Tag: syria

For fifty three years, the Assad family has ruled Syria, with an ‘’iron hand’’. Absolutely no dissent was  allowed. Yet on December 8, 2024, the Assad rule came to an ‘’abrupt end’’. This after a mere one week rebellion!

It is no exaggeration to say that the ‘’world is in shock’’. The mainstream journalists are completely amazed! To think that such a revolution could be so successful, so quickly! 

Clearly, those same journalists have no idea of the power of a ‘’popular uprising’’. Or at the very least, they pretend to be unaware!

This is not too surprising, as all mainstream journalists are in the service of the monopoly capitalists, the multi billionaires, the bourgeoisie. For that reason, it is in their best interest to promote that which best serves their ‘’Lords and Masters’’. 

They are careful to avoid any mention of the word ‘’revolution’’! Those taking part in this revolution, are being referred to as ‘’rebels’’. They are not rebels! They are revolutionaries! They are fighting for national liberation! What is more, they are succeeding!

These revolutionaries consist of a broad assortment of people, from different ethnic groups, minorities and religions. In the interest of the revolution, they have agreed to put aside their differences and unite, with the goal of overthrowing the hated Assad regime. 

It is significant that a major mainstream news outlet, sat down ‘’for an exclusive interview’’, with the ‘’main rebel leader, Abu Muhammad Al Valani’’. 

The person conducting the interview, asked a good question: ‘’In a matter of days, you have managed to take large cities. What has changed? How were you able to do this now?’’ 

According to the translator, the reply was: ‘’In recent years, there has been a unification of internal opinions, and the establishment of institutional structures, within the liberated areas of Syria. This institutionalization included the restructuring within military factions. They entered unified training camps, and developed a sense of discipline. This discipline allowed them ….to engage in a battle in an organized manner. The progress and execution of plans have been swift, with clear communication and and adherence to commands. They stop where they should stop, and withdraw where they should withdraw. The revolution has transitioned from chaos and randomness, to a state of order, both in civil and institutional matters, and in military operations alike.’’ (My italics)

I have chosen to include his complete response, as it is so important. The key details I have placed in italics. 

The ‘’unification of internal opinions’’, is a reference to the fact that a successful revolution, ‘’cannot be made by an individual’’, so to speak. It must have ‘’broad based support’’. The vast majority of common people, workers, farmers and small business owners, must be prepared to set aside their differences, and unite in the common cause, that of overthrowing the existing state apparatus. 

He also mentioned ‘’unified training camps’’, in which those same revolutionaries developed a ‘’sense of discipline, which enabled them to engage in battle in an organized manner’’. 

Anyone who doubts the importance of discipline, is free to consider the results of the numerous incidents, through out history, of a group of farmers, armed with pitch forks, attacking a well disciplined army of soldiers. All such outcomes, while predictable, were never pretty. The farmers were cut to pieces.

This brings us to ‘’clear communication and adherence to command’’. The leaders of the revolution must be well respected. Their orders must be ‘’sharp and clear’’. In response, all ‘’enlisted personnel’’ must be prepared to obey those orders, even if they do not agree with them. These orders may include that of ‘’withdraw’’. 

It is in this way, and only in this way, that the ‘’revolution’’ can transition from ‘’chaos and randomness, to a state of order’’.

This brings me to a passage, written by Lenin, in Left Wing Communism, An Infantile Disorder. It is supremely relevant:

‘’The fundamental law of revolution, which has been confirmed by all revolutions, and especially by all three Russian revolutions in the twentieth century, is as follows: for a revolution to take place, it is not enough for the exploited and oppressed masses to realize the impossibility of living in the old way, and demand changes; for a revolution to take place, it is essential that the exploiters should not be able to live and rule in the old way. It is only when the ‘’lower classes’’ do not want to live in the old way, and the ‘’upper classes’’ cannot carry on in the old way, that the revolution can triumph. This truth can be expressed in other words: revolution is impossible without a nation wide crisis (affecting both the exploited and the exploiters). It follows that, for a revolution to take place, it is essential, first, that a majority of the workers (or at least a majority of the class conscious, thinking and politically active workers) should realize that revolution is necessary, and that they should be prepared to die for it; second, that the ruling classes should be going through a governmental crisis, which draws even the most backward masses into politics (symptomatic of every genuine revolution is a rapid, tenfold and even hundred fold increase in the size of the working and oppressed masses – hitherto apathetic – who are capable of waging the political struggle), weakens the government, and makes it possible for the revolutionaries to rapidly overthrow it.’’ (italics by Lenin)

The current situation in Syria, certainly fits the ‘’fundamental law of revolution’’! The ‘’exploited and oppressed masses’’, the common people, the workers and family farmers, can ‘’no longer live in the old way’’, and are ‘’demanding change’’. At the same time, the ‘’exploiters’’, in this case the Assad regime, can no longer  ‘’rule in the old way’’. Revolutionary!

Syria is in a position where it has been crushed and exploited by the Assad family, for many years. At the same time, the competing imperialist powers are anxious to ‘’exert their influence’’ over the country. 

As Lenin explained quite well, in Imperialism, the Highest Stage of Capitalism, the whole world has long since been divided up, between the so called ‘’Great Powers’’, which is to say the imperialist powers. As he phrased it, ‘’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 inevitable – but in the sense that the colonial policy of the capitalist countries has completed the seizure of the unoccupied territories on our planet’’. (italics by Lenin)

The two great imperialist powers, the United States and Russia, are fighting over Syria, as two dogs fight over a bone. Both are determined to crush and exploit the country, preferably with the help of neighbouring countries.

The current situation in Syria can perhaps best be compared to the situation in Russia, immediately after the Great October Socialist Revolution of 1917. At that time, the country was in ruins, after three years of war. The infrastructure of the country was badly damaged. The common people were calling for ‘’peace, land and bread’’. Many of the factories were shut down. The trains were barely running, if at all. The Russian army was in no position to fight. The situation was desperate, and desperate times call for desperate measures.

Lenin responded to this seemingly hopeless situation, by enacting a series of compromises. He persuaded the Russian Communist Party to sign the Treaty of Brest Litovsk. Even though it meant losing a third of the population, half of their industry, and ninety percent of their coal mines, as well as having to pay a huge sum in ‘’indemnities’’, it was better than complete defeat. 

He also made certain concessions to other political parties, within the new government. Bear in mind that none of these concessions violated principle.

As a result of these compromises, the Russian Soviet Republic was able to weather the following three year civil war, as numerous foreign powers tried to wipe out the upstart Socialist republic.

Of course, the current situation in Syria is not that desperate. Yet it is safe to say that the country has been severely damaged, after fifty years of Assad rule. No doubt, the infrastructure needs repair, various factories have been shut down, and countless people are in desperate need of the basic necessities of life, such as food, shelter and medical assistance.

As well, according to the internet, over five million Syrians have fled to neighbouring countries. They are currently living in shelters, composed of tents. It is only proper to bring them home, to rebuild their houses, to offer them at least the basic necessities, so that they can live a life of dignity. 

That is going to take a certain amount of time and effort. Yet the result will be a new, improved, strong Syria, so that it is well worth it. 

In the mean time, may I suggest tolerating the presence of Russian and American military bases, within Syria, as well as the Israeli occupation of the Golan Heights. 

Even though the Syrian army was able to overthrow the Assad regime, very quickly, it is as yet, too weak to challenge the military power of those countries. 

This may be a ‘’bitter pill to swallow’’, but makes more sense than fighting a battle that cannot be won. At least, not yet! After the country is rebuilt, the infrastructure repaired, the refugees returned, factories working, trains running, farmers growing their crops, and the new Syrian Army is properly trained and equipped, then it will be a different matter. 

That was precisely the policy of the newly created Russian  Soviet Republic, immediately after their revolution. It served them supremely well, at least until the capitalists were able to return to power, after the death of Stalin.

The current situation in Syria is not as desperate, as was that of Soviet Russia, immediately after their revolution. Yet as the Russian Soviets were able to recover, so too, the revolutionary Syrians can also recover. As long as they do not ‘’bite off more than they can chew’’. 

Now is the time to consolidate. May I suggest a slogan of ‘’Return, Repair, Rebuild’’. The refugees can be encouraged to return, to help repair and rebuild the country of Syria. I am sure that the vast majority are quite anxious to do just that! That is the policy which provides the Syrian Revolution, with the best chance of continued success.