THE biggest obstacle to the struggle for workers" power in ITaR CINE imperialist-backed repression of their biggest is the political problem to deal lying apparatus.
After the appointment of a - they are the military government and signs of unrest in the army. looks at some of the problems posed by the largest military machine in central Asia.
The The military leaders of Iran are not accustomed to direct Boles respons. doesn't mean that they won't try to play an increased part in future kept Do you Chilean officer corps!
The majority of third world armies are highly politicised from top lo bollom - trom the demagogic anti-imperialism of Ethiopia pro-fascism of Argentina.
That is because their sole reason for existence is internal. The prospect of most of these countries fighting external wars is faint. Their war is with their own population.
Iran slightly
Promoted he Britain and the United States as custodian of HereSS. armed forces have more troops and higher most neo-colontal armics chorous.
apparatus internal The second becomes less likely with that to the side of the masses ranks of the Tral to the Shah.
CONSCRIPT A third of the remember what they 'democratic"
the hysterical rank and permanent forms different.
soldiers Shah's in society at large.
technology than The importance of this for the independent that the masses. officer caste will split, with a section going over more or less . So a Portuguese situation, with all its attendant opportunities and problems, is not on the cards.
Instead of But large sections of the rank and file of the army are just as rank armed their Portuguest counterparts in their allegiance Cause Ole army conseript, so much of the rank and file is, literally, workers and peasants in uniform. rank Already the impact of this officers.
refused to fire on demonstrators. An anernanon or treats comrades and fraternisation from the develop working class. oroesus masses mas proker their discipline and steeled their resolve against the officers The problem now will be to structure the discontent of the file into more The democratic rights of within army these becomes key, as well as their right to join with the opposition therefore defended But alongside mass agitation | state apparatus is paramount. for soldiers rights must come development of the -power of lhe That is why the position of the Moslem opposition is so dangerous. They say the army homogeneous instead of a structure torn by the class struggles of society.
Rallying with the and me to forces, the religious leaders make demands on the present army as it stands The first breaches in military discipline have occurred beviolent power of the workers. The extension of the armed activity of the masses will more and more turn the and file against their And that increased sympath! between soldiers Inel outside can help ine arsenal The point is that all such struggles for democratic rights in the semi-colonial world tend move onwards This is because no other social class is able to defend rights. In determining who will defend them and whether they are - the question of the That problem will be decidec by the extent to which the workers use their existing struggles to develop new, more democratic forms of sell-organisation waien can begin te stand as an alternative state power.
That not the whole solution. The ranian worker have yet to develop any mass direct the seizure of power.
But it is not tancitul to tall about any of these possibilities The speed of Ene masses in action is always dazzling.
When the shah coes, tha will be only the beginning.
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