From Genoa to Munich
> > 
> > Against the meeting of the world-war-elite!
> > 
> > Every year in February the Munich Security Conference is hold, a meeting of
administration officials of the NATO-members and about 200 representative
military strategists, generals and experts on military equipment.
> > 
> > The gathering of EU- and NATO-representatives, the Ministers of foreign
affairs and war of the USA, Germany and the other EU-countries try to make the
public believe that the main topic of this conference is the keeping of peace in
the whole world and the international security. The opposite is true: They are
planning the next war!
> > 
> > Behind the closed doors of the noble hotel “Bayerischer Hof” – secluded from
the public – they design new pictures of potential “enemies” and forge plans for
future military intervention alike the NATO-aggression against former
Yugoslavia. They are not talking about security, but about new effective mobile
intervention forces, further armament programs and the positioning of modern
high-tech-weapons in space. Every year the NATO-members have expenses on
armament of more than 1.000.000 million German marks.
> > 
> > The persons that occupy the economical and political power in the USA,
Germany and the EU see themselves as the “rulers of the world”. They claim to
have the right to “unhindered access to all markets and resources all over the
world”. The USA, Germany and the EU are determined to enforce their economic
interests with military force, if necessary, against the rest of the world,
either with the NATO or in military solo attempts of USA or the EU.
> > 
> > The world-wide capitalist Exploitation and its military protection are two
sides of the same medal – a system that strives exclusively to guarantee profit
and that is murderous not only during war-time. One element of this policy is
the hermetic blockade of the EU- and US-frontiers against refugees and
immigrants; and in Germany: racist laws against foreigners, the abolition of the
right to asylum, Nazi-terror and murder.
> > 
> > No peace with the war-planners!
> > 
> > The Munich Security Conference is no local event. This conference is the
Davos of the NATO and the military strategists. Therefore:
> > 
> > Interfere! Stop the war-policy of the NATO-Members!
> > 
> > We appeal to you to take part in and support the protests against the
NATO-conference – let them not remain as undisturbed as in the last years!
> > 
> > Our Proposition:
> > 
> > • On Friday, February the 1st 2002, at 5 p.m. we plan a protest
manifestation in front of the city hall, where the town council meets the
participants of the conference.
> > • On Sunday, February 2nd 2002 we want to organise a demonstration to the
hotel “Bayerischer Hof” where the conference takes place.
> > • In the evening we try to conduct a “anti-congress“ against militarism.
> > 
> > 
> > Münchner Bündnis gegen Rassismus · All Nepal National Free Students Union ·
Anti-Atom-Bündnis München · antifa aktionsbündnis bayern (aabb) · Antifa
Backnang · Antifa Ravensburg · AKM – Antifaschistisch Kämpfen München ·
Antifascistik Aktion – Sverige, Schweden · AStA der
Geschwister-Scholl-Universität München · Arbeitskreis International Dorfen ·
Arbeitskreis Internationalismus des AStA der Geschwister-Scholl-Universität
München · Autonome Netzguerilla · Bayerischer Flüchtlingsrat · Buko24
Vorbereitungsgruppe · BUND-jugend Baden-Württemberg · CSOA Il Molino, Lugano ·
Deutscher Freidenkerverband München · DIFD - Föderation Demokratischer
Arbeitervereine aus der Türkei in der BRD e.V. · Dresdner Antifa-Cafe ·
Dritte-Welt-Cafe München · DKP Kreisverband München · Gruppo Anarchico
Contropotere, Italien · internationale sozialistische linke (isl) · Kollettivo
Pokospino, KP Italien · Landesausschuß der Studentinnen und Studenten (LASS) der
GEW Bayern · Libertad! · Linksruck München · Münchner Gewerkschaftslinke ·
Netzwerk Selbsthilfe e.V. · Ökologische Linke München · Ökumenisches Büro für
Frieden und Gerechtigkeit e.V. · organisierte autonomie nürnberg (oa) · PAULA
Memmingen · PDS München · RSB – Revolutionär Sozialistischer Bund – IV.
Internationale · [ || solid] – Sozialistische Jugend München · Kafe Defaa
München · Sezione "VELLA" Partito Rifondazione Comunista, Palermo · Schwarzmark
Hamburg · amak München · Infoladen Freising · Nodo50 (spain) · kolectivo
agitacion libertaria (spain) · Antifaschistische Aktion Berlin · colectivo
anarquista resistencia libertaria (spain) · Sozialistische Jugend · Sulmona
Social Forum, Italien · resist!e.V. · Radikale Linke Köln· offenes antifaplenum
leipzig · Linkswende (Wien) ·Collina Luciano Consigliere Comunale (italy, bo) ·
attac Burgos · Kommunistischer StudentInnen Verband GRAZ · Antifa Merseburg ·
Gruppe Arbeitermacht · another world is possible (new york) · collettivo
klandestino (italy) · AJB- Alternative Jugend Berchtesgadeb · Antifa Darmstadt ·
Revolutionery Labor Party of Iran (Red-Toufan) · Kommunistische Jugend
Österreich (KJÖ) · Antifa-Sofa Landshut · Quicksilver Campus (London) · Jugend
Königs Wusterhausen [ajkw] · Kulturschock Zelle · the jean blômart collective
(trier) · NoRa/Regensburg · gruppe mücadele Berlin · Antifa Thun (Schweiz) ·
only human (Braunschweig) · INSTITUTE OF ART & CULTURE (Laos) · Observatorio
Global de Salamanca (spain) · cultural error collective (uk) · öh salzburg ·
ATIGF-Föderation der Arbeiter und Jugendlichen aus der Türkei in Österreich
(Wien) · RAVA (Zürich) · Gruppe AQuadrat (Stuttgart) · Socialist labour party of
Croatia (Zagreb) · Autonomes Jugendzentrum Between (Begrenz) · autonomous womble
(Amsterdam) · Silvesterplenum Pesina (Italy)
> > 
> > 
> > >From Genoa to Munich - Stop NATO/EU war politics!
> > Oppose the meeting of the world war-elite!
> > 
> > This year's annual Munich Conference on Security Policy takes place between
> > 1st and 3rd February. Thirty foreign ministers and war ministers of NATO and
EU states are due to take part, including a delegation of US senators and
congressmen, as well as a number of top military strategists, generals and arms
experts. Delegations from Russia and China are also expected, although this will
not alter the fact that NATO and EU states will determine substance and
policies.
> > 
> > Official organiser of the security conference is BMW's own Herbert Quandt
foundation. The alliance between capital and the military can hardly be better
demonstrated. For the participants of the Conference on Security Policy the
central themes are the planning of current and future wars, the establishment of
powerful, mobile strike forces, and the development of new billion-dollar
weapons systems.
> > Themes of the security conference 2002 are 'international terrorism' and
'global security'. With such aggressive epithets the so-called civilised world
will deem itself more able to wage war wherever it considers its interests are
endangered. The Conference on Security Policy is also an occasion for the
military-political powers to negotiate spheres of control. Even within the last
few years quite explosive war-planning matters were discussed. In 1998 for
example US military operations in Iraq were on the agenda and the question of
using German air force bases. During the last conference, as part of their
National Missile Defense System, US plans for the militarisation of space were
discussed, and the participation of EU states. Massive contradictions of
interest became apparent between the USA and their European NATO allies who
increasingly call for their own EU-military block. At the Conference on Security
Policy 2002, the German Federal Republic will use the opportunity to push its
major-power demands within the 'anti-terror' war coalition. However, whether
competitively or in collaboration with each other, under the heading of the
discourse on 'global security' and 'international terrorism', EU and NATO member
states will continue to plan strategies for war.
> > 
> > The military arm of capital - NATO and its new strategic concept
> > 
> > Combined with the new NATO strategies exists the US concept of 'Joint Vision
2010'. With this concept the militarily assured dominance of the US is sustained
in the entire air, land and sea combat-spheres, and in space. Enemies are those
who act against the interests of the US or against the interests Of their
European allies. Whereas at the time of the Gulf War, many people sniggered at
US President George Bush's much used phrase 'A New World Order'; it now seems
it's more obvious strategic meaning has become clear. No one may depart from the
'New World Order' or criticise it. Those who nevertheless dare to oppose it,
risk militarily backed consequences or sanctions.
> > 
> > "The great wars of the 20th century took place between wealthy nations. In
the next century those prosperous nations now living peacefully with each other
will have to defend their wealth from the people of the poor countries and
regions of the world" (Lieutenant Reinhard Herden, Truppenpraxis /
Wehrausbildung Nr. 2+3/96)
> > 
> > NATO's new concept is distinguished by its contrived intimidation scenarios,
whereby NATO legitimises its own actions: Interruption to the supply of vital
resources, the threat of terrorism and acts of sabotage, even the weakening of
internal security through movement of refugees.
> > 
> > The military reorganisation of Europe - Military policy beyond NATO
> > 
> > In November last year, within the framework of European security and defence
policies, the EU foreign and defence ministers of NATO member states took over
all important functions from the West-European Defence Union. Their tasks will
in future be taken over by the EU 'rapid deployment force'. By 2003 this new
intervention strike force of 60,000 soldiers is due to be available for
assignment and deployment anywhere around the globe. No other EU project is
currently being prepared with so much intensity and energy.
> > 
> > The creation of an independent European strike force, a necessary
development of the experience of dependence on the USA during the Gulf War and
during the war against Yugoslavia, is a definitive move on the road to military
independence. Seen in the long term, it is an attempt to extract itself from the
military embrace of the superpower and to assert itself in its
worldwideinterests, even where it is in opposition to the US. It would be a
misconception to view the strengthening of Europe simply from military-political
aspects. The 'conquest' of Eastern Europe on an economic level in terms of the
enlargement of the EU, is already taking place, forexample with the help of the
'eastern expansion' of NATO, or the 'protectorate' of the former Yugoslavia.
> > 
> > The internal and external role of the German Armed Forces (Bundeswehr) 
> > 
> > Once the decision had been made 46 years ago to reinstate German military
forces and their possible deployment within the Federal Republic according to
Article 87a, the restructuring of the Bundeswehr became the second historical
turning point of German military and foreign policy. The Bundeswehr will now
receive, in the form of this intended strengthening of its so called 'crisis
reaction forces' (rapid deployment units), a structural offensive capability.
> > 
> > For ten years or more the military have been working on new strategic
concepts in which the proposed deployment of the Bundeswehr would be for
commercial purposes, and in which its need is justified by continually growing
military assignments far away from Europe. The intention of adapting the
Bundeswehr to carry out two large war assignments each year (as in Kosovo) is
nothing more than representing armed conflict as a normal occurrence.
> > 
> > A restructuring of the Bundeswehr is a component of the reorganisation of
Europe, an objective whereby Europe realises its bargaining power as a Global
player. Germany is in a leading position in this process of reorganisation. The
drive for economic, political and ultimately also military might is Clearly
combined with a European process of amalgamation as well as eastward expansion.
> > 
> > The 11th September and the 'War against Terror'
> > 
> > The attack on the World Trade Center on 11th September was a reactionary
act, for which no emancipation movement on earth may use as a point of
reference. Neither the choice of non-participant people as weapons, nor the
objective of thousands of dead may be considered for a revolutionary movement.
> > 
> > If however the alleged civilised world now speaks of nothing being the same
as before the attacks, then this represents quite clearly the differencesaround
the world. The reaction to the attacks from people of the poorer southern
nations was principally that nothing had changed in their daily reality. The
scenes of rapture from peoples of the so-called third world, either passed over
in deadly silence or condemned by the western media, were not simply mockery of
the dead. Such reactions are not conceivable without consideration of worldwide
class disparity. That which is represented as epoch breaking in the USA, the
nation considered worldwide as the leading representative of the capitalist
system, is for millions of people in the nations of the south just an everyday
reality.
> > 
> > The real change to the situation for people in these southern nations is
insignificant, and the change to the role of the world's western military powers
is equally small. Here, everything remains as it was: The USA with ist allies,
makes war on the so-called rogue states, now known as 'States of concern'. The
UN Security Council assigns its approval of this war of 'self defence' and once
again Europe attempts to distinguish itself by cooperation.
> > 
> > A number of interests are being served by this war: The USA is able to
assert its world military predominance and clearly demonstrates once and for all
that such an attack upon itself will never occur without fatal consequences to
the aggressor. Additionally, such things as 'national interests' such as access
to resources, are stabilised. NATO member states decided the case for the
war-alliance with USA in record time, without actually becoming involved in
decisions or actions of the US. The German government seeks to acquire a
stronger image in its role as 'new world power', and countries such as Pakistan
or India, by their entry into the 'Anti-terror coalition' once again relish
their general acceptance.
> > 
> > The only real danger in this new situation is the threat to the development
of liberation movements, and this must be our main concern. Not least because
the term 'terror' may be easily manipulated and applied to whatever opposes the
ruling world order. The reactions of the ruling elite are aimed at whatever
might call their rule into question, whether reactionary or liberating
movements. Clearly this does not mean we must support reactionary movements, but
it does mean that we will be subjected to such methods. We must therefore
denounce this war for what it is; a mechanism to further secure the ruling world
order.
> > 
> > Their 'security': Severe poverty and exploitation
> > 
> > The external and internal wars of the so-called 'civilised' world is
attended by an ideological discourse of security matters by which each crime of
the ruling powers is portrayed as a defensive act against a monstrous rival,
threatening the security of its metropolitan inhabitants from the outside.
> > 
> > Consider the term 'security' from the perspective of military and police
strategists and we may then ask; what 'security' within current prevailing
conditions, is actually extended to the mass of the people? What security does
this system offer a Bolivian small farmer who, due to IMF restructuring
conditions can no longer pay the inflated fuel and bread prices?
> > What is the meaning of security for a woman working whose bare survival is
assured only by a 16-hour day in a Philippine famous-label textile sweatshop?
> > Or for a person in Sierra Leone where the only commercial activity which
still functions is participation in the civil war for diamonds for the European
market?
> > 
> > What form of security exists for an Afghan refugee who may choose only
between the restrained charity of the International Red Cross and the pious
promises of an Islam preacher? How secure is the future for the unemployed youth
in the suburbs of Paris? …or for a refugee in a deportation gaol at Frankfurt
Airport? …or for the homeless in Munich? What security does European social
democracy offer the unemployed who may choose only between low-wage jobs or cuts
in social assistance? What do we stand to gain from security if we must
continually work more, with more 'flexibility', and for less money?
> > What security does a woman in this society have from domestic violence? What
security exists for migrants and refugees against the manhunts that regularly
take place along EU borders, or racist laws affecting foreigners and murderous
nazi-terror? The answers to all these questions are in reality somewhat feeble.
> > 
> > External Warfare…
> > 
> > During the last few decades more and more economic and political might has
been concentrated into the hands of the richest and most powerful nations and
multinationals. Their 'opening' of world markets, the new technologies and the
collapse of the competing real-socialist system have brought about a world-wide
scramble for human and material resources as never before.
> > This development, also called globalisation, enables the administrators of
the capitalist state of affairs to smooth over the contradictions within society
without resorting to state-social minimum-guarantees. In Asia, Africa and Latin
America as well as in the rich metropoles, more and more people have simply
become surplus to capitalist production requirements. At the same Time whole
nations in Africa and Central Asia have been connected to the world market.
Without of course offering their inhabitants any alternative.
> > 
> > Such a development does not take place peacefully. Forcing increasingly more
nations into the capitalist world means that people who oppose such development
must be forcefully pushed aside. This happens in Colombia forexample when small
farmers and landless peasants are driven off or murdered by military forces and
the paramilitaries, to clear the way for oil concerns and agrarian
multinationals. Where states and alliances of states fight over markets, raw
materials and geo-strategic benefits, they will, where necessary, make war,
whether in Yugoslavia, in the Caucasus or dirty wars with the help of
death-squads or The support of 'contra' forces. Where state systems economically
and politically brake down, and a social alternative does not seem to be at
hand, they will be superseded by economic plunder by warlords fighting among
themselves.
> > 
> > Wherever capitalism no longer has anything to offer the people, a potential
for social struggles will appear, but also for reactionary wonder-cures or for
destructive violence. In any event there exists a potential for unrest, which
the ruling elite are obliged to bring under control. That is to say, the USA,
Germany and the other members of NATO and the EU have many reasons, their global
power claims as well as ensuring further functioning of the capitalist
exploitation apparatus, to resort more increasingly to military force. This
secures nothing for us. On the contrary, we should in future prepare ourselves
for a diffuse, permanent state of war, as pronounced by Bush and Chancellor
Schröder as a "long enduring war against terror".
> > 
> > Internal repression and racism
> > 
> > 
> > External warfare finds its inner-political analogy in the build-up of state
repressional apparatus, which has overshadowed all other developments in the
last few years. These include biometric identity cards, use of thoroughgoing
genetic information, ideological tests for workers in hospitals and transport
services, combining police and secret service functions, domestic functions and
duties for the military, not to mention wide-area camera surveillance, increased
police presence and suspicion dragnets. In the USA the legalising of torture is
already being openly discussed. The increase in internal security leads to
further racist phenomena within state and society. According to the new set of
laws proposed by German interior minister Herr Schily, refugees and migrants in
future will be expelled on simplistic 'suspicion of extremism' grounds. The
final abolition of the basic right of asylum is also foreseen, as well as
further restrictions to freedom of movement and new internment camps for
'deportation' cases.
> > 
> > The provisions for 'internal security' are concerned with much more than
just terrorism panic. The state is able to create in record time that which
would normally have taken a couple of years to realise. The more social
insecurity increases, and the more this system marginalises a growing number of
people, the more a state makes use of repression. Internal security makes people
invisible. Those who have no place in society, for example the 'undesirable'
migrants or people who become socially marginalised through poverty. Internal
security is preventative rebellion control in a number of ways:
> > Ideologically, it creates a unification with the state and its apparatus,
which manifests itself as the strong protecting the weak against the 'corrupt'.
The impression of complete control prevents people from even thinking about
defending themselves by opposing the established norms. Movements of migrants
should be controlled with respect to each separate location. In no small way is
the state perfecting the means to react with all necessary might against
possible future social disturbances, mass strikes and revolts.
> > 
> > Our security means fighting together against war, exploitation and
repression, worldwide!
> > 
> > It is certainly not the first time that the armed wing of the imperialist
states is the root cause of resistance and protest. Following the background of
NATO's 'double standard' (stationing US Pershings), acts of civil disobedience
were on the agenda, e.g., blockading Mutlangen US air base. Even the disbanding
of NATO was part of the German Greens' party programme until their participation
in the present coalition.
> > 
> > In the eighties fierce, militant resistance to NATO policies was a
particular expression of radical left politics. Even today we still need to
overcome the loss of orientation following the fall of the real-socialist block
and the diffuse behaviour during the Yugoslavian war. A continuation of past
struggles would be to squarely defy capital's henchmen, and Munich would be a
suitable occasion.
> > 
> > Worldwide social and revolutionary movements have strategies and initiatives
for all such questions of security and have possibilities on their agendas that
the ruling system can never offer. The manifestations in Seattle, Prague and
Genoa give us, in the face of all difficulties and contradictions, perspectives
for a new worldwide resistance which is able to bring all the various struggles
together. Today, our objective must be to create a new, international movement,
which is able to represent radical alternatives to an economically, politically
and socially unjust world order whose protagonists rely on repression and
military interventions. This aspect we must also consider, that the state's war
on terror is not least aimed at us. The response to resistance by 300,000 people
in Genoa was with confinement, tear gas attacks, brutal police skirmishes,
arrests and torture, even the murder of Carlo Giuliani. It is clear to us that
capitalism cannot ever be civilised. Worldwide exploitation and ist sustenance
via military force and repression are two sides of the same coin, two aspects of
a system that, in times of peace or war, shows no mercy at all.
> > 
> > The answer to capitalism and war is social revolution worldwide!
> > 
> > No peace for the war planners!
> > This time the Munich war conference will not take place undisturbed!
> > 
> > Fight NATO's war policies
> > We are calling for massive protest!
> > Globalise anti-capitalism!
> > Abolish capitalism!
> > 
> > Anti-NATO Committee
> > November 2001
> > (Arbeitskreis Internationalismus, akm - Antifaschistisch Kämpfen München,
PAULA Memmingen, AMAK - Anarchistische Menschen ausser Kontrolle,
Antifaschistisches Aktionsbündnis Augsburg, Antifaschistische Aktion
Lüneburg/Ülzen, Antifa Nürnberg, Netzwerk München e.V., OA - Organisierte
Autonomie Nürnberg, XX-Projekt München, Antifa-Sofa Landshut, WiKoop
Ludwigsburg, autonome antifa ludwigsburg) 
> >