Policy on the war on Iraq

At this Second National Conference the Socialist Alliance recommits itself to the struggle against imperialist war and against the growing militarism of the Australian government:. Socialist Alliance demands:

* End the occupation of Iraq;

* Troops out now;

* That the peoples of Iraq, including the Kurds and other minorities, be free to determine their own future;

* That a referendum on self-determination be held in Iraqi Kurdistan.

As an immediate step against Australian militarism we call on the Senate opposition parties to block the military provisions of the 2003 federal budget. We also restate our commitment to building the anti-war movement with a view to opposing imperialism's next aggression from a higher level of awareness and preparedness.

The Socialist Alliance actively supports the anti-war movement that is developing inside the Australian military.

The Socialist Alliance supports campaigns against military exercises between Australian Defence Forces and the US military.

We also commit to contribute in whatever way it can to the rebuilding of the workers' movement in Iraq.

In this way the Socialist Alliance will make as big a contribution as it can to making the imperialists pay the highest possible price for their coming wars, to strengthening solidarity among the world's peoples, and to advancing humanity towards the precious goal of a world without war.

 Email to a friend

add a comment to this page

There are 3 comments on this article

By jerem clark

I do not think the anti war movement understands grand stategy. You need to closely moniter troop strengths, alliances and generally understand history. I dont believe in war without reason but you should not let the armed forces become a paper tiger. If you want peace, you must prepare for war in other words the more weapons you have the more the other guy is going to think twice before looking your way

By David

Jerem, do you really think America's going to help us in the highly unlikely event of a war? The ANZUS treaty of the vietnam war doesn't actually state that the Americans will help us. It says that if it is in America's interests they will help us. We got screwed then. We're in the process of getting screwed over again. As for your paradox, it doesn't work all the time. I'm afraid you better hand in you're gun license because peace will only come with peace with this one. Besides Australia's weapons stockpiles are small, as is our army, whom are paid badly by the way, and quite a few countries could bomb and shoot the shitsticks out of us if they wanted to. They haven't. If we gain more weapons from being godzilla wandering around downtown baghdad, (and for the record we aren't actually getting any weapons from the war anyway, we're losing alot of money.) which we don't need, what are we going to do give 'em to the kids?

By ruby-rose

Jerem Clark - It is a very silly and general statement to say that the antiwar movement doesn't understand history etc.
Jerem Clark - " If you want peace, you must prepare for war in other words the more weapons you have the more the other guy is going to think twice before looking your way "
Well Australia is doing the attacking/invading here so that justification of war cannot apply at all.