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Support the Working People of Minnesota

Gerald Mcisaac

Recently, within the state of Minnesota, two working class protesters, Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti, were murdered, by federal officials. The common people of Minnesota, both workers and family farmers, have responded with mass protests, against various federal government agencies, including ICE, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the FBI and Border Patrol, among others. This has succeeded in forcing those federal agencies to ‘’scale back’’ their efforts to ‘’apprehend’’ people, those who are classified as ‘’undocumented immigrants’’, to use their terminology.

It is clear that the working people of Minnesota are in the forefront of this, the Second American Revolution. As that Revolution is part of the world wide movement, or more accurately, the revolutionary motion of the world, for Scientific Socialism, commonly referred to as Communism, this calls for our whole hearted support.

There can be no doubt that this, the Second American Revolution, which is currently unfolding, will closely resemble the Great Russian Soviet Socialist October Revolution of 1917. 

No doubt, there are a great many people who will dispute that statement, with good reason. After all, at that time in Russia, there were a great many family farmers, referred to as peasants, possibly as many as three quarters of the population. No one seems to know the precise number, but it was considerable. Yet the working class, the proletariat, although in the minority, possessed considerable political power, out of all proportion to their percentage of the population. 

Lenin went into this, in considerable detail, in 1920, with the writing of Left Wing Communism, An Infantile Disorder. He immediately cut straight to the heart of the matter, with the title of the first section:

‘’IN WHAT SENSE WE CAN SPEAK OF THE INTERNATIONAL SIGNIFICANCE OF THE RUSSIAN REVOLUTION

‘’In the first months after the proletariat in Russia had won political power (October 25, old style calendar, November 7, new style calendar, 1917), it might have seemed that the enormous differences between backward Russia and the advanced countries of Western Europe, would lead to the proletarian revolution in the latter countries bearing very little resemblance to ours. We now possess quite considerable international experience, which shows very definitely that certain fundamental features of our revolution have a significance that is not local, or peculiarly national, or Russian alone, but international. I am not speaking here of international experience in the broad sense of the term: not merely several but all the primary features of our revolution, and many of its secondary features, are of international significance in the meaning of its effect on all countries. I am speaking of it in the narrowest sense of the word, taking international significance to mean the international validity or the historical inevitability of a repetition, on an international scale, of what has taken place in our country. It must be admitted that certain fundamental features of our revolution do possess that significance.

‘’It would, of course, be grossly erroneous to exaggerate this truth, and to extend it beyond certain fundamental features of our revolution…

‘’At the present moment in history, however, it is the Russian model that reveals to all countries something- and something highly significant- of their near and inevitable future. Advanced workers in all lands have long realized this; more often than not, they have grasped it with their revolutionary class instinct, rather than realized it. Herein lies the international ‘significance’ (in the narrow sense of the word) of Soviet power, and in the fundamentals of Bolshevik theory and tactics.’’ (italics by Lenin)

Allow me to mention, for the sake of those who are just now becoming politically active, that the Russian word ‘’Soviet’’ means ‘’Council’’, in English. Also, the Russian word ‘’Bolshevik’’ means ‘’Majority’’, in English. At the time this article was written, it referred to a true Marxist Party, formerly known as the Social Democratic Party, which split into a minority and a majority. The majority, or Bolshevik, led by Lenin, remained a true Marxist Party, one which called for Soviet Power and the Dictatorship of the Proletariat. That same Party later changed its name to the Communist Party.

The reference Lenin makes to ‘’Soviet power’’, requires an explanation. These Soviets, or Councils, first appeared, quite spontaneously, during the First Russian Revolution of 1905. Common people, or at least workers, proletarians, came together spontaneously, and elected leaders who formed a Soviet. These Soviets then spread to peasants and the military. This gave rise to Soviets of Workers, Soviets of Peasants, and Soviets of Soldiers.

As the First Russian Revolution was crushed, the Soviets were also crushed. Or more accurately, they were forced to adapt, to go ‘’underground’’, to work in the service of the common people in secret, hidden from the view of the Russian government. Despite the pressure ‘’from above’’, they were never completely destroyed. And as the revolutionary movement ‘’picked up’’, becoming ever stronger, the strength of the Soviets also increased. As a result, at the time of the Russian Revolution of February, 1917, the Soviets were almost as strong as the Constituent Assembly. 

The creation of Soviets happened spontaneously, as all Scientific Socialists, which is to say Marxists, at that time referred to as Social Democrats, had earlier been arrested and either executed, imprisoned or sent into exile. Lenin was in exile. For that reason, they had nothing to do with the creation of Soviets. 

This is to say that revolutionary motion frequently, but by no means always, gives rise to Soviets. Without doubt, the Second American Revolution, currently raging, has given rise to Soviets, referred to as Councils. We know this for a fact, because recently, a portion of the city of Seattle, in a display of ‘’starry eyed optimism’’, declared itself to be ‘’Autonomous’’. Their leaders formed a ‘’Council’’, and declared the creation of the ‘’Capital Hill Autonomous Zone’’.

It is a fundamental tenet of Marxism, that ‘’state power is the fundamental question of every revolution.’’ Which class holds state power? By declaring itself to be ‘’Autonomous’’, Capital Hill was challenging the state power of the capitalists. The capitalists responded by crushing that Autonomous Zone, with considerable brutality.

Incidentally, it remains to be seen if the word ‘’Council’’ will continue to be used, in America, or if the word ‘’Soviet’’ will take its place. For the purposes of this article, I will use the word ‘’Council’’, when referring to the American Revolution.

It was Marx who conducted a detailed, thorough analysis of capitalism, and based on that study, proved that capitalism would give birth to socialism. This is to stress the fact that Marx was a Scientific Socialist. In fact, he spelled it out quite clearly, in his letter to Weydemeyer, in 1852. As Marx stated:

‘’What I did that was new was to prove: 1) that the existence of classes is only bound up with particular historical phases in the development of production; 2) that the class struggle necessarily leads to the Dictatorship of the Proletariat; 3) that this Dictatorship itself only constitutes the transition to the abolish of all classes and to a classless society.’’ (my italics)

At the risk of pointing out the obvious, allow me to state that it is one thing to be destined to establish a state of Scientific Socialism, in the form of the Dictatorship of the Proletariat, and something else entirely to be aware of this. What is more, the working class, the proletariat, is not aware of this!

The conditions of life, of the working class, do not lead to the awareness of itself, as a class! Lenin covered this supremely well in his article, What Is To Be Done? As he stated: 

‘’We said that there could not yet be Social-Democratic consciousness among the workers. This consciousness could only be brought to them from without. The history of all countries shows that the working class, exclusively by its own efforts, is able to develop only trade union consciousness, i.e., it may itself realize the necessity for combining in unions, for fighting against the employers and for striving to compel the government to pass necessary labour legislation, etc. The theory of socialism, however, grew out of the philosophic, historical and economic theories that were elaborated by the educated representatives of the properties classes, the intellectuals. According to their social status, the founders of modern Scientific Socialism, Marx and Engels, themselves belonged to the bourgeois intelligentsia.’’ (italics by Lenin, ‘’i.e.’’ means ‘’that is’’, and ‘’Social Democratic’’ consciousness is consciousness of Scientific Socialism)

It is the duty of Scientific Socialists, Communists, to raise the level of awareness of the working class, to make them aware of themselves, as a class, with their own class interests. Further, these class interests are diametrically opposed to the interests of the monopoly capitalists, the bourgeoisie. Hence the need to overthrow those imperialists, smash the existing state apparatus, and crush them, under the Dictatorship of the Proletariat.

It is also a fact that the less advanced workers pay strict attention to the most advanced workers. Advanced workers lead, the less advanced workers follow. It stands to reason that we should focus mainly on the most advanced workers. Further, the most advanced workers are currently focused on the events taking place in the state of Minnesota.

With that in mind, it follows that we should support the common people of Minnesota, in their struggle against ICE, in every way possible. In the interest of raising their level of awareness, we can encourage them to read the Communist Manifesto, by Marx and Engels, as well as the Essential Works of Lenin. Perhaps the most important of those works is State and Revolution, in which the importance of smashing the existing state apparatus, at the time of the Revolution is stressed, and replacing it, with the Dictatorship of the Proletariat. Other required reading includes Imperialism, the Highest Stage of Capitalism, What Is To Be Done?, and Left Wing Communism, An Infantile Disorder. 

All of those Scientific Socialist writings are available on Amazon, and can be easily downloaded from the internet. An understanding of those books will go a long way towards raising the level of awareness, of those advanced workers, to the level of true Communists, Scientific Socialists. 

Bear in mind that, as Lenin stated, those of us who live in a highly industrialized country, are confronted with ‘’a bourgeoisie that is fully organized and can rely on all the achievements of modern civilization and engineering.’’ For that reason, it is supremely difficult to start the Revolution, but once begun, is much easier to continue.

Our current situation closely resembles that which Lenin faced, immediately after the October Revolution of 1917. At that time, Lenin was of the opinion that it was the ‘’eve of a world wide socialist revolution’’. As indeed it was.

That was also the opinion of the bourgeoisie. For that reason, they decided to bribe as many working class leaders as possible, intimidate countless others, and murder those who were ‘’completely unreasonable’’, as they phrased it. Lenin was murdered. Shot in 1918, and died in 1924, as a result of complications from those wounds.

As I have documented in previous articles, his successor was Josef Stalin, a great revolutionary, but one who made some serious mistakes. This allowed the capitalists to return to power, after his death. In much the same way, Mao Tse Tung was also a great revolutionary, but also made some serious mistakes. After his death, the Chinese capitalists were also able to return to power.

This is no cause for despair, on our part. The class struggle is not to be confused with a ‘’tea party’’. A ‘’rose garden’’, it is not! Without doubt, it will soon break out into open class warfare. Civil war! Capitalists against workers! Bourgeois against proletarians! And if previous revolutions are any indication, there will be no quarter!

In preparation for that approaching Revolution, it is up to us to learn from the mistakes of previous great revolutionaries. Better to learn from those mistakes, rather than repeat them. Bear in mind that the better prepared we are, the better the chances of our success.

This brings me to that which Lenin referred to as ‘’Europe’s greatest misfortune and danger’’, that of a lack of a revolutionary party. I would add that it has now extended to other parts of the world, including North America. I can even go so far as to say that, at present, there is no true Scientific Socialist, Communist Party, one which calls for Soviet Power and the Dictatorship of the Proletariat, in the world.

On the other hand, Lenin added that,

 ‘’A mighty, popular revolutionary movement may rectify this deficiency, but it is nevertheless a serious misfortune and a grave danger.

‘’That is why we must do our utmost to expose renegades like Kautsky, thereby supporting the revolutionary groups of genuine internationalist workers, who are to be found in all countries. The proletariat will very soon turn away from the traitors and renegades and follow these groups, drawing and training leaders from their midst. No wonder the bourgeoisie of all countries are howling about ‘world Bolshevism’.

‘’World Bolshevism will conquer the world bourgeoisie’’. (italics by Lenin, Kautsky was once a fine Marxist, but ‘’turned his coat’’, became a ‘’renegade’’, and Scientific Socialism, also known as Communism, was at that time referred to as Bolshevism) 

We are now experiencing a ‘’mighty, popular revolutionary movement’’, and it may indeed ‘’rectify this deficiency’’, this ‘’grave danger’’. Without doubt, this ‘’revolutionary movement’’ is taking place in various parts of the world, including America, Iran, Russia, China, Western Europe and the African Sehel. 

Whether or not this ‘’grave deficiency’’ is ‘’rectified’’, is largely up to us. To phrase it in popular terms, the ‘’ball is in our court’’. Those of us who are aware of the revolutionary theories of Marx and Lenin, Scientific Socialists, may choose to come together and form a true Communist Party, one which calls for Soviet Power and the Dictatorship of the Proletariat, or not. As I have covered this in previous articles, there is no need to go into it here.

Either way, as Lenin pointed out, it is our duty to expose the renegades, the traitors to Scientific Socialism, those who claim to be Marxists, Communists, or even mere Socialists, while distorting those same revolutionary theories. There is no shortage of such people. They take great delight in misleading the common people, encouraging them to fight for mere reforms, to ‘’patch up’’ the system, to ‘’change the system from within’’, to ‘’send Democratic Socialists to the nations capital’’, as a means of securing political power, and other such foolishness.

That being said, perhaps the best way to expose them is to support them, in their efforts to ‘’flood Washington with Democratic Socialists’’, for example. It will not change the fact that the class of monopoly capitalists, the bourgeoisie, are in charge, and fully intend to remain in charge. Within all capitalist countries, which have embraced imperialism, there can be no peaceful transition to socialism. 

Allow me to stress the fact that our support for certain Democratic Socialists, for example, on certain issues, does not reflect our support for those individuals. It is merely a means of persuading as many working people as possible, of the correctness of the revolutionary theories of Marx and Lenin, Scientific Socialism. 

This brings me to the statement of Lenin, which is all too often overlooked. That is the fact that there are ‘’revolutionary groups of genuine internationalist workers, who are to be found in all countries.’’

It is my understanding that his reference to  ‘’internationalist workers’’, as opposed to ‘’advanced workers’’, is to say that these internationalist workers are nothing other than the most advanced workers. 

Further, as ‘’birds of a feather flock together’’, these revolutionary internationalist workers have come together in groups, in all countries. It is up to us to identify these groups, of revolutionary internationalist workers, and to support them, to raise their level of awareness, to that of Scientific Socialists. After all, as the ‘’traitors and renegades’’ to socialism are exposed, so many working class people will follow these groups. The members of those groups who are able to raise themselves theoretically, to the level of Scientific Socialists, will become the new leaders.

We will know that we are being successful, in this noble endeavour, when the bourgeoisie of all countries, start howling about ‘’World Communism’’. 

Concerning the subject of ‘’World Communism’’, as the bourgeois phrase it, Lenin had a few words to say, although not in those precise terms. Immediately after the October Revolution of 1917, the most advanced strata of the proletariat, at least in the most highly industrialized countries, embraced Soviet Power and the Dictatorship of the Proletariat. Such is no longer the case. 

As Lenin phrased it, in Left Wing Communism, An Infantile Disorder:

‘’The chief thing- though, of course, far from everything- the chief thing has already been achieved: the vanguard of the working class has been won over, has ranged itself on the side of Soviet government and against parliamentarianism, on the side of the Dictatorship of the Proletariat and against bourgeois democracy.’’

From this, it is clear that our immediate goal, or ‘’chief thing’’, as Lenin phrased it, is to ‘’win over’’ the ‘’vanguard of the working class’’, in favour of ‘’Soviet government’’ and the ‘’Dictatorship of the Proletariat’’, as opposed to ‘’parliamentarianism and bourgeois democracy’’. 

This is indeed a ‘’tall order’’, but nowhere near as difficult as it was a few years ago. The important difference is that now, the capitalists have seen fit to bless us with the internet. For their own purposes, mind you, but it remains a blessing. The least we can do, in return, is to express our appreciation by using that same internet against them. A weapon in the class struggle! Or perhaps more accurately, a weapon in the class war!

We can use it to get in touch with each other, as well as countless working people, literally around the world. There is no need to get together, in person, or even write letters. We can send emails and access private web sites. If the pedophiles can do this, then we can too!

Although I say this in jest, it is a serious matter. The bourgeois will not hesitate to murder anyone they see as a serious threat. Bear in mind that they murdered Martin Luther King, even though King was a pacifist! 

In conclusion, may I suggest that Scientific Socialists, Communists, all around the world, get in touch with each other. True Communist Parties, which call for Soviet Power and the Dictatorship of the Proletariat, must be established. May I further suggest that such Parties be International. There is no need to have a separate Communist Party in each and every country, although there is no harm in that either. Perhaps a Communist Party of Western Europe, for example. As well as North America. Huge countries, such as Russia and China, may prefer to have their own Communist Parties. 

These Communist Parties, once established, are better able to raise the level of awareness of the working class, in various parts of the world. Once the vanguard of the working class is ‘’won over’’ to Soviet Power and the Dictatorship of the Proletariat, then we can proceed from there. First things first!

With Most Sincere Communist Greetings, 

Gerald McIsaac

Iran and Asymmetric Warfare

Gerald Mcisaac

As is well known, Donald Trump is preparing for war with Iran. There are possibly fifty thousand American military personnel in the Middle East, located within numerous bases in the area. These bases are located in countries which are considered to be allies of the United States, including Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Qater, Iraq, Turkey and UAE, United Arab Emirates. 

Trump thinks he can count upon these countries to support him, in his war with Iran. Trump is mistaken. 

In preparation for that war, Trump has sent numerous military ‘’assets’’ to the Middle East. These include an ‘’aircraft carrier task force’’, among other things. A second such task force is reported to be on its way. Each carrier is home to numerous aircraft, including fighters, bombers and surveillance aircraft. The ship that carries these aircraft acts as a water based, mobile airfield.   

There can be no doubt that the American military is among the most powerful, best equipped, well trained forces in the world. God help any army which chooses to challenge them, in a conventional war! They would very likely not live to regret it!

For that reason, the Iranians are not about to defend themselves, against an American attack, by ‘’symmetrical’’ methods. On the contrary, for many years, they have been developing alternative weapons. These include various missiles and drones, as well as submarines and surface boats, designed specifically with the coast of Iran in mind. This is referred to as ‘’asymmetrical warfare’’. 

Iran lies next to a body of water referred to as the Persian Gulf, which connects through a narrow strait, called the Strait of Hormuz, to the Arabian Sea. This Strait is referred to as, ’’A narrow chokepoint through which a significant portion of the worlds oil supply flows every single day.’’ In fact, a fifth of the oil supply of the world flows through that Strait, each and every day. Cutting off the Strait of Hormuz would cause a significant increase in the price of petroleum, including gasoline.

In case of war with America, the Iranians plan to lure the American warships into the narrow Strait of Hormuz. There is far less room to maneuver, and the Strait is quite shallow. The Iranians have developed surface boats and submarines, in order to take advantage of those features.

This brings us to the subject of missiles. Iran has a vast assortment of missiles, including those which are classified as ‘’short range’’, in that they can travel 1,000 kilometres, or 600 miles, medium range, which can travel 1,000 to 3,500 kilometres, or 600 to 2,200 miles, and long range, 3,500 to 5,500 kilometres, or 2,200 to 3,400 miles.

As well, some of these missiles  are classified as ‘’cruise’’ missiles, which is to say that they are equipped with radar, so that they are able to ‘’follow the terrain’’, to fly at ‘’low altitude’’ and at ‘’moderate speed’’. In this manner, they are better able to avoid detection by radar. 

Then there are ‘’hypersonic missiles’’, which is to say missiles that can travel faster than five times the speed of sound, or Mach 5, in that Mach is the speed of sound. They are also able to maneuver during flight, making them almost impossible to intercept.

As well, Iran has a vast number of drones. Tens of thousands of drones, of various types. All are classified as ‘’Military Drones’’, or ‘’Unmanned Aerial Vehicles’’, UAV’s. Some of them are used strictly for reconnaissance, in that they are able to spy on the enemy and send that information back to their base. The vast majority are ‘’combat’’ drones, in that they carry ‘’ordnance’’, which is to say explosives, possibly in the form of bombs or missiles. The bigger drones are capable of firing off missiles and returning to base. The smaller drones, also known as ‘’Kamikaze’’, or ‘’Suicide’’ drones, are designed to strike a target and explode. They are far more numerous, cheap and expendable.

Iran has made it abundantly clear, to their neighbours in the Middle East, that in case of a war with America, any country which collaborates with the Americans, will be considered to be an enemy. All American bases in the region, will be subject to attack. Any country which allows the Americans to even use their air space, will be subject to attack. Any such war will not be a ‘’limited’’ war. It will be a ‘’Regional’’ war. 

As well, both Russia and China have sent warships to the Region. They too, are engaging in ‘’war games’’, with their Iranian friends. This is to say that any ‘’Regional’’ war could expand beyond the Middle East. World War 3.

There is considerable speculation, among military theorists, concerning the possibility that the Iranians could seriously damage, or even sink, an American aircraft carrier. Most are of the opinion that they cannot, as those ships are closely guarded by smaller surface warships, generally referred to as destroyers. True! It is also true that those destroyers are prepared to shoot down any drone or missile threatening that carrier. Yet there are a limited number of missiles on board any destroyer, and those missiles cost many millions. As opposed to drones, which cost a mere few thousand. Do the math!

As the Iranians are not entirely stupid, it only makes sense for them, in case of war, to send dozens, or even hundreds of drones, against the carriers. Of course, many of them would be shot down. But it is reasonable to expect many others to penetrate those defences and inflict some serious damage on the carrier. Even if it was damaged to the extent that it could not use the flight deck, that would be serious. As well, the supporting destroyers would no longer have any missiles to defend the carrier. 

That would leave the carrier practically helpless, unable to defend against missiles, either cruise missiles or hyper sonic missiles. Such missiles carry a most impressive warhead, very massive, very powerful. Further, travelling at very high speed, hitting the carrier, it is only reasonable to expect them to penetrate the armour on the carrier, and explode deep inside the ship, at the point where the missiles, bombs and gasoline are stored. This would no doubt give rise to a most massive explosion. 

Without doubt, the Iranians could sink a multi billion dollar aircraft carrier, mainly with the use of drones, which cost a mere few thousand. And rest assured, that is precisely their plan!

This brings us to the other major problem the American military is facing, that of ‘’logistics’’. According to the internet, ‘’logistics in the military’’, is defined as ‘’referring to the planning, execution and management of the movement and maintenance of forces, encompassing supply, transportation, and support services necessary for military operations’’. 

As previously mentioned, America has numerous military bases in the Middle East. Each and every one of these bases is located in countries which are thought to be strong allies of America. Yet most of them are ruled by feudal monarchies. The monarchs of such countries are completely devoid of principle. They are concerned only with themselves. They will not hesitate to turn against an ‘’ally’’, to ‘’stab them in the back’’, if they think it is in their best interest to do so. 

Now that Iran has established itself as a regional power, possibly capable of sinking an American aircraft carrier, the monarchs who formerly knelt down to the Americans,  are having ‘’second thoughts’’. Some of them are in the process of giving the Americans their ‘’walking papers’’. Yankee go home!

This, in turn, is creating a logistical nightmare for the Americans. In particular, the long range bombers require a re-fuelling mid-flight. This is provided by aircraft referred to as KC-135 and KC-46 ‘’air tankers’’, in that they can carry massive amounts of gasoline. This significantly extends the range of the American bombers. 

Aside from the air bases located within the Middle East, the closest base is located in Diego Garcia, approximately 3,800 kilometres or 2,400 miles away. No doubt the Americans are counting on this distant air base to provide the air support for long range bombers. 

Even though this air base is far removed from Iran, that does not mean that it is safe from Iranian attack. They have also developed ships and cargo containers, to carry drones and rockets, over long distances. Some of these ships may appear to be merchant vessels, while carrying containers filled with drones and missiles. As soon as such a ship comes within proper range, the roofs of the cargo containers may open up, and a swarm of drones and missiles may be unleashed. The Iranians have learned a great deal, from the experience of the Ukrainians!

We can expect this tactic to be successful against American warships, as well as logistic centres, such as Diego Garcia.

As I write this, the mainstream press is reporting that negotiations, between representatives of the American and the Iranian governments, will soon take place. Be that as it may, it is not clear that the members of the IRGC, Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corp, will honour any commitment made by a representative of the Iranian government. After all, this most powerful branch of the Iranian armed forces, is independent of Iran’s army and answers only to the Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Khomeini. That remains to be seen.

Strangely enough, even though America may soon find itself engaged in a major war, the mainstream press is making little mention of this. For that matter, even the Leftist press is largely glossing over the subject. 

Instead, all branches of the press are largely focused on the government shut down, the Epstein Scandal and the uproar taking place in Minnesota, as well as in other states, largely as a result of the actions of ICE.

These issues are certainly important, and should be properly covered, just as the anticipated war in the Middle East should be covered. As well, the common thread linking all of them is the fact that they are the natural result of monopoly capitalism, imperialism. That is the ‘’not so little detail’’ that no journalist, either mainstream or Leftist, is about to mention!

Yet Lenin covered this supremely well, in his work Imperialism, the Highest Stage of Capitalism. He showed that, around the beginning of the Twentieth Century, capitalism reached the stage of monopoly, referred to as imperialism. At the same time, the so called ‘’Great Powers’’, succeeded in ‘’dividing up’’ the world, between them. As Lenin stated, ‘’As there are no unoccupied territories- that is, territories that do not belong to any state- in Asia and America…we must say that the characteristic feature of this period is the final partition of the globe- not in the sense that a new partition is impossible- on the contrary, new partitions are possible and inevitable- but in the sense that the colonial policy of the capitalist countries has completed the seizure of the unoccupied territories on our planet. For the first time the world is completely shared out, so that in the future, only re-division is possible; territories can only pass from one ‘owner’ to another, instead of passing as unowned territory to an ‘owner’’’. (italics by Lenin)

There is a reason that both Russia and China are conducting ‘’war games’’ in the sea, with their ‘’Iranian allies’’. They are supremely well aware that Iran is now a ‘’Regional Power’’, challenging the authority of the American imperialists. In popular terms, they can be thought of as ‘’sharks that smell blood’’, now circling, preparing to attack. 

The American imperialists consider the Middle East to be part of their ‘’Sphere of Influence’’, as they phrase it. Their various military bases, in the Region, are meant to drive this point home. As the Iranians are no longer paying strict attention, stronger measures are required. Hence, the aircraft carrier task force. The message is clear: The Middle East belongs to America!

As for those who may object, quite reasonably, that the countries of the Middle East are hardly colonies, may I suggest that these countries are referred to, by Lenin, as ‘’semi colonial’’. As Lenin stated, ‘’The semi colonial states provide an example of the transitional forms which are to be found in all spheres of nature and society. Finance capital is such a great, it may be said, such a decisive force in all economic and international relations, that it is capable of subordinating to itself, and actually does subordinate to itself, even states enjoying complete political independence. …Naturally, finance capital finds it most ‘convenient’, and is able, to extract the greatest profit from a subordination which involves the loss of the political independence of the subjected countries and peoples.’’

It is these ‘’semi colonies’’ of the Middle East, that are the current ‘’bone of contention’’, of the competing imperialist powers. The American imperialists are determined to keep control of those countries, while the Russian and Chinese imperialists have other ideas. They appear to be convinced that the Iranians are about to give the Americans their ‘’walking papers’’, to kick them out of the Region, possibly with the assistance, a little ‘’nudge’’ on their part. Such a ‘’nudge’’ could escalate into Regional war, if not World War.

This is not too surprising, because as Lenin stated, the world has long since been divided up, between the imperialist powers. Now it is a matter of a redivision, which is not only ‘’possible’’, but also ‘’inevitable’’. Such a ‘’redivision’’ is possible only through war.

Now it is our duty to assist the people of Iran, in their struggle against the imperialists, of all nationalities. As the country is quite highly industrialized, there must be a sizeable working class, a proletariat. It is also very likely that they are reasonably well cultured, with access to various digital devices, so that they can also access the internet. Those who speak Farsi can communicate with the common people of Iran, both workers and farmers, and encourage them to download the essential works of Marx and Lenin, especially State and Revolution, by Lenin. I offer that as a mere suggestion. The one thing we cannot and must not do, is to offer support to any of the competing imperialist powers.

With Most Sincere Communist Greetings,

Gerald McIsaac

The Insanity of Melania Trump

Gerald Mcisaac

As is well known, Donald Trump, the President of the United States, also known as ‘’POTUS’’, was a close ‘’associate’’ of Jeffrey Epstein and his partner in crime, Ghislaine Maxwell. It is equally well known that both Epstein and Maxwell were in the business, for many years, of selling underage girls. Countless children were sold to the highest bidder, supremely wealthy men, the ‘’rich and powerful’’. 

This ‘’business’’, a form of slavery, or at least of slave trading, politely referred to as ‘’human trafficking’’, was supremely lucrative. Both Epstein and Maxwell were eventually arrested, charged and convicted of various under age sexual assault crimes. To date, those were the only two people who have been convicted, in that wide spread rape and exploitation of children. 

Epstein was found dead in his prison cell, officially as a result of ‘’suicide by hanging’’, even though such a hanging is not possible, and Maxwell is still in prison, at least for the moment. She is receiving ‘’preferential treatment’’, allegedly due to the ‘’intercession’’ of the President, and there is wide spread speculation that she may soon receive a presidential pardon.

There can be no doubt that Donald Trump ‘’socialized’’ with both Epstein and Maxwell, commonly referred to as ‘’partying’’, if only because there are numerous pictures of them together. As well, Trump also flew frequently on the private plane of Epstein, visiting him on his private island. They were clearly ‘’good buddies’’. 

As is also well known, Melania Trump, the First Lady of the United States, FLOTUS, was also a close associate of both Epstein and Maxwell. She too, ‘’partied’’ with those two. Numerous pictures of them together, leave no room for doubt, on that matter. 

Now that Donald Trump has managed to get himself to the White House, as President, both he and his ‘’blushing bride’’, Melania, would like nothing more than to put their previous association with Epstein and Maxwell, behind them. Ancient history! Forget about it!

In a previous article, I documented the manner in which Donald Trump is attempting to divert the attention of the common people, away from the Epstein Scandal. It just so happens that Melania Trump is also making a similar attempt. The only difference is in her approach to the problem. Their different approaches, to the same problem, that of the ‘’Epstein Scandal’’, is instructive.

Whereas Donald Trump denies all involvement with Epstein and Maxwell, and dismisses all evidence to the contrary, Melania has chosen a more ‘’proactive’’ approach. She has hired a team of lawyers, and allegedly instructed them to send ‘’cease and desist orders’’, to ‘’multiple journalists’’, across ‘’multiple outlets’’, warning them that any mention of Melania Trump, in connection with either Epstein or Maxwell, would ‘’trigger catastrophic consequences’’, in the form of a ‘’billion dollar lawsuit’’. To even suggest a connection between them, perhaps in reference to photographs with her and Epstein ‘’partying together’’, was labelled a ‘’reputational attack’’. All parties involved were given a deadline to issue an ‘’apology and retraction’’. 

Faced with such an ultimatum, most journalists did just that. They ‘’caved’’. Michael Woolf is not ‘’most journalists’’. He ‘’called Melania’s bluff’’. He did not wait for Melania to carry out her threat. Woolf first sued Melania.

Melania made a serious mistake, when she threatened to sue Michael Woolf. He is a highly respected journalist and writer, and was the former biographer of Donald Trump. For that reason, he ‘’knows where all the bodies are buried’’, figuratively speaking. And now that she has challenged him, he has ‘’risen to the occasion’’. 

It is to the credit of Michael Woolf, that he is defending his First Amendment right, under the Constitution, to ‘’freedom of the press’’. He is maintaining that the threatened lawsuit, of Melania, as the ‘’First Lady’’, amounts to an effort, on behalf of a government official, to ‘’restrict the freedom of the press’’. 

Now the mainstream press is reporting on this matter, even making reference to SLAPP. As if working people are Philadelphia lawyers! They are not! In fact, SLAPP stands for Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation, based upon the First Amendment right of a journalist, to report on ‘’public figures’’. And rest assured, Melania Trump, as the wife of the President, is a public figure! 

In the ‘’counter suit’’, of Michael Woolf, he is seeking ‘’injunctive relief’’, as well as ‘’discovery’’. That begs the question: What are they talking about?

According to the internet, ‘’Injunctive relief is a court ordered remedy that either restrains a party from performing specific actions or compels them to take certain actions. It is typically sought when monetary damages are insufficient to address the harm, ensuring protection of rights and interests.’’

It is significant that Woolf is apparently not suing Melania for money. Or at least, there is no mention of money. Instead, he is actively defending his democratic right, as an American, to freedom of the press. The ‘’injunctive relief’’, which he is asking the court to impose, is to prevent Melania from carrying through on her threat to sue him for a billion dollars.

This brings us to ‘’discovery’’. Once again, according to the internet, ‘’Discovery refers to a phase in court proceedings where both parties gather and exchange evidence to prepare for trial. This process allows parties to request documents, ask questions, and obtain relevant information that may not be publicly available, such as emails, contracts, and other materials. The goal of discovery is to ensure that both sides have access to the necessary information to build their cases and to promote transparency in the legal process.’’

This ‘’discovery’’ is the last thing Melania wants! The only reason she threatened numerous journalists, including Woolf, with a billion dollar lawsuit, was to make sure that any alleged involvement between her and Epstein, was not made public! Yet now that Woolf has ‘’called her bluff’’, she may have to disclose, in court, all e-mails, photographs and documents, which may tie her to Epstein. Public Record! And she brought this on herself! If only she had remained silent!

Yet Melania did not stop there. Determined to dig a deeper hole for herself, she got the ‘’brainstorm’’ of requesting the lawsuit be transferred to a more ‘’sympathetic court’’, away from the state of New York, to a federal court, one based in the state of Florida. As she maintains that Florida is her ‘’legal residence’’, while Woolf lives in the state of New York, this provides the legal framework for the request.

Precisely what the lawyers for Woolf were hoping she would do! Now they are quite gleefully ‘’licking their chops’’, anxious to ‘’depose’’ Melania, to determine ‘’jurisdictional discovery’’. Or as they phrase it, to git her on the ‘’stand’’ and ‘’tear her apart’’!

Once again, we must determine the legal meaning of these technical words.  According to the internet: ‘’Depose means to give a sworn statement or testimony in a legal setting’’. A ‘’sworn statement’’ is one given under oath, not necessarily in a court of law, so that any ‘’false statement’’, meaning any lie, is an act of perjury, and the punishment for perjury is quite severe. 

This brings us to ‘’jurisdictional discovery’’. Again according to the internet, this ‘’Refers to the process by which a party gathers evidence to establish a court’s jurisdiction over a case’’. 

The lawyers for Melania are arguing that Woolf lives in the state of New York, but Melania lives in the state of Florida. As they live in different states, it is a federal matter, not a state matter. 

On the other hand, the lawyers for Woolf are arguing that Melania lives in New York, not Florida, so that it is a legal matter for the state of New York. Further, they have every legal right to challenge the claim of Melania, that she is a resident of Florida. 

In fact, there are some rather serious allegations that Melania may be claiming to be a resident of Florida, solely for tax purposes. A legal ‘’convenience’’, possibly against the law. 

Now the lawyers for Woolf are anxious to question Melania, under oath, inside or outside a court of law, and to demand ‘’proof’’ that she is a legal resident of Florida. This includes such items as flight records, credit card receipts and mail delivery records, among other things.

Of course, Melania is under no obligation to answer any of these questions. She has every legal right, as guaranteed under the Fifth Amendment to the Constitution, to not incriminate herself. This is commonly referred to as ‘’Taking the Fifth’’. 

The trouble being that if she ‘’Takes the Fifth’’, the courts can draw an ‘’adverse inference’’. This is to say that the judge ‘’can assume the evidence she is hiding is unfavourable to her’’. Her refusal to answer ‘’becomes evidence against her’’. Either way, she loses. If only she had remained silent!

Now we can count on the lawyers for Woolf, to produce various document, receipts, flight manifests, mail delivery records and photographs, in an attempt to discredit Melania. In a public setting, as such court documents become public property!

This is commonly referred to as ‘’airing the dirty laundry’’. The Trump ‘’dirty laundry’’! It is very likely that the closely guarded secrets, of the Trump family, will soon become public. Thank you, Melania!

I have gone into this, in some considerable detail, because it is part of the Epstein Scandal, and that Scandal has the attention of the common people. Then too, the press may report that which is happening, using the legal jargon, but without explaining the precise meaning of the terms. People have the right to know. 

Both Donald Trump and his wife, Melania, are determined to divert the attention, of the working people, from the Epstein Scandal. Their approach is somewhat different, but equally insane. Strangely enough, this is not unusual, among the bourgeois. 

Lenin goes into this in his work, Left Wing Communism, An Infantile Disorder, in reference to an illogical statement of the highly respected British Prime Minister, Lloyd George: ‘’It may be said, in passing, that this argument shows in particular how muddled even the most intelligent members of the bourgeoisie have become, and how they cannot help committing irreparable blunders. That, in fact, is what will bring about the downfall of the bourgeoisie. Our people, however, may commit blunders (provided, of course, that they are not too serious, and are rectified in time), and yet, in the long run, will prove the victors.’’

In my opinion, that which Lenin stated, ‘’in passing’’, is of the utmost importance. It explains the illogical thought processes, the bizarre impulses, the impulsive ‘’brainstorms’’, of the bourgeoisie. It is merely the result of the ‘’muddled thinking’’, of  ‘’even the most intelligent members of the bourgeoisie’’. They ‘’cannot help committing irreparable blunders’’. 

It is important to point out these examples of ‘’muddled thinking’’, to the working people. This will help to ‘’bring about the downfall of the bourgeoisie’’. 

Lenin also pointed out that, as we are all human, we all make mistakes. That includes those whom he refers to as ‘’Our people’’, which is to say Scientific Socialists, true Communists, those who call for the Dictatorship of the Proletariat. As long as these ‘’blunders’’ are ‘’not too serious’’, quickly acknowledged and ‘’rectified in time’’, then that will assure our victory.

As for those who may object, quite reasonably, that both Donald and Melania Trump are anything but the ‘’most intelligent members of the bourgeoisie’’, I can only respond that you are absolutely correct. This ‘’muddled thinking’’, among the bourgeoisie, extends to those who are not overly bright.   

With Most Sincere Communist Greetings, 

Gerald McIsaac

The Insanity of Donald Trump 

Gerald Mcisaac

As is well known, President Donald Trump is under extreme pressure, due to the recently released Epstein Files. It is clear that Trump was closely ‘’associated’’ with Jeffrey Epstein, a convicted sex offender, one who literally made a career of ‘’trafficking’’, which is to say selling, underage girls. This begs the question: How closely was Trump involved with Epstein?

Epstein was certainly a pedophile, which is a child molester, as well as a ‘’human trafficker’’, which is a polite way of describing someone who sells people, a slave trader. Such people are among the lowest forms of humanity. Which is not to say that they are completely stupid. Certainly, no one ever accused Jeffrey Epstein of being stupid.

On the contrary, Epstein was a shrewd business man, a most astute capitalist. All capitalists are constantly looking for ‘’opportunities’’, to use their expression, and Epstein was no exception. He merely identified a ‘’market’’, for underage girls, among the class of people, commonly referred to as multi billionaires, or monopoly capitalists, or imperialists, technically referred to as the bourgeoisie. Mind you, they generally refer to themselves as ‘’entrepreneurs’’. As if changing the name changes the nature of the beast!

This brings us to that which the capitalists refer to as the ‘’law of supply and demand’’. After Epstein identified this ‘’market’’, that of underage girls to be raped, by the ‘’filthy rich’’, he decided to meet that ‘’demand’’, with his own personal ‘’supply’’. 

Epstein was a typical capitalist. Even though he was aware that selling these underage girls would ruin their lives, that did not concern him. Not in the slightest! It was strictly a business matter. That was precisely the same opinion of those who bought those girls. Nothing personal. Just business.

Over a period of many years, it is estimated that over a thousand underage girls, children, were ‘’trafficked’’, which is to say sold, to a great many very rich men. Those men are every bit as guilty as Epstein! Pedophiles, one and all. As yet, not one of them has been brought to justice. And if Trump has his way, they never will be!

It is most encouraging that a great many women, who were raped as children, are now coming forward, demanding justice. They certainly know the identities of the ‘’rich and powerful’’ men who raped them. They are equally well aware that such men are prepared to go to great lengths to ‘’protect their reputations’’. God forbid that anyone should accuse them of being pedophiles!

Yet the Epstein Scandal just will not ‘’go away’’. Despite the finest efforts of President Trump, it continues to ‘’make headlines’’. Clearly, drastic measures are required. Measures that will replace the Epstein Scandal headlines, with a different set of headlines. And nothing creates headlines like war!

In an attempt to divert the attention of the public, the common people, from the Epstein Scandal, Trump ordered the military to first invade the sovereign country of  Venezuela, to kidnap President Maduro and his wife, and bring them to America, to face charges. Trump then set himself up as the ‘’Acting President of Venezuela’’, and plans to extract the oil in that country. That is one sure way to start a war!

Trump also plans to ‘’annex’’ Greenland, ‘’one way or another’’. Preferably by war, no doubt, as that creates more headlines. As Greenland belongs to Denmark, and as Denmark is a member of NATO, North Atlantic Treaty Organization, that would mean going to war with Denmark, and possibly other European countries. It would also mean the end of NATO. Better yet! More headlines! Less ‘’nonsense’’ concerning the Epstein Scandal!

Trump has also sent massive military ‘’assets’’, including an aircraft carrier task force, to the Middle East, in preparation for war with Iran. More headlines!

This has caused deep concern among various countries, within the region. They have the utmost respect for the military ability of Iran. Their concern is that such a war, between America and Iran, would spread throughout the whole area. Their fears are well grounded. 

Iran has made it abundantly clear that a war with America would not be limited to Americans. They plan to strike American bases in all parts of the Middle East. Those who ‘’harbour’’ or shelter American bases, are effectively ‘’fair game’’. 

One of the largest American air bases in the region, is that of Udeid, located in the country of Qatar. There are possibly as many as ten thousand military personnel on that one base. It is no secret that Iran has that base ‘’in their sights’’, so to speak. In case of war with America, Iran will give Udeid the attention it deserves. As well as the country of Qatar, if necessary.

There are numerous other American military bases in the region. And rest assured, the Iranians are fully prepared to strike each and every one of them, in case of a war with America.

The countries which host these American military bases, are well aware of this. They are also well aware that the Iranians are not to be under estimated. For many years, they have been developing projectiles, mainly in the form of drones and missiles. This makes so much more sense than challenging their enemies, including the Israeli’s and Americans, in terms of air power. After all, at some point, all aircraft have to land. It is the American air bases and war ships that are weakest.

Those same countries, which are thought to be American allies, are now ‘’considering their options’’. For the most part, their leaders are feudal monarchs, self proclaimed kings, every bit as determined to remain in power, as are the clerics of Iran. They are now focused on ‘’self preservation’’. If they get the idea that Iran is about to win a war with America, they will not hesitate to evict Americans from those air bases, and even join the Iranians, in the war against the Americans, as it is in their best interest to do so.

The recent Twelve Day War with Israel, provided the Iranian military with a great deal of practical experience. They succeeded in penetrating the Israeli air defences. Now they know how it is done. Israeli or American, it makes no difference. 

It is also a fact that the Iranians used but a fraction of their military hardware, in their war with Israel. Some of their finest missiles were kept in reserve. These include missiles which are extremely fast, accurate and very powerful. One well placed, powerful missile could be enough to wipe out the most powerful warship. The American military would be well advised to bear this in mind.

Trump is using the excuse that the Iranians are killing their own people, as a pretence for war. As there is a Revolution going on in Iran, the government is determined to crush the rebellion. Their response is supremely brutal, as is characteristic of all feudal monarchies. Not that the current regime in Iran is a feudal monarchy, but a clerical dictatorship, one which has evolved from such a monarchy. The method of rule is similar.

Yet it is also true that a Revolution is currently raging in America. As a highly industrialized country, their method of rule is somewhat different. The American response to that which they refer to as ‘’wide spread protests’’, is not so blatantly brutal. It tends to be more subtle, although there is still the occasional instance of cold blooded murder. The shooting death of Renee Nicole Good, a 37 year old mother of three, was one such instance. Even though her murder was video recorded, the officer involved, a member of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, ICE, has yet to be charged.

Of course, the mainstream press is not pointing out the hypocrisy of Trump. To condemn the government of Iran, for shooting down peaceful protesters, while condoning the shooting death of an American protester, is the height of hypocrisy. But then, this is typical of the mainstream media. It is not reasonable to expect anything better from them. 

Strangely enough, the ‘’alternative press’’, which refers to itself as the ‘’Leftist press’’, is also remaining silent on this issue. This brings into question, just how Leftist they really are.

As is well known, Trump is using a modified version of the Monroe Doctrine, which he refers to as the Donroe Doctrine, as the legal justification for invading Venezuela, as well as taking over Greenland. Then too, he has plans to go to war with Columbia and Panama. As well, he plans to ‘’annex Canada’’, making it the ‘’Fifty First State’’. As all of these countries are in the western hemisphere, they are ‘’covered’’ by the ‘’Donroe Doctrine’’. But Iran? A country in West Asia?

His ‘’legal justification’’, for going to war with Iran, lies with the ‘’Emergency War Powers Act’’. This grants the President ‘’special powers during times of war or national emergency’’. 

The astute reader may wonder just what the Iranian Revolution, that Civil War, has to do with an American national emergency? The answer is, nothing whatsoever!

As regards the American government response to the current American Revolution, Trump is also determined to crush this rebellion. The movement is so powerful, that the local police have refused to take part in any attempt to control the ‘’protests’’. For that reason, Trump has sent in federal agents, to ‘’restore law and order’’. These include agents from ICE, FBI, Border Patrol, Homeland Security and ATF, Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms. 

The legal ‘’justification’’ for this extreme ‘’show of force’’, lies with the ‘’Insurrection Act’’. Under this Act, the President has the authority to ‘’call upon the military to address situations of insurrection, domestic violence, or unlawful combinations that obstruct federal laws. It serves as a significant exception to the Posse Comitatus Act, which generally prohibits the military from acting as a police force within the United States’’.   

Strictly speaking, these federal agents are not members of the military. Yet there are possibly over two thousand of them, within the state of Minnesota alone. They are facing fierce resistance, from the residents of that state. So Trump is giving serious consideration to sending in federal troops, in order to assist them. 

Yet the Governor of Minnesota has a different set of priorities. He takes a ‘’dim view’’, of his citizens being manhandled, arrested and even shot, by federal ‘’goons’’. It is reported that he is giving serious consideration to calling out his own military, in the form of the Minnesota State National Guard. 

This gives rise to the very real possibility of American troops going to war with American troops! Full scale Civil War!

As a result of this, it is perhaps not too surprising, that numerous high ranking government officials are now seriously considering the option of invoking the Twenty Fifth Amendment to the Constitution, as a means of stopping Trump. He is determined to provoke several wars, with numerous countries, to be fought on different fronts. Not to mention a Civil War, within the country!

As I have covered the Twenty Fifth Amendment in a previous article, there is no need to repeat it here. Suffice it to say that previously, there were a great many people who questioned the sanity of Trump. Not any more. With his latest actions, he has managed to remove all doubt!

Yet in all seriousness, as the preceding was meant as a rather poor joke, the mental health of Trump is not the issue. He may or may not be suffering from a form of mental illness. And rest assured, mental illness is not a joking matter. Neither is the fact that he is determined to engage in war, on numerous fronts, including within the country of America!

The fact must be stressed that, as Lenin stated in Imperialism, the Highest Stage of Capitalism, ‘’the political features of capitalism are reaction all along the line, and increased national oppression, resulting from the oppression of the financial oligarchy and the elimination of free competition’’. 

Legally insane or not, Trump is certainly a typical imperialist, in that he is completely reactionary. It is characteristic of reactionaries, that they love war. As far as Trump is concerned, the fact that war also leads to headlines, which tend to divert the attention of the common people, from the Epstein Scandal, is merely a bonus. 

Yet it is also clear that the ruling class of monopoly capitalists, the multi billionaires, the bourgeoisie, are deeply divided. Many of them are not in favour of the policy of Trump, that of creating numerous wars. 

As the Communist Manifesto describes it, they are in the ‘’process of dissolution’’. It goes on to state that this is ‘’characteristic as the class struggle nears the decisive hour’’. Now we can expect a ‘’small section’’ of the bourgeoisie to ‘’cut themselves adrift’’, and join the working class, the proletariat, the ‘’revolutionary class’’, the class that ‘’holds the future in its hands’’. 

With that in mind, may I suggest, for the benefit of these newly minted revolutionaries, these Scientific Socialists, that they take to heart the advice of Marx. As far back as 1852, he stated that ‘’the class struggle necessarily leads to the Dictatorship of the Proletariat’’.

I have deliberately placed that in italics, in order to stress the importance. Building upon that which Marx stated, Lenin went on to say that, it is simply ‘’not possible to reform the basis of imperialism’’. 

I also placed that in italics, as a means of stressing the fact that monopoly capitalism, imperialism, must be smashed, the existing state apparatus destroyed, and replaced with a new state apparatus, in the form of the Dictatorship of the Proletariat.

There are countless Utopian Socialists, who most emphatically disagree with that previous statement. They are socialists in name only. Bear in mind that anybody can call themselves socialists. There is no law against that. Yet only true Scientific Socialists call for the Dictatorship of the Proletariat, the ‘’touchstone of a true Communist’’, according to Lenin.

In America today, the DSA, Democratic Socialists of America, are spearheading the attempt to ‘’reform the basis of imperialism’’. This is mere deception, a ‘’pious wish’’, grovelling before the bourgeoisie, as it is simply not possible to reform imperialism!

The fact must be stressed that the DSA is not committed to socialism. In their mission statement, they admit that they are focused on fighting for democracy and reforms! If they were honest, they would call themselves the Democratic Reformers of America, DRA.

It is the duty of true Scientific Socialists, Communists, to draw a clear distinction between ourselves and the Utopian Socialists. That distinction lies with the Dictatorship of the Proletariat.

As countless working people are just now becoming politically active, it is only to be expected that they should become confused. That is the reason a clear distinction must be drawn.

With Most Sincere Communist Greetings, 

Gerald McIsaac     

Donald Trump and the Twenty Fifth Amendment

Gerald Mcisaac

President Trump recently sent the American military on a mission, an invasion of the sovereign country of Venezuela, in order to kidnap the President of that country, Nicolas Maduro, and his wife, Cilia Flores. Both he and his wife were immediately brought to the United States, have been charged, and are now being held for trial. 

The former Vice President of Venezuela, Delcy Rodriguez, has been given the title of ‘’Interim President’’. This is a mere formality, as Trump has made it clear that he ‘’plans to run Venezuela’’, and to ‘’extract the oil’’, of which Venezuela has such a great abundance. But then, Trump quickly changed his mind, and announced that he, Donald Trump, is now the ‘’Acting President of Venezuela’’.

Without doubt, Donald Trump is a man of action. Also completely impulsive. He acts upon any stray thought that crosses his mind. As he is now the President of the United States, he has considerable power. For that reason, those impulsive ‘’acts’’ can have most serious consequences. 

One of those impulsive acts, was the invasion of Venezuela, and subsequent abduction of President Maduro. The people of Venezuela are not about to ‘’take this lying down’’. Their President may or may not have been well loved. It matters not. The Americans had no right to invade their country and kidnap their President. They certainly had no right to set Trump up, as their ‘’Acting President’’, to ‘’run’’ their country, and ‘’extract’’ their oil. They are about to make this abundantly clear!

This is by no means the first time the American imperialists have attempted to invade another country, take over the existing government, and run it, to their satisfaction. The only difference is that the invasion of Venezuela is more blatant. Yet the outcome is sure to be the same.

Perhaps the most clear cut example, was the American invasion of Vietnam. It was more subtle than the Venezuelan invasion. It started in 1950, when American ‘’military advisers’’ were sent to Vietnam, as part of the ‘’Military Assistance Advisory Group’’, (MAAG). 

At that time, the French were at war with the democratic forces of Vietnam, referred to as the ’’Viet Minh’’. The official ‘’role’’ of those American advisers, was to ‘’provide logistical and technical support’’ to the French. 

As is well known, the French were defeated, by the Viet Minh, in 1955, and this resulted in the country being divided, along the seventeenth parallel, into a northern zone, or Democratic Republic of Vietnam, and a southern zone, or Republic of Vietnam. This certainly did not end the war, or American involvement. The role of the American ‘’advisers’’ merely changed to ‘’provide logistical and technical support’’ to the military forces of the South Vietnamese, referred to as the Army of the Republic of Vietnam, (ARVN). 

From a historical perspective, 1955 marked the beginning of the ‘’Vietnam War’’, which is to say the war between the ‘’North’’ and the ‘’South’’. In the South, the ‘’National Liberation Front for South Vietnam’’, or ‘’Viet Cong’’, came into existence. The American ‘’advisers’’ assisted the South Vietnamese army, the ARVN, in their war with the Viet Cong, as well as with troops from the North. 

As is well known, this American ‘’advice’’, to the ARVN, was not sufficient to crush the democratic forces of the Vietnamese. So in 1964, President Johnson began a full scale bombing campaign of the North. As well, he sent ground troops into the South, so called ‘’boots on the ground’’, in an attempt to ‘’pacify’’ the South. At one point, a half million American troops were stationed in South Vietnam. Even this massive display of military power, failed to crush the democratic forces. The Americans were defeated, with the last of the troops leaving South Vietnam, in 1973. This American defeat, in Vietnam, is officially referred to as a ‘’withdrawl’’. 

It may seem reasonable to assume that this ‘’involvement’’, within Vietnam, this attempt to subjugate another country, which lasted for over twenty years, would have taught the American imperialists a valuable lesson. It clearly did not. Or perhaps they have merely forgotten. Vietnam was not exceptional! It was typical! No other country is about to submit to American aggression! That includes Venezuela! 

Without doubt, now the democratic forces of Venezuela are organizing, preparing to oppose this American invasion, this attempt to ‘’take over’’ their country, to steal their oil, among other things. Not about to happen! The Americans are about to find themselves involved in ‘’another Vietnam’’!

As if that is not ‘’bad enough’’, Trump also plans to invade Greenland, which will result in a war with Denmark; to invade Columbia; to invade Panama, in order to ‘’take over’’ the Panama Canal; to invade Canada, in order to make Canada the ‘’Fifty First State’’; to go to war with Iran! War on numerous fronts! Madness!

Now even the American imperialists, the monopoly capitalists, the multi billionaires, those who are determined to establish an Oligarchy, are aware that they have made a ‘’serious mistake’’. They thought they could control Donald Trump. They cannot. He is a ‘’loose cannon’’, completely out of control. Now they have to find a way to remove him from office. That is where the Twenty Fifth Amendment to the Constitution, and in particular, Section 4, comes into play. As it is so important, I have chosen to copy it here, in its entirety:

‘’Section 4, Declaration by Vice President and Others:

‘’Whenever the Vice President and a majority of either the principal officers of the executive departments or of such other body as Congress may by law provide, transmit to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives their written declaration that the President is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office, the Vice President shall immediately assume the powers and duties of the office as Acting President.
‘’Thereafter, when the President transmits to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives his written declaration that no inability exists, he shall resume the powers and duties of his office unless the Vice President and a majority of either the principal officers of the executive department or of such other body as Congress may by law provide, transmit within four days to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives their written declaration that the President is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office. Thereupon Congress shall decide the issue, assembling within forty-eight hours for that purpose if not in session. If the Congress, within twenty-one days after receipt of the latter written declaration, or, if Congress is not in session, within twenty-one days after Congress is required to assemble, determines by two-thirds vote of both Houses that the President is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office, the Vice President shall continue to discharge the same as Acting President; otherwise, the President shall resume the powers and duties of his office.’’

In more popular terms, this means that, if the Vice President and a majority of the Cabinet, which is to say eight Members, are convinced that the President is unable to perform his duties, then they can submit such a declaration to the Speaker of the House, and the President Pro Tempore of the Senate. The Vice President then becomes the Acting President. But then a similar response, by the President, in writing, to the effect that he is still alive and well, shall result in his resumption of the office of President. At that time, the Vice President, and the majority of the Cabinet, have four days to resubmit that same statement. At that point, both Houses of Congress, the House of Representatives and the Senate, have twenty one days to decide if the President is able to ‘’discharge the power and duties of his office’’. It requires  ‘’two thirds of both Houses of Congress’’, in order to remove him from office.

As there are one hundred Senators, it requires sixty seven votes. As well, there are 435 Members of the House of Representatives, so it also requires the vote of 290 Members of the House, in order to remove the President from office. That is considered to be a very ‘’high bar’’, and with good reason. Both Houses of Congress, the House of Representatives and the Senate, are controlled by the Republican Party, the Party of Donald Trump. Such a ‘’two thirds vote’’, by both ‘’Houses of Congress’’, in order to remove him from office, is not about to happen. At least, not at present.

On the other hand, the revolutionary motion, which is currently sweeping the country, may ‘’inspire’’ the vast majority to vote for the removal of Trump, from the office of Presidency. It depends upon the power of the common people, as expressed in the strength of the revolutionary motion.

The only reason I have gone into this detailed description, of Section 4 of the Twenty Fifth Amendment, is because it is being considered, very seriously, by the ruling class of monopoly capitalists. The mainstream press is certainly covering it. As well, the Leftist press is devoting a considerable amount of attention to the matter. Yet even the Leftist press is failing to point out the class interests, which are involved. Sadly, that is typical of the Leftist press. Leftist in name only!

As well, there are a great many common people, by whom I mean workers and family farmers, who still have great faith in the existing legal system. It will take something more than a ‘’stern lecture’’, to persuade them of the correctness of Scientific Socialism. It is to their credit, that they are convinced by their own personal experience, along with the proper arguments, concerning the revolutionary theories of Marx and Lenin.

For the moment, the ruling class of monopoly capitalists, the bourgeoisie, do not know ‘’which way to jump’’, to state it in popular terms. They are ‘’at their wits ends’’, so to speak. They succeeded in placing Trump back in the White House, at great expense, I might add, as a means of establishing the rule of the Oligarchy. Success! And now their ‘’Golden Boy’’ has turned against them! He is determined to act upon every stray impulse. In the process, he is sure to destroy the very state apparatus he is supposed to protect!

Yet this was foreseen, in the Communist Manifesto. As it states: ‘’Finally, in times when the class struggle nears the decisive hour, the process of dissolution going on within the ruling class, in fact within the whole range of old society, assumes such a violent, glaring character, that a small section of the ruling class cuts itself adrift, and joins the revolutionary class, the class that holds the future in its hands. Just as, therefore, at an earlier period, a section of the nobility went over to the bourgeoisie, so now a portion of the bourgeoisie goes over to the proletariat, and in particular, a portion of the bourgeois ideologists, who have raised themselves to the level of comprehending theoretically the historical movement as a whole.’’

The ruling class of monopoly capitalists, are currently in a ‘’process of dissolution’’. They are fighting among themselves, as well as with the ruling class of monopoly capitalists of other countries. Now we can expect a ‘’small section of the ruling class’’, to ‘’join the revolutionary class’’, the proletariat, the ‘’class that holds the future in its hands’’.

For our part, we must ‘’welcome them with open arms’’! Their class background must not be held against them! Bear in mind that both Marx and Lenin were middle class. Petty bourgeois. To be prejudiced against a fellow revolutionary, because of their class background, is to be prejudiced against Marx and Lenin!

On the contrary, their previous careers, as loyal and devoted servants of the monopoly capitalists, the bourgeoisie, will serve as valuable teaching aids. They will advise working people of the fact that such a service counted for nothing. The multi billionaires care only about themselves. There is absolutely no reward, for many years of faithful service. 

These middle class professionals can also provide a most valuable service, after the revolution, in rebuilding the country. They have the education and training, necessary to organize any and all large businesses. These are skills which working people, proletarians, simply do not have.

With Most Sincere Communist Greetings, 

Gerald McIsaac