IRAOKen Loach: Well, we have to carry the socialist arguments into the anti-war movement. I think that if there is ever to be a broadly based socialist alternative it can't have a better chance than now. This has to be the best soil that we will have for a very long time in which to grow that alternative. Blair is taking the Labour Party alongside Berlusconi and Aznar, and to the right of Chirac, not only against the war but in the drive to privatisation. In all this Blair is alongside the hard right in Europe.
Now if the left can't take advantage of such a position - given the huge popular opposition to the war - if we can't move to develop an alternative at this time, I can't imagine when we can.
We have to insist that the war is not an isolated maverick l avenge my father' action by Bush junior, but as a part of the US strateplan for the so-called American Century:'
It is interesting that Dick Cheney's infamous report [written in 2000] seems to have fulfilled the same function as the Ridley report did for the Thatcher government [It argued for the defeat of the miners as a means of defeating the whole of the trade union movement].
Cheney's report laid out the whole strategic plan for Us domination of the world in the next period. It was prepared by the pressure group Project for a New American Century. Involved were people like Rumsfeld, Bush's brother Jed (the vote rigger) and others.
The report laid out the strategic interests of the US and how they could be achieved. It says for example that they have to discourage advanced industrial nations from challenging 'our' (i.e. US) leadership, or even aspiring to a larger regional role. It argues that they have to maintain US global pre-eminence. It argues that they have to have a military which "boldly and purposefully promotes American principles abroad".
It argues that whilst conflict with Iraq
Pales For CND would provide the immediate justification for the use of substantial American force, the strategic issues involved would transcend the issue of the regime of Saddam Hussain. This is what the American right are really about
So this idea of the US right-wing as abstainers from the rest of the world is the opposite of the truth. Their aim is to create a world in which the big corporations can flourish. So Saddam Hussain is the pretext not the cause.
We have to see the whole picture. If we don't make the links between the war and the economic and social issues, and build on that basis, then the energy of the coalition could escape. Alan. So what you are saying is that the coalition should continue not only as a coalition against the war, the ongoing war, but it should exist as a political forum to take on board and discuss the whole issue of US global strategy at the economic and political level? Ken Loach: Yes absolutely, because otherwise we stand to lose all the political gains which have been made. Otherwise it could fade away. All the militancy and outrage could be dissipated. Alan. But beyond that there is the issue of the construction of a directly socialist alternative - of which the Socialist Alliance up until now has been the only real initiative in this direction. Are you saying that we need a new initiative which transcends the SA and brings in many of those around the anti-war movement? Ken Loach: Well, I think the Alliance would
ATTAC have a very important role to play, but | think it would have to be very sensitive as to how it went about it. I have been to my local coalition where I live, and it is very plain that there would be resistance if people thought it was being taken over. So I think we have got to be very sensitive in situations where a lot of the people are at meetings for the first time
We need a radical coalition, but I think there has to be a process. If the Alliance were just to say "we are now a new radical coalition: you should join us" it would not be successful. The Alliance would revert back to our core membership again. But the Alliance would need to be a major component of any new initiative.
If we take the demonstration on Feb ruary 15th, I would hazard a guess that ar anti-privatisation speech would have got a good reception. We are talking about very popular ideas. We need something like a radical alliance which can embrace these ideas.
We have to work out the details, but l can't think of better circumstances than at the present time to build a radical alternative to Blairism. We must not miss the moment. We have this tremendous mass movement with a new generation radicalising - and we have to grasp the opportunity Seize the moment while it is here.
One thing, and I have said this at boring length to friends in the coalition, is that it needs a really professional press office so that its impact can be maximised at every level. This should be the first call on funds at the present time. I think it is absolutely crucial. We represent the majority opinion in this country, and this is not reflected in the way we are treated by the media.
If we could make this kind of impact, and link the opposition to the war to the economic and social issues, I think we have the chance of building something which could really change things.