Communist Platform (Marxist-Leninist): NATO’s Favourite Social Democrat Dog of War

Former Prime Minister and Labour Party leader Jens Stoltenberg has been appointed Secretary General of NATO. The Norwegian right-wing Government of Erna Solberg, as well as the Labour party leadership itself, are bursting with pride on behalf of the Norwegian administration as well as that of the Labour Party. The neo- liberalist rightist government has been actively lobbying in order to ensure that Mr. Stoltenberg, supposedly a political opponent, would replace Danish Anders Fogh Rasmussen in Brussels. But the Norwegian people have no reason to rejoice at Stoltenberg becoming the front-runner for NATO’s “Drang nach Osten.” His assignment is to spearhead an aggression eastwards, which in the worst case could end with another major European war. A Norwegian Secretary General of NATO will mean that Norway to an even greater extent than hitherto will spearhead this expansive alliance when it engages in new wars of aggression. It will bring about even more NATO-subservient media, more militarization and more looting of taxpayers’ money. Being a tool of imperialism is an unbroken and shameful tradition of social democracy since the onset of the First imperialist world war one hundred years ago. 1914 was a watershed. Most of the old social democratic parties in Europe, but not in Russia, betrayed their roots and ideals by entering into the service of imperialism and their “own” bourgeoisie. At first, they swore that they opposed imperialist war and would never raise arms against brothers in other countries, before they swung round and voted for war credits. After this class betrayal, it became impossible for revolutionary socialists to call themselves social democrats. Today, the Social Democratic leaders are no longer merely lackeys of imperialism. They have themselves become spokesmen and the most prominent figures of modern imperialism. It was Stoltenberg’s “red and green” government coalition project (2005-2013) that really transformed Norway into NATO’s most efficient bulldog. The appointment of Stoltenberg is a reward for obedience and ability to adapt to the agenda of greater imperialist powers in America and Europe. Stoltenberg has shown that he not only obeys the U.S. and UK, but that he also lends an ear to Germany and France. He is therefore acceptable for Merkel and Hollande, too. The imperialist unity around Stoltenberg is also a signal that NATO will further escalate the militarisation vis a vis Russia in the Arctic area, corresponding to the long-standing request from the Norwegian political elite and the oil monopolies. It has been said that a secretary general of NATO is more secretary than general, and there is much to it. The task of a Fogh Rasmussen or a Stoltenberg is to smoothe tensions between the U.S. and European powers. Their obligation is to get this imperialist alliance to agree on a common strategy, which in practice coincides with the strategic interests of U.S. imperialism. An important part of this strategy is, of course, how to face main rival Russia, and to a certain extent China. But more important than anything, is how to quell the aspirations of freedom-loving peoples and rebellious workers at home and abroad. It is no national honour, but the contrary, when Norway will spearhead the most aggressive military alliance in the world in the years to come. Labour Party leader and former Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg is objectively a war criminal, who is acquitted because those who retain the power, i.e. the USA and NATO, also have the power to define who should or should not be impeached. In several New Year speeches Jens Stoltenberg told the Norwegian people that he was “filled with pride to see what Norwegian soldiers accomplish in a distant land.” In 2011 this “distant land” was Afghanistan. The following year, Stoltenberg boasted how Norwegian F-16 fighters had bombed Libya to the ground: “Our crews were among the most skilled in a broad coalition, and have since garnered deserved praise from our allies.” The sufferings which Norwegian attack forces have inflicted on civilians in Afghanistan and Libya, is inconceivable. But to the imperialists and monopolies, this is merely collateral damage. President Obama is no doubt impressed by the vigour Stoltenberg demonstrated when he and his ministers from the Labour Party, The Socialist Left party (SV) and the Centre party swept international law and the Norwegian constitution aside, agreeing by means of text messages to declare war against Libya in March 2011. A US President would hardly have dared anything of the kind, without first having secured the backing of Congress. This was one reason why Obama was compelled to back out from the planned attack on Syria in September 2013. Or when British Prime Minister David Cameron had to put up with a stinging defeat in the British Parliament. Jens Stoltenberg, however, has shown that he can go to war by phone if necessary. Reassuring? Hardly. Stoltenberg has demonstrated that he will not allow popular protest or constitutional rules to curb the road to war if the U.S. of A. and NATO have given the word “Go”. Simultaneously, his rhetorical skills prod the media to exhibit him as a peace dove. A two-faced secretary general is to the liking of the major NATO powers. Getting Norway out of NATO would be the greatest service the people of Norway can offer in favour of world peace and the oppressed peoples and nations on this planet.