From: "Magnus Bernhardsen" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Date: Wed, 10 Oct 2001 00:33:40 +0200 To: [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [Peoples War] Iraq CP: NO to the War Option http://www.iraqcp.org/1009Iraq%20News.htm The following are excerpts of the statement transmitted by �Iraqi People�s Voice�, the radio of the Iraqi Communist Party, on Monday 8-10-2001: NO to the War Option �The US, supported by its principal ally Britain, launched last night 7/10/2001 its military campaign against Afghanistan, which it has been preparing for nearly one month under the name of fighting terrorism. This development has caused anxiety in the world and concern about the consequences of a war with unclear aims and targets, including some which have been included in the camp of terrorism after giving a vague definition to this term, subjecting it to America�s own judgement and standards ��. �The will of hawks and the war option have thus triumphed in the face of criminal acts of terrorism. But this is what terrorists of all kinds have been striving for, as if violence is the easiest path to resolve the problems of peoples, end their suffering and achieve their rights. Terror versus terror, violence versus violence, and an endless cycle of bloodshed the of innocent people of various nations. �The events in New York and Washington were a heinous bloody crime, and a terrorist act which cannot be justified or condoned. This deliberate criminal act has therefore deserved utmost condemnation, while expressing every sympathy and sorrow for the victims, and solidarity with their families. �The whole of humanity had hoped that the voice of reason, wisdom and a sense of responsibility would prevail in Washington, so as to act in accordance with international law and UN Charter; with the co-operation of all states of the world which are concerned for the stability, security and peace of peoples; with the support of world public opinion; based on rational thought (far from emotional reactions) .. so that steps and measures are taken to confront terrorism (after defining its meaning and clarifying its aims, so as to distinguish between �state terrorism�, and collective or individual acts of terrorism, on one hand, and peoples� liberation struggle, on the other), and eradicate its root causes through political, socio-economic, ideological, educational, and finally security - military processes. � � We call for the need to distinguish between the criminal and the innocent; between the real terrorists and their victims (among whom are the Afghan people). It must be realised that war, in its present declared form, does not make such a distinction. Its main cannon fodder and victims will be the young, men and women, the elderly and children, and not those who committed the massacres. It will not resolve the problem and cannot, with its destructive consequences and local, regional and international repercussions, tackle the essence of the issue, but might even aggravate it. �Our own experience in Iraq, with the catastrophes inflicted on our country, our people�s suffering under the international economic blockade, and the continuing repression and bloody terror under dictatorship, throughout the past ten years since the Gulf War, is best evidence and proof in support of what we have just pointed out. �On this tragic occasion, we declare our solidarity with the Afghan people, and call for an immediate halt to military operations, for peaceful solutions and generally recognised means to pursue and apprehend the perpetrators of crimes, allowing the Afghan people to decide their own fate.�
