one up to al-Sadri
The news in London this evening is that most of the hostages are going to be released and that there will be a cease fire in Falluja. Channel 4 News had an interview with a spokesman of the Iraq Governing Council Hamid Alefey (?) who openly criticised the US, presumably on behalf of the IGC for not seeking a political solution. Alefey stressed that it is important to work on a political solution to avoid influence going in favour of more extreme activities. Meanwhile the leader of the Conservative Party in the UK, Michael Howard, who will have received confidential briefings from the Labour government, called for a strengthening of the UK political representative in Baghdad, and his being made Bremer's formal deputy. The government declined to produce a spokesperson and limited themselves to a written statement that Richmond(?) is a good diplomatic and has good relations with Paul Bremer. Again the general implication is that that it is already suddenly past June 30 and the US freedom of action must be at the discretion of the IGC not the other way round. Interveners on the IGC, perhaps including the Iraq Communist Party, have clawed some influence. and al Sadri has succeeded in building links in action with the Sunni forces holding out in Falluhah. Within the range of Iraqi forces there has been some accommodation in line with the resultant of forces and a united front against arbitrary US action. Al Sadri's stock must have risen and his organisation will strengthen, but there is some alliance with liberal democratic elements. This is probably the best that the US could hope for an exit strategy. Any more thrashing around could make the situation worse for it. (At least that's my guess) Chris Burford London
Re: one up to al-Sadri
- Original Message - From: Chris Burford [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Sunday, April 11, 2004 2:45 PM Subject: [PEN-L] one up to al-Sadri Interveners on the IGC, perhaps including the Iraq Communist Party, have clawed some influence. and al Sadri has succeeded in building links in action with the Sunni forces holding out in Falluhah. Within the range of Iraqi forces there has been some accommodation in line with the resultant of forces and a united front against arbitrary US action. Al Sadri's stock must have risen and his organisation will strengthen, but there is some alliance with liberal democratic elements. Seems that this is the opening moment in a period of great potential for a real social revolutionary movement-- if it can articulate a program addressing the economic distress of the population, demanding de-privatization of oil and other productive resources, reparations from the US and the UN for the embargo, damages from the US/UK for the war, improvements in sanitation, agriculture, equal rights for women--- and a moment of great danger if no such movement with a program does emerge, as religious fundamentalism will strengthen if there is no secular remedy. dms
Re: one up to al-Sadri
dmschanoes wrote: Seems that this is the opening moment in a period of great potential for a real social revolutionary movement-- if it can articulate a program [CLIP]- and a moment of great danger if [CLIP Whichever if eventuates is beyond the reach of world progressives to affect. With luck and hard work we can maintain pressure on the U.S. to withdraw its forces. U.S. Out of Everywhere! Carrol
