The SACP in the Northern Cape is disturbed to see the political attack on Venezuela and Cuba by the US regime. It is ironic that it is this same government that refused to implement sanctions against Apartheid South Africa saying "that it would hurt the very people it was meant to help". The US government has long interfered in South and Central American politics overly and covertly. There is almost no exception (Chile, Argentina, Brazil, Nicaragua, Cuba...)
That President Trump picks up the baton in this blatant disregard for the will of the peoples of these independent nations should not be surprising. Our error would be to see his action as maverick and the behaviour of an individual out of control. He is completely under the control of capital, the true captains of the US. We must see his action as representative of the US regime for as long as the regime refuses to distance itself from Trump`s comments and remove him from office.
Trump reflects what many of these right-wing senators and powerful players in the US economy think and feel but are too guarded to say out in public. In short, they are able to implement policies they have long prepared and kept in waiting. Trump is their scapegoat. Western Democracy is a fallacy. In particular what the US calls a multi-party democracy is also a farce - there are really only two parties and actually both are very much alike.
Their foreign policies remain the same and they differ mainly in domestic matters and even then, not fundamentally. Trump presents an opportunity to push ahead with their `America First` mentality while we stand aside bemused that it is the workings of a single individual. It has always been `America First`.
Many were fooled when Obama came into power. Progressive thinkers and nations were so enamoured that a `black` man could be voted in a country with a past littered with legislated racial discrimination that we failed to notice that, mostly, he simply continued the policies of the previous governments. In fact under his command, the US had more troops on foreign soil than anytime before. The divisive and interfering methodology in countries and regions where the US had vested interests continued under the guise of rescuing people. Every country where they have claimed to intervene on behalf of the interest of the people has been left in ruins and the people in much worse conditions, most having to flee.
Of course Obama was given enough space to express himself and assert some sort of semblance of power and Trump will be provided that illusion also. However, when any president steps too far they will be reigned in and so will the policy changes that have their personal trademark. Obama`s situation was tragic because he did show understanding and there is no reason to believe that some of his gestures were genuine expressions, such as his extending a hand to Cuba. However, for the most part he played the role required of him. The same could be said of any other modern-day US president - JFK, Nixon.
Trump is no accident, neither was Obama. Each was required for the times that they were in. The powers in the US have stunned us each time into inaction, each time for different reasons. Under Trump we are so stunned into disbelief that we fail to see the policies getting passed under our noses. Trump was supported by senators, business and by and large by a large part of the US population manipulated into voting for him.
Political commentators failed to read the situation (even misjudging the early showing of support for Bernie Sanders as some sort of indication of a significant move to progressive, socialist thinking).
Our task is to constantly ensure we read the situation right and to expose oppressive behaviour.
In war-time the strategy of laying siege to a city was very much part of a military strategy. That the US lays siege to nations through sanctions and sustains a barrage of disparaging comments meant to humiliate and demoralise should be seen as acts of aggression not dissimilar to war-time activity.
The SACP pledges its support to the peoples of Cuba, Venezuela, Nicaragua and all peace loving peoples of Latin America.
Issued by the SACP Northern Cape
For enquiries please contact;
Patrick Bosiame - Provincial Spokesperson
Cell: 081 374 8233