year.
from other EEC countries -conflict.
Peace Plans in the smokescreen for imperialism's War Plans.
In the last two weeks thousands of marines have landed on the shores of Oman and Somalia from US assault ships, the Division (paratroopers) were dropLIC Egyptian desert, and B52 bombers screamed halfway acros: the globe North Dakota to an airfield west of Cairo.
all thousands of troops, not just from the US but also from Egypt. Oman, Sudan Somalia, HEVE participated in Operatior Bright Star, a show of armed might worthy of a Hollywood еріс. course this is real life, and the lives of the peoples of the Middle East which are in danger.
Purpose Behind the twists and turns of the last few months is an artist with a purPosc. SNEL N IS lITlperialism and its purpose is to mobilise an alliance between the US, Israel aginst ine Soviet Union and Arab states and against Arab revolution, particularly the Iranian revolution. All this at a time when direct Soviet influence in the area is at its lowest point for twenty five years. 'peace-keeping force' to the Sinai desert next France, Italy and the Netherlands - to police the final stages of the Camp David agreement on the Middle East But British troops will no more keep the peace in the Sinai than they do in the North of Ireland. NICK ROBIN argues that all the talk of Middle East is a All the 'Peace Plans' for the Middle East are really different attempts by the imperialist powers to defend their interests against potentially damaging conflict: The Saudi Peace Plan, backed by Lord Carrington and sections of the US administration is very similar Ine famous Camp David Peace Accords which the late (bul lamented) President Menachim Beein of Israc вдурІ and drew up.
The new tenturas the Saudi Plan are the specification of the need TOT an "independent Palestinian Jerusalem as its capital' where as the Camp David TWEEHEI merely vided for "autonomy" on the West Bank and Gaza.
But also implicitly recognises the right of Israel to exist.
Inese two points could provide the for another "compromise LU please everyone everyone except the masses of lispossessca Palestinians whose right live INCIT OWE homcland is trampled on both Saudi Plan and Agreements.
Nevertheless, in an at«CIUSG TEE C Israel/Arab conflict press upon Israel the need ior compromise, Us mmperialism has a bargaining counter against begin regime which nitiall deneunced the Saudi Plan. an enormous billion 1982 "defence"
Eis war) budget from the Meanwhile the US imperialists cannot MAKE Donald McCullin, from Jonathan Dimbleby's book The Palestinians) their minds up over the Saudi Plan. One wing of the Administration feels it makes too many concessions to the Arab states, anther feels it provides mme pest soluton to ine explosive Middle East crisis.
One thing the imthe Palestinian masses (Photo by former President Carter who drew up plans for a Rapid Deployment Force (RDF) permanently in the region. The Reagan administration is going further, creating a network of forward bascs for American units as in the Indian Ocean island of Diego Garcia whose inhabitants have been displaced by US military hardware.
Threat There is speculation in the press about the "prepositioning of 100.000 American m ne region One can im agine the Scare LINALOLLE on possible Soviet RDF to be stationed in. tae Nicaragua!
whole Middle East is bristling The last few months in the Middle East June: Israelis bomb Tragi nuclear reactor.
Lebanon.
August: Libyan to be sited in Sicily, aimed at the Middle East.
Saudi Arabi to be an Iran' October 6: Sadat shot. His successor, Mubarak, pledges to continue pro US-policies.
Juneral ex-Presidents Ford and Carter call for a "dialogue' with the PLO.
October 18: PASOK elected in Greece ending fifty years of right wing rule, pledged to remove ÜS bases from Greek Saudi capital Riyadh on behalf of the EEC and expresses support for Peace Plan. Israel icipation in "peace-keeping' force in Sinai desert as part of Camp David Accords AWAC'S Arabia to receive $8.5 billion worth of advance radar planes and other hardware from US.
30:
responds that Saudi Plan is designed to liquidate Israel.
they had reached 58.9 billion per year, ac counting for more than 69 per cent of total US arms sales. Israel has of course always been the main benef iey of these saldi Egypt and Arabia and other Gulf states are not far behind Part of the legacy the Vietnam War was the development of a huge capital intensive arms pro ducing capacity United which means that the US needs to produce and sell arms.
More important the imperalists are desperate to prevent any more Iranian SCrotuHOns The Economist recently described Middle East policy with the phrase visibility is the essence of „ deterrence"
We prefer to call it warmongering.
July: Israeli troops invade and occupy southern plane shot down by US in soil. Lord Carrington visits the rediscovered Saudi opposes European deal completed. Saud Prime Minister Begin Damascus Golan Syria Amman 26 November 1981 page 13
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The Tory government confirmed Monday that British troops would join those
All the Peace Plans ignore the interests of and street demonstrations in the 1930s.
Mediterranean. Italy annonces its Cruise missiles October 1: Reagan declares: "We will not permit October 10: On the plane home from Sadat's
ISRAEL Jordan Saudi Arabia