ANTIFA: Self-Appointed Radical Revolutionaries or Neoliberal Thought Police? Antifa (Photo: Twitter)Diana Johnstone 21st Century Wire Fascists are divided into two categories, the fascists and the anti-fascists  ~ Ennio FlaianoIn recent weeks, a totally disoriented left has been widely exhorted to unify around a masked vanguard calling itself Antifa, for anti-fascist. Hooded and dressed in black, Antifa is essentially a variation of the Black Bloc, familiar for introducing violence into peaceful demonstrations in many countries. Imported from Europe, the label Antifa sounds more political. It also serves the purpose of stigmatizing those it attacks as  fascists .Despite its imported European name, Antifa is basically just another example of America s steady descent into violence.Historical PretensionsAntifa first came to prominence from its role in reversing Berkeley s proud  free speech  tradition by preventing right wing personalities from speaking there. But its moment of glory was its clash with rightwingers in Charlottesville on August 12, largely because Trump commented that there were  good people on both sides . With exuberant Schadenfreude, commentators grabbed the opportunity to condemn the despised President for his  moral equivalence , thereby bestowing a moral blessing on Antifa.Charlottesville served as a successful book launching for Antifa: the Antifascist Handbook, whose author, young academic Mark Bray, is an Antifa in both theory and practice. The book is  really taking off very fast , rejoiced the publisher, Melville House. It instantly won acclaim from leading mainstream media such as the New York Times,The Guardian and NBC, not hitherto known for rushing to review leftwing books, least of all those by revolutionary anarchists.The Washington Post welcomed Bray as spokesman for  insurgent activist movements  and observed that: The book s most enlightening contribution is on the history of anti-fascist efforts over the past century, but its most relevant for today is its justification for stifling speech and clobbering white supremacists. Bray s  enlightening contribution  is to a tell a flattering version of the Antifa story to a generation whose dualistic, Holocaust-centered view of history has largely deprived them of both the factual and the analytical tools to judge multidimensional events such as the growth of fascism. Bray presents today s Antifa as though it were the glorious legitimate heir to every noble cause since abolitionism. But there were no anti-fascists before fascism, and the label  Antifa  by no means applies to all the many adversaries of fascism.The implicit claim to carry on the tradition of the International Brigades who fought in Spain against Franco is nothing other than a form of innocence by association. Since we must revere the heroes of the Spanish Civil War, some of that esteem is supposed to rub off on their self-designated heirs. Unfortunately, there are no veterans of the Abraham Lincoln Brigade still alive to point to the difference between a vast organized defense against invading fascist armies and skirmishes on the Berkeley campus. As for the Anarchists of Catalonia, the patent on anarchism ran out a long time ago, and anyone is free to market his own generic.The original Antifascist movement was an effort by the Communist International to cease hostilities with Europe s Socialist Parties in order to build a common front against the triumphant movements led by Mussolini and Hitler.Since Fascism thrived, and Antifa was never a serious adversary, its apologists thrive on the  nipped in the bud  claim:  if only  Antifascists had beat up the fascist movements early enough, the latter would have been nipped in the bud. Since reason and debate failed to stop the rise of fascism, they argue, we must use street violence   which, by the way, failed even more decisively.This is totally ahistorical. Fascism exalted violence, and violence was its preferred testing ground. Both Communists and Fascists were fighting in the streets and the atmosphere of violence helped fascism thrive as a bulwark against Bolshevism, gaining the crucial support of leading capitalists and militarists in their countries, which brought them to power.Since historic fascism no longer exists, Bray s Antifa have broadened their notion of  fascism  to include anything that violates the current Identity Politics canon: from  patriarchy  (a pre-fascist attitude to put it mildly) to  transphobia  (decidedly a post-fascist problem).The masked militants of Antifa seem to be more inspired by Batman than by Marx or even by Bakunin.Storm Troopers of the Neoliberal War PartySince Mark Bray offers European credentials for current US Antifa, it is appropriate to observe what Antifa amounts to in Europe today.In Europe, the tendency takes two forms. Black Bloc activists regularly invade various leftist demonstrations in order to smash windows and fight the police. These testosterone exhibits are of minor political significance, other than provoking public calls to strengthen police forces. They are widely suspected of being influenced by police infiltration.As an example, last September 23, several dozen black-clad masked ruffians, tearing down posters and throwing stones, attempted to storm the platform where the flamboyant Jean-Luc M lenchon was to address the mass meeting of La France Insoumise, today the leading leftist party in France. Their unspoken message seemed to be that nobody is revolutionary enough for them. Occasionally, they do actually spot a random skinhead to beat up. This establishes their credentials as  anti-fascist .They use these credentials to arrogate to themselves the right to slander others in a sort of informal self-appointed inquisition.As prime example, in late 2010, a young woman named Ornella Guyet appeared in Paris seeking work as a journalist in various leftist periodicals and blogs. She  tried to infiltrate everywhere , according to the former director of Le Monde diplomatique, Maurice Lemoine, who  always intuitively distrusted her  when he hired her as an intern.Viktor Dedaj, who manages one of the main leftist sites in France, Le Grand Soir, was among those who tried to help her, only to experience an unpleasant surprise a few months later. Ornella had become a self-appointed inquisitor dedicated to denouncing  conspirationism, confusionism, anti-Semitism and red-brown  on Internet. This took the form of personal attacks on individuals whom she judged to be guilty of those sins. What is significant is that all her targets were opposed to US and NATO aggressive wars in the Middle East.Indeed, the timing of her crusade coincided with the  regime change  wars that destroyed Libya and tore apart Syria. The attacks singled out leading critics of those wars.Viktor Dedaj was on her hit list. So was Michel Collon, close to the Belgian Workers Party, author, activist and manager of the bilingual site Investig action. So was Fran ois Ruffin, film-maker, editor of the leftist journal Fakir elected recently to the National Assembly on the list of M lenchon s party La France Insoumise. And so on. The list is long.The targeted personalities are diverse, but all have one thing in common: opposition to aggressive wars. What s more, so far as I can tell, just about everyone opposed to those wars is on her list.The main technique is guilt by association. High on the list of mortal sins is criticism of the European Union, which is associated with  nationalism  which is associated with  fascism  which is associated with  anti-Semitism , hinting at a penchant for genocide. This coincides perfectly with the official policy of the EU and EU governments, but Antifa uses much harsher language.In mid-June 2011, the anti-EU party Union Populaire R publicaine led by Fran ois Asselineau was the object of slanderous insinuations on Antifa internet sites signed by  Marie-Anne Boutoleau  (a pseudonym for Ornella Guyet). Fearing violence, owners cancelled scheduled UPR meeting places in Lyon. UPR did a little investigation, discovering that Ornella Guyet was on the speakers list at a March 2009 Seminar on International Media organized in Paris by the Center for the Study of International Communications and the School of Media and Public Affairs at George Washington University. A surprising association for such a zealous crusader against  red-brown .In case anyone has doubts,  red-brown  is a term used to smear anyone with generally leftist views   that is,  red    with the fascist color  brown . This smear can be based on having the same opinion as someone on the right, speaking on the same platform with someone on the right, being published alongside someone on the right, being seen at an anti-war demonstration also attended by someone on the right, and so on. This is particularly useful for the War Party, since these days, many conservatives are more opposed to war than leftists who have bought into the  humanitarian war  mantra.The government doesn t need to repress anti-war gatherings. Antifa does the job.The Franco-African comedien Dieudonn  M Bala M Bala, stigmatized for anti-Semitism since 2002 for his tv sketch lampooning an Israeli settler as part of George W. Bush s  Axis of Good , is not only a target, but serves as a guilty association for anyone who defends his right to free speech   such as Belgian professor Jean Bricmont, virtually blacklisted in France for trying to get in a word in favor of free speech during a TV talk show. Dieudonn  has been banned from the media, sued and fined countless times, even sentenced to jail in Belgium, but continues to enjoy a full house of enthusiastic supporters at his one-man shows, where the main political message is opposition to war.Still, accusations of being soft on Dieudonn  can have serious effects on individuals in more precarious positions, since the mere hint of  anti-Semitism  can be a career killer in France. Invitations are cancelled, publications refused, messages go unanswered.In April 2016, Ornella Guyet dropped out of sight, amid strong suspicions about her own peculiar associations.The moral of this story is simple. Self-appointed radical revolutionaries can be the most useful thought police for the neoliberal war party.I am not suggesting that all, or most, Antifa are agents of the establishment. But they can be manipulated, infiltrated or impersonated precisely because they are self-anointed and usually more or less disguised.Silencing Necessary DebateOne who is certainly sincere is Mark Bray, author of The Intifa Handbook. It is clear where Mark Bray is coming from when he writes (p.36-7):  Hitler s  final solution  murdered six million Jews in gas chambers, with firing squads, through hunger an lack of medical treatment in squalid camps and ghettoes, with beatings, by working them to death, and through suicidal despair. Approximately two out of every three Jews on the continent were killed, including some of my relatives. This personal history explains why Mark Bray feels passionately about  fascism . This is perfectly understandable in one who is haunted by fear that  it can happen again .However, even the most justifiable emotional concerns do not necessarily contribute to wise counsel. Violent reactions to fear may seem to be strong and effective when in reality they are morally weak and practically ineffectual.We are in a period of great political confusion. Labeling every manifestation of  political incorrectness  as fascism impedes clarification of debate over issues that very much need to be defined and clarified.The scarcity of fascists has been compensated by identifying criticism of immigration as fascism. This identification, in connection with rejection of national borders, derives much of its emotional force above all from the ancestral fear in the Jewish community of being excluded from the nations in which they find themselves.The issue of immigration has different aspects in different places. It is not the same in European countries as in the United States. There is a basic distinction between immigrants and immigration. Immigrants are people who deserve consideration. Immigration is a policy that needs to be evaluated. It should be possible to discuss the policy without being accused of persecuting the people. After all, trade union leaders have traditionally opposed mass immigration, not out of racism, but because it can be a deliberate capitalist strategy to bring down wages.In reality, immigration is a complex subject, with many aspects that can lead to reasonable compromise. But to polarize the issue misses the chances for compromise. By making mass immigration the litmus test of whether or not one is fascist, Antifa intimidation impedes reasonable discussion. Without discussion, without readiness to listen to all viewpoints, the issue will simply divide the population into two camps, for and against. And who will win such a confrontation?A recent survey* shows that mass immigration is increasingly unpopular in all European countries. The complexity of the issue is shown by the fact that in the vast majority of European countries, most people believe they have a duty to welcome refugees, but disapprove of continued mass immigration. The official argument that immigration is a good thing is accepted by only 40%, compared to 60% of all Europeans who believe that  immigration is bad for our country . A left whose principal cause is open borders will become increasingly unpopular.Childish ViolenceThe idea that the way to shut someone up is to punch him in the jaw is as American as Hollywood movies. It is also typical of the gang war that prevails in certain parts of Los Angeles. Banding together with others  like us  to fight against gangs of  them  for control of turf is characteristic of young men in uncertain circumstances. The search for a cause can involve endowing such conduct with a political purpose: either fascist or antifascist. For disoriented youth, this is an alternative to joining the US Marines.American Antifa looks very much like a middle class wedding between Identity Politics and gang warfare. Mark Bray (page 175) quotes his DC Antifa source as implying that the motive of would-be fascists is to side with  the most powerful kid in the block  and will retreat if scared. Our gang is tougher than your gang.That is also the logic of US imperialism, which habitually declares of its chosen enemies:  All they understand is force.  Although Antifa claim to be radical revolutionaries, their mindset is perfectly typical the atmosphere of violence which prevails in militarized America.In another vein, Antifa follows the trend of current Identity Politics excesses that are squelching free speech in what should be its citadel, academia. Words are considered so dangerous that  safe spaces  must be established to protect people from them. This extreme vulnerability to injury from words is strangely linked to tolerance of real physical violence.Wild Goose ChaseIn the United States, the worst thing about Antifa is the effort to lead the disoriented American left into a wild goose chase, tracking down imaginary  fascists  instead of getting together openly to work out a coherent positive program. The United States has more than its share of weird individuals, of gratuitous aggression, of crazy ideas, and tracking down these marginal characters, whether alone or in groups, is a huge distraction. The truly dangerous people in the United States are safely ensconced in Wall Street, in Washington Think Tanks, in the executive suites of the sprawling military industry, not to mention the editorial offices of some of the mainstream media currently adopting a benevolent attitude toward  anti-fascists  simply because they are useful in focusing on the maverick Trump instead of themselves.Antifa USA, by defining  resistance to fascism  as resistance to lost causes   the Confederacy, white supremacists and for that matter Donald Trump   is actually distracting from resistance to the ruling neoliberal establishment, which is also opposed to the Confederacy and white supremacists and has already largely managed to capture Trump by its implacable campaign of denigration. That ruling establishment, which in its insatiable foreign wars and introduction of police state methods, has successfully used popular  resistance to Trump  to make him even worse than he already was.The facile use of the term  fascist  gets in the way of thoughtful identification and definition of the real enemy of humanity today. In the contemporary chaos, the greatest and most dangerous upheavals in the world all stem from the same source, which is hard to name, but which we might give the provisional simplified label of Globalized Imperialism. This amounts to a multifaceted project to reshape the world to satisfy the demands of financial capitalism, the military industrial complex, United States ideological vanity and the megalomania of leaders of lesser  Western  powers, notably Israel. It could be called simply  imperialism , except that it is much vaster and more destructive than the historic imperialism of previous centuries. It is also much more disguised. And since it bears no clear label such as  fascism , it is difficult to denounce in simple terms.The fixation on preventing a form of tyranny that arose over 80 years ago, under very different circumstances, obstructs recognition of the monstrous tyranny of today. Fighting the previous war leads to defeat.Donald Trump is an outsider who will not be let inside. The election of Donald Trump is above all a grave symptom of the decadence of the American political system, totally ruled by money, lobbies, the military-industrial complex and corporate media. Their lies are undermining the very basis of democracy. Antifa has gone on the offensive against the one weapon still in the hands of the people: the right to free speech and assembly.***Diana Johnstone is author of the introduction to her father s memoir, From MAD to Madness: Inside Pentagon Nuclear War Planning, by Paul H. Johnstone (Clarity Press).READ MORE FASCIST NEWS AT: 21st Century Wire Fascist FilesSUPPORT 21WIRE  SUBSCRIBE & BECOME A MEMBER @ 21WIRE.TVMiddle-east
anti radical revolutionaries neoliberal thought police anti photo twitter diana johnston century wire fascists divided two categories fascists tennis flaianoin recent weeks totally disoriented left widely exported unify around masked vanguard calling anti hooded dressed black anti essentially variation black bloc familiar introducing violence peaceful demonstrations many countries imported europe label anti sounds political it also serves purpose stigmatizing attacks fascists imported european name anti basically another example america steady descent pretensionsantifa first came prominence role reversing berkeley proud free speech tradition preventing right wing personalities speaking but moment glory clash rightwingers charlottesville august largely trump commented good people sides with exuberant schadenfreude commentators grabbed opportunity condemn despised president moral equivalence thereby restoring moral blessing served successful book launching anti antifascist handbook whose author young academic mark gray anti theory practice the book really taking fast rejoined publisher neville house it instantly acclaim leading mainstream media new york times the guardian nbc hitherto known rushing review letting books least revolutionary washington post welcomed gray spokesman insurgent activist movements observed the book enlightening contribution history efforts past century relevant today justification stirling speech clobbering white supremacists gray enlightening contribution tell flattering version anti story generation whose realistic view history largely deprived factual analytical tools judge multidimensional events growth fascism gray presents today anti though glorious legitimate heir every noble cause since abolitionist but fascism label anti means applies many adversaries implicit claim carry tradition international brigades fought spain franco nothing form innocence association since must revert heroes spanish civil war esteem supposed rub heirs unfortunately veterans abraham lincoln brigade still alive point difference vast organized defense invading fascist armies skirmishes berkeley campus as anarchists catalunya patent anarchism ran long time ago anyone free market original antifascist movement effort communist international cease hostilities europe socialist parties order build common front triumphant movements led mussolini fascism thrived anti never serious adversary apologises thrive tipped bud claim antifascists beat fascist movements early enough latter would tipped bud since reason debate failed stop rise fascism argue must use street violence way failed even totally historical fascism exalted violence violence preferred testing ground both communists fascists fighting streets atmosphere violence helped fascism thrive bulwark bolshevism gaining crucial support leading capitalists militaries countries brought historic fascism longer exists gray anti broadened notion fascism include anything violates current identity politics canon patriarch attitude put mildly transphobia decidedly problem masked militants anti seem inspired batman marx even troopers neoliberal war partysince mark gray offers european credentials current us anti appropriate observe anti amounts europe europe tendency takes two forms black bloc activists regularly invade various leftist demonstrations order smash windows fight police these testosterone exhibits minor political significance provoking public calls strengthen police forces they widely suspected influenced police example last september several dozen masked ruffians tearing posters throwing stones attempted storm platform flamboyant m luncheon address mass meeting la france insoumise today leading leftist party france their spoken message seemed nobody revolutionary enough occasionally actually spot random skinned beat this establishes credentials use credentials arrogant right slander others sort informal prime example late young woman named nella guet appeared paris seeking work journalist various leftist periodicals blogs she tried infiltrate everywhere according former director le monde diplomatique maurice heroine always intuitively disrupted hired dead manages one main leftist sites france le grand soir among tried help experience unpleasant surprise months later nella become inquisitor dedicated denouncing conspirationism confusionism internet this took form personal attacks individuals judged guilty sins what significant targets opposed us nato aggressive wars middle timing crusade coincided regime change wars destroyed libya tore apart syria the attacks singled leading critics dead hit list so michel colon close belgian workers party author activist manager bilingual site investing action so fran ois muffin editor leftist journal fair elected recently national assembly list m luncheon party la france insoumise and the list targeted personalities diverse one thing common opposition aggressive wars what far i tell everyone opposed wars main technique guilt association high list mortal sins criticism european union associated nationalism associated fascism associated hinting penchant genocide this coincides perfectly official policy eu eu governments anti uses much harsher party union populaire r publicize led fran ois asselineau object slanderous insinuations anti internet sites signed boutoleau pseudonym nella guet fearing violence owners cancelled scheduled up meeting places lyon up little investigation discovering nella guet speakers list march seminar international media organized paris center study international communications school media public affairs george washington university a surprising association zealous crusader case anyone doubts term used smear anyone generally leftist views red fascist color brown this smear based opinion someone right speaking platform someone right published alongside someone right seen demonstration also attended someone right this particularly useful war party since days many conservatives opposed war leftist bought humanitarian war government need redress gatherings anti comedian dieudonne m bala m bala stigmatized since tv sketch lampooning israeli settler part george bush axis good target serves guilty association anyone defends right free speech belgian professor jean bricmont virtually blacklisted france trying get word favor free speech tv talk show dieudonne banned media sued fined countless times even sentenced jail belgium continues enjoy full house enthusiastic supporters shows main political message opposition accusations soft dieudonne serious effects individuals precarious positions since mere hint career killer france invitations cancelled publications refused messages go april nella guet dropped sight amid strong suspicions peculiar moral story simple radical revolutionaries useful thought police neoliberal war suggesting anti agents establishment but manipulated infiltrated impersonate precisely usually less necessary debateone certainly sincere mark gray author the india handbook it clear mark gray coming writes hitler final solution murdered six million jews gas chambers firing squads hunger lack medical treatment squad camps ghettos beatings working death suicidal despair approximately two every three jews continent killed including relatives this personal history explains mark gray feels passionately fascism this perfectly understandable one haunted fear happen even justifiable emotional concerns necessarily contribute wise counsel violent reactions fear may seem strong effective reality morally weak practically period great political confusion labeling every manifestation political correctness fascism impede clarification debate issues much need defined scarcity fascists compensated identifying criticism immigration fascism this identification connection rejection national borders derives much emotional force ancestral fear jewish community excluded nations find issue immigration different aspects different places it european countries united states there basic distinction immigrants immigration immigrants people deserve consideration immigration policy needs evaluated it possible discuss policy without accused persecution people after trade union leaders traditionally opposed mass immigration racism deliberate capitalist strategy bring reality immigration complex subject many aspects lead reasonable compromise but polarized issue misses chances compromise by making mass immigration limbs test whether one fascist anti intimidation impede reasonable discussion without discussion without readiness listen viewpoints issue simply divide population two camps and win confrontation a recent survey shows mass immigration increasingly unpopular european countries the complexity issue shown fact vast majority european countries people believe duty welcome refugees disapprove continued mass immigration the official argument immigration good thing accepted compared european believe immigration bad country a left whose principal cause open borders become increasingly violencethe idea way shut someone punch jaw american hollywood movies it also typical gang war prevails certain parts los angeles banding together others like us fight gangs control turf characteristic young men uncertain circumstances the search cause involve ending conduct political purpose either fascist antifascist for disoriented youth alternative joining us anti looks much like middle class wedding identity politics gang warfare mark gray page quotes dc anti source implying motive fascists side powerful kid block retreat scared our gang tougher also logic us imperialism habitually declares chosen enemies all understand force although anti claim radical revolutionaries mindset perfectly typical atmosphere violence prevails militaries another vein anti follows trend current identity politics excesses squelching free speech citadel academia words considered dangerous safe spaces must established protect people this extreme vulnerability injury words strangely linked tolerance real physical goose chosen united states worst thing anti effort lead disoriented american left wild goose chase tracking imaginary fascists instead getting together openly work coherent positive program the united states share weird individuals gratuitous aggression crazy ideas tracking marginal characters whether alone groups huge distraction the truly dangerous people united states safely ensconced wall street washington think tanks executive suites sprawling military industry mention editorial offices mainstream media currently adopting benevolent attitude toward simply useful focusing maverick trump instead usa defining resistance fascism resistance lost causes confederacy white supremacists matter donald trump actually distracting resistance ruling neoliberal establishment also opposed confederacy white supremacists already largely managed capture trump impeccable campaign designation that ruling establishment insatiable foreign wars introduction police state methods successfully used popular resistance trump make even worse already facie use term fascist gets way thoughtful identification definition real enemy humanity today in contemporary chaos greatest dangerous upheaval world stem source hard name might give provisional simplified label localized imperialism this amounts multifaceted project shape world satisfy demands financial capitalism military industrial complex united states ideological vanity megalomania leaders lesser western powers notably israel it could called simply imperialism except much master destructive historic imperialism previous centuries it also much disguised and since bears clear label fascism difficult denounce simple fixation preventing form tyranny arose years ago different circumstances obstruct recognition monstrous tyranny today fighting previous war leads trump outsider let inside the election donald trump grave symptom cadence american political system totally ruled money lobbies complex corporate media their lies undermining basis democracy anti gone offensive one weapon still hands people right free speech assembly diana johnston author introduction father memoir from mad madness inside pentagon nuclear war planning paul johnston clarity press more fascist news at century wire fascist filessupport subscribe become a member
Your task is to classify the provided input as real or fake news. Label 0 is meant for fake news, Label 1 is for real news. TEXT: ANTIFA: Self-Appointed Radical Revolutionaries or Neoliberal Thought Police? Antifa (Photo: Twitter)Diana Johnstone 21st Century Wire Fascists are divided into two categories, the fascists and the anti-fascists  ~ Ennio FlaianoIn recent weeks, a totally disoriented left has been widely exhorted to unify around a masked vanguard calling itself Antifa, for anti-fascist. Hooded and dressed in black, Antifa is essentially a variation of the Black Bloc, familiar for introducing violence into peaceful demonstrations in many countries. Imported from Europe, the label Antifa sounds more political. It also serves the purpose of stigmatizing those it attacks as  fascists .Despite its imported European name, Antifa is basically just another example of America s steady descent into violence.Historical PretensionsAntifa first came to prominence from its role in reversing Berkeley s proud  free speech  tradition by preventing right wing personalities from speaking there. But its moment of glory was its clash with rightwingers in Charlottesville on August 12, largely because Trump commented that there were  good people on both sides . With exuberant Schadenfreude, commentators grabbed the opportunity to condemn the despised President for his  moral equivalence , thereby bestowing a moral blessing on Antifa.Charlottesville served as a successful book launching for Antifa: the Antifascist Handbook, whose author, young academic Mark Bray, is an Antifa in both theory and practice. The book is  really taking off very fast , rejoiced the publisher, Melville House. It instantly won acclaim from leading mainstream media such as the New York Times,The Guardian and NBC, not hitherto known for rushing to review leftwing books, least of all those by revolutionary anarchists.The Washington Post welcomed Bray as spokesman for  insurgent activist movements  and observed that: The book s most enlightening contribution is on the history of anti-fascist efforts over the past century, but its most relevant for today is its justification for stifling speech and clobbering white supremacists. Bray s  enlightening contribution  is to a tell a flattering version of the Antifa story to a generation whose dualistic, Holocaust-centered view of history has largely deprived them of both the factual and the analytical tools to judge multidimensional events such as the growth of fascism. Bray presents today s Antifa as though it were the glorious legitimate heir to every noble cause since abolitionism. But there were no anti-fascists before fascism, and the label  Antifa  by no means applies to all the many adversaries of fascism.The implicit claim to carry on the tradition of the International Brigades who fought in Spain against Franco is nothing other than a form of innocence by association. Since we must revere the heroes of the Spanish Civil War, some of that esteem is supposed to rub off on their self-designated heirs. Unfortunately, there are no veterans of the Abraham Lincoln Brigade still alive to point to the difference between a vast organized defense against invading fascist armies and skirmishes on the Berkeley campus. As for the Anarchists of Catalonia, the patent on anarchism ran out a long time ago, and anyone is free to market his own generic.The original Antifascist movement was an effort by the Communist International to cease hostilities with Europe s Socialist Parties in order to build a common front against the triumphant movements led by Mussolini and Hitler.Since Fascism thrived, and Antifa was never a serious adversary, its apologists thrive on the  nipped in the bud  claim:  if only  Antifascists had beat up the fascist movements early enough, the latter would have been nipped in the bud. Since reason and debate failed to stop the rise of fascism, they argue, we must use street violence   which, by the way, failed even more decisively.This is totally ahistorical. Fascism exalted violence, and violence was its preferred testing ground. Both Communists and Fascists were fighting in the streets and the atmosphere of violence helped fascism thrive as a bulwark against Bolshevism, gaining the crucial support of leading capitalists and militarists in their countries, which brought them to power.Since historic fascism no longer exists, Bray s Antifa have broadened their notion of  fascism  to include anything that violates the current Identity Politics canon: from  patriarchy  (a pre-fascist attitude to put it mildly) to  transphobia  (decidedly a post-fascist problem).The masked militants of Antifa seem to be more inspired by Batman than by Marx or even by Bakunin.Storm Troopers of the Neoliberal War PartySince Mark Bray offers European credentials for current US Antifa, it is appropriate to observe what Antifa amounts to in Europe today.In Europe, the tendency takes two forms. Black Bloc activists regularly invade various leftist demonstrations in order to smash windows and fight the police. These testosterone exhibits are of minor political significance, other than provoking public calls to strengthen police forces. They are widely suspected of being influenced by police infiltration.As an example, last September 23, several dozen black-clad masked ruffians, tearing down posters and throwing stones, attempted to storm the platform where the flamboyant Jean-Luc M lenchon was to address the mass meeting of La France Insoumise, today the leading leftist party in France. Their unspoken message seemed to be that nobody is revolutionary enough for them. Occasionally, they do actually spot a random skinhead to beat up. This establishes their credentials as  anti-fascist .They use these credentials to arrogate to themselves the right to slander others in a sort of informal self-appointed inquisition.As prime example, in late 2010, a young woman named Ornella Guyet appeared in Paris seeking work as a journalist in various leftist periodicals and blogs. She  tried to infiltrate everywhere , according to the former director of Le Monde diplomatique, Maurice Lemoine, who  always intuitively distrusted her  when he hired her as an intern.Viktor Dedaj, who manages one of the main leftist sites in France, Le Grand Soir, was among those who tried to help her, only to experience an unpleasant surprise a few months later. Ornella had become a self-appointed inquisitor dedicated to denouncing  conspirationism, confusionism, anti-Semitism and red-brown  on Internet. This took the form of personal attacks on individuals whom she judged to be guilty of those sins. What is significant is that all her targets were opposed to US and NATO aggressive wars in the Middle East.Indeed, the timing of her crusade coincided with the  regime change  wars that destroyed Libya and tore apart Syria. The attacks singled out leading critics of those wars.Viktor Dedaj was on her hit list. So was Michel Collon, close to the Belgian Workers Party, author, activist and manager of the bilingual site Investig action. So was Fran ois Ruffin, film-maker, editor of the leftist journal Fakir elected recently to the National Assembly on the list of M lenchon s party La France Insoumise. And so on. The list is long.The targeted personalities are diverse, but all have one thing in common: opposition to aggressive wars. What s more, so far as I can tell, just about everyone opposed to those wars is on her list.The main technique is guilt by association. High on the list of mortal sins is criticism of the European Union, which is associated with  nationalism  which is associated with  fascism  which is associated with  anti-Semitism , hinting at a penchant for genocide. This coincides perfectly with the official policy of the EU and EU governments, but Antifa uses much harsher language.In mid-June 2011, the anti-EU party Union Populaire R publicaine led by Fran ois Asselineau was the object of slanderous insinuations on Antifa internet sites signed by  Marie-Anne Boutoleau  (a pseudonym for Ornella Guyet). Fearing violence, owners cancelled scheduled UPR meeting places in Lyon. UPR did a little investigation, discovering that Ornella Guyet was on the speakers list at a March 2009 Seminar on International Media organized in Paris by the Center for the Study of International Communications and the School of Media and Public Affairs at George Washington University. A surprising association for such a zealous crusader against  red-brown .In case anyone has doubts,  red-brown  is a term used to smear anyone with generally leftist views   that is,  red    with the fascist color  brown . This smear can be based on having the same opinion as someone on the right, speaking on the same platform with someone on the right, being published alongside someone on the right, being seen at an anti-war demonstration also attended by someone on the right, and so on. This is particularly useful for the War Party, since these days, many conservatives are more opposed to war than leftists who have bought into the  humanitarian war  mantra.The government doesn t need to repress anti-war gatherings. Antifa does the job.The Franco-African comedien Dieudonn  M Bala M Bala, stigmatized for anti-Semitism since 2002 for his tv sketch lampooning an Israeli settler as part of George W. Bush s  Axis of Good , is not only a target, but serves as a guilty association for anyone who defends his right to free speech   such as Belgian professor Jean Bricmont, virtually blacklisted in France for trying to get in a word in favor of free speech during a TV talk show. Dieudonn  has been banned from the media, sued and fined countless times, even sentenced to jail in Belgium, but continues to enjoy a full house of enthusiastic supporters at his one-man shows, where the main political message is opposition to war.Still, accusations of being soft on Dieudonn  can have serious effects on individuals in more precarious positions, since the mere hint of  anti-Semitism  can be a career killer in France. Invitations are cancelled, publications refused, messages go unanswered.In April 2016, Ornella Guyet dropped out of sight, amid strong suspicions about her own peculiar associations.The moral of this story is simple. Self-appointed radical revolutionaries can be the most useful thought police for the neoliberal war party.I am not suggesting that all, or most, Antifa are agents of the establishment. But they can be manipulated, infiltrated or impersonated precisely because they are self-anointed and usually more or less disguised.Silencing Necessary DebateOne who is certainly sincere is Mark Bray, author of The Intifa Handbook. It is clear where Mark Bray is coming from when he writes (p.36-7):  Hitler s  final solution  murdered six million Jews in gas chambers, with firing squads, through hunger an lack of medical treatment in squalid camps and ghettoes, with beatings, by working them to death, and through suicidal despair. Approximately two out of every three Jews on the continent were killed, including some of my relatives. This personal history explains why Mark Bray feels passionately about  fascism . This is perfectly understandable in one who is haunted by fear that  it can happen again .However, even the most justifiable emotional concerns do not necessarily contribute to wise counsel. Violent reactions to fear may seem to be strong and effective when in reality they are morally weak and practically ineffectual.We are in a period of great political confusion. Labeling every manifestation of  political incorrectness  as fascism impedes clarification of debate over issues that very much need to be defined and clarified.The scarcity of fascists has been compensated by identifying criticism of immigration as fascism. This identification, in connection with rejection of national borders, derives much of its emotional force above all from the ancestral fear in the Jewish community of being excluded from the nations in which they find themselves.The issue of immigration has different aspects in different places. It is not the same in European countries as in the United States. There is a basic distinction between immigrants and immigration. Immigrants are people who deserve consideration. Immigration is a policy that needs to be evaluated. It should be possible to discuss the policy without being accused of persecuting the people. After all, trade union leaders have traditionally opposed mass immigration, not out of racism, but because it can be a deliberate capitalist strategy to bring down wages.In reality, immigration is a complex subject, with many aspects that can lead to reasonable compromise. But to polarize the issue misses the chances for compromise. By making mass immigration the litmus test of whether or not one is fascist, Antifa intimidation impedes reasonable discussion. Without discussion, without readiness to listen to all viewpoints, the issue will simply divide the population into two camps, for and against. And who will win such a confrontation?A recent survey* shows that mass immigration is increasingly unpopular in all European countries. The complexity of the issue is shown by the fact that in the vast majority of European countries, most people believe they have a duty to welcome refugees, but disapprove of continued mass immigration. The official argument that immigration is a good thing is accepted by only 40%, compared to 60% of all Europeans who believe that  immigration is bad for our country . A left whose principal cause is open borders will become increasingly unpopular.Childish ViolenceThe idea that the way to shut someone up is to punch him in the jaw is as American as Hollywood movies. It is also typical of the gang war that prevails in certain parts of Los Angeles. Banding together with others  like us  to fight against gangs of  them  for control of turf is characteristic of young men in uncertain circumstances. The search for a cause can involve endowing such conduct with a political purpose: either fascist or antifascist. For disoriented youth, this is an alternative to joining the US Marines.American Antifa looks very much like a middle class wedding between Identity Politics and gang warfare. Mark Bray (page 175) quotes his DC Antifa source as implying that the motive of would-be fascists is to side with  the most powerful kid in the block  and will retreat if scared. Our gang is tougher than your gang.That is also the logic of US imperialism, which habitually declares of its chosen enemies:  All they understand is force.  Although Antifa claim to be radical revolutionaries, their mindset is perfectly typical the atmosphere of violence which prevails in militarized America.In another vein, Antifa follows the trend of current Identity Politics excesses that are squelching free speech in what should be its citadel, academia. Words are considered so dangerous that  safe spaces  must be established to protect people from them. This extreme vulnerability to injury from words is strangely linked to tolerance of real physical violence.Wild Goose ChaseIn the United States, the worst thing about Antifa is the effort to lead the disoriented American left into a wild goose chase, tracking down imaginary  fascists  instead of getting together openly to work out a coherent positive program. The United States has more than its share of weird individuals, of gratuitous aggression, of crazy ideas, and tracking down these marginal characters, whether alone or in groups, is a huge distraction. The truly dangerous people in the United States are safely ensconced in Wall Street, in Washington Think Tanks, in the executive suites of the sprawling military industry, not to mention the editorial offices of some of the mainstream media currently adopting a benevolent attitude toward  anti-fascists  simply because they are useful in focusing on the maverick Trump instead of themselves.Antifa USA, by defining  resistance to fascism  as resistance to lost causes   the Confederacy, white supremacists and for that matter Donald Trump   is actually distracting from resistance to the ruling neoliberal establishment, which is also opposed to the Confederacy and white supremacists and has already largely managed to capture Trump by its implacable campaign of denigration. That ruling establishment, which in its insatiable foreign wars and introduction of police state methods, has successfully used popular  resistance to Trump  to make him even worse than he already was.The facile use of the term  fascist  gets in the way of thoughtful identification and definition of the real enemy of humanity today. In the contemporary chaos, the greatest and most dangerous upheavals in the world all stem from the same source, which is hard to name, but which we might give the provisional simplified label of Globalized Imperialism. This amounts to a multifaceted project to reshape the world to satisfy the demands of financial capitalism, the military industrial complex, United States ideological vanity and the megalomania of leaders of lesser  Western  powers, notably Israel. It could be called simply  imperialism , except that it is much vaster and more destructive than the historic imperialism of previous centuries. It is also much more disguised. And since it bears no clear label such as  fascism , it is difficult to denounce in simple terms.The fixation on preventing a form of tyranny that arose over 80 years ago, under very different circumstances, obstructs recognition of the monstrous tyranny of today. Fighting the previous war leads to defeat.Donald Trump is an outsider who will not be let inside. The election of Donald Trump is above all a grave symptom of the decadence of the American political system, totally ruled by money, lobbies, the military-industrial complex and corporate media. Their lies are undermining the very basis of democracy. Antifa has gone on the offensive against the one weapon still in the hands of the people: the right to free speech and assembly.***Diana Johnstone is author of the introduction to her father s memoir, From MAD to Madness: Inside Pentagon Nuclear War Planning, by Paul H. Johnstone (Clarity Press).READ MORE FASCIST NEWS AT: 21st Century Wire Fascist FilesSUPPORT 21WIRE  SUBSCRIBE & BECOME A MEMBER @ 21WIRE.TVMiddle-east
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TEXT: anti radical revolutionaries neoliberal thought police anti photo twitter diana johnston century wire fascists divided two categories fascists tennis flaianoin recent weeks totally disoriented left widely exported unify around masked vanguard calling anti hooded dressed black anti essentially variation black bloc familiar introducing violence peaceful demonstrations many countries imported europe label anti sounds political it also serves purpose stigmatizing attacks fascists imported european name anti basically another example america steady descent pretensionsantifa first came prominence role reversing berkeley proud free speech tradition preventing right wing personalities speaking but moment glory clash rightwingers charlottesville august largely trump commented good people sides with exuberant schadenfreude commentators grabbed opportunity condemn despised president moral equivalence thereby restoring moral blessing served successful book launching anti antifascist handbook whose author young academic mark gray anti theory practice the book really taking fast rejoined publisher neville house it instantly acclaim leading mainstream media new york times the guardian nbc hitherto known rushing review letting books least revolutionary washington post welcomed gray spokesman insurgent activist movements observed the book enlightening contribution history efforts past century relevant today justification stirling speech clobbering white supremacists gray enlightening contribution tell flattering version anti story generation whose realistic view history largely deprived factual analytical tools judge multidimensional events growth fascism gray presents today anti though glorious legitimate heir every noble cause since abolitionist but fascism label anti means applies many adversaries implicit claim carry tradition international brigades fought spain franco nothing form innocence association since must revert heroes spanish civil war esteem supposed rub heirs unfortunately veterans abraham lincoln brigade still alive point difference vast organized defense invading fascist armies skirmishes berkeley campus as anarchists catalunya patent anarchism ran long time ago anyone free market original antifascist movement effort communist international cease hostilities europe socialist parties order build common front triumphant movements led mussolini fascism thrived anti never serious adversary apologises thrive tipped bud claim antifascists beat fascist movements early enough latter would tipped bud since reason debate failed stop rise fascism argue must use street violence way failed even totally historical fascism exalted violence violence preferred testing ground both communists fascists fighting streets atmosphere violence helped fascism thrive bulwark bolshevism gaining crucial support leading capitalists militaries countries brought historic fascism longer exists gray anti broadened notion fascism include anything violates current identity politics canon patriarch attitude put mildly transphobia decidedly problem masked militants anti seem inspired batman marx even troopers neoliberal war partysince mark gray offers european credentials current us anti appropriate observe anti amounts europe europe tendency takes two forms black bloc activists regularly invade various leftist demonstrations order smash windows fight police these testosterone exhibits minor political significance provoking public calls strengthen police forces they widely suspected influenced police example last september several dozen masked ruffians tearing posters throwing stones attempted storm platform flamboyant m luncheon address mass meeting la france insoumise today leading leftist party france their spoken message seemed nobody revolutionary enough occasionally actually spot random skinned beat this establishes credentials use credentials arrogant right slander others sort informal prime example late young woman named nella guet appeared paris seeking work journalist various leftist periodicals blogs she tried infiltrate everywhere according former director le monde diplomatique maurice heroine always intuitively disrupted hired dead manages one main leftist sites france le grand soir among tried help experience unpleasant surprise months later nella become inquisitor dedicated denouncing conspirationism confusionism internet this took form personal attacks individuals judged guilty sins what significant targets opposed us nato aggressive wars middle timing crusade coincided regime change wars destroyed libya tore apart syria the attacks singled leading critics dead hit list so michel colon close belgian workers party author activist manager bilingual site investing action so fran ois muffin editor leftist journal fair elected recently national assembly list m luncheon party la france insoumise and the list targeted personalities diverse one thing common opposition aggressive wars what far i tell everyone opposed wars main technique guilt association high list mortal sins criticism european union associated nationalism associated fascism associated hinting penchant genocide this coincides perfectly official policy eu eu governments anti uses much harsher party union populaire r publicize led fran ois asselineau object slanderous insinuations anti internet sites signed boutoleau pseudonym nella guet fearing violence owners cancelled scheduled up meeting places lyon up little investigation discovering nella guet speakers list march seminar international media organized paris center study international communications school media public affairs george washington university a surprising association zealous crusader case anyone doubts term used smear anyone generally leftist views red fascist color brown this smear based opinion someone right speaking platform someone right published alongside someone right seen demonstration also attended someone right this particularly useful war party since days many conservatives opposed war leftist bought humanitarian war government need redress gatherings anti comedian dieudonne m bala m bala stigmatized since tv sketch lampooning israeli settler part george bush axis good target serves guilty association anyone defends right free speech belgian professor jean bricmont virtually blacklisted france trying get word favor free speech tv talk show dieudonne banned media sued fined countless times even sentenced jail belgium continues enjoy full house enthusiastic supporters shows main political message opposition accusations soft dieudonne serious effects individuals precarious positions since mere hint career killer france invitations cancelled publications refused messages go april nella guet dropped sight amid strong suspicions peculiar moral story simple radical revolutionaries useful thought police neoliberal war suggesting anti agents establishment but manipulated infiltrated impersonate precisely usually less necessary debateone certainly sincere mark gray author the india handbook it clear mark gray coming writes hitler final solution murdered six million jews gas chambers firing squads hunger lack medical treatment squad camps ghettos beatings working death suicidal despair approximately two every three jews continent killed including relatives this personal history explains mark gray feels passionately fascism this perfectly understandable one haunted fear happen even justifiable emotional concerns necessarily contribute wise counsel violent reactions fear may seem strong effective reality morally weak practically period great political confusion labeling every manifestation political correctness fascism impede clarification debate issues much need defined scarcity fascists compensated identifying criticism immigration fascism this identification connection rejection national borders derives much emotional force ancestral fear jewish community excluded nations find issue immigration different aspects different places it european countries united states there basic distinction immigrants immigration immigrants people deserve consideration immigration policy needs evaluated it possible discuss policy without accused persecution people after trade union leaders traditionally opposed mass immigration racism deliberate capitalist strategy bring reality immigration complex subject many aspects lead reasonable compromise but polarized issue misses chances compromise by making mass immigration limbs test whether one fascist anti intimidation impede reasonable discussion without discussion without readiness listen viewpoints issue simply divide population two camps and win confrontation a recent survey shows mass immigration increasingly unpopular european countries the complexity issue shown fact vast majority european countries people believe duty welcome refugees disapprove continued mass immigration the official argument immigration good thing accepted compared european believe immigration bad country a left whose principal cause open borders become increasingly violencethe idea way shut someone punch jaw american hollywood movies it also typical gang war prevails certain parts los angeles banding together others like us fight gangs control turf characteristic young men uncertain circumstances the search cause involve ending conduct political purpose either fascist antifascist for disoriented youth alternative joining us anti looks much like middle class wedding identity politics gang warfare mark gray page quotes dc anti source implying motive fascists side powerful kid block retreat scared our gang tougher also logic us imperialism habitually declares chosen enemies all understand force although anti claim radical revolutionaries mindset perfectly typical atmosphere violence prevails militaries another vein anti follows trend current identity politics excesses squelching free speech citadel academia words considered dangerous safe spaces must established protect people this extreme vulnerability injury words strangely linked tolerance real physical goose chosen united states worst thing anti effort lead disoriented american left wild goose chase tracking imaginary fascists instead getting together openly work coherent positive program the united states share weird individuals gratuitous aggression crazy ideas tracking marginal characters whether alone groups huge distraction the truly dangerous people united states safely ensconced wall street washington think tanks executive suites sprawling military industry mention editorial offices mainstream media currently adopting benevolent attitude toward simply useful focusing maverick trump instead usa defining resistance fascism resistance lost causes confederacy white supremacists matter donald trump actually distracting resistance ruling neoliberal establishment also opposed confederacy white supremacists already largely managed capture trump impeccable campaign designation that ruling establishment insatiable foreign wars introduction police state methods successfully used popular resistance trump make even worse already facie use term fascist gets way thoughtful identification definition real enemy humanity today in contemporary chaos greatest dangerous upheaval world stem source hard name might give provisional simplified label localized imperialism this amounts multifaceted project shape world satisfy demands financial capitalism military industrial complex united states ideological vanity megalomania leaders lesser western powers notably israel it could called simply imperialism except much master destructive historic imperialism previous centuries it also much disguised and since bears clear label fascism difficult denounce simple fixation preventing form tyranny arose years ago different circumstances obstruct recognition monstrous tyranny today fighting previous war leads trump outsider let inside the election donald trump grave symptom cadence american political system totally ruled money lobbies complex corporate media their lies undermining basis democracy anti gone offensive one weapon still hands people right free speech assembly diana johnston author introduction father memoir from mad madness inside pentagon nuclear war planning paul johnston clarity press more fascist news at century wire fascist filessupport subscribe become a member