[Peace-discuss] Christian Parenti on Iraq

[C. G. Estabrook]

I think the important point is, "I believe we on the left should be
calling for a withdrawal of US troops regardless of whether or not the
resistance meets the left's criteria of a good movement."

A "negotiated withdrawal" need only mean a a discussion of the
arrangements for a a withdrawal -- notably a cease-fire, a turning over of
equipment, dismantling or transfer of bases, etc.  It obviously should not
mean a cover for anything less than a total withdrawal by the US. Perhaps
it could mean a discussion of the reparations we owe the country.  --CGE


On Thu, 9 Dec 2004, Morton K.Brussel wrote:

> [I wonder what Parenti's recommended "negotiated withdrawal" means. Who 
> would be  negotiating?  As for the rest, it seems like he's 
> disillusioned, poor guy. It is true, however, that the situation 
> developing in Iraq resembles aspects of what happened in Iran after the 
> fall of the Shah, with the mullahs ultimately taking over, so out of 
> the current mess, one cannot expect a clean result even, if the 
> American presence is removed. One might also recall that the French 
> Revolution of 1789 did not come out so well either, although it did 
> ultimately change Europe---for the better I think.   The world now 
> needs a change, and the American government's reactionary quest for 
> world domination needs to be resisted wherever possible.To me that is 
> the top priority, one which will allow peoples to breathe.  I'm not 
> sure Parenti sees this clearly. mkb]
> 
> 
> On Dec 8, 2004, at 10:21 PM, C. G. Estabrook wrote:
> 
> > [Reporter and writer Christian Parenti, author of the new book The
> > Freedom: Shadows and Hallucinations in Occupied Iraq, gave a talk on 5
> > December in London.  Excerpts below.  --CGE]
> >
> > My comments on the Iraqi resistance at the conference today were a
> > response to a presentation of the situation that I felt overlooked 
> > some of
> > the more problematic aspects.
> >
> > I believe we on the left should be calling for a withdrawal of US 
> > troops
> > regardless of whether or not the resistance meets the left's criteria 
> > of a
> > good movement.
> >
> > The resistance is very diverse. There are some very ugly elements. I 
> > have
> > interviewed former Iraqi senior officers who were virulently anti-Shia 
> > and
> > were involved in the resistance. I don't support their hatred of the 
> > Shia;
> > but I do believe they have a right to resist US occupation.
> >
> > My concern to avoid romanticising the resistance comes partly from my
> > experience in Central America as a journalist and a solidarity 
> > activist. I
> > saw numerous examples of a three-step process.
> >
> > One, romanticing the movements in Central America. Two, becoming
> > disillusioned with them. Three, abandoning activity.
> >
> > The left, in its solidarity, will be more effective and more 
> > sustainable
> > if it approaches issues with its eyes open. It would be awful for 
> > people
> > to think the resistance are angels, find they are not, and then bale 
> > out
> > of activitiy.
> >
> > I want to disabuse people of the idea that the resistance are pure and
> > good. There are Saddam loyalists and former torturers in the 
> > resistance.
> >
> > If the left has a simplistic position, then we are vulnerable.
> >
> > I support the position of Iraqi workers. I wouldn't go as far as saying
> > that the armed resistance don't have a right to resist the invaders. 
> > That
> > would be taking me on to the ground of what I would like to see in 
> > Iraq,
> > and that's meaningless: I can't affect that.
> >
> > Hopefully there will be room for a secular, democratic movement 
> > alongside
> > the resistance. But for now what we have is the resistance.
> >
> > I know the Union of the Unemployed and I hung out with them Iraq. But
> > they're not that big. Iraq is a deeply religious society. The Union of 
> > the
> > Unemployed are very valiant, but they don't have much traction. Another
> > problem is that the Ba'th regime under Saddam hijacked the motifs and 
> > the
> > language of left politics.
> >
> > I want to see a negotiated withdrawal. It would have to be negotiated 
> > with
> > multiple parties -- with the major Shia, Sunni, and Kurdish parties, 
> > and
> > with organisations in the resistance that would come above ground if 
> > there
> > were a clear will for negotiations -- with every organisation that has
> > power in Iraq.
> >
> > I don't think that is going to happen any time soon. I think the US is
> > going to hang on for four years at least, increasing its military
> > operations. I'd like to think it has some intention to withdraw, but I
> > don't think it has.
> >
> > 	###
> >
> >
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> 
>