Dear Cheerleaders, we need to have a chat about imperialism

Rojava ‘s existence as a zone of autonomous cantons, more or less run on democratic confederalist lines, has come to depend on American military force. Complaining about colonial prejudice amongst the PYD‘s critics, while ignoring imperialism‘s almost open colonial role, that is what we have in Stanchev‘s case. The PYD is now in open military alliance with the US empire. And Petar Stanchev is silent about that alliance and what it may imply. Janet Biehl does not give it a mention either in her report. Neither does David Graeber. This is a disastrous distortion: presenting a process of social change as much more self-reliant and independent than it really is. But how can you talk about ‘autonomy’ – a word frequently and glowingly used by radical fans of Rojava democratic confederalist change – when your sheer survival has come to depend on US bombing raids? Before I present some of the evidence, let me state this: proving that the PYD is part of an imperial alliance is not the same as denying that there is a serious process of social and political change going on in the area. The Rojava revolution and the PYD organization are not exactly the same thing, even if I find the epithet ‘revolution’ a bit much for the process. Criticizing the PYD – but more importantly, criticizing its Western fans! – is not the same as dismissing the process (…) US imperialism’s role around Rojava is clear for all to see, that is, for all who are willing to look. Of course, this does not make the US and the PYD friends. They share a common enemy, and not much else. But that is how empire often uses all kinds of forces. Carter did not need to ‘like’ the Afghan Mujaheedin in order to use them against a pro-Russian Afghan government. Reagan did not need to ‘like’ them in order to use them against Russian invading forces, there to support the government that felt threatened by the Mujaheedin armed struggle. Obama did not need to ‘like’ the Libyan militias NATO used to get rid of Khadafi. Obama does not need to like the PYD either. Pentagon and White House probably distrust the left-wing politics of that organization, just like they distrusted Islamism among their auxiliaries in Afghanistan, Lybia, Syria.

Peter Storm in Dear Cheerleaders, we need to have a chat about imperialism (Libcom)