It is undeniable that the great social movements of the last half of the 20th century changed the terrain on which millions live and how they understand the world in profound and enduring ways. And yet their transformative capacity, that is their ability to move to a new, higher stage of struggle and possibility, was circumscribed by the limited participation of the main sections of the labor movement. Few articulated this better than MLK in the 1960s. What was true in the last century is no less true in this century.

It was a colossal mistake, but not surprising decision that US forces entered Afghanistan with “guns ablazing” and in the language of fighting “international terrorism” nearly two decades ago, after years earlier destabilizing a secular democratic-progressive, anti-imperialist government and country. (I met Babrak Kamal, that government’s first Prime Minister in Moscow in 1981 ) But does anyone think that a slower drawn down and exit from Afghanistan now would result in something much different from what we seeing? The only alternative to what is happening is endless occupation. And that we know after nearly 20 years is no alternative

Political agitation aimed at the Biden administration that ignores the narrow advantage of 1 that Democrats hold in the Senate and the resistance of a handful of Senate Democrats to the more far reaching proposals of the administration – not to mention the vagaries of the socio-economic environment, shifting public opinion, and the main lines of attack of the whole right wing apparatus – is problematic at best. At worst, it fails to appreciate the complicated nature and tactical challenges of this moment if we hope to move the legislative needle in a progressive direction and increase Democratic Congressional majorities in next year’s election.