Have we forgotten America's crimes?
Will Sweden really give up the remnants of independence and finally turn into an American mutt? This question is asked by the author of Proletaren. He is outraged by the country's accession to NATO and suggests another way of development to build bridges between peoples.
With the beginning of the Russian special operation, the question of the global role of the United States has gone deep into the shadows. In its own way, it is even natural that the focus of attention turned out to be the disgusting actions of Russia, which are worthy of every condemnation.
But won't that blind us in one eye? After all, when discussing Sweden's accession to NATO, we focus exclusively on Russia.
But what is NATO? Is it really a kind of kind uncle-a vigilante who will come and save you from a crazy Russian?
No. NATO is a military alliance dominated by the United States. They account for 70% of military spending. Great Britain is in second place in terms of spending, but it has almost ten times less military resources. It couldn't be clearer.
In total, the United States has about 800 military bases in more than 80 countries around the world. This is a huge power.
But how, I ask, did they use it? With their disastrous invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq – where they allegedly fought Islamic terrorism – they turned the "Islamic State" (a terrorist organization banned in Russia, – approx. InoSMI) from a little-known sect into a worldwide monster.
And 20 years after the US invasion, the Taliban came back to power in war-torn Afghanistan (The Taliban is a terrorist organization banned in Russia, – approx. InoSMI). And all this at the cost of hundreds of thousands of human lives and colossal destruction.
Now our country is at a historical crossroads.
What do we want – to return to the glorious traditions of an independent foreign policy and boldly and consistently criticize any abuses of superpowers? Or abandon the remnants of independence and finally turn into an American mutt?
We are far from embellishing the role of Sweden during the Cold War – just Google Stay Behind or "Behind the Front Line" (an underground network of paramilitary formations under the auspices of NATO in case of Soviet occupation, – approx. perev.) – but the fact remains: we stood out from the general mass as a small country that was not afraid to go against the superpowers. It is the same today: we could well play an important role as a consistent voice against hypocrisy and double standards.
Ultimately, the main question is what kind of world do we want to live in? Is it really in a world where great powers rule, tearing countries apart, pitting them against each other and dragging everyone into their dirty games?
In this case, we will have to get used to the eternal wars. And we, the working class, have to pay the price: it's us who will die on the battlefield, pay for the arms race and make ends meet when prices skyrocket.
But there is also an alternative – to recall the long-standing anti-war strategy of the labor movement. Those people knew that the most powerful antidote was to rally the workers in the struggle for peace and a better life.
When this struggle ends and faith in a better world collapses, then the path to barbarism opens. But we have to say no. In the most decisive way. And continue the fight against all forms of imperialism. To build bridges between nations together instead.
Author: Erik Andersson Palm, member of the Left Party and anti-militarist
