Here it is, first reactions. November 3rd and Kerry has just conceded, Bush has just finished his acceptance speech. In the end, the white, Christian, bigoted, racist, America-First!, fearful, blind and ignorant vote ruled the day. Details will come out in the next few weeks, and ballots are still being counted, but Kerry has already conceded. And maybe Bush indeed won.
Here it is, first reactions. November 3rd and Kerry has just conceded, Bush has just finished his acceptance speech. In the end, the white, Christian, bigoted, racist, America-First!, fearful, blind and ignorant vote ruled the day. Details will come out in the next few weeks, and ballots are still being counted, but Kerry has already conceded. And maybe Bush indeed won.
So we have to face up to another 4 years of this fascist regime (oh, you think that's too harsh? Fascism is the union of corporate power and right-wing politics: I think we've seen enough the last couple of years to be able to make that call). Well, so be it, but we can make it as hard as possible. Kerry says, "Unity", that we are all Americans, and work together. But what is that? We see Bush re-elected with the popular vote 51-48%, we see 54 Republican senators, and a grown majority in the House, and possibly 2 to 3 justices up for nomination to the Supreme Court. Unity? Are you insane? Fuck Unity, the fight begins now.
I am not a Democrat at all, and think that party should at the very least split into an activist/progressive side that will stand in the streets and work for the poor and oppressed and a Republican-light, DLC branch that could nicely lend support to the corporations and the right-wing powers that be. Maybe the Green Party can attract some of the progressives, like Barbara Lee and Dennis Kucinich, even see some current Democrats in the House and Senate join them? I don't know what the answer is for electoral politics and parties. But I know one thing, for the sake of the all of us, the entire World, this country needs now to be made ungovernable until the tide is turned.
Whatever form it takes: mass street protests, marches on prisons in order to release the inmates, civil disobedience. I'd like to see a California (or whole West Coast) secession movement, even going as far as liberated territories and self proclaimed People's Republics, with people taking control over their own communities. With carnivals, with parties, with non-cooperation and non-collaboration. I'd like Washington, DC so run over by protests and riots, that the right-wing will only be safe in their red state heartlands. Let this country divide FURTHER, I say, not unite. Let it polarize till it gets to the point where the system simply breaks down. Let's build a states rights movement that can kick federal authority out of the state altogether, if that's what it takes. Let's march, let's ride, let's have four years of chaos.
Comments
Re: Bush Wins. FUCK "UNITY": The fight begins now!
Re: Bush Wins. FUCK "UNITY"; The fight begins now!
Time for national-wide general unified work strikes!!!! No business as usual EQUALLS reduced corporate profits!!
Want to STOP BUSH, stop the corporate profits!!!!
Progressive America needs to DECLARE the definition of MORALITY in no uncertain terms! It is IMMORAL to foster poverty; to undermine hard work; to undermine education (ticket to personal enrichment); to support greedy, unethical corporations (who rape overseas communities for profit); to undermine basic healthcare; and more!!
Bush is so IMMORAL it is sickening.
Speaking of the IMMORAL Bush - how about the ILLEGAL Bush. Why aren't we impeaching this anti-constitutional and law-breaking President??
Can you say NO BACKBONE!!!!
GET MAD - GET ACTIVE!!!!!
Pat (Time 4 Respect)
Re: Bush Wins. The flight begins now!
CascadianConfederacy (at) yahoogroups.com
_www.MoveOnCalifornia.org
_www.republicofpacifica.org
_www.cascadia.org
Basque Homeland and Freedom
Euskadi Ta Askatasuna
The Basque Fatherland and Liberty group was founded in 1959 by a group of student activists dissatisfied with the moderate nationalism of the traditional Basque party. The group's aim is the creation of an independent homeland in Spain's Basque region. The group has a loose commitment to Marxism.
At present ETA's principal demands are:
* self-determination for the Basque country, Euskadi;
* the union of the province of Navarre with Euskadi;
* the regrouping of imprisoned ETA activists currently serving sentances in Spain in prisons in the Basque region
History
Structure
Terrorist Activity
Links
Updates
Attacks
from 1988-Present
ETA had its origin in a nationalist group, EKIN, formed as a result of the moderate actions of the Partido Nacionalista Vasco (PNV, Basque Nationalist Party) during the Franco regime. EKIN was founded by young activists from Bizkaia and Gipuzkao, who felt that the PNV was not acting energetically enough to advance the Basque cause.
EKIN attempted to gain the support of the PVN, however the opposition of some of its leaders prevented cooperation. In 1958, EKIN became Euskadi Ta Askatasuna (E.T.A. - Basque Homeland and Liberty). ETA was the only armed group to emerge in the Spanish State during the Franco era.
ETA’s first activities involved planting explosives in the cities of Bilbao, Vitoria and Santander in 1959. Its first military action was in 1961--an unsuccessful attempt to derail a train carrying civil war veterans travelling to Donostia to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Spanish Civil War. The police responded with road controls, arrests, house searches and the widespread use of torture. As a result many Basques went into exile abroad, while others joined ETA’s struggle.
When General Franco died in 1976 and democracy was restored in Spain many exiles returned. Spain’s new democratic government granted considerable autonomy to the country’s regions. The Basque region was given it’s own parliament and was granted control over issues such as education and taxes, while the distinctive Basque language and culture was promoted in schools.
However for a minority in the ETA this partial autonomy was not enough. They believed that Basques should have full independence from Spain, and to this end they intensified the violence against security forces and politicians. These become the group’s main targets.
The former Socialist government of Felipe Gonzalez attempted to combat ETA’s violence by setting up GAL anti-terrorist liberation groups, who were responsible for the deaths of 28 suspected ETA members. Secret talks between ETA and the government were held in 1992 in Algeria but failed to bring an end to the conflict. In July 1997 an estimated 6 million Spanish people took to the streets to condemn ETA violence, following the brutal kidnapping and murder of a young Basque politician.
The current Spanish government has adopted a hard-line approach to all things related to the ETA and in Dec. 97 the entire 23 members leadership of ETA’s political wing Herri Batasuma were sentenced to seven years each in jail for collaborating with the armed group.
The recent peace agreement in Northern Ireland heavily influenced the ETA. In September 1998, ETA announced its first cease-fire since the start of its 30-year campaign of violence. The ceasefire was meant to lay the foundation for talks between the organization's political wing, Herri Batasuna and the Spanish government.
The Spanish government dismissed the ceasefire as stalling tactic to allow ETA was taking advantage of the truce to rearm and reorganize in preparation for a return to the armed struggle. During the truce the group had planned and carried out raids on a number of arms depots and munitions factories.
During the ceasefire there were no major terror attacks. However, there were almost daily attacks in the Basque region against property belonging to local politicians, or against post office vehicles and banks, which are seen as symbols of Spanish sovereignty.
At the end of November, 14 months after the declaration of ceasefire, ETA announced that its militants would resume attacks on Spanish targets "from 3 December 1999." The organization blamed its decision to end the truce on the repressive measures taken by the Spanish government and on the failure of mainstream Basque nationalists to work with it toward the creation of an independent Basque state. An official ETA statement said, "The (peace) process is blocked and poisoned. Responding to a pledge to defend the Basque Country, the decision has been taken to reactivate the use of armed struggle."
ETA’s membership is believed to be quite small, perhaps no more than 20 hard-core activists and several hundred supporters. The organization's non-heirarchical structure is difficult for the authorities to penetrate. It's members operate in small self-sufficient cells with only the most tenuous links with the organization's leadership.
While ETA is operationally headquartered in the Basque provinces of Spain and France, the organization is reported to have members and underground supporters in locations as diverse as Algeria, Argentina, Belgium, Cape Verde, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Germany, Holland, Italy, Mexico, Netherlands, Panama, Sao Tome and Principe, Uruguay, and Venezuela.
Most recently ETA activities have been coordinated from France, although some of the organization's leaders are suspected of directing the group's activities from Latin America as well.
ETA is believed to have received training at various times in the past in Libya, South Yemen, Lebanon, and Nicaragua. Some ETA members allegedly have sought sanctuary in Cuba. The group has ties with the Irish Republican Army through the two groups’ legal political wings.
Funding comes primarily from Basque supporters, extortion (collection of "Basque revolutionary taxes"), drug trafficking, kidnapping ransoms, and armed robberies. These funds are used to finance activities such as assassinations (chiefly French and Spanish government targets), bombings (indiscriminate, lethal and sophisticated, favorite explosiveGoma2), and guerrilla attacks.
The group operates primarily in the Basque autonomous regions of the northern Spain and southwestern France, but also has bombed Spanish and French interests elsewhere. Since the ETA began their terrorist campaign, they have been blamed for more than 1,000 deaths. While the group has not directly targeted U.S. interests, it has provided support to many Latin American terrorist organizations.
ETA’s violent campaign began with an attempt to derail a train transporting politicians and army veterans.
In 1968, ETA launched a campaign of political assassination, mostly of government officials, security and military forces, politicians, and judicial figures.
ETA’s most spectacular success was the assassination in December 1973 of Admiral Luis Carrero Blanco. Admiral Blanco was seen at the time as Franco’s most likely successor, and his death may have significantly hastened the end of Spanish fascism.
In 1980, 118 people were killed in ETA’s bloodiest year.
In 1995, the French and Spanish authorities foiled an ETA plan to assassinate King Juan Carlos in Majorca. In the same year ETA attempted to assassinate the leader of the opposition Popular Party (later Prime Minister), Jose Maria Anzar, by means of a car bomb.
In July 1997, ETA kidnapped and killed councilor Miguel Angel Blanco.
In June 1998, ETA killed Popular Party councilor Manuel Zamarreno, with a car bomb.
Of the groups’ 768 victims, more than half were Spanish security forces personnel. The groups’ primary mode of operation is bombings and shootings. ETA also has targeted French interests, in response to French security operations against ETA members in France.
The organization finances its activities through kidnappings, robberies, and extortion. Since 1970, ETA has perpetrated an estimated 46 kidnappings for ransom.
Links to Relevant Articles & Documents
EUSKAL HERRIA JOURNAL ETA's Democratic Alternative
Christian Science Monitor Basques take political tack
Spanish Ministry of Interior ETA – Assassination as an Argument
Home | Spotlight | International Terrorism | Counter-Terrorism | Arab-Israeli Conflict | Search | Forum
Re: Bush Wins. The flight begins now!
CascadianConfederacy (at) yahoogroups.com
_www.MoveOnCalifornia.org
_www.republicofpacifica.org
_www.cascadia.org
Basque Homeland and Freedom
Euskadi Ta Askatasuna
The Basque Fatherland and Liberty group was founded in 1959 by a group of student activists dissatisfied with the moderate nationalism of the traditional Basque party. The group's aim is the creation of an independent homeland in Spain's Basque region. The group has a loose commitment to Marxism.
At present ETA's principal demands are:
* self-determination for the Basque country, Euskadi;
* the union of the province of Navarre with Euskadi;
* the regrouping of imprisoned ETA activists currently serving sentances in Spain in prisons in the Basque region
History
Structure
Terrorist Activity
Links
Updates
Attacks
from 1988-Present
ETA had its origin in a nationalist group, EKIN, formed as a result of the moderate actions of the Partido Nacionalista Vasco (PNV, Basque Nationalist Party) during the Franco regime. EKIN was founded by young activists from Bizkaia and Gipuzkao, who felt that the PNV was not acting energetically enough to advance the Basque cause.
EKIN attempted to gain the support of the PVN, however the opposition of some of its leaders prevented cooperation. In 1958, EKIN became Euskadi Ta Askatasuna (E.T.A. - Basque Homeland and Liberty). ETA was the only armed group to emerge in the Spanish State during the Franco era.
ETA’s first activities involved planting explosives in the cities of Bilbao, Vitoria and Santander in 1959. Its first military action was in 1961--an unsuccessful attempt to derail a train carrying civil war veterans travelling to Donostia to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Spanish Civil War. The police responded with road controls, arrests, house searches and the widespread use of torture. As a result many Basques went into exile abroad, while others joined ETA’s struggle.
When General Franco died in 1976 and democracy was restored in Spain many exiles returned. Spain’s new democratic government granted considerable autonomy to the country’s regions. The Basque region was given it’s own parliament and was granted control over issues such as education and taxes, while the distinctive Basque language and culture was promoted in schools.
However for a minority in the ETA this partial autonomy was not enough. They believed that Basques should have full independence from Spain, and to this end they intensified the violence against security forces and politicians. These become the group’s main targets.
The former Socialist government of Felipe Gonzalez attempted to combat ETA’s violence by setting up GAL anti-terrorist liberation groups, who were responsible for the deaths of 28 suspected ETA members. Secret talks between ETA and the government were held in 1992 in Algeria but failed to bring an end to the conflict. In July 1997 an estimated 6 million Spanish people took to the streets to condemn ETA violence, following the brutal kidnapping and murder of a young Basque politician.
The current Spanish government has adopted a hard-line approach to all things related to the ETA and in Dec. 97 the entire 23 members leadership of ETA’s political wing Herri Batasuma were sentenced to seven years each in jail for collaborating with the armed group.
The recent peace agreement in Northern Ireland heavily influenced the ETA. In September 1998, ETA announced its first cease-fire since the start of its 30-year campaign of violence. The ceasefire was meant to lay the foundation for talks between the organization's political wing, Herri Batasuna and the Spanish government.
The Spanish government dismissed the ceasefire as stalling tactic to allow ETA was taking advantage of the truce to rearm and reorganize in preparation for a return to the armed struggle. During the truce the group had planned and carried out raids on a number of arms depots and munitions factories.
During the ceasefire there were no major terror attacks. However, there were almost daily attacks in the Basque region against property belonging to local politicians, or against post office vehicles and banks, which are seen as symbols of Spanish sovereignty.
At the end of November, 14 months after the declaration of ceasefire, ETA announced that its militants would resume attacks on Spanish targets "from 3 December 1999." The organization blamed its decision to end the truce on the repressive measures taken by the Spanish government and on the failure of mainstream Basque nationalists to work with it toward the creation of an independent Basque state. An official ETA statement said, "The (peace) process is blocked and poisoned. Responding to a pledge to defend the Basque Country, the decision has been taken to reactivate the use of armed struggle."
ETA’s membership is believed to be quite small, perhaps no more than 20 hard-core activists and several hundred supporters. The organization's non-heirarchical structure is difficult for the authorities to penetrate. It's members operate in small self-sufficient cells with only the most tenuous links with the organization's leadership.
While ETA is operationally headquartered in the Basque provinces of Spain and France, the organization is reported to have members and underground supporters in locations as diverse as Algeria, Argentina, Belgium, Cape Verde, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Germany, Holland, Italy, Mexico, Netherlands, Panama, Sao Tome and Principe, Uruguay, and Venezuela.
Most recently ETA activities have been coordinated from France, although some of the organization's leaders are suspected of directing the group's activities from Latin America as well.
ETA is believed to have received training at various times in the past in Libya, South Yemen, Lebanon, and Nicaragua. Some ETA members allegedly have sought sanctuary in Cuba. The group has ties with the Irish Republican Army through the two groups’ legal political wings.
Funding comes primarily from Basque supporters, extortion (collection of "Basque revolutionary taxes"), drug trafficking, kidnapping ransoms, and armed robberies. These funds are used to finance activities such as assassinations (chiefly French and Spanish government targets), bombings (indiscriminate, lethal and sophisticated, favorite explosiveGoma2), and guerrilla attacks.
The group operates primarily in the Basque autonomous regions of the northern Spain and southwestern France, but also has bombed Spanish and French interests elsewhere. Since the ETA began their terrorist campaign, they have been blamed for more than 1,000 deaths. While the group has not directly targeted U.S. interests, it has provided support to many Latin American terrorist organizations.
ETA’s violent campaign began with an attempt to derail a train transporting politicians and army veterans.
In 1968, ETA launched a campaign of political assassination, mostly of government officials, security and military forces, politicians, and judicial figures.
ETA’s most spectacular success was the assassination in December 1973 of Admiral Luis Carrero Blanco. Admiral Blanco was seen at the time as Franco’s most likely successor, and his death may have significantly hastened the end of Spanish fascism.
In 1980, 118 people were killed in ETA’s bloodiest year.
In 1995, the French and Spanish authorities foiled an ETA plan to assassinate King Juan Carlos in Majorca. In the same year ETA attempted to assassinate the leader of the opposition Popular Party (later Prime Minister), Jose Maria Anzar, by means of a car bomb.
In July 1997, ETA kidnapped and killed councilor Miguel Angel Blanco.
In June 1998, ETA killed Popular Party councilor Manuel Zamarreno, with a car bomb.
Of the groups’ 768 victims, more than half were Spanish security forces personnel. The groups’ primary mode of operation is bombings and shootings. ETA also has targeted French interests, in response to French security operations against ETA members in France.
The organization finances its activities through kidnappings, robberies, and extortion. Since 1970, ETA has perpetrated an estimated 46 kidnappings for ransom.
Links to Relevant Articles & Documents
EUSKAL HERRIA JOURNAL ETA's Democratic Alternative
Christian Science Monitor Basques take political tack
Spanish Ministry of Interior ETA – Assassination as an Argument
Home | Spotlight | International Terrorism | Counter-Terrorism | Arab-Israeli Conflict | Search | Forum