Do not send to ask for whom the bell tolls.
Posted by seumasach on August 24, 2011
Cailean Bochanan
24th August, 2011
The terrifying events unfolding in Libya represent a new stage in the collapse of the empire, one which, in its stead, threatens to drag the whole of humanity down with it into oblivion. This was always the great danger. Empire and all it stands for is doomed but the question is whether a new more just and peaceful global order can replace it. Not if the the Western imperial elites have anything to do with it. They will turn the world upside down in order to avoid finding themselves where they should be: before a criminal court for their crimes the scope of which is beyond the normal imagination.
Something terrible has happened and the gloves have come off, the mask is down: the progressive facade of the West is exposed as well as the treachery of its political class and its intelligentsia , left or right, liberal or socialist. All our fine ideological distinctions have been ironed out and subsumed under one overriding interest: that of Western hegemony. We, the white man, speaking with a forked tongue and spitting out fire and venom are bathing yet another nation in blood.
Many of us were deceived initially by events in Libya but there is no excuse now for the idea that there is a democratic rebellion in Libya. This is simply a lie but one which many hang on to perhaps to shield themselves from a terrible reality or perhaps to justify their cowardice and betrayal. It is difficult to know what to say to these people: they should know that this conflict is a simple one between the Libyan people, rallied around Gaddafi in defence of their country, and NATO. There is no intermediate position, no third force suddenly appearing which could resolve the situation. It’s the sovereign people or the destruction and dissolution of Libya as a prelude to a further NATO attack on Syria, Lebanon and Iran and so on to World War Three. Those who seek consolation in the possible overthrow of Gaddafi are fools, quite apart from anything else, because they are celebrating their own demise as members of a humanity which is being driven to ruin. As NATO bombs and death squads assail Tripoli do not send to ask for whom the bell tolls: it tolls for thee.
In These New Times 
Kevin Boyle said
Well put Colin.
I hang my head in shame at the fact I have just sat through this outrage and done next to nothing.
What can one do? Actually I met my local MP who is well aware of the widespread public distaste for the Libyan crime……..for all the good complaining to him did anyone.
We have reached the stage where these people do as they please and the public seems to be just paralysed.
Maybe they believe they have already won every battle that matters. After suppressing exposure of the 9/11 and 7/7 lies, who can doubt that they might be right.
Nevertheless I don’t think so. The pure lies and naked evil of our leaders is being exposed for all to see. Pretty soon there will be no politician with the nerve to utter the word ‘humanitarian’.
seumasach said
You’re right Kevin – now is not the time to despair. As you say they are merely revealing the full panoply of their evil devices. They are playing all their cards and will lose. I hope to hold a little protest in Glasgow next week- mainly of symbolic value, just to show someone is doing something. There is something more organised coming up in Paris. We need to spread the truth about what is happening- how do we know that what we do may find resonance somewhere- anywhere where honesty and humanity still exist.