MIM Notes 186 May 15 1999

U$ re-uses rhetoric to further war against Iraq

by MC206
The western imperialists are trying hard to sell the bombing of 
Yugoslavia as the "democratic and humanitarian" action of a "world 
cop." Recent developments in Iraq show that they plan to use this 
story once again to cover their attacks on an oppressed nation.

According to the London Independent, the u.$. is "considering a 
radical expansion of its role" in northern Iraq "by giving a full 
military guarantee to the whole of Iraqi Kurdistan." Currently 
u.$. and English planes patrol north of the 36th parallel to keep 
Iraqi planes out of the area.

The u.$. wants to use Iraqi Kurdistan as a base for military 
action by the Iraqi National Congress(INC), a u.$.-backed movement 
opposed to the current Iraqi regime. Leaders of the Kurdistan 
Democratic Party (KDP) say they will only allow this if the u.$. 
can turn the current "no-fly zone" into a "no fly and no-drive 
zone." This could involve giving the KDP heavy weapons, using u.$. 
aircraft against Iraqi tanks, and conceivably even some form of 
u.$. ground presence.

Supporters of the INC basically admit that they are dependent on 
the u.$. and have little support on the ground. The recent 
congress which reconstituted the INC and fired its former leader 
was held "under U.S. auspices." In true, narrow bourgeois fashion 
these bootlickers are cheering on the u.$. war in Yugoslavia, 
hoping that they might mooch off of Amerikan "successes." As one 
INC supporter put it, "If NATO succeeds in Kosovo it will be good 
for us; otherwise we will have to think again."

The utter hypocrisy of the united $tates can be seen in its 
actions in Iraq. It claims to be for the rights of the Iraqi 
people, while at the same time it bombs sewage treatment plants 
and enforces sanctions which have caused the deaths of close to 
one and a half  million people, mostly children. It once again 
plots for a war in Iraq to install a clique of its own choosing 
with questionable local support, all in the name of "democracy."

And while the U$ uses the plight of the Kurdish people in Iraq to 
justify offensive measures in its war on Iraq, it openly supports 
Turkey's war against the Kurds. Turkey's war has left tens of 
thousands of people dead. On 8 April, Turkish troops once again 
crossed into Iraq allegedly pursuing Kurdish rebels, without so 
much as a peep from the u.$. 

Behind all the rhetoric about "humanitarianism" or "respect for 
international law" or whatever flavor of bullshit they are pushing 
this week, the u.$. imperialists are driven to war by their own 
needs and desires. They need to protect current investments, 
secure future investments, burn off some military surplus, and 
sell some new military toys in the process. This planet will not 
be free of war until the economic system which requires the 
subjugation of entire peoples is wiped off of it.

Note: London Independent, 14 April 99.