AS WE go to press, Iraq has launched an invasion of Iran 'to occupy key strategic installations'. All socialists must condemn this attack, aimed at rolling back the gains of the The Iraqi regime of President Saddam Hussein is in crisis.
Muslims, who make up 50 per cent of the population - and predominate in the poorer sections — have openly identified with the Iranian revolution.
In-fighting within the Ba'athist party has further narrowed the base of the regime. An average 100 political executions a year over the past five years are reported by Amnesty Twenty top members of the regime were executed last year for plotting ot overthrow Hussein.
Finally, a shift in Iraq's international alliances has led ot an attack on the Communist Party, which at one time was part of the ruling coalition. The CP has now linked up with the Kurdish resistence, constant threat to the regime over the past decade.
Iraq and Saudi Arabia have been moving steadily closer together, changing information and concluding an agreement to aid each other in combating any revolutionary activity in their respective countries.
Iraq has not yet taken the final step to align itself openly with imperialism. Nonetheless, only imperialism can gain from this invasion. patrolling in the region ready to take advantage of any opening to regain their previous positions.
Thus, while socialists cannot defend the 1975 agreement imposed by the Shah which defined the border in Iran's favour, this is not the essence of the conflict.
Iranian military strength has undoubtedly been weakened by refusal of the USA to provide spare parts. But the biggest weakness is not lack of hardware, but the continued exwhich is The Shi'ite which has been a US warships are nian revolution.
the istence of a military hierarchy whose only interest is to plot coups and armed action to turn back the gains of the IraThe call for general mobilisation could lay the basis for an invincible fighting force if this meant a militia based on democratic forms of organisation, with the reactionary generals under the control of the ranks.
Equally, a call to defend the Iranian revolution would carry more weight if recent back pay award.
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