Link to this page: http://www.socialistparty.org.uk/issue/435/5130
From The Socialist newspaper, 13 April 2006
Iraq - condition critical
DESPITE THE spin from Downing Street and the White House, an internal report from the US embassy and military command in Baghdad shows that Iraq's 'political, economic and security situation' in six of the country's 18 provinces is "serious" and "critical" in one. Only in three Kurdish-controlled areas in the north is the situation described as "stable".
The report, compiled before February's devastating bombing of the Golden Mosque in Samarra, shows that Iraq is fracturing along ethnic/religious lines. It also confirms that sectarian 'ethnic cleansing' is happening in mixed Sunni-Shia populations.
The insurgency against the coalition troops and interim government is largely Sunni Arab based. Whereas in the south, especially in the province of Basra, pro-Iranian Shi'ite political factions and militias are growing in power.
George Bush and Tony Blair argue that the antidote to sectarian violence is the formation of a national government - which has still not been formed since December's parliamentary elections. But the lack of a 'national government' is precisely because of the domination of sectarian politicians and political parties.
That is why the dominant Shia 'United Iraqi Alliance' coalition in parliament is refusing demands from the US and British government's for the Shia interim prime minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari to stand down.
But even if a national unity government were to be formed it would be largely impotent as the police and army battalions are loyal to the leaders from their own communities. The war and occupation has shed huge amounts of blood while greatly worsening all of Iraq's problems.
Why not click here to join the Socialist Party, or click here to donate to the Socialist Party.
In The Socialist 13 April 2006:
Socialist Party campaigns
Bush eying regime change in Iran
Socialist Party election campaign
Huddersfield - the bandwagon is rolling!
"Standing up for working people"
Election campaigns boost sales of the socialist
Fighting fund target smashed - again!
Socialist Party review
1926 General Strike - Workers taste power by Peter Taaffe
International socialist news and analysis
Mass struggle in France forces government retreat
Build for 1 May general strike in the USA
Italian opposition scrapes home but workers must stop the return of Berlusconi
Kazakhstan Riot police repelled by shanty town residents
Socialist Party workplace news
Stop New Labour's old Tory policies
Organise to defend jobs at Visteon
New deal in the offing in local government?
Home | The Socialist 13 April 2006 | Join the Socialist Party
Join us today!
Printable version
email to friend
