Bulgarians Are Against US Military Bases in the Country

Since February until May of this year, the Spring Campaign against US Military Bases in Bulgaria and the neo-colonial regimes that came to power in Eastern Europe, as well as in the former Soviet Union, who are now so eager to have on their territories US bases. Bulgaria in this respect is no exception.

The deal between all of these countries and their US masters was confirmed when US State Secretary C. Rice was visiting these countries.

In Bulgaria there was a mass rally organized against her visit by a broad coalition of peace movements, Youth and Senior citizens groups, various Academic and Research groups, Communist and Nationalist parties, Green Party and individual citizens.

Former US Attorney General Ramsay Clark and other foreign guests from Greece, Serbia and Macedonia attended the Conference and Rally.

Last March 3, which is the National Day of Bulgaria’s Liberation, the parliamentary group of "Ataka" organized a massive All National Rally on the streets of Sofia, but, it was criticized, both from the "left" and the "right" spectrum. This "Ataka" is the only group that has officially submitted a draft, demanding that Bulgaria withdraw its troops from Iraq and also to revise the admission of Bulgaria into the European Union. (this is not known to the general public in Bulgaria.)

The agreement to allow US bases in Bulgaria is so "top secret" that even the Bulgarian MP’s or the Bulgarian people do not know this. The "Ataka" charges that the objective of US bases in Bulgaria is because it is the nearest spot to serve the future attack against Russia.

There were patriotic rallies held all over Bulgaria, coinciding with Rice’s visit here, coinciding also with the 130^th Anniversary of the 1876 National Revolt against Turkish domination.

The "Ataka" coalition was formed in 2005, the last General Election and it has 17 MP’s out of 270 in the Parliament, but, in spite of its small representation in the parliament, it enjoys rating second only to the Socialist Party, whose polices have absolutely nothing to do now with the ones of the former Bulgarian Communist Party.

Unfortunately, due to various ideological differences amongst various patriotic, humanitarian and peace groups so far, prevents a more substantial coordination among their protest activities.

It is encouraging however, that while many of the leaders are quarrelling or criticizing one another, the majority of the rank and file members of the various groups coordinate and cooperate in all of the protests, and it does not matter as to who is organizing the protest!

This gives hope for the future, even while the present Bulgarian servile "elite" of the country promote their personal deals with US imperialism and its "big brass".