No war against Iraq — statements:
Statement of The Israeli Communist Forum The Israeli Communist Forum issued a statement on September 4, condemning the USA for its intention to start a war against Iraq. "Such a war, that will cause the death of thousands of innocent civilians, is liable to ignite the whole region and endanger world peace", the statement said. "American imperialism, having already caused in recent years the death of thousands of innocent civilians in Afghanistan, the murder of numerous civilians and the destruction of unimaginable proportions in Yugoslavia, is plotting to start another war, this time without even a shred of plausible cause. "The previous acts of aggression perpetrated by the USA and its allies, and their preparations to start a forthcoming war, serve to demonstrate once more the fact that the downfall of the socialist regimes in the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe was a disaster for the whole humanity." The Soviet Union and its allies fulfilled a vital role in counterbalancing and curbing the power, and keeping in check US imperialism and its lackeys. On numerous occasions this prevented imperialism's schemes from taking effect. The Israeli Communist forum described the recent declarations of the US President and other senior officials in his adminitration as echoes of the rhetoric that prevailed in Europe in the 1930s. "Leaders claimed then that they possessed the right to inflict harm upon anyone who refused to comply with the "new world order" which they wished to impose on the whole world "They wrenched for themselves a licence to dictate to other states how they must behave in all spheres of life, and to topple by use of force any regime resisting their dictates", the Forum's statement said. In the Middle East there is an extensive resistance to the war (only Israel and Turkey are supporting unequivocally the war), as well as in Europe and in many other parts of the world. Reservations can be heard even among some of USA's allies. Within the USA there is growing opposition to war. But in spite of this, the most extreme hawks are still the determining force in shaping of US policy, and "this fact constitutes a grave danger to our region and to humanity at large. The Forum denounced "the thoughtless support given by Israeli rulers to a war against Iraq, and their call to start immediately that war". The crimes, already perpetrated by the Israeli rulers, like the systematical killing of many Palestinian civilians, including women and children "don't seem to be enough for them". "They wish to exploit the state of war in an attempt to carry out old fiendish schemes, the aim of which is achieve fait accompli state of affair in the occupied Palestinian areas. "These aims are supposed to be attained by means of killing masses of inhabitants, and making an organised transfer of those surviving the massacre. According to their expectations, public opinion in the world will be occupied with the war in Iraq, rather than paying attention to their crimes." The statement denounced the support given by Israeli ruling circles for a war against Iraq and their attempt to exploit it for committing new crimes against the Palestinian People! "We warn against any Israeli involvement in a war against Iraq and denounce threats to use unconventional weapons of mass extermination in such war! "We call upon all those in Israel who regard themselves supporters of peace to voice a loud and clear objection to the instigation of a war against Iraq. "We issue a call for the immediate cessation of all massacres and acts of repression in the occupied territories, and for stepping up the protest, both inside Israel and in the international arena, against these crimes!", the statement concluded.* * * Statement by the Iranian-American Community (IACUS) Once again, the Bush administration is beating the drums of war, this time preparing for an attack on Iraq. If such an attack takes place, it is sure to result in the deaths of tens of thousands of civilians and immeasurable damage to the civilian infrastructure and the environment of Iraq. The Iraqi people, already victimised by the immense destruction of the Gulf War in 1991 and 12 years of sanctions since, may have to brace for yet another round of bombings, more death, destruction and devastation. Bush has simply decided that there must be a regime change in Iraq! Iraq is a sovereign nation, entitled to its independence and territorial integrity. Long-standing international laws, to which the US is a signatory, prohibit the invasion of one country by another. It is not for the President of the United States to decide what kind of a regime the Iraqi people should have and who should be their leader. The justifications the US administration has set forth for this aggression are hardly plausible. Will Iraq be bombed as part of the "war on terrorism"? To this day, Bush's vast intelligence apparatus has failed to produce a shred of evidence that the Iraqi Government had any part in the September 11 tragedy. In fact, the animosity between Saddam Hussein's Ba'th party and Islamic fundamentalists makes Iraqi-al Qaida collaboration quite improbable. Will Iraq be attacked because, after 12 years of sanctions that have blocked even food and medicine from getting through, it has miraculously developed new weapons of mass destruction? Well, the neighbouring countries that would be most threatened by such weapons do not think so. Iraq actually did use chemical weapons in the eight-year Iran-Iraq war, yet the government of Iran does not feel threatened today. The rulers of Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, close allies of the US, do not feel this threat and are opposed to a US attack. Even European US allies that supported and participated in the Gulf War are against Bush's new war. As super sensitive as the US Government pretends to be to the threat of Iraqi chemical and biological weapons, it didn't seem all that concerned in 1988 when Saddam Hussein did, in fact, use chemical weapons in its war against Iran and on the Iraqi Kurd population. Short of being alarmed, the US remained an ally and a supplier of arms to Saddam Hussein's regime. In fact, the attack on Iraq has nothing to do with fighting terrorism, liberating the Iraqi people or protecting the people of the region from the much-exaggerated threat that the Iraqi regime poses. The real motivation for this attack is securing the profits of multi- national oil corporations and the wishes of the Israeli Government to crush independent Arab governments in the region. We should not fall into the trap of supporting an invasion or being indifferent towards it on the basis that we may not condone Saddam Hussein's regime. This is not a question of what one may think of Saddam as a leader, rather it's a question of whether the US military has the right to impose its will on other peoples of the world. More importantly, it's a question of whether or not we stand for acts of terrorism, be they perpetrated by the likes of Osama bin Laden or by Bush and his cohorts. Israel is the only government in the region currently in possession of nuclear bombs. As ruthless as Saddam may be, the people in the region are justifiably far more worried about the danger of Israel using its weapons of mass destruction against them than of Iraqis using what may be left of theirs. At its peak, Iraq's chemical and biological weapons were not substantial enough to even turn the tide in its war against Iran. There is no question that if Iraq has somehow managed to keep any chemical and biological weapons at all, it is but a small portion of what it once possessed. Deceptive propaganda It is but a deceptive propaganda to claim that Iraq now possesses weapons that threaten the US and the whole world. The occurrence of the US attack on Iraq is not a foregone conclusion. There is enough opposition within the US and internationally to make Bush's selling of the "necessity" of the attack quite difficult. We urge all peace loving people, groups and organisations to raise their voices of protest in unison to prevent an attack on Iraq that is sure to result in a humanitarian tragedy. IACUS August 2002* * * San Francisco and Washington unions oppose war against Iraq By resolution adopted on August 26, the San Francisco Labor Council declared that the Labor Council "join the growing movement in opposition to any US war against Iraq, and call on the Unions and AFL-CIO at all levels and Congressional representatives to publicly oppose this war". The Labor Council condemned any attempt by the government to introduce troops or otherwise intervene in the contract dispute between the ILWU [Longshoreman's Union] and the employers. The Council also endorsed the "Stop the War" marches and rallies taking place in Oakland, Los Angeles, Washington and other cities on September 14- 16, as well as the International Day of Protest on October 26. The Washington State Labor Council Convention held over August 19-22 adopted a similar resolution. The Washington resolution said that the Council "opposes the US government's open-ended 'war on terrorism'". It will also participate in rallies, marches and other activities "to pressure President Bush and Congress to stop the war and redirect money from corporate handouts and the military budget to assist laid-off workers, restore and expand public services, promote global justice by providing humanitarian and economic aid to brothers and sisters in other countries." San Francisco and Washington unions oppose war against Iraq By resolution adopted on August 26, the San Francisco Labor Council declared that the Labor Council "join the growing movement in opposition to any US war against Iraq, and call on the Unions and AFL-CIO at all levels and Congressional representatives to publicly oppose this war". The Labor Council condemned any attempt by the government to introduce troops or otherwise intervene in the contract dispute between the ILWU [Longshoreman's Union] and the employers. The Council also endorsed the "Stop the War" marches and rallies taking place in Oakland, Los Angeles, Washington and other cities on September 14- 16, as well as the International Day of Protest on October 26. The Washington State Labor Council Convention held over August 19-22 adopted a similar resolution. The Washington resolution said that the Council "opposes the US government's open-ended 'war on terrorism'". It will also participate in rallies, marches and other activities "to pressure President Bush and Congress to stop the war and redirect money from corporate handouts and the military budget to assist laid-off workers, restore and expand public services, promote global justice by providing humanitarian and economic aid to brothers and sisters in other countries."* * * No to War and Dictatorship
Statement of the Iraqi Communist Party A recent meeting of the Central Committee of the Iraqi Communist Party discussed the objectives of the US to bring about a "regime change" in Iraq by force and the strategy of "pre-emptive strikes". As the threats by the US to wage war against Iraq increase under the cover of its "war against terrorism", and while the dictatorial regime of Saddam Hussein resorts once again to brinkmanship to remain in power at any cost, the Iraqi Communist Party has declared its firm opposition to the war option. The Party calls for international solidarity with the Iraqi people and their patriotic forces, against war and dictatorship, for freedom and the democratic alternative — a unified democratic and federal Iraq. The Party exposed the Saddam Hussein regime's "desperate efforts to defend its rule, trying not only to mobilise forces to avert the external threat, but also, first and foremost, to contain the popular resentment which threatens to explode". The rulers continue to put their selfish interests "above the people's national interest", refusing to allow the return of UN weapons inspectors, and thus "preventing action to spare our people and country looming dangers". In this context, the Central Committee also noted the mounting opposition to American unilateralism, which is voiced by "governments, social movements, political forces and sections of world public opinion". This growing movement has, at the same time, "rejected the practices of the dictatorial regime in Iraq and its delay in implementing UN Security Council resolutions with regard to enabling UN weapons inspectors to return to Iraq". The meeting drew attention to "the grave dangers caused by reliance on the war option and foreign military intervention as a means for change". The Party said that "numerous experiences have proved that they leave behind death, destruction and tragedies and do not bring about democracy. Achieving democracy relies mainly on the participation by the masses of the people and their political forces in the process of change." The Central Committee said that "achieving change is a task for our people and their armed forces, led by the alliance of patriotic opposition forces, and with legitimate international support".* * * Note: Extensive excerpts of the Communiqui issued by the Iraqi Communist Party Central Committee are published on the ICP website: www.iraqcp.org* * * Australia
Plea from churches to avoid war in Iraq The following statement was issued by the Victorian Council of Churches and endorsed by major churches. As leaders and ecumenical officers of churches in Victoria, we express our grave concerns about the possibility of war. The threat of a US-led attack on Iraq and Australia's involvement in such a conflict fills us with much disquiet. If such an attack takes place, the lives of many innocent Iraqi citizens will be put at risk. It is a cause of deep distress that the threat of military action seriously devalues the lives of all people in countries such as Iraq, who are already suffering severely from harsh leadership and the economic impact of extreme sanctions and bombardments. The whole of the Middle East is a tinderbox, and a wrong judgement at this time could lead to unimaginable results. It is always deplorable when nations resort to war and the threat of war as an acceptable instrument of foreign policy. We, therefore, call on the Australian Government to use its influence to dissuade the US Government from the threat of precipitate military action in Iraq; to refrain from all support of such threats; to continue with diplomatic efforts; and to work through the United Nations. Endorsements: Father Iskander Aphram, Syrian Orthodox Church, Victoria; Bob Barreau, President, Churches of Christ in Victoria and Tasmania; Father Henry Dabbous, Melkite Catholic Eparchy, Victoria; Pastor Alun Davies, President, Assemblies of God in Victoria; Right Reverend David Farrer, Anglican Bishop of Wangaratta; Lieutenant-Colonel Ian Hamilton, Divisional Commander, The Salvation Army, Melbourne; Most Reverend Denis Hart, Archbishop, Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne; The Very Reverend Peter Kenny, President, Victorian Council of Churches; Father Nabil Kachab, Antiochian Orthodox Church, Victoria; Reverend Alistair Macrae, Moderator, Uniting Church (Victoria); Judy McMaster, President, Baptist Union of Victoria; Sandy Parker, clerk, Victorian Regional Meeting, Religious Society of Friends; Most Reverend Peter Stasiuk, Ukrainian Catholics in Australia; Reverend David Stolz, President, Victorian District Lutheran Church in Australia; Bishop Suriel, Coptic Orthodox Church, Victoria.