Belfast Protest: End The Occupation Of Iraq & Afghanistan

antrim | anti-war / imperialism | event notice Monday September 11, 2006 21:57 by >>>>> - Socialist Youth socialistpartyni at btconnect dot com 13 Lombard Street, Belfast, BT1 1RB 02890 232962

Join the Anti-War Rally

Sat 23rd Sept
2pm outside Tesco's, Royal Avenue Belfast

Called by Socialist Youth as part of a Global Day of Action
For more info contact 07821058319

Youth Against The War

For Workers' Unity & Socialism

An international day of action against the occupation of Iraq and Afghanistan has been called on Saturday 23rd September. When Bush and Blair carried out the invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan, they claimed to be bringing democracy and stability to the region. The reality in these countries today is much different. The Western forces and the sham Afghan government control only a tiny area around the capital, Kabul. The rest of the country and its population has been left under the control of corrupt warlords. A strict curfew is in place in Helmand province, and gatherings in the street of 5 or more people are shot on sight by occupying troops.

Over 3 years after the removal of Saddam Hussein in Iraq, the country's infrastructure still has not recovered from the invasion. Even in Baghdad, poverty, electricity cuts and lack of public services are the reality for most Iraqis. This is despite corporations being handed contracts worth billions by the Western powers. An estimated 100,000 Iraqis have been killed since the invasion, as well as thousands of American and British soldiers. The desperate conditions faced by the Iraqi people and the 'divide and rule' policies of the occupying forces have provided a basis for the rise of sectarian and fundamentalist groups based on dividing the Iraqi people causing the country to spiral towards civil war.

The so-called 'war on terror' is a sham. These invasions were carried out to remove two regimes hostile to Western imperialism and replace them with compliant puppets. Also, the occupation of Iraq was an attempt to open up the country's huge oil reserves to corporations linked to the Bush and Blair governments. However, this has backfired on the occupying powers and they are currently being sucked into a quagmire that they cannot escape from.

We call for the immediate withdrawal of all occupying troops from Iraq and Afghanistan. However, this in itself is not enough to solve the crisis facing the people of these countries. To end the occupation, cut across sectarian conflict and provide a decent living standard for all, a united, multi-ethnic resistance based on the working class and poor masses is urgently needed. This resistance could also fight for the wealth and resources to be put into democratic public ownership on the basis of a socialist planned economy to develop the economy and provide essential public services to all.

Those opposed to the war and occupation of Iraq and Afghanistan need to continue to make their voices heard. The vast majority of people opposed the invasion and the anti-war movement involved millions of people. However, we explained that protests alone would not stop the war. The movement needs to link up the trade union movement, who have the power to hit the government and big business through strike action.

Join the Socialist Youth rally on 23rd September! End the slaughter in the Middle East!