En Passant

Malalai Joya is an Afghan freedom fighter. She wants the invaders (Western troops) to leave her country immediately.

She opposes the West’s corrupt war lord drug regime . She opposes the Taliban.

She fights for women; she fights for peace; she fights for a democratic Afghanistan.

Malalai is the bravest and most wonderful person I have known politically in my life. She spoke at Marxism 2012 and her inspirational speech, for those who didn’t or couldn’t attend, is here.

A link to her defence committee website is here.

Malalai’s incredible bravery in opposing both the US Occupation and its puppet regime as well as the Taliban, and her deep understanding of the international situation and Afghanistan’s position within it, for example the global reach and brutality of US imperialism and the need for American workers to overthrow the dictatorship of capital, made her talks at Marxism 2012 the most moving in all of my political life.

After six assassination attempts on her life she has the strength to say ‘They can cut down the flower but they cannot stop the spring.’

The invasion of Afghanistan and the destruction wreaked on the poor people there is about encircling China. Australia has  troops in the country to provide support for the US invasion and insurance for the Australian ruling class.

There is an alternative to US and Australian imperialism invading countries around the globe.

It was in Malalai’s message at Marxism 2012. Get the troops out now. No nation can liberate another. Only Afghans can liberate themselves.

So this ANZAC Day, as beer companies take it over, I’ll be raising a glass – a cup of tea – to Malalai Joya and her message to the Australian and other invaders of her country, Afghanistan. Get out now.

Readers might also like to look at last year’s article on this, The myth of ANZAC Day.