Hands Off North Korea!

This then is the insomniac’s nightmare:
The monster’s claw above the face
The black emptiness of terror
The mind’s frantic paralysis
The pounding of the rigid body
The frozen palpitations
The shivering warmth of sweat
The sleepless fear
Of the eternal second
When, with undue haste
To beat the morning sun
The world is bathed
In the final light
Of the megaton

I am no lover of nuclear weapons.

I wrote the poem above in 1990, when it still seemed possible that nuclear conflict might occur.

Why then do I salute the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea for conducting an underground nuclear test on October 9, 2006?

Because this tests was done in revolutionary defiance of threats from US imperialism.

Defiance of imperialism is not a bad thing, but a good thing, even when it means a proliferation of nuclear weapons in the world.

My view is that we should continue to call for the complete prohibition and thorough destruction of all nuclear weapons. The onus must be on the biggest nuclear powers to destroy their stockpiles first to a level at which a general process of destruction in all nuclear weapons possessing states can occur.

Only twice used in conflict, the massive stockpiles of nuclear weapons in the world have long been used as a means to bully and oppress small nations striving for independence from imperialism.

Nations not wanting to be controlled by US imperialism are inevitably designated "rogue nation" status, or are declared to be part of an "Axis of Evil". They are subjected to every form of threat and sanction from US imperialism and its followers.

They are told that it is the right of US imperialism to initiate "pre-emptive first strikes" against sovereign nations so as to effect "regime change". They are openly told that they are on the US imperialist hit-list.

When they offer to talk on a one-to-one basis with US imperialism or to sign pacts of mutual non-aggression with US imperialism they are spurned.

North Korea would willingly sign a "no first use" of nuclear weapons clause with US imperialism, but the latter will not agree.

The response of Australia’s politicians, who are out and out lickspittles of US imperialism, has been to spur the US on to retaliation against North Korea. Foreign Minister Alexander Downer has upgraded North Korea from "rogue state" to "outlaw rogue state" status. One wonders how much worse they can get! Prime Minister Howard declares North Korea to be a "seriously crazy regime" and warns that a military strike against it may be necessary!

Meanwhile, the common sense of the people rises to the surface. Nearly all letters to the editor of the local capitalist press blame the US for provoking North Korea into conducting a nuclear test. Many direct ridicule and scorn at Bush and Co.

We need to state quite clearly:

Hands off North Korea!

For the complete prohibition and thorough destruction of all nuclear weapons!