What we think

Iraq

THE SOCIALIST Party calls for the withdrawal of all the occupying forces and for the Iraqi people to democratically decide their own future.

There is, of course, the danger of religious and ethnic conflicts and the disintegration of Iraq.

But after the slaughter of up to 1,000 civilians by US troops in Falluja, Sunni and Shia forces came together against the occupying forces, showing that civil war is not inevitable.

We support the building of workers' organisations in Iraq that can unite across the religious and ethnic divides, and of democratic multi-ethnic defence forces.

The movement against the occupation should fight for an Iraq-wide government of the workers and urban and rural poor that could introduce a democratic and socialist programme.

This would include an end to privatisation and bringing the oil and other industries and resources under the democratic control and management of the Iraqi workers.

The vast potential wealth of Iraq could then be used to finance the reconstruction of schools, hospitals, housing, public transport etc through a democratic plan of production.

A socialist society would also guarantee religious freedoms and full rights for women and minorities, including the right of self-determination for ethnic groups such as the Kurds.

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In The Socialist 22 May 2004:

Sanctioning Torture From The Top