nation.

That is why we call all those who oppose the war to strengthen and relaunch the struggle against the warmongering policy of the Italian government, to create a broad anti-militarist movement that can impose the withdrawal of military missions abroad.

In the hypothesis of an open conflict, our position remains that of revolutionary defeatism, solidarity, fraternisation and rebellion against the High Command of each State.

Italian Anarchist Federation
Meeting of 20 February 2022

federazioneanarchica.org

Read More

/ / /

4th December 2024
"We are not afraid of ruins!" - Têkoşîna Anarşîst | Statement

More than five years ago SDF brought the caliphate of ISIS to an end. Now, with the new offensive of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, we risk a rebirth of their atrocities. HTS has united many jihadist groups with ex-fighters of the caliphate in their ranks. Recently they started a big offensive, breaking through the seige of […]

Read More
12th November 2024
The Dominican Situation | International

At 1 PM on August 2, 2024, a fairly large, angry crowd in black uniforms belonging to an ultraconservative organization known as the Old Dominican Order (Antigua Orden Dominicana, AOD) marched in the capital of the Dominican Republic. Having instigated outrage by claiming that Haitian immigrants are "occupying" the country's schools (despite official numbers stating […]

Read More
7th November 2024
What does Trump's Presidency Mean for Rojava? | Opinion

An anonomous comrade who has lived in The Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (AANES) for a number of years, gives us their analysis of the balance of power with Turkey under a second Trump presidency. We Hope it provides a useful overview or starting point for research for those who are worried that […]

Read More
7th November 2024
It All Goes or It All Stays The Same | Spindrift

It is difficult to get a full view of a monster from up close. The connection between the claws and teeth and hooves and tail are obscured by the sheer immensity of the thing. All we can observe are the discrete violences waged by the various pieces that make up the monster. But the monster is so much more than a series of discreet phenomena.

Read More
3rd November 2024
Valencia floods: People power vs governmental disaster | Current Events

The Valencian regional government, led by the right-wing president Carlos Mazón, failed to provide an effective or prompt response.

Read More
1st November 2024
Union Versus Menegement - Joseph Edwards | Theory and Analysis

The reason why I think trade-union representation should do these things is because basically a union is a political organization, and in truth and in fact Africans and other Black people in these times cannot afford the luxury of any special organization for any special purpose.

Read More
1 2 3 49