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,PEOPLE 3 

,AU?OR 3 ,FIR/ ( ,MAY ,AN>*I/ ,ALLIANCE 

,TEXT 3 

  

,! T5D5CY TO R$UCE CONFLICTS & REVOLUTIONS TO ! MANEUV]S ( /ATES OR ALL CAUSATION TO SOLELY ECONOMIC CONSID]ATIONS >E HORRIBLE *>ACT]I/ICS ( ! ,M>XI/-,L59I/ ANALYSIS ( IMP]IALISM & SOME?+ WE MU/ RESI/ 9 A TRULY HUMANI/IC DISC\RSE AB\T ANTI-IMP]IALISM & REVOLUTION4  

,A ,REVOLUTION ,AGA9/ ,NEOLIB]ALISM 

  

,:5 ,BA%> ,AL-,ASSAD CAME TO P[] 9 ,SYRIA 9 ! YE> #b1 ANY ILLUSION ?AT ! DYNA/IC AU?ORIT>IAN ,BAA?I/ REGIME WAS 0SOCIALI/0 9 ANY WAY %\LD HAVE BE5 DISPELL$1 IF IT ALREADY HADN'T :5 ,HAFEZ ,AL-,ASSAD TOOK P[] 9 A C\NT]-REVOLUTION>Y C\P 9 ! #a#i#g'S4 ,! Y\NG] ,ASSAD VIGOR\SLY BEGAN LIB]ALIZ+ ,SYRIAN M>KETS -- NOTABLY FOOD & AGRICULTURE -- & OP5+ ,SYRIA UP TO =EIGN CAPITAL4 ,OV] ! NEXT ELEV5 YE>S1 C\PL$ ) ! EFFECTS ( CLIMATE *ANGE CAUS$ BY GLOBAL CAPITALISM1 ,ASSAD'S NEOLIB]AL PROGRAM PRODUC$ DEVA/AT+ RESULTS3 AGRICULTURAL EMPLOYM5T WAS CUT 9 HALF1 ! CO/ ( GOODS ROSE SIGNIFICANTLY1 PUBLIC S]VICES W]E CUT1 P] CAPITA 9COME FELL DRA/ICALLY & POV]TY GREW RAMPANT4 ,AS URBAN C5T]S /RUGGL$ TO ABSORB ! MASSIVE RURAL EXODUS1 SMALL & M$IUM SIZ$ RURAL T[NS W]E DECIMAT$ & ! CLASS BASIS ( ! ,SYRIAN ,REVOLUTION WAS DEVELOP$4 .<#a.> .<#b.> 

,IF NEOLIB]ALISM & DECADES ( VIOL5T REPRESSION W]E ! FUEL TO ! ,SYRIAN ,REVOLUTION1 ! SP>K WAS ! ,>AB ,SPR+4 ,! WAVE ( PRO-DEMOCRATIC & ANTI-AU/]ITY REVOLUTION>Y UPRIS+S ?AT BEGAN 9 ,TUNISIA & SPREAD ?R\<\T ! REGION 79DISCRIM9ATELY HITT+ C\NTRIES BO? ALIGN$ ) & OPPOS$ TO ! ,U,S7 CAPTUR$ ! IMAG9ATIONS ( ,SYRIAN WORK]S & /UD5TS1 & 9 #baa ! ,SYRIAN PEOPLE BEGAN TAK+ ! /REETS 9 PROTE/ ( ! ,ASSAD REGIME4 ,! ,ASSAD REGIME MET ! PEACEFUL PROTE/]S' DEM&S ) BULLETS & DIV]SIONS1 SIMIL> TO H[ O!R REGIMES 9 MIDDLE EA/ RESPOND$ TO PEOPLE RESI/+ AU/]ITY1 AU?ORIT>IANISM & /ATE VIOL5CE4 ,AS ,ASSAD'S BULLETS RA9$ D[N ON HIS OPPOSITION1 PROTE/S TURN$ TO REVOLUTION2 9=MAL SPONTANE\S UPRIS+S TURN$ TO REVOLUTION>Y ORGANIZATION4 ,9FLU5C$ BY ! WORK ( ,SYRIAN AN>*I/ ,OM> ,AZIZ1 OV] A HUNDR$ LOCAL REVOLUTION>Y COMMITTEES C\NCILS ( DIFF]5T F$]ATIONS W]E ORGANIZ$ ?R\<\T ,SYRIA1 BEG9N+ 9 ,DAMASCUS & PROLIF]AT+ \TW>D4 .<#c.> 

,AS Y\NG PEOPLE FILL$ ! /REETS DEM&+ AN 5D TO NEOLIB]AL & AU?ORIT>IAN RULE1 ! ,BAA?I/ /ATE BEGAN TO LOSE ITS DECADES-LONG HOLD ON ! C\NTRY4 ,! RESULT+ 9/ABILITY BECAME AN 9VITATION = IMP]IAL P[]S TO 9T]V5E1 & AN OPPORTUNITY = REACTION>Y CURR5TS TO DEVELOP4 ,AS ,ASSAD RELEAS$ ,JIHADIS FROM ,SYRIAN PRISONS .<#d.> & EXECUT$ LEFTI/ REVOLUTION>IES .<#e.>1 ! ,U,S1 ,RUSSIA1 ,IRAN1 ,TURKEY1 & O!R REGIONAL P[]S SURR\ND+ ,SYRIA BEGAN !IR ATTEMPTS TO DEVELOP PROXIES & /RATEGIES TO TAKE ADVANTAGE ( ! 9/ABILITY4 ,! ,U,S & O!R WE/]N P[]S (F]$ LIMIT$ ASSI/ANCE TO SOME ( ! ,SYRIAN OPPOSITION E>LY ON 9 ! CONFLICT1 9 ! 9T]E/S ( PROTECT+ !IR HEGEMONY 9 ! REGION -- BUT SOON FOCUS$ ALL ( !IR RES\RCES ON 0FI<T+ T]ROR40 ,RUSSIA & ,IRAN 9T]V5$ MILIT>ILY AT ! BEHE/ ( ! COLLAPS+ ,ASSAD REGIME UND] ! PRET5SE ( 0FI<T+ T]ROR0 & C\NT]+ ,U,S MANEUV]S4 ,AS ! REVOLUTION (F]$ AN OP5+ = ! ,KURDI% /RUGGLE = SELF DET]M9ATION1 ! ,TURKI% /ATE 9T5SIFI$ ITS CAMPAIGN ( VIOL5CE TO C\NT] ! ,KURDI% ADVANCEM5T.<#f.>4 ,)9 ?IS MULTIFACET$1 MULTIDIM5SIONAL CONFLICT1 A COMMON !ME HAS EM]G$ AMONG ! 9T]E/S ( 9T]V5+ IMP]IAL ACTORS3 ! PRIORITY IS TO 0FI<T T]ROR04 ,?IS UNIFY+ !ME DOES NOT ACTUALLY MAKE ! SITUATION EASI] TO UND]/&1 BUT EXPOSES LAY]S ( CONTRADICTION & COMPLEXITY 9 H[ EA* ACTOR 9 ?IS CONFLICT RELATES TO EA* O!R4 ,ASSAD & GULF P[]S HAVE AID$ ! RISE ( ,I,S,I,S & O!R JIHADI GR\PS 9 ,SYRIA .<#g.>.<#h.> = OPPOS+ REASONS3 ,= ,ASSAD IT WAS 9 ORD] HAVE A SCAPEGOAT TO DISCR$IT ! REVOLUTION2 = ! GULF /ATES1 IT WAS TO GA9 A FOO?OLD 9 ,SYRIA4 ,! ,U,S >M+ ,KURDS 7:O !Y US$ TO CALL T]RORI/S7 TO FI<T ,I,S,I,S PUT ! ,U,S AT ODDS ) ITS ALLY ,TURKEY4 ,! ,KURDS CONFLICT ) ,TURKEY & ,I,S,I,S PUT !M 9 A POSITION ( COLLABORATION ) ! ,ASSAD GOV]NM5T4 ,! ,U,S1 :O OP5LY CALLS = ! 5D TO ,ASSAD'S RULE1 DECL>ES A R$ L9E ON *EMICAL WEAPONS :ILE P]=M+ ?\S&S ( AIR/RIKES AGA9/ ,ASSAD'S 5EMIES -- &1 = PURPOSES ( OPTICS1 A C\PLE ( AIR/RIKES AGA9/ HALF-EMPTY REGIME T>GETS1 AFT] AGREE+ ) ,RUSSIA ON :AT >E ACCEPTABLE T>GETS & GIV+ ADVANC$ W>N+ .<#i.> .<#a.>4 ,! COMPLEXITIES ( H[ ! CONFLICT REPRODUCES ITSELF EV]YDAY1 ) ALL ( ITS CONTRADICTIONS1 >E OV]:ELM+4 ,H[EV]1 CLE>LY1 IMPLICIT )9 ?IS DECISION TO PRIORITIZE 0FI<T+ T]ROR0 IS SOLID CONS5SUS >\ND SUPPORT+ ! ,ASSAD REGIME1 EV5 IF ?IS POSITION IS NOT EXPLICITLY >TICULAT$4 ,AL?\< !RE IS NO CONV5I5T S\NDBITE ?AT C\LD SUM UP CONFLICT1 ?IS IS AN IMPORTANT PO9T & BASIS = DISCUSSION4 

,LAT] ON 9 ?IS PIECE1 ,I WANT TO PUT ! GEOPOLITICAL DISCUSSION 9 ITS PROP] PLACE GIV5 O!R CONSID]ATIONS3 ! T5D5CY TO R$UCE CONFLICTS & REVOLUTIONS TO ! MANEUV]S ( /ATES IS HORRIBLY R$UCTIVE1 AS IS R$UC+ ALL CAUSATION TO SOLELY ECONOMIC CONSID]ATIONS -- BO? T5D5CIES >E *>ACT]I/IC ( 7A V>IETY (7 ,M>XI/-,L59I/ ANALYSIS ( IMP]IALISM & SOME?+ WE MU/ RESI/ 9 A TRULY HUMANI/IC DISC\RSE AB\T ANTI-IMP]IALISM & REVOLUTION4 ,H[EV]1 FIR/ ,I WANT TO CRITIQUE ! FRAMEWORK ESP\S$ BY MANY ,M>XI/-,L59I/S VIS A VIS IMP]IALISM & ,SYRIA1 TO PO9T \T ITS !ORETICAL LIMITATIONS4 ,AL?\< GEOPOLITICAL & POLITICAL ECONOMIC CONSID]ATIONS >E NOT SOLELY DET]M9ATIVE1 !Y >E IMPORTANT & DES]VE SOME 9T]ROGATION4 

,MONOPOLY & ,MY?S ( ,CAPITALI/ ,MULTIPOL>ITY 

  

,! COMPLEXITY ( IMP]IAL PRES5CE 9 ,SYRIA CAU<T ! WE/]N LEFT (F GU>D2 IT WAS A MOM5T ( REALIZATION = MANY ?AT ! UNIPOL> WORLD ?AT ROSE 9 ! WAKE ( ! COLLAPSE ( ! ,U,S,S,R WAS BE+ *ALL5G$1 IF NOT ON ITS WAY \T4 ,I W\LD >GUE ?AT ! WORLD IS /ILL UNIPOL> 9 SEV]AL WAYS1 BUT ! ORD] IS 9DE$ EXP]I5C+ *ALL5GES4 ,! PO/-,WORLD ,W> ,I,I POLICY ( UNIT+ 9T]-CAPITALI/ RIVALS >\ND ! GLOBE HAS BECOME UNT5ABLE1 AS ! EM]G5CE ( ,*9A1 ,RUSSIA & O!R EM]G+ M>KETS HAVE ALT]$ ! GEOPOLITICAL FIELD4 ,! ,U,S1 ,*9A1 ,RUSSIA1 ,IRAN1 & 9DE$1 ,SYRIA1 >E ALL EMPIRES DIFF]+ SIZE & SCOPE -- BUT NOT 9 =M4 ,AS !SE C\NTRIES 9TEGRATE FUR!R 9TO ! GLOBAL CAPITALI/ ORD]1 !IR T5D5CIES T[>D EXPANSION & FUR!R EXPLOITATION BECOME MORE P[]FUL4 ,! IMP]IAL /ATE 9 CAPITALISM PLAYS ! ROLE ( FACILITAT+ CONQUE/ AS WELL SECURITY GU>D 7PROTECT+ 9VE/M5TS & 9T]E/S RELAT$ TO !M74 ,CAPITALISM IS HI/ORICALLY NOT ! ONLY DRIV] ( IMP]IALISM1 BUT IMP]IALISM HAS BE5 9TEGRAL TO CAPITALISM S9CE ITS 9CEPTION4 .<#a#a.> 

,! IDEA ?AT IMP]IAL EXPANSIONISM IS 9H]5T TO CAPITALISM IS AN IMPORTANT !ORETICAL PO9T1 & IT'S NOT ONE ?AT IS LO/ ON ,M>XI/-,L59I/S4 ,H[EV]1 !RE IS P]HAPS A /RATEGY ( AVOIDANCE :5 IT COMES TO ?IS FACT4 ,A CONTRADICTION )9 ,M>XI/-,L59I/ !ORY ( IMP]IALISM & ,MONOPOLY ,CAPITALISM IS ?AT SUCCESSFUL CAPITALI/ 0SELF-DET]M9ATION0 RESULTS 9 EMPIRE4 ,CAPITALISM IS ONLY SU/A9$ BY GR[?4 ,RECOGNIZ+ ?IS DOES NOT IMPLY ?AT ONE IS AGA9/ NATIONAL LIB]ATION1 BUT RA!R IT PROVIDES US ) A CRITICAL ANTI-CAPITALI/ L5SE TO UND]/& NATIONAL LIB]ATION ?R\<4 ,) ?IS UND]/&+1 WE CAN MOVE =W>D ) ! RECOGNITION ?AT ,RUSSIA & ,IRAN1 = EXAMPLE1 >E NOT ANTI-IMP]IALI/ BY DEF9ITION2 !Y >E EM]G+ CAPITALI/ EMPIRES1 :OSE 9T]E/S 9 EXPLOITATION & T]RITORY MAY OR MAY NOT BE 9 CONFLICT ) ! ,U,S 7& EA* O!R71 BUT >E NO DIFF]5T 9 =M4 ,?US1 !IR 9T]V5TIONS 9 ,SYRIA >E IMP]IAL 9T]V5TIONS2 & GIV5 ?AT ,ASSAD C\LD NOT HAVE SURVIV$ ! POPUL> REVOLUTION )\T ,RUSSIAN & ,IRANIAN BACK+1 WE BELIEVE IT IS A F>CE TO REF] TO ! ,ASSAD REGIME AS AN EXPRESSION ( NATIONAL SELF-DET]M9ATION .<#a#b.>4 

,ASIDE FROM ! COM=TABLE C]TA9TY ( FOLL[+ ! SIMPLI/IC ,COLD ,W> B9>Y LOGIC1 UND]LY+ ! GEOPOLITICALLY MOTIVAT$ SUPPORT = ,BA%> ,AL-,ASSAD BY SOME IS ! VAGUE GOAL ( CAPITALI/ MULTIPOL>ITY4 ,! !ORETICAL UND]P9N+S ( ?IS CAN BE F\ND 9 ,L591 ! ,MON?LY ,REVIEW S*OOL1 & ,DEP5D5CY !ORI/S LIKE ,SAMIR ,AM9 -- & IT IS IMPORTANT TO *ALL5GE ?IS GOAL AS BO? AN ILLUSION & C\NT]-REVOLUTION>Y4 ,UND] ?IS !ORY ( IMP]IALISM1 IMP]IALISM IS DRIV5 BY ! 9T]E/S ( MONOPOLY CAPITAL1 :OSE 9T]E/S & 9/ITUTIONS HAVE BE5 FUZ$ ) F9ANCE & ! /ATE .<#a#c.>4 ,?US IMP]IALISM IS AN EXPRESSION MONOPOLY P[] 9 ! GLOBAL M>KET1 & ! ANTI-IMP]IALI/ POSITION IS TO 5GAGE 9 NATIONAL LIB]ATION /RUGGLES AGA9/ ! MONOPOLY CAPITALI/S ( ! IMP]IAL CORE4 ,NOTABLY1 :AT IS EMPHASIZ$ 9 ?IS FRAMEWORK IS ! /RUGGLE BETWE5 /ATES ?AT REPRES5T CAPITALI/S1 :ILE ! /RUGGLE BETWE5 LABOR & CAPITAL MOVES TO ! SIDE4 ,WE HAVE SE5 HI/ORICALLY H[ ?IS HAS USUALLY AM\NT$ TO ,POPUL> ,FRONTISM & JU/IFICATION = ALLY+ ) ! NATIONAL B\RGEOISIE 9 :AT IS ESS5TIALLY AN EXAGG]AT$ V]SION ( A SMALL BUS9ESS POSITION2 IF :AT IS MO/ IMPORTANT IS TO EJECT ! =EIGN MONOPOLY CAPITALI/S1 !N AN ALLIANCE ) NATIONAL CAPITALI/S IS JU/IFI$4 ,9DE$1 ?IS /RATEGY IS :AT PROPELL$ ! ,SYRIAN ,BAA?I/ REGIME 9ITIALLY 9 ! #a#i#fS 1 JU/ AS IT DID = ,AYATOLLAH 9 ,IRAN 9 ! #g'S 4 ,9 BO? CASES1 ! /RATEGY LEFT PROGRESSIVE =CES VULN]ABLE TO REACTION>Y =CES )9 ! FRONT1 & CAPITALISM & CONS]VATISM W]E RE9=C$4 .<#a#d.> .<#a#e.> 

,! NOTION ?AT IT IS ABSOLUTELY NECESS>Y ?AT WE PICK SIDES )9 9T]-CAPITALI/ RIVALRIES = ! SAKE ( RESI/+ MONOPOLY IS A DEAD 5D & F\ND$ UPON TWO CRUCIAL B\RGEOIS POLITICAL ECONOMIC ASSUMPTIONS3 ?AT CAPITALI/ COMPETITION ALLOCATES RES\RCES EFFICI5TLY & OPTIMALLY1 & ?AT ! MONOPOLY IS ! OPPOSITE ( COMPETITION 7REF] BACK TO MY LA/ PIECE ON MONOPOLY CAPITAL !ORY74 ,9 PO9T ( FACT1 !RE IS NO EVID5CE ?AT CAPITALI/ COMPETITION ALLOCATES RES\RCES BETT] ?AN CAPITALI/ MONOPOLY1 & ALL MONOPOLY ?AT EXI/S IS 9 FACT 9T5SE OLIGOPOLI/IC COMPETITION4 ,PRICES >E NOT DET]M9$ BY M>KET P[] OR LACK !RE( 7AS B\RGEOIS ECONOMI/S CLAIM71 BUT DET]M9$ BY ! SEV]ITY ( LABOR EXPLOITATION .<#a#f.> 4 ,9DE$1 :AT MATT]S = WORK]S IS NOT PRIM>ILY ! P[] RELATIONS BETWE5 CAPITALI/S OR CAPITALI/ NATIONS1 BUT ! P[] RELATIONS BETWE5 LABOR & CAPITAL4 ,9 FACT1 A #ba /UDY %[S ?AT 9COME 9EQUALITY 9 ! ,U,S GREW SIMULTANE\SLY ) A DECL9E 9 L>GE FIRMS2 ?IS C\NT]-9TUITIVE DEVELOPM5T BEG9S TO MAKE S5SE :5 WE CONSID] ! MORE SALI5T FACT ?AT ?IS 9CREASE 9 9COME 9EQUALITY CO9CIDES ) A DECL9E 9 ORGANIZ$ LABOR .<#a#g.>4 ,CLASS COMPOSITION /ILL MATT]S2 ! NATIONAL CAPITALI/S WILL BETRAY WORK]S JU/ AS FA/ AS MONOPOLY CAPITALI/S1 & REJECT+ ! MONOPOLI/S )\T REJECT+ CAPITALISM IS A LIMIT$ APPROA*4 

,WE OPPOSE MONOPOLY & MONOPOLY CAPITALI/S AS MU* AS ANYONE1 BUT WE HAVE TO BE BO? ACCURATE AB\T H[ MONOPOLY OP]ATES 9 RELATION TO CAPITALI/ COMPETITION1 AS WELL AS BE CRITICAL T[>D ! ROAD ?AT HAS L$ TO ,POPUL> ,FRONTISM & /ATE CAPITALISM REPEAT$LY4 ,A 0MULTIPOL> WORLD0 ( SEV]AL COMPET+ CAPITALI/ EMPIRES CANNOT BE M]ELY ASSUM$ TO BE 0HI/ORICALLY PROGRESSIVE01 AS IT SAYS NEXT TO NO?+ AB\T ! RELATION%IP BETWE5 ! EXPLOIT]S & ! EXPLOIT$1 IT DOESN'T ADDRESS RES\RCE DI/RIBUTION ISSUES ON ITS [N1 & 9 FACT1 )\T ! CLASS COMPON5T1 IT CAN ONLY RESULT 9 MORE EXPLOITATION & W> AS A RESULT ( 9CREAS$ COMPETITION AMONG CAPITALS4 ,! HEGEMONY ( ! ,U,S MU/ BE *ALL5G$1 BUT UND] ! DIRECTION ( & 9 ! 9T]E/S ( WORK]S & M>G9ALIZ$ PEOPLES4 

,9 ! CASE ( ! ,ASSAD REGIME1 ! GUISE ( MULTIPOL>ITY ALL[S IMP]IAL 9T]V5TION & NEOLIB]ALISM TO BE EQUAT$ ) ANTI-IMP]IALISM & EV5 SOCIALISM4 ,BY TURN+ ! CONFLICT 9TO A DIS+5U\S & B\RGEOIS GEOPOLITICAL EX]CISE1 CLASS /RUGGLE IS LEFT TO ! WAYSIDE BY ! AU?ORIT>IAN LEFT4 ,! BIGGE/ & MO/ DET]M9ATIVE MONOPOLY ?AT EXI/S IS ! MONOPOLY ?AT CAPITALI/S HOLD ON PRODUCTIVE RES\RCES -- IT W\LD BE BE/ IF WE DID NOT IGNORE ?AT4 

,GLOBALIZATION1 ,9T]-,IMP]IALISM & ,ISLAMOPHOBIA 

  

,AL?\< ! ]A ( TRUCE BETWE5 CAPITALI/ P[]S LOOKS LIKE IT IS FALL+ AP>T 9 MANY WAYS1 !RE >E SIGNIFICANT RELATION%IPS & CONNECTIONS ( MUTUAL 9T]E/ ?AT TIE CAPITALI/ RIVALS TOGE!R4 ,!SE RELATION%IPS >E 5G5D]$ BY ! GLOBAL CAPITALI/ SY/EM1 :I* ! ,U,S SITS AT ! TOP (1 & :I* POSES H>D CON/RA9TS ON ! PROSPECT ( SELF DET]M9ATION4 ,9 A WORLD :]E ABSOLUTE ADVANTAGE IS DEF9$ BY DEGREE ( LABOR EXPLOITATION & RES\RCE EXTRACTION1 9TEGRATION 9TO ! WORLD CAPITALI/ ECONOMY & ! ADOPTION ( ! WE/]N COMMODITY =M POSE NEW QUE/IONS & *ALL5GES = ANTI-IMP]IALISM4 ,! AU?ORIT>IAN LEFTI/ CASE = DEF9+ CAPITALI/ P[]S LIKE ,RUSSIA1 ,IRAN1 & ,SYRIA AS ANTI-IMP]IALI/ IS 9ADEQUATE GIV5 ! CRITICISMS ( ! MONOPOLY CAPITALISM FRAMEWORK1 BUT ALSO IT IGNORES ! IMPLICATIONS ( NEOLIB]AL GLOBALIZATION4 ,RA!R ?AN UND]/&+ ! ADOPTION ( ! WE/]N COMMODITY =M AS ITS [N =M ( WE/]N IMP]IALISM -- A RESULT ( WE/'S WORLD HEGEMONY1 S]V+ WE/]N CAPITALI/ 9T]E/S -- MANY ON ! LEFT WI% TO PROTECT NEOLIB]AL ELITES 9 SUPPOS$LY ANTI-IMP]IALI/ C\NTRIES :O >E 9/ITUT+ ?IS ADOPTION4 ,PUT91 ,ASSAD1 ,KHAM5EI >E NOT 9SIGNIFICANT AG5TS 9 ! PROLIF]ATION ( GLOBAL NEOLIB]ALISM2 & !IR SUPPOS$ RESI/ANCE HAS ALWAYS BE5 CONTRADICT$ BY !IR P>TICIPATION 9 GLOBAL CAPITAL4 ,ASSAD'S NEOLIB]AL RE=MS SP>K$ ! REVOLUTION AGA9/ HIM1 & IT WAS ,PUT9 & ,KHAM5EI ?AT CAME TO ! AID ( NEOLIB]ALISM 9 ,SYRIA4 

,:5 WE LOOK AT ! FACT ?AT ,RUSSIA & ,*9A >E HEAVILY 9VE/$ 9 ! ,U,S & ?US HAVE AN 9T]E/ 9 ,U,S GR[? .<#a#h.>.<#a#i.>1 OR ?AT ! Y\NG] ,ASSAD OP5$ UP ,SYRIAN M>KETS TO ! WE/1 WE SEE ?AT !RE >E L>GE >EAS ( MUTUAL 9T]E/ BETWE5 CAPITALI/ P[]S4 ,ONE C\LD MAKE ! CLAIM ?AT !SE >E RELATION%IPS ( DEP5D5CY ON ! WE/]N IMP]IAL CORE -- MY 9T]E/ IS NOT TO CA/ JUDGM5TS ON A SITUATION ( IMP]IAL DEP5D5CY4 ,H[EV]1 :5 ! M>G9ALIZ$ CLASSES :O HAVE BE5 IMPOV]I%$ BY !SE MEASURES RISE UP 9 REVOLUTION AGA9/ !M1 :]E WE /& %\LD NOT BE A MATT] ( HESITATION4 ,:5 ELITES LIKE ,ASSAD & HIS FAMILY B5EFIT FROM ?IS IMPOV]I%M5T1 WE %\LD KN[ :]E WE /&4 ,! ,ASSAD REGIME & ITS BACK]S DID NOT CRU% ! REVOLUTION TO BEAT BACK WE/]N CAPITALISM -- 9 MANY WAYS1 !Y DID SO TO PRES]VE IT4 

,AS M5TION$ E>LI]1 P]HAPS ! BIGGE/ >EA ( MUTUAL 9T]E/ BETWE5 RIVAL CAPITALI/ P[]S 9 ,SYRIA & WORLDWIDE IS 9 ! ISLAMOPHOBIC 0,W> ON ,T]ROR04 ,FROM ! ,U,S TO ,RUSSIA TO ,*9A1 ! 5TIRETY ( ! GLOBAL RUL+ CLASS HAS BE5 COLLABORAT+ 9 ! CAMPAIGN TO EXT]M9ATE ,MUSLIMS = YE>S4 ,! ,JIHADI HAS BECOME ! >*ETYPAL 5EMY ( ORD] & /ABILITY = ! CAPITALI/ SY/EM1 & NO AM\NT ( CIVILIAN DEA?S IS CONSID]$ TOO EXCESSIVE 9 ! IMP]IALI/S' HUNT = !M4 ,:IL/ ! WE/]N LEFT VIGOR\SLY RAIS$ OBJECTIONS TO A C\PLE ( AIR/RIKES AGA9/ HALF-EMPTY ,ASSAD T>GETS 9 #bag & #b#a#h1 NOT MU* HAS BE5 SAID AB\T #bgc ,SYRIAN CIVILIANS KILL$ BY ,U,S COALITION =CES 9 ,MAY #bag 9 ! 0FI<T AGA9/ T]ROR0 .<#b.>1 OR ! ?\S&S ( O!R ,U,S /RIKES 9 ,SYRIA4 ,! SIL5CE ( WE/]N LEFTI/S :5 ! ,U,S IMP]IALI/S KILL CIVILIANS :ILE HUNT+ ,ASSAD'S 5EMIES HELPS US UND]/& ! TOTALIZ+ NATURE ( WE/]N CULTURAL HEGEMONY & ,ORI5TALISM3 SOME ?+S HAVE BECOME SETTL$ ISSUES & ?US NO LONG] )9 ! REALM ( POLITICS -- ?AT 9NOC5T ,MUSLIM DEA?S >E A NECESS>Y BYPRODUCT ( ! 0,W> ON ,T]ROR0 HAS BECOME SO +RA9$ ?AT IT IS NO LONG] EV5 WOR? TALK+ AB\T = MANY LEFTI/S 9 ! WE/ & BEYOND4 ,IF WE W]E TO TALK AB\T IT1 ! 9TELLECTUAL BANKRUPTCY ( SUPPORT+ ,ASSAD W\LD BE EXPOS$1 AS ,ASSAD IS US+ T]RORISM AS A CONV5I5T SCAPEGOAT & JU/IFICATION = VIOL5CE 9 ! SAME EXACT WAY ! WE/ HAS ALWAYS DONE4 ,& ! %E] AM\NT ( 9NOC5T CIVILIANS HE HAS KILL$ 9 DO+ SO HAS BE5 /AGG]+4 .<#b#a.> 

,EUROC5TRISM & ,ANTI-,HUMANI/ ,DISC\RSE 

  

,! EUROC5TRISM ( ,M>XI/-,L59I/ ,ASSAD SUPPORT]S IS A D\BLE SID$ CO94 ,DEVOID ( A !ORETICAL SY/EM ?AT MORE CLE>LY ALL[S = E?ICS1 CREATIVITY1 & 9 G5]AL1 ! PRODUCTION ( ! NEW1 !Y RELY ALMO/ SOLELY ON A R$UCTIVE & EUROC5TRIC HI/ORICAL CALCULATION4 ,HI/ORICAL MAT]IALISM HAS AN IMPORTANT PLACE 9 SOCIAL & REVOLUTION>Y !ORY1 BUT IT IS CON/RA9$ BY EUROC5TRIC /&>DS ( DEVELOPM5T & /ATECRAFT2 REAL DECOLONIAL SELF DET]M9ATION IS ELUSIVE 9 ?IS FRAMEWORK SO LONG AS :AT IS 0HI/ORICALLY PROGRESSIVE0 IS DEF9$ BY EUROC5TRIC CRIT]IA4 ,AT ! SAME TIME1 BR[N BODIES >E REIFI$ 9 ! ,M>XI/-,L59I/ REVOLUTION>Y TRAJECTORY1 ) ,?IRD ,WORLDI/S & O!RS MEASUR+ ! SUCCESS ( ,M>XISM BY H[ MANY BR[N BODIES >E 5GAG$ 9 ITS P]PETUATION4 ,?IS CONTRADICTION ESS5TIALLY ATTEMPTS TO ]ASE ! AG5CY ( BR[N FOLKS 9 ! REGION1 ) EV]Y ACT ( ORGANIC RESI/ANCE TO A SUPPOS$LY 0HI/ORICALLY PROGRESSIVE0 7NOM9ALLY ANTI-,U,S7 TOK5IZ$ REGIME TRANS=M$ 9TO A ,C,I,A CONSPIRACY PLOT4 ,! DREAMS & ASPIRATIONS ( ,SYRIANS LIV+ )9 ! POV]TY ( NEOLIB]ALISM MATT] LESS ?AN ,SYRIA'S POSITION 9 ! FAULTY MONOPOLY CAPITAL S*EMA1 OR ! SUPPOS$ 0SECUL>0 CR$5TIALS ( ITS SECT>IAN /ATE4 ,9 FACT1 ,SYRIANS >5'T EV5 ALL[$ TO DREAM AB\T A BETT] LIFE2 IT W\LD BE AHI/ORICAL4 ,! REGIME'S EXI/5CE IS JU/IFI$ AS REVOLUTION>Y ALREADY1 & ANY RESI/ANCE MU/ BE DISCR$IT$ AS C\NT]-REVOLUTION>Y1 REG>DLESS ( PURPOSE4 

,& SO1 :5 !Y SAY 0HI/ORICALLY PROGRESSIVE01 WE %\LD ASK 0TO :O80 -- ,WAS ! ,ASSAD REGIME 0HI/ORICALLY PROGRESSIVE0 TO 9NOC5T ,MUSLIM DETA9EES 9 ! ,C,I,A BLACK SITES IT HO/$ 9 ! YE>S AFT] #i_/#a#a8 .<#b#b.> ,IS IT 0HI/ORICALLY PROGRESSIVE0 TO FAMILIES ( ?OSE ?AT W]E KILL$ :5 IT LAID SIEGE TO ,ALEPPO8 ,! EX]CISE ( UNIV]SALIZ+ A /&>D ( HI/ORICAL PROGRESS IS A PROBLEMATIC EX]CISE ?AT DOESN'T SIT WELL ) SUPPORT+ SELF DET]M9ATION -- & HAS AM\NT$ TO SUPPORT+ CAPITALI/ DEVELOPM5T1 EXTRACTIVE 9DU/RIES1 ! M>G9ALIZATION ( ?OSE AT ! FR+ES ( SOCIETY1 AS WELL AS IMP]IALISM4 ,IS ?IS ! REVOLUTION ! AU?ORIT>IAN LEFT SUPPORTS8 

,WE BELIEVE ?AT ! ,SYRIAN PEOPLE1 LIKE ALL PEOPLE1 >E CAPABLE ( SOCIAL REVOLUTION2 ! ORI5TALI/ DEFEATISM ?AT PORTRAYS ! WORLD \TSIDE ( ! WE/ AS A MONOLI?IC MASS ( BACKW>DS PEOPLE :O NE$ TO SETTLE = :AT !Y HAVE NE$S TO BE REJECT$4 ,! ]ASURE ( PEOPLE ( COLOR :O HAVE DREAMS ( LIV+ BEYOND NEOLIB]AL DE/ITUTION NE$S TO BE REJECT$4 ,! EV] PRES5CE ( IMP]IALI/ MANEUV]S & REACTION>Y ELEM5TS DOES NOT AUTOMATICALLY DISC\NT ALL OPPOSITION TO 0HI/ORICALLY PROGRESSIVE0 REGIMES AS IMP]IALI/ OR REACTION>Y2 ?IS IS ! MOD]N WORLD1 & EMPIRE & REACTION >E EV]Y:]E4 ,LIKELY1 ! WE/]N LEFT'S UTT] DI/RU/ ( ,SYRIAN REVOLUTION>IES COMES FROM A DEEPLY SEAT$ >ROGANCE & BIGOTRY2 :Y !Y C\LDN'T TRU/ ?AT ! ,SYRIAN REVOLUTION>IES1 :O HAVE LIV$ ) REACTION>Y JIHADISM & IMP]IALISM 9 !IR [N COMMUNITIES = YE>S1 KNEW BE/ H[ TO DEAL ) !SE ELEM5TS ILLU/RATES A SORT ( ORI5TALI/ PAT]NALISM4 .<#b#c.> ,IT IS LEGITIMATE TO CRITIQUE -- ?AT IS H[ WE ALL MOVE =W>D -- BUT IT IS SOME?+ ELSE 5TIRELY TO DI/RU/ & DISCR$IT4 ,?IS PAT]NALISM SPEAKS TO ! NOTION ?AT ! ,SYRIAN PEOPLE >E REIFI$ 9 ! EYES ( SOME ( ! WE/]N LEFT2 !Y >E NO LONG] HUMANS1 BUT COGS 9 A HI/ORICAL MA*9E :O JU/ NE$ TO PLAY !IR PROP] & USEFUL ROLE 9 ! GR& N>RATIVES ( IMP]IALISM & GEOPOLITICS4 

,T[>DS 9T]NATIONALISM 

  

,SO :AT >E SOME WAYS WE CAN ILLU/RATE 9T]NATIONAL SOLID>ITY TO \R COMRADES 9 ,SYRIA & ELSE:]E8 ,:AT W\LD A TRULY ANTI-IMP]IALI/ 9T]NATIONALISM LOOK LIKE TODAY8 ,9 REALITY1 ! ANSW]S >E NOT NEATLY LAID \T2 AS ) ALL ORGANIZ+ EF=TS1 WE HAVE TO LE>N AS WE GO ALONG1 :ILE ABSORB+ CRITIQUES & LESSONS FROM ! PA/4 ,H[EV]1 ! M9IMUM BASIS ,I W\LD SUGGE/ WE GO BY IS ?AT 9T]NATIONALI/S & ANTI-IMP]IALI/S %\LD SUPPORT ALL /RUGGLES = SOCIAL JU/ICE1 RADICAL DEMOCRACY & SELF DET]M9ATION WORLDWIDE4 ,?IS MEANS A BLANKET REJECTION ( ALL IMP]IALI/ 9T]V5TIONS1 :E!R !Y BE BY ! ,U,S OR ! O!R IMP]IAL P[]S4 ,?IS ALSO MEANS A REJECTION ( NEOLIB]AL GLOBALIZATION & SUPPORT = /RUGGLES AGA9/ AU/]ITY & POV]TY4 

,WE MU/ ALSO RECOGNIZE ?AT ! /ATE OP]ATES PRIM>ILY 9 ! 9T]E/S ( ! RUL+ CLASSES1 :E!R IMP]IAL MONOPOLY CAPITALI/S OR NATIONAL CAPITALI/S OR BO? -- & /ATES 9 G5]AL >E 9/ITUTIONS ( ORD] & CAPTURE1 :OSE 9T]E/ IS TO EI!R DE/ROY SOCIAL MOVEM5TS OR *ANNEL SOCIAL MOVEM5TS T[>D ITS [N 5DS4 ,A /ATE IS NOT A MOVEM5T1 EV5 :5 A /ATE SUPPORTS OR IS SUPPORT$ BY MOVEM5TS1 & ?AT DI/9CTION MU/ BE CLE> :5 ?9K+ AB\T NATIONAL LIB]ATION /RUGGLES4 ,AS AN>*I/S1 WE %\LD OPPOSE ALL /ATES BUT ALSO RECOGNIZE ! MOVEM5TS !Y >E ATTEMPT+ TO CAPTURE AS LEGITIMATE & SUPPORT !M AS F> AS !Y DEM& SOCIAL JU/ICE & SELF DET]M9ATION4 ,H5CE1 WE MU/ (F] CRITICAL SUPPORT TO NATIONAL LIB]ATION /RUGGLES AGA9/ EMPIRE1 & ALSO RECOGNIZE :5 ! FACADE ( NATIONAL LIB]ATION & ANTI-IMP]IALISM IS BE+ US$ SOLELY TO S]VE IMP]IAL1 CAPITALI/ & /ATE 9T]E/S -- AS 9 ! CASE ( ,ASSAD4 

,AS ANTI-IMP]IALI/S1 WE MU/ ALSO CONT9UE TO UND]/& ISSUES AT ! 9T]SECTION4 ,! 9T]SECTIONS ( CLASS1 RACE1 G5D]1 SEXUAL ORI5TATION1 & RELIGI\S ID5TITY /ILL MATT] TO PEOPLE 9 !IR EV]YDAY LIVES1 :E!R OPPRESSIONS CAN BE CLE>LY TRAC$ TO EMPIRE OR LOCALLY4 ,\R SOLID>ITY TO M>G9ALIZ$ PEOPLES MU/ NOT BE LIMIT$ BY SUPPOS$LY LEFTI/ /ATES OR GR& GEOPOLITICAL N>RATIVES4 ,! OPPRESS$ HAVE ! RI<T TO DEM& DIGNITY FROM :OEV] IS D5Y+ IT TO !M1 & WE HAVE A DUTY TO SUPPORT !M AS COMRADES4 

,! T5D5CY = ACTIVI/S TO REIFY PEOPLE 9 ! /RUGGLE MAKES IT ALL ! MORE CLE> ?AT ! MO/ IMPORTANT ?+ WE MU/ DO IS BUILD 9T]NATIONAL CONNECTIONS = COMMUNICATION & TANGIBLE SUPPORT4 ,9 ! WE/1 ANTI-IMP]IALISM CANNOT REMA9 )9 ! CONF9ES ( HEAT$ SOCIAL M$IA >GUM5TS & ,/AL9 MEMES2 SITUATIONS BECOME AB/RACT1 >GUM5TS BECOME A MEANS TO SOCIAL CAPITAL4 ,PEOPLE BECOME M]E ?+S OR PLOT DEVICES4 ,IT IS IMP]ATIVE & URG5T TO ORGANIZE & ACT 9 SOLID>ITY ) \R COMRADES UND] ! GUN 9 ,SYRIA & >\ND ! WORLD4 ,AS REVOLUTION>IES & 9T]NATIONALI/S1 WE HAVE A DUTY TO MAKE \R SOLID>ITY CONCRETE4 ,H[ CAN ! H\S+ JU/ICE MOVEM5T 9 ,DETROIT RELATE TO MASS EVICTIONS 9 ,*9A8 ,H[ CAN ?OSE )9 ! ,U,S PRISON ABOLITIONI/ MOVEM5T CONNECT ) ?OSE :O LIVE 9 ! OP5 AIR PRISON ( ,GAZA8 ,H[ CAN /RIK+ ,IRANIAN & ,AM]ICAN TEA*]S WORK TOGE!R 9 COMMON CAUSE .<#b#d.>8 ,H[ CAN \R PRES5CE 9 ! CORE ( EMPIRE HELP /OP ,U,S W>S ( AGGRESSION8 ,!SE >E ! QUE/IONS WE NE$ TO ASK & ! CONNECTIONS WE NE$ TO MAKE1 9 CONV]SATION ) \R 9T]NATIONAL COMRADES4 

.<#a.> WWW4SYNAPS4NETWORK 

.<#b.> SYRIAFRE$OM=EV]4WORDPRESS4COM 

.<#c.> TAHRIRICN4WORDPRESS4COM 

.<#d.> SYRIAFRE$OM=EV]4WORDPRESS4COM 

.<#e.> ISREVIEW4ORG 

.<#f.> ,S9CE ?IS PIECE WAS 9T5D$ TO BE AB\T H[ WE %\LD ORI5T T[>D ! ,SYRIAN ,REVOLUTION1 ,I OPT$ TO N>R[ MY FOCUS & NOT GO 9 DEP? AB\T ! ,KURDI% /RUGGLE4 ,MU* HAS BE5 WRITT5 ON ,ROJAVA BY AN>*I/S2 NOT AS MU* HAS BE5 WRITT5 9 SOLID>ITY ) ! ,SYRIAN REVOLUTION WRIT L>GE4 

.<#g.> NEWS4SKY4COM 

.<#h.> WWW4!DAILYBEA/4COM 

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.<#a#c.> WWW4M>XI/S4ORG 

.<#a#d.> WWW4M>XI/4COM 

.<#a#e.> ,MO<ADAM1 ,VAL5T9E ,M4 0,SOCIALISM OR ,ANTI-,IMP]IALISM8 ,! ,LEFT & ,REVOLUTION 9 ,IRAN0 

.<#a#f.> ,%EIKH1 ,ANW>4 ,CAPITALISM3 ,COMPETITION1 ,CRISES1 ,CONFLICT4 #fi 

.<#a#g.> !NEXTRECESSION4WORDPRESS4COM 

.<#a#h.> MONEY4CNN4COM 

.<#a#i.> SPUTNIKNEWS4COM 

.<#b.> SN#dHR4ORG 

.<#b#a.> WWW4REUT]S4COM 

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.<#b#c.> SOCIALI/WORK]4ORG @a #d#b3#a#g 

.<#b#d.> WWW4ALLIANCE(MESOCIALI/S4ORG 

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