Translated "Avante!" article by Jorge Cadima, member of the PCP International Department

The capitalist centre crisis deepens fast. Everyday there are new and important events. Within the EU, the troika plans to accomplish their mission: save the great financial capital, help it to plunder the victimized countries resources and wealth, increase the European workers exploitation. But, as the PCP always adverted, besides throwing peoples unto poverty, they worsen their victims’ whole economic situation - as well as the financial. All are aware (even if not confessed) that Greece will never be capable of paying its increasing debt, with its more and more weaker and plundered economy. Portugal is on that path. Reality begins to impose itself, with its brutal crudeness.

The great capital command centres alarmist statements succeed. The USA Federal Reserve talks of “ the global demand collapse” (in the Independent, 11.09.24) and - as if the IMF ignored the situation - states “we are before a dangerous new crisis phase” together with a “an impetus vicious circle” and “ too many debts within the system” (in the Guardian, 11.09.15). Trichet, the ECB chairman, “recognizes the current situation is more precarious than when the Lehman Brothers [the USA financial colossus] collapsed. [in 2008] (in the Independent, 11.09.25). Osborne, the British Finance minister says the “the Euro zone is the global problems’ epicentre”, which, notwithstanding being true, conceals the fact of Her Majesty’s Kingdom is “per capita” “the most indebted country throughout the planet” (in the Independent, 11.06.19). Along with the USA being the crisis explosive phase epicentre in which capitalism plunged the planet and as Putin said, “the global economy parasite”(in Reuters, 11.08.01). Following the Independent (on 11.09.24), only God’s Help can save us: “The world prays for an economic miracle”.

This alarmism reflects the leader classes own reality. But it also serves to prepare the peoples to face a new plunder operation in progress, namely within the EU. Last week-end’s newspapers mentioned a “ Geithner Plan for Europe - the ultimate presupposition to avoid a global catastrophe” (in the Telegraph, 11.09.25). This plan admits a new public treasury pillage in order to bail out the private banks ( the crisis main responsible”: “the European banks ought to be recapitalized with many thousands of million Euro, to pacify the markets from a Greek or Portuguese default [bankruptcy] that might draw the system unto a systemic financial crisis” ( Philip Aldrick in the Telegraph, 11.09.24). The same as always, selling off more of the same, with more and more dramatic results for the peoples.

The truth is that capitalism has no way out for its systemic crisis. And the spectrum of a collapse reinforces its most extreme and aggressive inclinations. As confirmed by the current reality. NATO’s war in Libya is a civilian massacre, of clear colonial contours. Presented as “humanitarian interference”, currently the system’s media are shameless in writing titles as: “Rebel leaders expect to dominate Kaddafi’s bastion in Sirte by hunger”(in the Telegraph, 11.08.28). Or texts as “We want to spare our troops[…] says a rebel spokesman[…] “ We are coming into Sirte, even if water and electricity has to be cut off”, allowing NATO to bomb the town violently(AP, 11.09.02). And with no hesitation” Libya: the British Air Force achieves its greater air incursion, ever” the Telegraph writes on September 16th, almost a month after NATO’s forces took over Tripoli mercilessly with fire and sword, and on the same day servile and suicidal UN recognized the TNC puppets as “ the legitimate government”. Five days later, NATO decided ( and with which authority?) to extend its air war for 3 more months. Nothing has been left.

The exploitation and war spiral leaves but one way out: resistance. The silenced, but heroic people’s resistance in Sirte and throughout all Libya is not something remote. It is part of the workers and peoples struggle all over the planet against their common enemy: imperialism. It is part of the struggle the Portuguese workers’ will bring out on the streets next Saturday.