Troops go home! But not my troops….
In a follow-up to the announcement that the US is redeploying a large chunk of the forces currently stationed in Germany, the staff of ver.di, Germany’s largest service-sector union and the largest independent, individual trade union in the world, is worried. Apparently, there won't be enough imperial hegemonist warmongers around to to adequately support members’ socialist way-of-life. Lest anyone think that I'm exaggerating about the “imperial hegemonist warmongers”, let's go to some quotes by ver.di's chairman, Frank Bsirske:
“On Day X as many people as possible should take to the streets and show that they are against the war in Iraq. We call upon all members to take part in the actions.” (This is from a press release on the ver.di website, not a speech.)
All emphasis is mine.
You'd think that ver.di would be happy that thousands of “imperialist hegemons” would be leaving Germany. In fact, the opposite is true. This apparent contradiction highlights the fact that there is indeed something more important to Germany’s leftist dominated unions than exploiting anti-American sentiment for political gain. Apparently, to ver.di and its members, “Troops Out!” doesn't include their troops, which they both used for their livelihoods and for scoring cheap political points.
Maybe they'll even see the irony. After all, they're getting what they say they've wanted. Wonder if the membership will see it that way?
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