Oil is thicker than Blood

By Blade Nzimande, SACP General Secretary

As the deafening
noise of war drums increases, the South African Communist Party is reminded
of the Freedom Charter which says: "South Africa shall strive to
maintain world peace and the settlement of all international disputes
by negotiation - not war".

A war against Iraq threatens international peace and security,
global justice, international dialogue, social development and the security
for all of humanity. Such a war will create instability in the Middle
East and elsewhere in the world. It would postpone further the long-delayed
resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, at great cost to both
peoples. It would move off the world agenda the interests and issues of
Africa, Asia, Latin America and the rest of the developing world. This
war is a scheme for global domination and the deepening the imperialist
stranglehold on our world. All these have grave consequences for the interests
and needs of poor and working people in developing countries.

Growing US unilateralism

This war is a manifestation of growing unilateralism
and militaristic solutions to global problems by the USA. The USA has
increasingly exhibited a preference for acting alone in its own national
interests, backed by its military might and economic weight. The posture
and stance of the USA has become more aggressive, more militarised, more
unilateralist, more protectionist, less nuanced in its imperialist ambitions.

Only the most naive or cynical observers support the ever-shifting
official excuses from Washington and London -- that Saddam Hussein has
links to Al-Qaeda or that Iraq poses a threat to America. The SACP holds
no brief for the Iraqi regime but the "proof" for these claims
has been flimsy or greatly inflated. Similarly, the argument that Iraq
must be "punished" for violating UN Security Council resolutions
convinces few while Israel blatantly ignores dozens of UN resolutions.

The most famous case of US unilateralism is the decades-old
criminal and illegal economic blockade against Cuba initially motivated
by a Cold War paradigm and interests of US capital to access economic
exploitation of Cuba. The current actions of the US bring to the fore
the need to ensure that we intensify the struggle for the democratisation
and strengthening of the multilateral system of government: the UN is
at the centre of this system, and is the only guarantee that the voice
of all the world's peoples can be heard. This requires growing and deepening
international solidarity with the people of Cuba and Palestine in order
to expose and reverse US unilateralism.

Oil and the US Government: A Fact Sheet

The November 2002 edition of Umsebenzi, the monthly
newsletter of the South African Communist Party, contains a revealing
fact sheet on how the hands of the US government are dirtied by oil. Some
of the key information in this fact sheet includes the following: -

• There is $6 trillion worth of oil and gas in the Caspian Sea area
  which requires a pipeline through Afghanistan.
• Before September 2001, UNOCAL, a giant American Oil conglomerate,
  spent $10 billion on geological surveys for pipeline construction to
  build a 1000-mile long pipeline from the Caspian Sea through Afghanistan
  to the Arabian Sea. During this period, UNOCAL courted the Taliban for
  their support in allowing the construction to begin. Leading Taliban
  officials were in Texas negotiating with UNOCAL in 1998.
• The leader of the new (US-installed) Afghani government formerly
  worked for UNOCAL. The US special envoy appointed to represent the US
  to deal with the new Afghani government is was a former "chief
  consultant to UNOCAL."
• The US government quietly announced on Jan 31, 2002 that it will
  support the construction of the Trans-Afghanistan pipeline.
• George Bush Sr. now works with the "Carlysle Group" specialising
  in huge oil investments around the world.
• Condoleezza Rice worked for Chevron before going to Washington. Chevron
  named one of its newest "supertankers" after Condoleezza.
• Dick Cheney worked for the giant oil conglomerate Haliburton before
  becoming US Vice President. Haliburton is in the pipeline construction
  business.
• The USA has been implicated in demobilising and actively opposing
  the Venezuelan government because of its interests in Venezuelan oil.

Only last week did Comrade Nelson Mandela argue
that the increasing noise of war drums is driven by imperialism's material
interests, in particular the drive of several USA transnationals to control
oil reserves in the Middle East. Iraq has among the largest oil reserves
in the world, and the major energy monopolies have long been eager to
turn this rich state-owned prize into a source of private profits. The
oil monopolies also want to build new pipelines to export oil and gas
from the Central Asian republics north of Iraq, Iran and Afghanistan.

But even this is not the whole story, since lower-risk options
still remain available to U.S. imperialism in its efforts to extend control
of key resources.

USA National Security means World Insecurity

The release of the USA's National Security Strategy
in September last year (on 20 September 2002) helps to clarify the real
nature of US aims. Oil and a regime change in Iraqi are just the main
immediate prize. The real prize is the official emergence of the USA as
a fully-fledged global emperor with no restrictions, checks and balances
whatsoever only accountable to the interests and whims of the ruling class
in the USA.

The USA's National Security Strategy lays out an aggressive
military and foreign policy, embracing pre-emptive attacks against "enemies"
and asserting that "the best defense is a good offence." In
promoting "American internationalism," the USA gives itself
the right to completely ignore international opinion.

Dismissing deterrence as a Cold War relic, the new strategy
speaks of "convincing or compelling states to accept their sovereign
responsibilities." It lays out a plan for permanent U.S. military
and economic domination of every region of the globe, enforced by a massive
expansion of the U.S. armed forces, which already possess more firepower
and combat strength than all other countries combined.

To preserve "American internationalism", the strategy
says US forces will be required to perform "constabulary duties,"
under "American political leadership rather than that of the United
Nations." The National Security Strategy makes for frightening reading,
let alone the destructive consequences it will have for the rest of the
world.

At the core of this strategy and shifts is the new slow-down
in the main centres of capitalist accumulation, and the time-honoured
recourse to militarisation to spur profitable growth.

George Bush is a weapon of Mass Destruction

The very countries
that are threatening Iraq, themselves own large quantities of weapons
of mass destruction. In particular, the Israeli government, which stands
in brazen violation of numerous UN resolutions, is known to have a nuclear
arsenal and other weapons of mass destruction and yet the USA is not saying
a word about these.

South Africa is the first and only country in the world
voluntarily to implement a comprehensive programme of nuclear disarmament
and the destruction of weapons mass destruction. Iraq must do the same!
However, the ongoing efforts of the UN to eradicate these weapons must
not be an excuse for war.

Act now to stop the War

The impending actions against Iraq pose a challenge
to all peace loving people around the world to act in unity in defence
of peace, democracy, justice, democracy and development. In South Africa,
the situation demands that all South Africans respond to the call by President
Thabo Mbeki to, once more, act together as a powerful force for peace
in the world.

For South Africa and our continent, as President Mbeki has
noted, the war would have terrible consequences. The increase in oil prices
and other negative economic consequences predicted by many analysts would
condemn the African continent to a deep economic crisis. It would put
paid to the urgent and needed development and democratisation of our continent.
Already we have seen the cause of Africa's development relegated to the
bottom of the agenda at the World Economic Forum in Davos in January 2003.
In other words, war means that the peoples of Africa would have to confront
the reality of even further impoverishment.

Therefore, because the masses of our people have a direct
interest in the peaceful resolution of the Iraq question, they have an
obligation to stand up and join the struggle for peace. That struggle
for world peace is a struggle for peace and development in our own country
and our continent, for a new world order of peace, development, justice
and prosperity for all. In the view of the SACP, this budding peace movement
must highlight ongoing atrocities committed by Israel against the people
of Palestine, ongoing struggles against capitalist globalisation, the
need to globalise solidarity and social justice based on poverty eradication.

In this regard, the SACP is a member of the Stop the War
Campaign which brings together a broad front of South Africans united
against the war. This campaign is important to educate and conscientise
our people on the problems facing the world and their impact on our country
and the African continent.

For all these reasons, the SACP condemns the decision of
Democratic Alliance to oppose mobilisation against the US war apparently
because the USA has just announced a multi-billion dollar package to fight
HIV/AIDS in Africa and that the USA has started a free trade agreement
with African countries. The SACP is not surprised at this DA stance. The
DA is a reactionary and conservative political party which puts the interests
of profiteers and multinational companies ahead of peace and social justice.
In essence, the DA is calling on South Africans to accept imperialist
benevolence and ignore the just and legitimate struggle for a fairer world.
By taking the stance it has taken, the DA has permanently painted itself
as a lapdgog of imperialism which will bow with every piece of crumbs
thrown to it by the USA and allied powers. South Africa is a sovereign
country which must promote its interests and those of the developing world
without begging Western powers. As the Freedom Charter says, South Africa
must strive to maintain world peace and the settlement of all international
disputes by negotiations - not war.

The
aims of the STOP THE WAR campaign:

• Bring together the broadest range possible of South African people
  and organisations to unite in action against war in Iraq around the
  slogans: "Stop the War!" and "Peace for Development"
• Educate and conscientise our people on the problems facing the world
  and their impact on our country and the African continent.
• Initiate a longer term South African movement for peace and international
  human solidarity.
• Members of the Stop the War Campaign represent a broad front against
  war

Our mass activities should aim to build a broad
united front of all South Africans against the war. All those who agree
with the campaign slogans should be invited to participate.

Current members of the Stop the War Campaign are:
-

• African National Congress
• South African Communist Party
• Congress of South African Trade Unions
• South African National Civics Organisation
• ANC Youth League
• ANC Women's League
• Congress of South African Students
• South African Students' Congress
• South African Council of Churches
• Church of the Province of Southern Africa (Anglican Church)
• Musicians' Union of South Africa
• Media Review Network
• Treatment Action Campaign
• Institute for Global Dialogue

Campaign Activities

Below is the national Programme of Action.

• Collect signatures of South Africans through a petition against the
  war (petition contained below).
• National Press Conference, 11 February 2003.
• Thursday, 13 February - Manyano's for Peace Day: Women's prayers for
  women and children affected by war. Each large town and city should
  have a single event
• Saturday 15 February is the international day of action. Various
  activities will be taking place in Europe, including a large march in
  London. The Stop the War Campaign will send a South African Message
  of Solidarity and Support to these international activities. In South
  Africa the 'Anti War Coalition' of NGO's will be having events on this
  day, including a march in Johannesburg and Cape Town.
• Saturday 15 February Moment of Silence for Peace before the kick off
  at all football games. Jewish Prayers for Peace at all Synagogues
• Inter-Faith Prayers for peace: Major Service at Regina Mundi (Johannesburg),
  Diakonia (Durban), St. Georges (Cape Town) and others.
• On 19 February, the Stop the War Campaign will be marching to the
  US embassy in Pretoria, and US Consulates in Durban and Cape Town.
• 21 February - evaluation and way forward

STOP THE WAR!

We, the undersigned, oppose the attack
on Iraq. We call on the US government and its allies to act together with
other countries for the settlement of international disputes by negotiation
- not war

The international
meeting organised by the Egyptian Popular Campaign to Confront U.S. Aggression
was convened in Cairo on December 18 and 19 to launch the International
Campaign.

We, the participants reaffirm our resolve to stand in solidarity
with the people of Iraq and Palestine, recognising that war and aggression
against them is but part of a U.S. project of global domination and subjugation.
Solidarity with Iraq and Palestine is integral to the internationalist
struggle against neo-liberal globalisation. The Cairo meeting is not an
isolated event, but an extension of a protracted international struggle
against imperialism, from Seattle and Genoa to Lisbon and Florence, to
Cordoba and Cairo.

The U.S. provides unlimited support, and even justification,
to the Zionist perpetrators of genocidal crimes against the Palestinian
people. The suffering of the Iraqi people under a regime of genocidal
sanctions lasting over a decade, and the aggressive militarism which they
face today is but a logical outcome of the structures of power asymmetry
of the existing world order:

• The U.S. monopolises political, economic and military power within
  the framework of capitalist globalisation, to the detriment of the lives
  of the majority of the world's people
• The U.S. imposes control through naked aggression and militarised
  globalisation in pursuit of its rulers' interests, all while reinstating
  the characteristic direct occupation of classical colonialism
• The U.S. global strategy, which was formulated prior to September
  11 2001, aims to maintain the existing uni-polar world order, and to
  prevent the emergence of forces that would shift the balance of power
  towards multi-polarity. The U.S. administration has exploited the tragic
  events of September 11, under the pretext of fighting terrorism, to
  implement the pre-existing strategy.

Attention to this global context helps explain
current world developments:

First: Capitalist Globalisation and U.S. Hegemony

• prioritise the interest of monopolistic capitalist circles above
  those of the people, including Europeans and U.S. citizens.
• integrate the economies of different countries into a single global
  capitalist economic system under conditions which undermine social development
  and adversely affect the situation of women, child health, education,
  and social services for the elderly. In addition, unemployment and poverty
  increase.
• generalise the culture of consumerism and individualism, to the detriment
  of a sense of collective responsibility, whether towards the thousands
  of infant and child deaths in Iraq resulting from polluted water, malnutrition
  and deficiencies in medical supplies, or towards the victims of AIDS,
  malnutrition and famines around the world. Among millions of people
  standards of living have deteriorated while unemployment and poverty
  have become widespread. Globalisation has resulted in the marginalisation
  of entire peoples who could no longer acquire the basic necessities
  to sustain life.

Second: In the absence of democracy,
and with widespread corruption and oppression constituting significant
obstacles along the path of the Arab peoples' movement towards economic,
social, and intellectual progress, adverse consequences are further aggravated
within the framework of the existing world order of neo-liberal globalisation.

• Admission to restrictions on democratic development in Iraq in no
  way constitutes acceptance of U.S. justifications for continuation of
  sanctions, and now preparations for war. Without disregarding long-standing
  restrictions on democratic development in Iraqi society - as is the
  case in all Arab societies - it is evident that the U.S.-imposed sanctions
  have had a devastating effect on Iraq's development. Whereas Iraq had
  once enjoyed a relatively positive profile according to certain human
  development indicators, its people now suffer severely as a result of
  the sanctions regime. Iraq has witnessed a significant rise in child
  mortality rates, the spread of several diseases, reduction of opportunities
  in education, and a marked deterioration of the standard of living.
  As human suffering increases it generates a sense of defeatism.
• The Palestinian people are suffering as a result of the loss of their
  land and continued Zionist aggression, which the U.S. supports militarily,
  economically, and politically, making its administration a de facto
  accomplice in the crimes committed against the Palestinian people. The
  U.S. protects Israel from condemnation in international forums under
  the pretext of combating terrorism, and it asserts additional false
  claims, such as when it equates the legitimate struggle of the Palestinian
  people to resist occupation, liberate their land, and return to their
  homes, on the one hand, with terrorism that we all abhor, on the other.
• The policies of Structural Adjustment associated with neo-liberal
  globalisation have precipitated global crises manifest in a widening
  wealth gap, increase in poverty and unemployment, and general deterioration
  of standards of living.
• U.S. military presence in the Arab region, and its dictates to governments
  of sovereign nations of the region has compounded the suffering of the
  Arab people. Interference in the internal affairs of these nations now
  extends to demands of educational reform, and insistence on "democratisation".
  Ironically this is occurring at a time when civil liberties in the U.S.
  are clearly under siege, especially with regard to Arab and Muslim Americans,
  along with other minorities. The U.S. administration also violates international
  law by its inhumane treatment of the POWs in Guantanamo. Also evident
  is the wealth gap in the U.S., which is the widest among the industrial
  nations of the world.
• Far from secretly, the US intends to partition Arab countries into
  smaller entities on ethnic or religious basis. This would enable Israel
  to become the dominant regional power within the framework of the Middle
  East Project, to the peril of an Arab project of equitable development
  and regional unity.

The suffering of the Arab people and U.S. unwavering
support of the system of apartheid imposed on the Palestinian people,
will undoubtedly fuel conflict and lead to the escalation of violence
in one of the most sensitive areas of the world. Such danger can easily
extend to neighboring Europe, Asia and Africa. Continued preparation for
war on Iraq in spite of its acceptance of a UN resolution of aggressive
inspection of its armament, as well as civilian industries, signals a
predetermined intent to control the Arab region, its oil and indeed the
entire world supply of oil.

Third: For all these reasons we declare
our total opposition to war on Iraq and our resolve to continue the struggle
against U.S. policies of global domination. We strongly believe in the
urgency of mobilising against these policies. All democratic forces in
the world that are for genuine Peace and Justice must join together within
the framework of an international campaign against neo-liberal, US-centric
globalisation and promote an alternate globalism based on Equity and Justice.
This would mean better utilisation of the world's resources and protection
of the environment. Together the people of the world are quite able to
combat aggression and all forms of injustice, prejudice and racism, and
make a better world possible.

The Cairo conference against war on Iraq and in solidarity
with Palestine represents the launching of an international popular movement
that creates effective mechanisms for confronting policies of aggression.
The participation of international activists who are prominent for their
struggles for Human Dignity, Rights and Justice, as well as intellectuals,
authors, unionists, human rights workers, journalists and artists- from
Egypt and the rest of the Arab World, Africa, Asia, Latin America, Europe,
and the United States- will no doubt accelerate this noble endeavour in
spite of the numerous obstacles that we have to confront.

Fourth: It is important that this international
popular initiative of solidarity with Iraq and Palestine proceed according
to an Action Plan which includes clearly defined priorities:

1. Condemnation of U.S. military presence on Arab land along with pressuring
   the Arab governments that allow U.S. military bases on their territory
   to close them down, and not to provide air, naval, or land facilities
2. Develop cooperation among popular organisations of the South to reinforce
   solidarity in confronting the policies and practices of neo-liberal
   globalisation and U.S. hegemony
3. Work towards cooperation with the international anti-globalisation
   movement of the North and South, and participation in activities and
   meetings organised by this movement
4. Promote the unity of democratic forces and popular organisations
   in different parts of the world, and form solidarity committees which
   oppose war on Iraq, and the genocidal crimes faced by Palestinians,
   supporting their right to resistance and struggle for liberation
5. Under the banner Together against globalisation and U.S. Hegemony
   add Iraq and Palestine to the agendas of international progressive
   meetings, particularly the next Social Forum at Porte Allegre
6. Invite Arab and international human rights organisations to evaluate
   humanitarian conditions in Iraq and disseminate their findings worldwide
7. Prepare to send human shields to Iraq
8. Introduce the boycott of U.S. and Israeli commodities in solidarity
   campaigns in support of Iraq and Palestine, with emphasis on the right
   of return for Palestinians
9. Elect a Steering Committee to follow up on the implementation of
   the Cairo Declaration, and coordination among organisations which commit
   to its principles, and enhance awareness through appropriate actions
   ranging from the preparation of posters to organising marches and demonstrations
   in solidarity with Iraq and Palestine

Source: http://www.stopwar.org.uk/Resources/cairo

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