The atmosphere of war, destruction and killing has come to dominate many Iraqi cities as a result of the conflict between the US on the one hand and Muqtada al-Sadr?s group, other forces of political Islam, and remnants of the Baath regime on the other. This conflict has taken on dangerous dimensions and heralds catastrophic consequences for the masses of Iraqi people. The fight between the US troops and Muqtada al-Sadr?s forces has engulfed Baghdad, Najaf, Nasiriyah, Basra, Karbala, Omarah and Kut. The US troops have also imposed for more than 3 days a tight siege on the city of Falluja and are attacking the city by apache helicopters, tanks and hundreds of marines, and thus have turned the city into a battlefield for a fierce fight. These battles have so far claimed the lives of over 500 civilians, the majority children. It has also brought immense destruction to the cities. While the US troops are indiscriminately and intensively bombarding residential places, Muqtada al-Sadr?s group and other groups of political Islam are pulling the fight to the residential neighborhoods to embroil the innocent people as an active part of this bloody conflict. The Worker-communist Party of Iraq strongly condemns these criminal actions against civilians.
The US war and its policies in Iraq are responsible for these horrifying events. The masses in Iraq have gained nothing from the US promises to bring about freedom and democracy. Instead, they have witnessed a dark scenario and the transfer of administration over the society to religious, ethnocentric and tribal groups which were summoned to the social and political stage from the caves of the Stone Age. The people of Iraq have not gained anything from ?building the new Iraq? and ?reconstruction? but more hunger, unemployment, and destitution. They have gained nothing from the promised ?freedom? but lack of security, chaos and recklessness by groups and gangs of political Islam toward the lives, rights and freedoms. The current events only indicate the depth of dissatisfaction and resentment towards America and its entire policies and projects in Iraq. For these masses, every new day holds heaps of more hardship and tragedy.
On the other hand, stand the forces of political Islam along with remnants of the deposed Baath regime. Political Islam, which was unleashed by America itself, is capitalizing on public resentment and dissatisfaction and exploiting the just and widespread mass protest against the occupation to serve their anti- masses interests. The track record of these groups, especially after the collapse of the fascist Baath regime is clear: they have created a nightmare for Iraqi women, youth and freedom lovers. Oppressing women and youth and denying their basic political and civil rights, and systematic violence are daily practices of these political movements. They have not restrained from using the most despicable and anti-human practices and values to impose their rule. These poles of terrorism have no connection to the interests of the people, and their prosperity, liberation or their endeavor to expel America from Iraq. A better life for the masses is a life where there is no room for either party involved in this conflict.
The freedom-loving people of Iraq and the Worker-communist Party of Iraq struggle to separate their ranks from both poles of this conflict and to establish and consolidate a third camp as a humanist, liberationist and progressive alternative which stands up to both poles of reaction and terrorism. The masses must not stay handcuffed to this terrorist and bloody conflict.
The freedom loving people and the Worker-communist Party of Iraq have no option but to come to the fore in large numbers with organized, armed, and united ranks to combat the lethal forces of reaction and reclaim the Iraqi cities and towns. They must take the initiative and establish centers in neighborhoods and workplaces, which will allow people to protect themselves and run their own affairs.
Worker-communist Party of Iraq.
April 8, 2004 | 
