Al-Ghad editorial of 14 September 2004

Liberal English translation of the editorial, for the Arabic original click here

The recent carnage and upheaval in Iraq is proof that it is necessary to end the occupation and establish a government of unity to secure Iraq's independence, sovereignty and unity

The latest carnage committed by the American forces in Najaf and other Iraqi cities during the last few weeks has shown the failure and bankrupt aggressive policy of the iron fist to finish off the patriotic opposition to occupation. It became apparent from the intervention of the masses to stop the barbaric bombardment and to get all foreign forces out from the cities as a first step to leave the country all together. It was a big blow to the political elite in the USA, as expressed by the admission of President Bush, immediately after the ceasefire in Najaf, of the failure of his war policy after the occupation of Iraq. This came after a long period of misleading statements, claims of victories and success in reconstruction of and prevalence of democracy in Iraq! This was coupled with the accusation of the hegemonic Zionist wing at the Pentagon for spying for Israel. It is known that the plan is to occupy Iraq, to empty it of its people and destroy its national identity and make it an extension for Israel to become a large forward military base to control oil-fields in the whole area, which will lead to controlling the world economy. The patriotic resistance to the occupation, especially in Najaf, succeeded in forcing the Americans to stop their attacks, pulling their forces out from the city and sounded the call to end these sick dreams of the neo - cons.

We admit occupation still exists in well-defended bases with significant firepower, but these significant successes of the Iraqi people were not the final push to end occupation and the people did not achieve an end of the occupation timetable. Until the occupation is ended, the country will be in a cycle of anarchy, destruction and mayhem and the present regime will continue to claim its representation of Iraq in the international arena, a government which is a front and an extension to the occupation as it came with its tanks and does everything asked of it . The truth is that the present regime has shown contempt to the Iraqi people and an increase in its oppression of the masses especially in the last few weeks.

We need to review the situation after the battle of Najaf, which demonstrated huge mass support from all over the country, to identify the next stage in the struggle to face the occupiers and their military and political plans and specifically the upcoming election, the permanent constitution and the future of Iraq government.

The occupation forces instigated the present round of fighting, according to a plan to end the mass movement of the ‘Al Sadr Current’ with brute force in order to silence all patriotic opposition and to break the people’s will and finally impose a regime which is to the liking of the USA. They used the local police to provoke the fighting, After their failure to rule Iraq directly, they introduced the Interim Governing Council, composed of some political parties which collaborated with the occupation. These parties lost all credibility with the people. The occupiers presented the Interim Governing Council as a legal entity to the international community and followed that by the current interim regime and the so called interim Parliament the members of which are chosen from the same parties, The occupiers are still waging war all over Iraq's other cities especially Al Thoura/ Sadr town east of Baghdad, Tell Afar, Fallujah and other southern cities.

The occupying forces with their Iraqi allied forces found themselves confined to strong barracks, despite them using heavy weapons and air power with devastating effects on civilian areas, which led to anger. This increased the resistance area to cover most of the cities and town except the Kurdish area for well known reasons. This does indicate the difficulties of continuing the occupation and doubt on the future of the election at the beginning of next year.

At this juncture the USA has confused, unrealistic policies and is in the middle of a presidential election which might result in a new administration. This new administration could have the excuse and mitigation to pull out of Iraq, as the control of Iraq is deemed difficult, there are mounting costs and there is critical internal and international public opposition. The big question is: what do the patriotic forces need to do?

The situation in today's Iraq is in continuous change and at a rapid speed, and what appeared to be self-evident truth last week is a long forgotten memory. Ideas and notions of servility, subservience and subjugation, engraved in the minds of most people for decades of Baathist misrule, are still alive with many of those who became immune to the people's pain and suffering.

The Iraqi youths who are the majority, being three quarters of the population, have different experiences. The vast majority of them have no hope of jobs, a decent living or essential knowledge for modern life, so it is not strange for social extremism and aggression towards those of different opinions to flourish. These shortcomings could become a big hurdle in the development of their movement, unless they are polished by more life experiences.

We see today that a large number of youth groups have found in the‘Al Sadr Current’ the expression of their basic demands to end occupation, poverty and unemployment. This is coupled with the political vacuum left after the invasion, occupation and the despicable conduct of some corrupt political parties which collaborated with the invaders. Many of these groups spent the best part of their youth during Saddam in never ending wars. Some were working in no longer existing factories. After long sanctions, war and vandalism, they have been brutalized and denied any normal life and knowledge. Although they lived a very rough life, in experience they are far from the corrupt professional politicians and easy living of the paid agents and collaborators. They are the only active diligent force, and the future of Iraq will depend on their consciousness and awareness. This puts tremendous importance on intellectual and cultural work being carried out by all progressive and patriotic organizations and finding the language to communicate and pass on the experiences and knowledge. This torrential movement could be a very creative force in building Iraq and participating in the international debate to build a better world.

On the International situation

Iraq’s occupation and the increasing resistance to it have shown the weak points of the USA economic and political structure and the bankruptcy of the imperial project in all its dimensions. Profit and economic plunder are the main driving force for imperialism. It can be seen that all assumptions upon which imperialism has been anchored look shaky according to the American analyst. The American Business Week on the 29 July 2004 published an article "the unacceptable cost to imperialism" in which it points to the fact the imperial project is financed by foreign borrowing which caused budget deficits in all the state institutions. The article states that the USA deficit reached 67% of the GDP, the lending foreign states (China and Japan are the biggest) will take their funds elsewhere as the USA economy deteriorates in a period of no more than two years. This will lead to an economic slump which makes it difficult to spend the half trillion dollars annual spending on the military.

This estimate was before the big rise in oil prices, reaching around $50 per barrel, after the attack on Najaf and the reduction of the Iraqi production and blowing up of the pipelines.

The article predicts the speedy downfall of USA imperialism due to economic suffocation if not by military backlash.

Scott Ritter wrote in the Herald Tribune July 23 of this year to the effect that "the situation (in Iraq) is no longer victory, but how to reduce the blow of defeat".

The miserable failure of Iraq’s occupation and the dire consequences are glaringly clear from the internal and global situation. To limit this debacle the neo-colonialists have started to talk openly about breaking up Iraq and creating warring entities, through isolating the Iraqi cities systematically and successively and attacking them with air bombardment and heavy artillery. This will lead to the creation of local political and military leaderships and resolve each area situation through these leaderships ignoring the need for a general national solution, which will lead to Somalization of Iraq.

We call on all patriotic Iraqi organizations, individuals and especially the rising Iraqi youth to prepare the ground for unity and victory to rebuild their future and end the terror and misery. We ask them to raise these demands:

1 - Demand the departure of occupying forces from every part of Iraq, through a clear timetable ratified and observed by the UN to achieve independence and sovereignty.

2 - Establish a government of national unity and defeat all attempts to disintegrate and divide the national consciousness, to protect Iraqi people’s interests in solving the problems facing them such as poverty, unemployment, health, education and proper social welfare for the old, the sick and to provide the necessary amenities to sustain modern life. To adhere always to multiple democratic means and to respect freedoms, while tackling crime seriously, to secure free and fair elections in well planned and well advertised time. This will give the Iraqi people their able representatives to write and consult on a permanent constitution and install a legal government that is able to plan for the safe future for the people of Iraq.