IRAQI COMMUNIST PARTY: WHERE IS THE LEFT?
Whilst the Stoppers continue to moan about the occupation of Iraq, their contemporaries in Iraq have grown a little weary of their reactionary antics.Labour Friends of Iraq have published a statement from the Iraqi Communist Party. Despite being opposed to the war itself, they write:
We struggle for creating the conditions for the withdrawal of foreign troops at the earliest possible time. However, we believe that calling for their immediate withdrawal does not take into consideration the sharp current polarization in our country, the existence of paramilitary organizations, and the insufficient preparedness of the Iraqi security forces. Hence we call for a timetable for withdrawal together with doubling the efforts to provide the internal political, institutional and security conditions for this withdrawal. As was evident in the statement of the National Accord Conference held in Cairo last November, there is an Iraqi consensus regarding such a withdrawal timetable in order to avoid chaos and additional suffering. This is a realistic agenda and can be implemented in a relatively short period.The most damning part is the final paragraph:
We hope that the anti-war forces take into consideration the complexities of the situation in Iraq. At the same time, we respect the right of all parties and organizations in the countries that have sent troops in Iraq to call for their speedy withdrawal. It is their own internal affair, while we too reserve the right to formulate our own position in accordance with what we consider to be in the interests of our country. Such an approach can provide an effective and practical basis for joint action that would serve the noble cause of world peace and the struggle for freedom, democracy, human rights and social progress.
We have to note, with regret, that the Iraqi democratic forces have not received, in their difficult struggle, effective solidarity and support from international forces of the left. As a result, most of the latter have unfortunately been rendered observers of events, rather than exerting positive influence on the ongoing struggle over the future course of developments in Iraq, especially in supporting the struggle for a democratic prospect, at a time when the Iraqi patriotic and democratic forces are in urgent need for such concrete and multifarious support and solidarity.Could be fun popping along to a Stoppers meeting and asking what they make of this accusation.
Of course, the Stoppers haven't simply witheld their support from those brave enough to stand up for democratic principles in Iraq: at one point they went as far as renouncing the Iraqi Federation of Trade Unions as "collaborators with imperialism". With comrades like these...
posted by Dan @ 6:43 pm
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