[Marxism] A velvet revolution in Iran?

[S. Artesian]

I would expect the struggle to unfold initially exactly as it has done--  
with students, young people, those in colleges and universities, those with 
a certain amount of privilege pushing against the limits of those 
privileges.  I would expect the "triggering incident" to be exactly as it 
was, a "procedural" matter within the established framework of maintaining, 
not really challenging, the social order.

That's how I would expect it to begin.

I don't think anything about Iran denies the US or Europe "crucial markets." 
There is nothing crucial in Iran, just as there was nothing crucial in Iraq. 
Didn't stop the US from invading Iraq, but the US did not invade to gain 
access to markets, to obtain control over greater oil reserves, to prevent a 
new euro base oil trading platform or any of that other junk.  The US 
invaded to offset overproduction and a decline in the rate of return by 
getting oil prices jacked up.

The claim that the main task of those in the US when these events erupt is 
to expose the machinations of "our own bourgeoisie" can be used, 
unfortunately, as an evasion, providing aid and support-- more than simple 
defense against imperial assault-- to governments either intent upon 
decapitating social revolution, or incapable of resolving the economic 
confict at the core of the struggle-- or both.


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Shawn Redden" <wsredden at gmail.com>
To: <sartesian at earthlink.net>
Sent: Tuesday, June 23, 2009 10:24 PM
Subject: Re: [Marxism] A velvet revolution in Iran?