Conrrespondence with Icaro Kaleb of Reagrupamento Revolucianario on the International Bolshevik Tendency and Samual Trachtenberg

Me

Hello. My name is Michael. I am a Trotskyist and a sympathizer for the Internationalist Bolshevik Tendency (http://www.bolshevik.org). It seems we are both Communist and with the Facebook group Class-Struggle Study Circles. Would you like to be facebook friends?

04:30

Icaro Kaleb accepted your request.

Icaro Kabel:

Hello Michael. How do you feel about this?

"At a 15 April 2010 local meeting it was suggested that a comrade who roughly fit my own description in terms of my limited relationship with Sam “befriend” him on a social media site in order to monitor him and relay information back to the leadership. I was the only person to comment on that point, stating that I would be the best candidate for such a job but that I don’t feel comfortable with it; that it felt dishonest and wrong. Riley merely shrugged and dismissed my objections by saying it wasn’t so bad and I shouldn’t have a problem with it."

https://rr4i.milharal.org/2010/07/17/1796/

09:00

Me:

I talk about Sam T. in my blog

http://spartacistwatch.blogspot.ca/

I have had run-ins with Sam T. myself. He was in my facebook group the Marxist Internet Archive - Underground External Tendency. We threw him out for numerous violations including slander, personalized attacks, ageism, ablesm and cop-baiting. I find him to be extremely malicious and dishonest as well as extremely paranoid. He often accuses people of being against him when they are clearly not. He has admitted to having O.D.D. which can be defined here.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oppositional_defiant_disorder#cite_note-7

Sam is an extremely talented individual for sure but also extremely troubled.

Kaleb:

Well, my question was not about Sam T. It was about the IBT conduct according to Brandon Gray. How do you feel about it?

Me:

Honestly, knowing what I know of Sam. I wouldn't be surprised if he made the whole thing up.

Kaleb:

This letter was written by Brandon Gray, a former IBT member in Toronto.

Me:

Did you speak to Brandon Gray yourself?

Kaleb:

It has been merely reproduced in our website (and we are no longer even associated with Sam T. as you certainly know). Yes, I communicated with him a few times years ago, when he left the IBT.

Me:

I honestly don't know specifics. I would really need to look into this. I have read that letter. I would need to talk to the IBT and hear there side of the story. I generally made a habit of not taking one side at it's word and not weighing in until I have all the facts.

I have however read the IBT's internal documents on Sam T. The IBT made considerable allowances with him. He basically refused to follow their rules and refused to work with people in the organization. He then opted to leave and denounce the IBT.

Sorry I didn't realized for a second I thought you had posted a link from the website Sam T. stole. My mistake.

Kaleb:

I don't know what selection on documents you have read. I myself have read a selection on documents sometime ago and that made me draw a completely different conclusion than yours. It convinced me that the IBT leadership was dishonest and corrupt. Especially when dealing with other left groups, which they treat as enemies.

*of documents

11:12

Me:

We may have to agree to disagree.

With all do respect, I think regurgitating the claim that Jason Wright works for Homeland is extremely dishonest and brands a person guilty until proven innocent. That seems to be on your website.

https://rr4i.milharal.org/2012/03/02/the-international-bolshevik-tendency-explains-its-demise-2/

I also noticed this.

"Logan was expelled by the Sparts for being a sociopath and lacking even the most rudimetary human decency. The Sparts actually produced three volumes dealing with his internal trial and his sociopath behaviour in Australia and britain. W he came back to NZ, they donated copies to all the public libraries, to warn everyone on the left here about him."

https://rr4i.milharal.org/2008/09/25/appendix-i-to-letter-of-resignation-from-the-international-bolshevik-tendency/

I actually have written on the ICL's claim on this matter.

http://spartacistwatch.blogspot.ca/2008/11/sparts-witchunt-against-logan-is.html

There is also this.

http://www.bolshevik.org/Pamphlets/Logan/Logan-Show-Trial-Contents.html

Here is more.

http://www.bolshevik.org/Leaflets/donovan.html

http://www.bolshevik.org/Leaflets/brock.html

In all honesty I think it was a serious mistake to side with Sam T. in the first place. We all make mistakes, including myself. But I think it is crucial to able to own one's mistakes. I really don't see that from this group. I think at the least. Revolutionary Regroupment needs to repudiate its support of the claims, Sam T., Philip Ferguson and the ICL made about Logan as well as the slander that Jason Wright works for the Department of Homeland Security.

I hope you don't see my statements as personal attacks and I am sorry if I come of as hostile but I think Sam T. has done a lot of unreasonable things concerning the IBT. I think you know by now that Sam isn't an easy person to reason with.

To be fair it isn't all Sam's fault he not only is dealing with mental health issues but he is also in the U.S. where health care is private and until recently they were denying healthcare to anyone with a pre-existing condition (which would be the case for Sam).

Kaleb: Michael, you're being dishonest. On Jason Wright: it was never claimed that he was a cop or an agent for Homeland Security, but rather that he was in a public position that was of significant "gray" nature (relating to Homeland officers on a co-worker level) which he should not have been advised to pursue by a leader of the organization (Riley). The IBT tried to hide it, as I have been shown sufficient evidence of. On Philip Ferguson: we do not advocate what he says in his post to alt.politics. We are interested in the quotes from the IBT, which show how the leaders (especially Logan) could conduct dishonest practices within the organization. We also think it describes well what happened to the NZ section of the IBT. On Logan: I've read many documents published by the SL. It was obviously a frame up. While the SL are hypocrites who did the same kind of thing (or worse) in the U.S., Logan cannot deny his actions. I don't think he is a "sociopath" (I'm no doctor btw). I just think he has conducted dishonest and bureaucratic manouvers in the iSt and the IBT. I have enough evidence for that. As you know (since you claim to have read the documents involving Sam T's departure) they have been complete assholes to the Argentines which wanted to become their section in Latin America. You must also be aware of the games they've played with the CL (of which I was part). We know it was discussed internally that they didn't want to fuse with the entire group because this would mean the CL would have significant weight internally to question Logan and Riley. So they tried to split our group while pretending to hold "fraternal relations" with it (which only us publicized - they never even acknowledged it to the public). I have read everything the IBT has published on the Logan trial, Michael. I don't know why you give me links for those. On Sam T.: I've collaborated with him for 4 years and he is not "insane" in any way the IBT described. You, btw, should be ashamed to be an "IBT supporter" knowing that the IBT has privately and publicly explored his depression as "mental illness". We have had differences with him on many tactical and organizational issues and he may be definetly difficult to work with, but we maintain basically all his assertions against the IBT. Just because they are true. There's nothing the IBT can do to change it. Truth is stubborn as they say. Who do you think you are to demand that we "repudiate" based accusations against the IBT? If anything this makes me even more disgusted. Are you acting on your own behalf or on the IBT leaders? (this is an honest question, since I don't know what is the level of your collaboration with them). In the latter case, this only proves they continue to engage in stupid and silly "tactics". I have nothing more to add to this. If you would allow, I would love to make this "conversation" public. I won't do it if you prefer not to. But in this case, just leave me (and my group) alone. We really have nothing to benefit from this and I honestly have more productive activity to engage on than discussing the IBT. It has always been a consensus in the RR that we don't need to worry about the IBT. We can just let it perish as the sick group they are. Unless they try to mess with us. In this case we will fight back.

Me: I see we are at the name calling state. Attacking my intelligence it pretty low. The IBT never tried to brand Sam as insane. They merely raised concerns about his behaviour. In my experience with Sam he is a very malicious and confrontation individual he has made numerous personal attacks against me. You say you don't call Logan a sociopath or Jason Wright a member of the Department of Homeland Security and yet they are posted on your website without qualification or explanation. With all do respect I think you and your group are behaving dishonestly. As for Phil Fergusan, in the dispute in question, the individuals who opposed Logan felt comfortable raising opposition to him and there decisions were partially implemented, plus they remained with the group for several years later.