On The Fifth Anniversary of the Occupation

by pat c Fri Apr 11, 2008 18:30

IFC Announce the coordinates from which Sana TV is Broadcasting:

Satellite: Hotbird 8

Orbital Position: 13 degrees East

Transponder: 14

Downlink Frequency: 11 470

Downlink Polarity: Vertical

FEC: 5/6

Symbol Rate: 27,500

by pat c Fri Apr 11, 2008 18:16

The IFC is the Secular Democratic Resistance. Members of the IFC have been killed by the US forces. The IFC is the real resistance because it stands against Islamist Militias who murder ordinary people. They stand against the murder of women who refuse to wear a veil.

Only the naive or supporters of the Islamic Fundamentalist Militias would suggest that the IFC is not a resistance organisation. The IFC is different because it is no part of the bloody massacre of the Iraqi people. It is made up of Trade Unions, Community Groups, Womens Groups, Socialists.

It is the duty of Irish Socialists to support those in Iraq who fight against Imperialism and who also support workers rights and womens rights. Irish Socialists should not support Islamist Militias who slaughter ordinary workers because they are Sunni or Shia. Irish Socialists should have nothing to do with the fascist gangs who murder women because they refuse to adhere to mediveal codes.

It really is a case of which side are you on. I am on the side of the workers, on the side of the women, on the side of the communities, on the side of those who oppose the occupation and oppose Islamic Fundamentalism.

by Bazooka Joe Fri Apr 11, 2008 12:53

The IFC does not represent the Iraqi Resistance but only a factional group originating from the Worker-Communist Party of Iraq and the Worker-Communist Party of Iran. They have stated their hope to have the United Nations take over from the US occupation forces and this is in line with what the US has asked for in the past.

In their manifesto they refer to the Islamic Resistance as 'reactionary and criminal' which is also in line with what the US says about the genuine Islamic resistance.

It is true the US Army abducted and killed Abdelhussain Saddam, the head of the IFC Safety Forces, which is a vigilante group, but this does not show the IFC are in conflict with US policy in Iraq, it may just as well be that the US Army had a problem with the amount of ground the IFC 'Safety Forces' were controlling in one Baghdad neighbourhood.

For example, if a co-foinding member of the IFC such as Houzan Mahmoud is able to study in England and give talks in the US it is surely an indication that this communist group which claims to oppose the US occupation is not as inimicble to US interests as this article might convey.

These relics of the failed Communist era are not the answer for Iraq or Iran. I would urge people to support the genuine Islamic Resistance in Iraq and not be diverted by groups claiming to represent the People of Iraq or Iran.

http://www.ifcongress.com/English/manifesto_of%20congre...s.htm

http://www.ww4report.com/node/1798

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iraq_Freedom_Congress

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zJyhzC6J4Qo

by pat c Thu Apr 10, 2008 14:51

When Peter Tatchell wrote an article on Iraq (19 March 2003) he was doing so in support of the Iraqi people and in opposition to both Tony Blair and Saddam Hussein. Here are some important parts of the article. The full article is at the link. Read and make your own minds up.

Modelled on the non-violent "people power" methods that bought down the dictatorships in Romania and Czechoslovakia in the 1980s, an organised campaign of civilian resistance could seriously undermine Saddam s ability to govern, weakening his authority and strengthening the Iraqi people's confidence that he can be overthrown. This resistance could include workplace go-slows, mass sick leaves, industrial and military sabotage, and the non-payment of rents and taxes.

However, given Saddam's ruthless repression, it is unlikely that civilian resistance alone would be sufficient to overthrow him. Armed struggle is now, regrettably, the only certain way to get rid of Saddam.

The international community should train and arm the Iraqi opposition forces, especially the Kurds and Shias who already have viable armies. This military assistance could be along the lines of the support we gave the Free French forces and the French resistance from 1940-45 - only more substantial.

An even better model of successful military aid is the assistance given by the Russians and Chinese to the Vietnamese people, which enabled them to defeat the technologically superior US forces. If Vietnam can defeat the mightiest military power in history, then surely, with a little help, the Iraqi people can get rid of Saddam?

Regime change cannot, ethically, be imposed from outside in a flourish of revived western imperialism. Removing Saddam should lead to a democratic state, and not to a new form of autocratic rule by a US military governor and a US-imposed puppet regime. A home-grown change of regime by Iraqis and for Iraqis is the key to democracy, human rights and regional peace.

by tomeile Thu Apr 10, 2008 14:02

It’s certainly interesting to look back five years to see what people were saying at the time of the invasion of Iraq. . Peter Tatchell , who is now on the steering committee of the Hands Off the People Of Iran group , wrote an article in the Guardian on March 19 2003 , which anyone putting any confidence in that groups anti-imperialist posturing should read.

Back then, Tatchell was warning the British public of the danger of what he termed “our troops” being bogged down in a Vietnam or Belfast style operation in which “we” could lose the battle for hearts and minds of the Iraqi people.
His solution was a “domestic insurrection” which he thought would avoid the danger of British soldiers coming home in bodybags . Swallowing with relish US and British lies about weapons of mass destruction ,Tatchell went even further than the stated aims of the British and American warmongers , arguing that “merely removing weapons of mass destruction does not go far enough. Saddam and his Ba'ath party henchmen must be removed from power.”

To that end , the self-styled opponent of the mullahs had no trouble whatsoever dealing with the Shi'ite Supreme Council for Islamic Revolution .
On the contrary . In what can only be described as a percipient appeal to imperialism to incite sectarian divisions in Iraq, he proposed the arming of the Shies as well as the Kurds. “Both”, he wrote “are desperate to take on Saddam. But they need more training and better weapons: tanks, helicopter gun-ships, fighter planes, heavy artillery and anti-tank and anti-aircraft missiles.”

by pat c Thu Apr 10, 2008 11:11

Here are extracts from some previous articles which will give you a truthful and acurate account of the history of the IFC. The IFC is totally opposed to the US Occupation of IRAQ. The IFC also totally opposes the Sectarian Islamist Militias who carry out murderous attacks on men women and children.

Now the U.S. military is assassinating Iraqi peace workers

On the 4th of July, U.S. military and Iraqi national guards opened fire with bullets and grenades on the Baghdad home of Abdel-Hussein Saddam. The severely wounded Abdel-Hussein was taken away and his 18-year-old daughter was left alone, injured and bleeding on the floor. Abdel-Hussein’s beaten body turned up at the Yarmouk morgue on July 6. The murder of Abdel-Hussein was the most devastating of four attacks by the U.S. military on the IFC in the past 10 months. The IFC is comprised primarily of trade unionists, community leaders, women’s and children’s rights workers who are determined to look after their own. IFC’s goals are to salvage the lives of as many Iraqis as possible, and to end the occupation and sectarian fighting.
http://www.indymedia.ie/article/83897

U.S. Troops Raid Headquarters of Iraq's Democratic, Secular Opposition

In another move; the occupying troops has made another attempt to eliminate the voice of freedom from Iraq by raiding the IFC headquarter in Baghdad on 12 February when they forced themselves in, verbally and physically assaulted the guards . It is understood from the many previous incidents that these attempts are not to look for weapons or investigations regarding terrorist activities; but in fact they are to intimidate and eliminate any voice that objects the occupation and its puppets.
http://www.indymedia.ie/article/86353

We Must Stand Together Against the Women-Killing Gangs

Unidentified gangs began to commit a series of organized crimes and killing many women in various cities in Iraq, particularly in Basra where more than 40 women are said to have been killed in the last 5 months. In addition to those crimes, these gangs threatened unveiled women to follow Islamic law and start wearing head scarf otherwise facing the severe consequences.
http://www.indymedia.ie/article/85537

IFC Women's' Bureau Holds a Press Conference in Kirkuk on Violence Against Women in Iraq

As part of the campaign launched by IFC against the killing of women that has recently become a serious concerning issue in Iraq, IFC Women's Bureau held press conference on December 15, 2007 in the city of Kirkuk. The event was led by Firyal Akbar; bureau chief and Ajeeba Majeed; female activist, and attended by Kurdish and Arab satellite TV stations, and a number of representatives of women's organizations and activists in the city.
http://www.indymedia.ie/article/85537

No to US War on Iran

In the midst of this conflict the voices of Iranian nationalist parties and the others who are loyal to the US administration have risen to support the US war on Iran, as did the Iraqi parties who were known as London Conference parties in the eve of war and occupation of Iraq.

We call the Iranian people attention not to be fooled by the US policy to depose the mullahs and that they would be given their freedom by war, destruction of their country and tightening the economic blockade. The way to remove the danger of war on Iran is by tightening the struggle of the people of Iran to topple the mullahs which is the only way to gain freedom.
http://www.indymedia.ie/article/85282

No To the Federalism of Occupation

The United States Senate have adopted a resolution in which partitioning of Iraq to regional federalism is proposed. This decision comes after more than four years of virtually dividing Iraq (legally, constitutionally and politically) to wards. Since the occupation of Iraq; the Governing Council and all successive governments were established based on sectarianism and ethnicity after enacting a constitution that paved the way for this division.
http://www.indymedia.ie/article/84771

by - Wed Apr 09, 2008 19:37

http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2008/04/395942.html