War, what it’s good for?
CHRIS Purnell, a proud Labour Party supporter, forgets or ignores the Labour Party's support of and involvement in, since its inception, past wars, resulting in the deaths of millions of workers ("Afghanistan: it's time to head for exit", Letters, October 29).
He had hoped to be an MP in this party of capitalism whose claim to be socialist is fallacious.
Why his "demand" for the withdrawal of "our" troops from Afghanistan? It would seem it's "because there is no oil there". Mr Purnell, if there were, would that make a difference to your stand? There are various reasons for this nation state's ruling class to have troops there, and why they see it in their national interests. Try coal, natural gas, trade route, sphere of influence or for markets and military bases.
Besides oil and natural gas, Afghanistan is estimated to have 73 million tons of coal reserves in the Herat and Badashkan region of the country. The US Department of Energy estimates the gas reserves in Turkmenistan are the fifth largest in the world and Kazakhstan is soon to become one of the world's largest oil producers.
Modern war should not divert workers' attention from their historical task: that of removing the state/private propertied system that causes war and is diametrically opposed to the exploited working class's interests.
To remove the need for troops, and war, requires the establishment of common-ownership and democratic control of the means of living in the interests of the whole of society. Only enlightened workers, clear in their desire and understanding, can establish such a society.
W Buchanan
Orpington
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