Voice of Revolution

Reject the Failed U.S. State

Consolidate Political Organizing Among the People

As 2005 draws to a close, the utter failure of the U.S. state is more sharply revealing itself, while the efforts of the people to advance their independent organizing by consolidating its political character are increasing.

The latest elections in Iraq have again shown that there cannot be democracy under occupation. The U.S. is blatantly continuing its war crimes and crimes against humanity in Iraq and elsewhere. Bush has proclaimed to the world that “nothing but total victory” for U.S. empire is acceptable. What has become clear in 2005 is that the U.S. will pursue its impunity against humanity and not even attempt to justify it. Everything that cannot be justified – war crimes, torture, indefinite detention with no crime, rampant spying without cause, is blatantly and repeatedly being done. The President simply claims, like a king, that any crime is acceptable because “I say so.”

Kings have no future. U.S-style democracy is a failure that can solve no problem. This failure of the U.S. state means U.S. rulers will strive to further consolidate arrangements of governance for fascism and war, posing graver dangers for the peoples here and worldwide.

Conditions necessitate that the people be organized on a political basis and that all efforts in this direction be strengthened and consolidated. The past year also shows significant developments in this direction. The anti-war movement, for example, is strengthening itself by focusing on broadening and consolidating its own independent efforts. Not only are the majority of Americans demanding an end to the war, more and more people from all walks of life are joining the work to build up various organizations and participating in united actions like demonstrations, meetings, vigils, civil disobedience and more.

There is also growing consciousness that the government is ignoring the majority and striving to eliminate any role for public opinion in the political life of the country. Public spaces, like subways, buses, airports and schools, are increasingly being eliminated and turned into places where everyone is to do as they are told by police, armed marshals or other federal agents. The place of -voting, another public expression, is being eliminated, as governing arrangements increase the power of the executive and limit or eliminate the role of elected legislative bodies. This can be seen in the fraud of the elections themselves as well as with the use of Control Boards, or simply disenfranchising voters outright as is occurring New Orleans.

As well, another part of the elimination of the role of public opinion is reducing public bodies like Congress to that of consultative bodies, not decision-making bodies. No serious debate and discussion where views are argued out are allowed. Character assassination and claims of being “traitors” are immediately used to silence opposition and divert discussion.

For the anti-war and other movements of the people for rights, one result is that the situation is less and less one of pressuring Congress to act. It is more and more one of the people taking matters into their own hands and putting the problems of political empowerment on the agenda now, today. These efforts can be seen, for example, in the movement demanding the right to return and rebuild for Katrina survivors. The many relief efforts, the battles for housing, the recognition that “the people must decide,” all reflect the work underway for empowerment. It can be seen in the anti-war candidates coming forward to run for office. It can be seen in the growing internationalist spirit that condemns U.S. aggression and dictate against any peoples. It can be seen in the efforts on all fronts where the people are relying on their own efforts and putting the building of independent political organization to the fore.

Voice of Revolution takes this opportunity to salute all the many organizations, affinity groups, military families, all those lending a hand to Katrina survivors, women, youth workers, national minorities, everyone, all together, representing the best of the American people and our common drive to win change. All together we stand with the world’s people in organizing to build another world fit for human beings.

The problem of political empowerment of the people is on the agenda, now, today. As people continue to take matters into their own hands and organize to empower themselves, let all join in ensuring this work is consolidated and given further concrete expression.

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Justice After Katrina March and Conference

“We’re Back to Take it Back!”

On Human Rights Day, December 10, two thousand demonstrators militantly marched through the streets of New Orleans, demanding the Right to Return, to Rebuild, to Housing and Schools. With Katrina survivors given pride of place, many organizations, affinity groups and collectives stood as one to proclaim “We’re Back to Take it Back!” All together made clear that based on the people’s own efforts, New Orleans will be reclaimed and rebuilt so that all survivors can return and the very being of New Orleans as a city of resistance can flourish.

Chants, signs and speakers made clear that the people themselves will continue to organize relief and reconstruction. With great anger people denounced government at all levels for the crimes committed in New Orleans, Gulfport and Biloxi, Mississippi and across the Gulf coast. As one survivor put it, “It is time to run them all out of here. This is our city and we will take it back!” Said another, “There should be a restraining order against the government. They are the ones who are violent and dangerous.”

After more than three months of government refusal to provide relief, survivors spoke to the great difficulties they continue to face. Accounts were given of the sick and elderly still living in tents, of the toxic waste and deadly mold throughout the homes, community centers and churches of the region, of families being separated and children still missing, of the lack of schools. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) was repeatedly targeted for its failure to provide housing, food and even just garbage clean up.

People repeatedly spoke to the complete failure and racism of the government and the necessity to increase organizing by the people themselves. Speakers expressed their determination to carry forward the many independent relief efforts. As it was put, “We are the ones we have been waiting for.”

The demonstration itself began in Congo Square, in Louis Armstrong Park. Congo Square is sacred ground, where African slaves first brought to the region refused to give up their drumming and dancing. On Sundays they would gather in the square to play and dance and sustain their spirit. This spirit of resistance is part of the very being of New Orleans and was reflected at the demonstration with the resolute stand of all to carry forward in very difficult circumstances.

Various banners and speakers brought out the many relief efforts organized by the people themselves, including activists and volunteers from across the country. Distribution and food centers, a medical clinic, with a women’s medical clinic in the works, communications centers and more are being built and sustained. Solving the problem of how to make decisions collectively is an integral part of this work, providing valuable experience as efforts go forward to sustain more permanent institutions.

Justice After Katrina Conference

The march itself was the culmination of a conference organized under the theme, Justice After Katrina: The People Must Decide. Considerable efforts were made to locate Katrina survivors scattered across the country and bring them to Jackson, Mississippi for a Survivors Assembly. Funds were raised, buses found and survivors came not only from the immediate areas in Louisiana and Mississippi but from Houston, Detroit, Durham, North Carolina; Atlanta, New York City, San Francisco, Los Angeles and elsewhere. At the conference, in small groups, report-back sessions and general sessions, survivors spoke to their horrific experiences and their continuing trauma. Youth spoke to how being scattered in all directions meant they had lost their friends, their normal lives, their schools. Others spoke to the complete incoherence of the government demanding identification and school records and dismissing people without them, while also refusing to provide assistance or loans because people are “too poor” to qualify!

Housing, both in the places survivors have been sent and for returning to New Orleans remains a major concern. The need for public schools, medical care and jobs was also emphasized. With the government planning to evict 54,000 families across the country, and public housing in New Orleans being locked up, several people demanded that if survivors are to be evicted, again, let us all go to Washington and occupy the White House lawn until housing is provided!

The racism of the government was also documented over and over again, as was their complete failure to provide the most basic necessities. Reports from organizations working with prisoners and their families, for example, spoke to the disproportionate jailing of African Americans, especially youth, before Katrina, and of the nightmare families have faced since, simply trying to locate youth and other prisoners. The lack of funding and resources for the hardest hit areas of the 9th ward, a mainly African American area, was denounced. A Vietnamese minister spoke of the fight being waged in East New Orleans, another area hard hit in the aftermath of Katrina.

The conference also served as a positive space for the various forces working to affirm the rights of all to report on their work, exchange experience and materials. A main theme of the conference was identifying the problems people face and the organizing being done to solve them. Participants were able to focus on the fight being waged by the people themselves to provide relief, organize resistance and put defense of their rights first and foremost. The presence of survivors and organized forces from across the country affirmed for all present that together work to affirm the right of the people to decide is going forward.

The People’s Hurricane Relief Fund ( www.communitylaborunited.net ), which organized both the conference and march, is taking the initiative to insure common work and united actions go forward. The scope of the problems was emphasized. Katrina and the government-organized disaster afterward impacted an area about 200 miles long and in places 100 miles wide, engulfing New Orleans and stretching east to Gulfport and Pascagoula Mississippi. An estimated 300,000 people were forced out of just New Orleans and scattered across the country.

Efforts are being made to establish survivor councils wherever survivors are located and to organize a second assembly. A united front effort is also being developed to involve all together in discussing and deciding sustained work to affirm the rights of the people to return, rebuild and themselves reconstruct New Orleans and the Gulf Coast. The conference and march together served not only to inspire all to go forward with this vital work, but also imbued everyone with the confidence that it can be done.

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People of the Gulf Coast Demand

Government Must Provide Conditions for Return

As part of the organizing efforts to defend the rights of the people of the Gulf Coast, the Survivors Assembly in Jackson, Mississippi discussed their concerns. Emphasis was given to carrying forward the fight for rights, especially the right to return, and the right to housing, schools and jobs. Alongside organizing their own relief efforts, survivors held government at all levels accountable for providing the conditions necessary for survivors to return and rebuild. The following demands were issued:

We demand that the local, state and federal governments make conditions possible for our immediate return. This includes the following:

1) The [Mayor Ray] Nagin administration must make temporary housing such as apartments, hotel rooms, trailers and public housing developments available for us while we rebuild our homes.

2) The government must put an end to price gouging, stop all evictions and make rents affordable.

3) Local residents must take the lead in rebuilding our communities and must be hired to do the rebuilding work.

4) There must be immediate debt relief for debt associated with this disaster.

5) Quality public education and childcare must be provided for our children.

6) Quality, affordable health care and access to free prescriptions must be provided.

7) The government must immediately clean up air, water and soil to make it safe and healthy for people to return home.

We demand that the government provide funds for all families to be reunited and that the databases of FEMA, Red Cross and any organizations tracking our people be made public.

We demand accountability for and oversight of the over $50 billion of FEMA funds and the money raised by other organizations, foundations and funds in our name.

We demand representation on all boards that are making decisions about relief and reconstruction. We also demand that those most affected by Hurricane Katrina be part of every stage of the planning process.

We demand that no commercial Mardi Gras takes place until the suffering of the people is lifted.

We are calling for survivors and supporters to participate in a Martin Luther King, Jr. weekend 2006 conference and demonstration to make these demands heard!

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Youth Organizing Efforts

Finding Our Folk Tour

Many of the youth active in the work to defend the rights of Katrina survivors are organizing a “Finding Our Folk Tour.” The tour is an effort to make the voices of survivors heard and to bring all concerned together to address the problems and how to solve them. Workshops, work to document people’s experiences, cultural and political programs, all are part of the tour. Initial cities planned include Birmingham and Mobile, Alabama; Baton Rouge, Lake Charles, Lafayette, Louisiana; Jackson, Mississippi and Beaumont and Houston, Texas. We reprint below sections of a pamphlet on the tour. More information can be obtained at www.findingourfolk.org.

Purpose

We seek to raise the voices of Katrina’s survivors and connect them with the voices of America’s survivors, the brothers and sisters in all corners of the country who remain in the margins of citizenship. We seek to use the tools of education, documentation, healing, and organizing to explore and discuss the conditions that led to the devastating impact of Katrina; to join the voices of resistance, the veterans of past and continuing movements, with the voices of Hip-Hop, Blues and Jazz; to celebrate African and indigenous cultures as they have been expressed in New Orleans and through out the world; to find our folk, to reconnect the individuals, families and communities that are scattered across the country, living in exile. In finding our folk, we hope to find ourselves.

Tour Overview

During the Finding Our Folk Tour, high school and college students supported by community elders and grassroots organizations will tour America region by region and visit the cities where Hurricane Katrina survivors are currently living. The tour will partner with local and national community-based organizations and learning institutions, to identify evacuees and the cities where they are, to develop curriculum and provide training for high school and college students, to conduct workshops and support the overall documentation of the tour.

In each city, we will convene survivors and local community residents to share their stories, and to participate in the different tour activities. In selected cities, the day of learning and healing will culminate in a large-scale celebration of the people and culture of the Gulf Coast region. These events will allow evacuees to share their journey through art and culture and feature performances by national and local performers, musicians, poets and visual artists, intertwined with speeches by veterans of the civil rights and current resistance movements.

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U.S. Out of Iraq Now!

Actions Strengthen United Opposition to Iraq War

Building on the momentum of many thousands of antiwar actions over the last six months, Americans from all walks of life continue to organize and participate in antiwar actions across the country. From coast to coast, from every region of the country, from every state, students, youth, women, workers, military families, soldiers, veterans, seniors, activists, religious leaders, are giving vibrant expression to the united opposition to Bush’s crimes and working to strengthen the resistance and independent organizing of the people.

Recent Actions

On November 29, more than 500 protesters, including many high school students, stopped a bus carrying members of the media entourage following President Bush outside the downtown Denver hotel where he appeared at a fund-raising event. Protesters used a large number of noisy instruments including cowbells, bicycle horns, tambourines, whistles, drums, maracas and sections of PVC pipe, to say nothing of every conceivable item of cookware — from wok covers to pots, pans, spatulas and meat tenderizers— to express their opposition to war and all of Bush’s crimes. Many signs read: “Impeach, Indict, Imprison,” “Lies, Lies, Lies,” “Bring Our Troops Home Where They Belong.”

During the first week of December, tens of thousands honored the life-long resistance of civil rights leader Rosa Parks with a Nationwide Day of Absence Against Poverty, Racism and War. Demonstrators demanded: “Bring the Troops Home Now,” “Cut the War Budget, Not Healthcare, Housing and Education,” “Justice for Katrina Survivors,” and “Military Recruiters Out of Our Schools.” Actions took place across the south, in Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia, along the east coast in Washington, DC, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Maine; in the Midwest in Illinois, Michigan, Ohio, and Wisconsin and the west, in Colorado, Iowa, California, Oregon and Washington State.

More than 1,000 groups, including Al Awda, Black Workers for Justice, Million Worker March Movement, Michigan Emergency Committee Against War & Injustice, Teamsters National Black Caucus and Troops Out Now Coalition, supported these December actions. In addition, major cities such as Detroit, New York, and Boston passed resolutions marking the occasion and endorsing the actions.

In another nationwide campaign, antiwar activists, led by Codepink, are targeting U.S. Senator Hillary Clinton of New York, a potential presidential candidate in 2008. They are rejecting her support for the war and refusal to join the demand to withdraw all troops now. They have been following her wherever she goes. On Tuesday, December 6, for example, protesters confronted the Senator at a Saratoga County Democratic fundraiser in Saratoga Springs, New York, waiving signs, chanting their opposition to the war, and demanding that all troops be brought home immediately. On Saturday, December 3, Codepink protesters interrupted Clinton several times as she gave a keynote speech before thousands at Roosevelt University in Chicago. Eight Codepink protesters, who brought in pink umbrellas, confronted Clinton by opening their umbrellas during her speech and chanting, “Out of Iraq Now”—with one word on each umbrella. People in the crowd chanted “Troops Out Now,” and others had similar signs. Another antiwar group demonstrated at her appearance Friday, December 2 at a Democratic fundraiser in Kentucky. Codepink is also organizing a bigger protest for December 20, in San Francisco.

In another sign of the growing antiwar movement, more cities across the country are passing resolutions opposing the war on Iraq and joining together in demanding an immediate withdrawal of all troops. The actions are being spearheaded by “Cities for Peace.” Before it began in March 2003, the war on Iraq was opposed by more than 165 cities that passed resolutions against the invasion. Chicago is now one of roughly 70 additional cities around the country that have passed resolutions calling specifically for U.S. withdrawal. Others include Chapel Hill, North Carolina; Gary, Indiana; dozens of towns in Vermont; Sacramento and Berkeley, California; and Cambridge, Massachusetts. The resolutions call on the U.S. government “to commence an orderly and rapid withdrawal of United States military personnel from Iraq,” while also shipping nonmilitary aid “necessary for the security of Iraq’s citizens and for the rebuilding of Iraq.”

In other efforts, United for Peace and Justice and Win Without War called on people to contact members of Congress on December 6 [the day Congress reconvened in Washington, D.C.], to demand that all troops be brought home immediately and to hold Congress accountable for taking this action. The anti-war movement is joining those worldwide in gearing up for Global Days of Action Against War and Reaction in March 2006.

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Codepink Women for Peace

Anti-War Forces Step Up Work

During 2005 the anti-war movement stepped up its organizing work and broadened its base of support, drawing in many veterans and military families as well as many mothers opposing military recruitment and others. Below we reprint a portion of a year-end report by Codepink Women for Peace that is representative of the many organizations and collectives building the bulwark against the U.S. tsunami of war and fascism. Below are highlights of the efforts by Codepink:

We delivered over $600,000 in humanitarian aid to Iraqi civilians after the destruction of Fallujah.

Whether at Presidential Inauguration, John Bolton’s Senate confirmation hearing, Condoleezza Rice’s address at the SF Commonwealth Club, Donald Rumsfeld’s talk at the Beverly Hills Hilton, or Dick Cheney’s fundraiser in Houston, we consistently infiltrated Bush administration gatherings to say, “Stop the Killing, Stop the Torture, No More Lies.”

We spent the summer in Crawford, Texas, supporting Cindy Sheehan and helping to build the phenomenal Camp Casey peace movement that garnered the attention of the entire world.

We doubled our email list to almost 100,000 people and we now have over 250 local CODEPINK chapters worldwide.

We unveiled our new book, Stop the Next War Now, an amazing collection of essays by visionary women, and embarked on a book tour that has taken us to over 75 cities.

We’ve visited high schools, concerts, colleges, and military recruiting centers to encourage young people not to join the military. Due to the effectiveness of the counter-recruitment movement, the military has failed to reach its recruiting quotas.

CODEPINK spearheaded a campaign to bring home the California National Guard, using the lessons of Hurricane Katrina to show how we need the Guard to protect us here at home

Speaking of Katrina, CODEPINK delivered over $20,000 in aid to survivors, and during the Thanksgiving holiday we sent a delegation to New Orleans help rebuild homes.

We created an online anti-war petition, onemillionreasons.org, that became a vibrant tapestry of individual voices to end the war and in September, we delivered them in person to the White House.

We’ve built global ties through a peacemaking delegation to Iran, a peace tour through Italy, the war tribunal in Turkey, Britain’s Stop the War assembly, a gathering in Thailand of women worldwide, and our participation in the World Social Forum in Brazil.

And we’re just getting started! In 2006 we’ll kick off a powerful year to end the war in Iraq. In January, the California State Assembly will vote to bring home our National Guard, and we intend to take our National Guard campaign nationwide. In February we’ll be sending our love to the troops with a huge action for Valentine’s Day. For March 8th, International Women’s Day, we’re mobilizing a global Women Say No To War campaign. We’ll be marching to U.S. Embassies in dozens of countries, holding rallies and delivering signatures demanding an end to the occupation and violence. In the U.S., we’ll bring Iraqi women to join us as we lobby the UN, the U.S. government and key embassies to raise the voices of women worldwide demanding an end to war.

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Women Soldier Refuses to Serve

“I Will Not Compromise My Beliefs”

- SPC Katherine Jashinsk, November 17, 2005 -

I am a SPC in the Texas Army National Guard. I was born in Milwaukee, WI and I am 22 years old. When I graduated high school I moved to Austin, TX to attend college. At age 19 I enlisted in the Guard as a cook because I wanted to experience military life.

When I enlisted I believed that killing was immoral, but also that war was an inevitable part of life and therefore, an exception to the rule.

After enlisting I began the slow transformation into adulthood. Like many teenagers who leave their home for the first time, I went through a period of growth and soul searching. I encountered many new people and ideas that broadly expanded my narrow experiences. After reading essays by Bertrand Russell and traveling to the South Pacific and talking to people from all over the world, my beliefs about humanity and its relation to war changed. I began to see a bigger picture of the world, and I started to reevaluate everything that I had been taught about war as a child. I developed the belief that taking human life was wrong and war was no exception. I was then able to clarify who I am and what it is that I stand for.

The thing that I revere most in this world is life, and I will never take another person’s life.

Just as others have faith in God, I have faith in humanity.

I have a deeply held belief that people must solve all conflicts through peaceful diplomacy and without the use of violence. Violence only begets more violence.

Because I believe so strongly in non-violence, I cannot perform any role in the military. Any person doing any job in the Army contributes in some way to the planning, preparation or implementation of war.

For eighteen months, while my CO (conscientious objector) status was pending, I have honored my commitment to the Army and done everything that they asked of me. However, I was ordered to Ft. Benning last Sunday to complete weapons training in preparation to deploy for war.

Now I have come to the point where I am forced to choose between my legal obligation to the Army and my deepest moral values. I want to make it clear that I will not compromise my beliefs for any reason. I have a moral obligation not only to myself but to the world as a whole, and this is more important than any contract.

I have come to my beliefs through personal, intense reflection and study. They are everything that I am and all that I stand for. After much thought and contemplation about the effect my decision will have on my future, my family, the possibility of prison, and the inevitable scorn and ridicule that I will face, I am completely resolute.

I will exercise my every legal right to not pick up a weapon, or to participate in war efforts. I am determined to be discharged as a CO; and while undergoing the appeals process, I will continue to follow orders that do not conflict with my conscience until my status has been resolved. I am prepared to accept the consequences of adhering to my beliefs.

What characterizes a conscientious objector is their willingness to face adversity and uphold their values at any cost. We do this not because it is easy or popular, but because we are unable to do otherwise.

Thank you

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No Elections will be Credible while Occupation Continues

- Harith al-Dari, Association of Muslim Scholars in Iraq -

Iraq’s current political process will not solve the crisis. Only a U.S. and British pullout and a UN sponsored poll can do that.

Iraq has a long history of civilization that has contributed both knowledge and wisdom to humanity. For many centuries, Islam also immunized Iraq against religious or sectarian strife and protected its population from the oppression that peoples of the ancient world had been subjected to. Generation after generation of Iraqis succeeded in maintaining peaceful coexistence among their diverse sects and races, despite the hardships and challenges they faced. It is by virtue of this cohesion that Iraq managed to rise up again and put its house in order in the wake of every calamity.

In recent times, one of the most difficult periods has been the past 35 years, during which Iraq was subjected to one-party rule by a minority that dragged the country through a series of misadventures, with heavy losses for the Iraqi people. During the last chapter of that painful era, Iraqis were for many years punished with sanctions that caused the death of hundreds of thousands of innocent people, most of them children. The sanctions ended with an invasion, followed by an occupation by U.S. and British troops, in total contravention of international law and in defiance of the UN. The invaders resorted to pretexts that soon proved to be false, including the lie about weapons of mass destruction.

Things became much worse under occupation, which has delivered none of the promised dividends of democracy, freedom, security and prosperity. Instead, Iraqis have been living in fear, poverty, oppression and a lack of freedom.

The occupation troops have resorted to excessive force, indiscriminate killing and collective punishment of the population. They have besieged entire towns, storming into them, instilling fear and horror among residents and destroying their homes. Iraqis have been humiliated and stripped of their basic human rights; they have been subjected to brutal and ghastly forms of torture, as the infamous Abu Ghraib prison case and the British troops’ abuse of detainees in Basra have shown.

In the meantime there has been a scandalous failure by successive Iraqi governments to attend to the basic needs of the population. There has been a continuous rise in unemployment, which has been used to force young men to join the military and security establishments, which in turn throw them into the furnace of a destructive, yet futile, war. Many other young men find themselves drawn into drug trafficking because Iraq has become a theater for this sinister industry although it had until the invasion been one of the few countries in the world that had no significant drugs problem.

The conduct and motivation of the occupation authorities were suspect right from the start, when they encouraged the organized theft of public properties; left weapon dumps unguarded; dissolved the Iraqi army and replaced it with militias whose agendas are incompatible with the collective interests of the Iraqi people; and when it introduced sectarian and racial quotas in political life, it paved the way for serious sectarian and racial conflict that has been exploited by some political groups for their own exclusive ends.

This is what has become of Iraq under occupation. The U.S. and its allies bear full legal and moral responsibility for all this: they are the ones who instigated it by illegally invading Iraq.

This is Iraq’s reality today. It goes without saying that the continuation of this dreadful situation will have very serious repercussions not only for Iraq but for the region and the entire world.

What is the solution? The cause of the problem, the source of the trouble, is the occupation that has brought all this upon Iraq and the Iraqis. This has to be eliminated. But the U.S. administration remains committed to its occupation and insistent on pushing ahead with a political process that is entirely without credibility.

The refusal by some Iraqi political groups and religious authorities to endorse this process is not born out of a rejection of peaceful political engagement or a decision to opt for a violent solution — as the occupation-sponsored media machine alleges — but stems from a belief in justice, freedom and independence as basic prerequisites for any genuine political process. None of these prerequisites are present, and therefore the current political process cannot provide the Iraqi people with peace and security.

The abuses witnessed during previous elections, as well as during the draft constitution referendum — which had the effect of denying the will of the majority of the Iraqis — only generate skepticism and reinforce the suspicions of those who are boycotting today’s elections. Whether Iraqis take part or not, few regard these latest occupation-sponsored elections as any more free or fair than those that preceded them, and they will not help to solve the crisis facing the country.

For the political process to succeed it must proceed in a healthy environment which will take shape only when occupation comes to an end. The solution to the Iraqi problem, in the view of the Association of Muslim Scholars, is simple and logical. It is one that fully complies with international legality and would serve to reinforce it, would put an end to the daily hemorrhaging of Iraq, would lay the foundations for a state of law that protects the rights of all its citizens and seeks to secure basic human dignity. It would provide an alternative to occupation, as explained in the memorandum we submitted to the United Nations and the Arab League.

This solution must be based, first, on an announcement by the U.S. and its allies of a timetable for withdrawing their troops. Second, it would entail replacing the occupation forces with a UN force whose main task would be to fill the security void. This would be followed, thirdly, by the formation of an interim Iraqi government for six months under the supervision of the UN in order to conduct genuine parliamentary elections in which all parts of the Iraqi population would take part. Finally, the duly elected Iraqi government would take charge of the task of rebuilding the country’s civil and military institutions.

Nothing will work in Iraq unless the root of the problem is addressed. The occupation must end.

Harith Sulayman al-Dari is Secretary General of the Association of Muslim Scholars in Iraq.

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