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10p NEW AGE PAPER OF THE COMMUNIST WORKERS' MOVEMENT No. 3 Mid-April to Mid-May 1978. BIDW LEBANON: PALESTIN- IANS FIGHT BACK NEW AGE holds to the strate- gic theory of the "three worlds" This scientific theory ser- ves not only to understand the world but to change it. The countries of the Third World (Asia, Africa and Latin America) are the main force in opposing imperialism, parti- cularly the two superpowers which oppress and threaten all other countries in the world. The Third World's struggle supports the struggle of the working class in Britain aga- inst the monopoly capitalist class and against the super- power, including the USSR which pursues its imperialist policy under the guise of being pro- gressive and "socialist". The people of Palestine, Lebanon and other Arab countr- ies form an important contingent of the Third World. Their ex- perience teaches us that the oppressed nations and classes can adapt their struggle to take account of even the most difficult conditions and de- feat all enemies, no matter how violent and deceptive their tactics. For more than three weeks now there has been a bitter and very complicated war fought out in the southern part of Leba- non. This is the result of Is- raeli aggression against Lebanon, a sovereign country. This kind of flagrant aggres- sion is condemned by world pub- lic opinion, just as it was when the Russians invaded Czechoslovakia ten years ago. In reply to this attack the Lebanese people are fighting in their own defence. Israels attack is also the most impor- tant part in a plan to exter- minate the Palestinian revo- lution (see NEW AGE no. 1), and the Palestinians are the leading force in resisting Is- rael. TARGET OF IMPERIALISM Lebanon contains several different Moslem and Chris- tian communities. The French, who used to control the count- ry between the two wars, prac- tised a policy of divide and rule. Since the last war, other imperialists have tried to do the same. Lebanon used to be something of a bridghead for western im- perialist economic penetration of the Middle East; it has quite a wealthy bourgeoisie, which may be tempted to capi- tulate to imperialism. For this reason, when the USA was planning a great of- fensive to gobble up the Middle East two decades ago, it chose Lebanon as a target for an open invasion by US marines in the summer of 1958. CONTINUED PAGE 5 Editorial In the January issue of the magazine, "The Leveller" a witness for the prosec- ution at a recent trial was named. That might not seem unusual, but the name of this witness was being kept secret by the court, who seemed to think revealing his name would somehow en- danger "national security"; now the Attorney General is planning a contempt of court case against" The Leveller" magazine and five individ- uals who work on it, which could result in the latter being jailed. It all started when two journalists, Crispin Aubrey and Duncan Campbell, were interviewing John Berry, who'd been working on Sig- nals Intelligence (SIGINT) in the army. The Special Branch had been spying on them, and arrested all three, seizing a tape recording they had made of the inter- view, which was later prod- uced as evidence against them. They were charged under the Official Secrets Act. COLONEL B The prosecution prod- uced a certain Colonel B as a witness against ABC. He said that the information on the tape was prejudicial to "national security" and stated, "I don't think there should be any discussion of SIGINT. The whole subject is classified." "The Leveller" published Colonel B's true name and are now being prosecuted for doing so. It seems unlikely that the Attorney General (in other words, the Govern- ment) is really concerned CONTINUED PAGE 2 CONTENTS Leyland Page 2. Claridges Page 2. Letters Page 3. CWM-RCLB Public Meeting Page 4. A Difference At MacDonalds? Page 4. The World Scene Page 5. Birch Sinks Lower Page 7. Hospitals in Socialist China Page 8. On Sunday, 9th March, another fire-bombing took place. Latest attack was on the offices of the pap- er, "Socialist Challenge." Fascists are undoubtedly responsible.

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