SWP support armed resistance in Iraq

national | anti-war / imperialism | other press Friday November 12, 2004 13:18 by No-name - anti-war activist

Socialt group abandons its 'pacifism'

The Socialist Workers Party in Ireland (following the line from London) has finally declared its position regarding the armed resistance in Iraq. It is fully in support of such resistance - a position that all anti-imperialists should agree with. It is remarkable, however, that the position seems to be one of unconditional support including for those who are clearly related by Islamic fundamentalism. See the extrct below which is published on the SWP's Irish website.

Question: how will this affect the political line of the IAWM? Presumably the SWP anti-war front will be expected to tow the line?

Extract from SWP site:

The Iraqi Resistance speaks out

TONY BLAIR stood alongside Iyad Allawi, Iraq’s thuggish prime minister, last week and denounced the resistance as “terrorists”.

Blair then claimed that a “new Iraqi conflict” was raging. But there is no “new” conflict—the atrocities of the occupation have stoked grassroots resistance from the day US tanks crossed into Iraq.

Simon Assaf spoke to Iraqi delegates at an anti-war conference in Beirut.

“The people of Fallujah have risen in rebellion,” says Sheikh Khalil Ibrahim from the Beni Tamim tribe of Fallujah. “The Americans cannot enter large parts of the city. We say to America and its allies—get out of our country.”

He made a direct appeal to the British people— “The people of Fallujah ask the British people to put pressure on Tony Blair to withdraw their occupying forces from Iraq.”Sheikh Ibrahim dismissed claims that the resistance is being run by foreigners. “The resistance in Fallujah is controlled by the people of Fallujah,” he said.

Sheikh Ibrahim dismissed claims that the resistance is being run by foreigners. “The resistance in Fallujah is controlled by the people of Fallujah,” he said.

Samira al-Gaylani from Baghdad attacked US claims that Iraq would descend into civil war if occupying troops left the country.“Iraq has been mixed for 7,000 years,” she said. “The resistance has general support among the Iraqi people.” US troops had tied her son to a tank for six hours and beaten him up.

Dr Fatima Saloum from Baghdad said occupying troops were preventing the reconstruction of Iraq—“It is the ordinary people who began rebuilding the schools and cleaning the streets.”She added that Iraqis felt sorry for ordinary US and British soldiers sent out to Iraq—“Most of them are very young—just boys really.”“We feel sympathy for Rose Gentle and other mothers who have lost their sons. But we blame Bush and Blair for making these young men our enemies.”