[lbo-talk] Iraqi communists on "resistance"

[Grant Lee]

"In actual fact, the patriotic and democratic forces within Iraq are
confronted with two pressing tasks. (1) Ending the occupation and ensuring
the speedy transfer of power to Iraqis in a manner that secure regaining
national sovereignty. (2) Eradicating the legacies and influence of the
previous dictatorial regime and build a democratic regime. The latter
necessarily requires getting rid of all the remnants of dictatorship:
political, psychological  and ideological, and not to allow the emergence of
new dictatorship. In full opposition to this to these tasks are the
terrorist acts and sabotage operations that have ravaged the country for
several months, their real aim being to revive the dictatorial regime.
Thereupon, it is an insult to claim that such operations constitute
"resistance". The perpetrators of these activities are driven by narrow,
self-serving interests to regain privileges endowed by the previous regime
and to regain their grip over political and economic power. Their actions
stand in clear contradiction to the basic interests of the people and
liberating the country, and are inflicting grave damage to the wellbeing of
Iraqis and the country. In the final analysis, they provide pretexts for
prolonging the occupation!" Central Committee of the Iraqi Communist Party,
23-12-2003, "Towards the Broadest Political Alliance to End the Occupation
and Consolidate the Democratic Process", Iraqi Communist Party website
[downloaded 13/2/04], http://www.iraqcp.org/framse1/0040128icp1.htm

"A key part of the mass struggle to expel the US troops and win the
political power, and to achieve freedom, equality and welfare, is
confronting the Islamic and [Arab] ethnocentric resistance in the current
situation. Because these forces are a party in the war and the calamities
imposed on the Iraqi masses. The Iraqi masses are capable of, without the
"resistance" of these reactionary forces, but through a mass struggle
organized in councils and other mass organizations, and by standing ... side
by side with the defenders of freedom and civility all over the world not
only of expelling the US troops out of Iraq, but establishing their
authority and liberating the society from the vicious circle of war between
the US and the "resistance" as well." (Khisrow Saya, 5/1/2004 ,"Occupation"
and "Resistance": two poles within the same reactionary camp",
Worker-Communist Party of Iraq website [downloaded 13/2/04],
http://www.wpiraq.org/english/)