The antics of the British Left are always good for a smile.
A key component of the Left in Britain has always been the labor unions
(called “trade unions”) over there. As in the US, the unions have
preserved, even strengthened their positions as bastions of leftist power
since the labor movement was taken over by representatives of government
employees — became, that is, a vehicle for promoting an ever-expanding
public sector.
Anyway, there are ructions in the Stop the War movement over there. The
movement naturally draws its strength from lefty agitators, many of whom
came up through the unions, or are affiliated with them. The unions,
however, are in a bind with Iraq. Their doctrine of international
brotherhood dictates that they support Iraqi labor unions, who are organized
under the Iraqi Federation of Trade Unions (IFTU). The IFTU, however, wants
Coalition troops to stay in Iraq at least until after the January elections.
Britain’s Stop the War folk, however, demand IMMEDIATE withdrawal of
coalition forces.
“The TUC [i.e. Britain’s Trade Union Congress] is trying to raise cash for
the federation [i.e. the above-mentioned IFTU], and seems to be increasingly
supportive of its view that the troops are needed to prevent Iraq breaking
up or an Islamic fundamentalist state being formed.
Stop the War’s controlling faction dismisses that as a Blairite line
tantamount to approving the occupation.”
Street fighting should break out any time now. Hey, it’s more fun than
watching the Yankees choke.