IMPERIALIST OCCUPATION, MIDDLE EAST AND THE KURDS
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Crisis and stagnation in the USA and other imper-ialist countries has deepened the crisis of the order of international relationship be-tween the capitalist world. The occupation of Iraq, the internal clashes and contradictions of the UN, the EU and NATO show this. The imperialist globalisation attacks and neo-liberal politics applied mercilessly in every country is another evidence. Today, imperialist hegemony and rivalry throughout the world is at the same time linked to the target of re-establishing or shaping the order of international relationship.

US imperialism, closes its more than 500 billion dollars a year budget deficit and hundreds of billions of dollars militarism investment with occupation, plundering, colonialism and capital transfers in backward countries. They have already drawn a war bill costs 180 billion dollars for Iraq. The USA is not just aiming to become the only hegemonic power in the region by occupying and reshaping Afghanistan, Iraq and the Middle East, it also wants to become the unrivalled and undisputed ruler of the world. This is why it is in an unlimited and non-stop aggressiveness of war. It does not see the international agreements, rules and organisations, which it takes part in or voted for, as binding.

US imperialism is applying many ways in order to establish its domination in the world.

Firstly, through the occupation of Afghanistan, Iraq and Palestine in the name of a "pre-emptive war", and a "war against global terrorism", or, with the same imperialist aggressiveness and barbarism, through threatening what it calls "the forces of evil".

Secondly, through carrying out or attempting to carry out tens of coup d'etats on the governments of different countries such as Haiti and Venezuela.

Thirdly, as in Georgia and Azerbaijan, through the training of armies and the supply of weapons. The USA has carried concentrated masses of troops and military bases to all areas of the world. Today, there are a total of 320 thousand US troops in 120 countries. And this makes up 60% of the US army.

Fourthly, by indirectly deepening its hegemony and influence through international organisations or making partners of other powers; such as the Greater Middle East Initiative or the international struggle against terrorism.

Of course, if it is thought that, outside, the US and other imperialists apply militarism, competition, imperialist war and colonialism, and inside, they carry out neoliberal attacks and politics, then their quickness and agitation to organize internal reaction can be understood. These new arrangements are in the shape of the bringing out of reactionary and fascist laws, the establishment of new organisations and new international agreements. "The joint struggle against terror" is being used as the reason for new laws and practices on immigrants. Immigrants are being shown as the root of unemployment, crime and even environmental pollution. The laws and practices of repression on immigrants also target the native working class and toilers. They are also used to threaten and intimidate the struggle against imperialist war and the rising international mass movement.

In short, even the formal bourgeois democracy is being put to one side. It is such that, after being caught red-handed, it has been made public that the US President can order the human violation of torture when he considers it necessary; and that Americans will not be tried in international courts for war.

THE OCCUPATION OF IRAQ

USA aggression and occupation is, on one point, the regional echo of the attack of imperialist globalisation. Imperialist capital has charged the imperialist state and militarism to abolish all political, economical and administrative obstructions that would be in its way. The active participation in the occupation of Iraq and the Greater Middle Eastern Project of the G8 countries, NATO and the UN can be explained with the same needs and profits of the international monopolist capital.

US imperialism, by occupying Iraq and attacking the Middle East, is aiming to gain strategic advantages over its rivals in the hegemony of the world; to hold the world's economy in its hands by controlling the oil reservoirs and its distribution in Iraq and in the area; to crush the region's resisting states and political forces; to secure the safety and future of the state of Israel.

The USA occupation and aggression has not brought freedom and peace to Iraq. It has brought imperialist barbarism and plundering. The torture and rape cases of the USA have occupied the news for a long time, and were remembered with hate. In front of the world's eyes, the USA has plundered Iraq's petrol. No biological weapons have been found, and a connection between Iraq and Al-Qaeda has not been proved. Iraq's economic and social frame has been destroyed. The seeds of national, ethnic and religious slaughter, attacks and hostility have been planted in Iraq. Unemployment has grown, the poverty and misery has increased in Iraq. Burglary, sex trade, prostitution, illnesses etc. have grown. The Arab world and all peoples of Iraq have been degraded. It was natural that the Iraqi peoples' response to the occupiers was and only could have been to resist and to make the resistance larger.

The so-called "left-wing" and intellectual sanctifiers of capitalism or vain reformists, who described the US intervention in Iraq and the Middle East as "democratisation", raised their voices again through the Greater Middle East Initiative (GMEI) after all the things that were done in Iraq. According to them, "The USA is changing the status quo and bringing de-mocracy to the Middle East". Some of them have even tried to theoretically explain the situation by claiming that the contradictions between feudalism and capitalism are taking place again. Osman Ocalan and his friends, who broke away from the KONGRA-GEL ( PKK ) and became comfortable with US collaboration and support the GMEI and the occupation, are waiting excitedly for the role that they and the Kurds will be given. They are vulgarly showing that their lack of hope in the historical movement of the peoples and sanctifying capitalism with the phrase "democratic colonisation". This trend and individuality of non-belief in the determination and strength of the peoples is so natural to them that, they do not think that Iraq and Palestine are resisting for all the peoples of the world, it cannot be expected of them to take part in the international support and solidarity of the Iraqi resistance.

Therefore, revolutionary and communist forces not only have political struggle tasks against the occupation, but also ideological struggle tasks that can not be delayed. These tasks are firstly, to expose through the non-coverable practices and implementations that imperialism is the root of political reaction, fascism, and chauvinism; secondly, to struggle against and break the ideological influence and illusions which weaken the international support and solidarity of the Iraqi resistance.

IRAQ - RESISTANCE AND SOLIDARITY

The resistance in Iraq which grows widely and deeply for more than one year, the Afghan peoples' no accep-tance of protectorate colonialism, the Palestine Intifada (Uprising) which in every occasion renews and reproduces itself in different forms, they all are, at the same time, representing the power of resistance, tradition and the will of the people of the world. There is not only the will of USA in the world and despite its armament from top to bottom it is not invincible. On the contrary of this there is the peoples' historical action and power. It is abundantly being proven by the anger, will and struggle of the oppressed peoples that broke out in various forms in every corner of the world.

USA has sunk into a bog in Iraq, the centre of resistance. It is having difficulties in establishing the administration of protectorate colonialism. Its strategic targets and policies on Iraq and Middle East have struck the hard rock. It wants to "handover" the administration to the Iraqis, to involve NATO in the occupation and to overcome the situation, in which it could sustain a defeat, through Greater Middle East Initiative (GMEI). Moreover, it tries to involve the G-8 and UN to this uncertain and unsolvable process it is experiencing. We can also say, right from today, that the new moves and policies such as considering Turkey as a model country in GMEI, giving her a role of double-presidency and "democratic partner" will suffer the failure. Because, before anything else the will and struggle of the peoples' of the region will prevent this.

The anti-imperialist, anti-occupation front is gradually widening in Iraq. Different political forces, social classes, groups, and persons are taking part in this front. Pro-Baath and Saddam supporters, Islamists, nationalists and patriotic Iraqis, revolutionary and progressive parties, forces and individuals are the main elements of this wide front.

Searches and efforts for forming initiatives and platforms in order to develop the united struggle on the basis of ending imperialist occupation in Iraq are still continuing.

During the early days of occupation of Iraq, millions of anti-war people took the streets throughout the world. The struggle against imperialist war and occupation was, at the same time, able to unite with the reactions of the workers and toilers against the globalisation and neoliberal policies in the imperialist countries.

But, unfortunately, same solidarity and support was not shown in latter process of the occupation. The lack of active intervention of the progressive, anti-fascist, revolutionary and communist forces on the international mass movement and the process is doubtlessly the first reason of this. The dE9tente of Germany and France over the USA occupation, the "clash of civilisations" propaganda of the bourgeoisie, the outstripped Islamic motives in the resistance and some actions of the radical Islamic organisations have weakened the support and solidarity to the resistance.

However, on some points, the people of Iraq and Palestine resisted and are resisting for all people of the world. The USA, the one who announced a lawless and endless war against the peoples of the world was blocked. Its strategies, projects and policies have stuck into the desert of Iraq.

The resistance in Iraq is a just and legitimate resistance. Under the conditions where progressive and revolutionary forces are not able to become alternative it is natural for political Islam to give its colour to the resistance, and one cannot ignore their anti-occupation and anti-war position. If one will look at the history of national liberation fights in the world and the fronts against the occupations and imperialist wars than this fact would be seen without any discussion. Today, it is an historical and political duty to support Iraqi resistance and to be in solidarity with it. The principle criterion of being democrat is to stand against chauvinism and social-chauvinism.

With the growth of the Iraqi resistance, the USA's brutality, massacres, torture and rape has risen the anger of the peoples, at the forefront of which are the peoples of USA, of the countries which partake in the occupation. It is possible to see it in the surveys carried out in Spain, England, Poland, Italy and Ukraine, and in the protests against the existing governments.

THE BALANCE OF POWERS IN THE MIDDLE EAST IS SLIPPERY

The USA's occupation of Iraq, the GMEI and its threats has dragged certain Arab countries' administrators into panic. Saudi Arabia and Egypt did not take part in the G-8 summit, to which they were invited. Libya stepped back in the face of besiegement and threats and started to develop diplomatic relations with EU countries. USA's petrodollar partner Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, Libya, Syria and Iran have increased their diplomatic relations, meetings and visits on different levels and positions have become more frequent in the region. New examples of alliances and collaborations in different combinations are being formed.

In fact, the Middle East has never come out of the world's agenda. Oil reserves, imperialist rivalry and aggression, the Palestine question, Islamic radicalism, the Kurdish question, etc. have become the main subjects on the agenda.

Israel, with the support of the USA, is applying every form of dirty and lawless methods, massacres the Palestinians and their leaders. Palestine is resisting against this.

The oppressed Kurdish people, who fight for their national and democratic rights, are raising their national and democratic demands under the developing balance of political powers. They are having difficulties in going towards a revolutionary solution because of being squeezed between the region's colonial states, imperialist policies and reformist Kurdish national leaderships.

The Kurds in Iraqi Kurdistan (Southern Kurdistan), under the leadership of the traditional collaborationists YNK (Union of Kurdistan Patriots) and KDP (Democratic Party of Kurdistan), have gone to certain institutionalisations in the shadow of the USA, gained some achievements and were able to take steps towards forming a state. Even if they were under guidance, their experiences in administration and diplomacy have increased. These developments in Iraqi Kurdistan have affected the other parts of Kurdistan. Two demonstrations were organised in Iran, participated by 50,000 and 10,000 people. There was an uprising in Syrian Kurdistan which entered the world's agenda.

The PKK's (The Workers' Party of Kursistan) 15 years of guerrilla activity; the 1st Gulf War and the achievements obtained during the beginning of the occupation of Iraq strengthened the internal link and dynamics between the four parts of Kurdistan. It developed the trend to establish a national state and the United Kurdistan.

THE UNITY, BROTHERHOOD AND FREEDOM OF PEOPLES IN THE MIDDLE EAST

Imperialist rivalry and intervention, colonialist administrations, Israeli Zionism and reactionary Arabic regimes are the roots and causes of reactionary internal and external fights, national and religious strangles and slavery in the Middle East. The bourgeoisie of Imperialist and regional states has always incited national hatred. The enmity between Israelis and Arabs is the foremost of these. National hatred and distrust between Turks and Arabs, Turks and Kurds, Arabs and Kurds, Arabs and Persians, Persians and Azerbaijanis etc. continue.

Imperialist Capitalists incite and reinforce national enmity and distrust in the Middle East as they did in the Caucasus, the Balkans and in Central Asia. They sometimes become part of these conflicts and sometimes played the role of a referee. But each time they exploited existing conflicts and distrusts for the interests and needs of imperialism.

In the beginning of 20th Century, British and French imperialists prevented the formation of one Arabic nation and the establishment of a united Arabic nation state. They brought about many big and little Arabic states with artificial borders. In this way the Arabs were divided being governed by sheikhs in puppet kingdoms and emirates.

Imperialist forces have brought trouble to the peoples of the Middle East by creating the Zionist Israeli state. The occupation of Palestine by Israel and following massacres and wars caused a bloody distrust between the Israeli and Arabic peoples.

Arabic peoples live in another dimension of distrust caused by Sunni-Shiite separation.

Kurdish nation was di-vided into four parts with the Lausanne treaty. Kurdish nation's right of self-determination was prevented. The grounds for an enmity between Kurdish nation and colonialist nations of Turk, Persian and Arab were created.

Imperialist forces incited the war between Iraq and Iran which lasted for eight years. By providing reactionary Saddam regime chemical weapons, the imperialists had accomplice the killing of five thousand Kurds in Halabja.

The US imperialism, by getting support from the Kurdish organisations KDP and YNK during the beginning of the occupation of Iraq, brought deepening of enmity and distrust between the Arabic people and the Kurdish people.

Historical and current incidents indicate that the enmity and distrust between the peoples of the Middle East is in its apex and this enmity could continue for years in the form of blood feud in Iraq and the Middle East.

As can be seen, in this political environment, the brotherhood and unity of peoples in the Middle East can only be realized on the base of revolution and labour patriotism.

MLCP defends that this only will be possible by the Democratic and Socialist Federation of the Peoples in the Middle East, and struggles for this.

DEMOCRATIC AND SOCIALIST FEDERATION OF THE MIDDLE EAST

Related to that, the Marxists Leninists Communists point out an objective reality as follows: "Today's internationalisation level of monopolist capitalism has further developed the material ground of peoples' unity which occurred in the era of imperialism. Today's level of the socialisation and internationalisation of labour extremely presents the proletariat of different nations the possibility to establish socialism together on the ground of national freedom and volunteer unity." 1. Then they express their determination on the revolutionary solution to the question as follows:

"The development of trust and unity of labourer peoples of our region, as well as the role of divided and colony Kurdistan's war of independence in reinforcing the unity between proletariat and labourers' revolutions in many countries of the region, furthermore, the material ground created by the capitalist imperialist system's economic integration make urgently necessary the programmatic solution of the question of revolutions and international unity of labourer peoples and proletariat of our region. Demonstrating the proletarian internationalist responsibility, the Marxists Leninists Communists, developing the tradition of Comintern in actuality, take as a programmatic task the democratic federation of peoples of the Middle-East based on the working class and labourer peoples' governance giving preference to the success of the revolution. In this direction, they are currently trying to build up and develop the unity of struggle of the region's revolutionary and communist movements. They are determined to go forward in this proletarian internationalist path. They will raise the revolutionary path of the region's working class, labourers and oppressed people as an alternative to the USA bandits' imperialist world order and occupation of the region. From radical Muslims to Arab national movements, up to Kurdish reformist nationalists in the region, bourgeois and petty-bourgeois currents of different nations cannot develop any solution and struggle building the unity of peoples and self-confidence, and they will not..." 2

Communists fulfil their historical and political duties in this concept. And they formulize the understanding of federation as follows:

"Democratic Federative Unity of the Peoples of the Middle East, which was approved in .the Congress decisions of the Marxists Leninists Communists and agitated in daily struggle, is based on decisive victory of peoples' revolution in the region, and free and voluntary unity of power of proletariat and labourers. Moreover, it is based on the theoretical basis that peoples' international unification cannot be formed before smashing the power of bourgeoisie and realisation of definite victory of proletariat and labourers' power." 3

Just as, during imperialist attacks, war and occupation, the thought and call on progressive, revolutionary and communist parties, organisations and groups of the Middle East geography to organise a "Middle East Conference" is an actual reflection of this understanding.

MLCP, in the call on "Middle East Conference", which was seen as a stepping stone for a united anti-imperialist struggle in the Middle East, but has not been realized yet for outer reasons, were stating as follows:

"In order to developing further the anti-imperialist and anti-colonial struggle and to organize and prepare the united revolutionary struggle against imperialist occupation and aggression in the Middle East, as a first step, this conference has to be realized." 4

"The resistance against the US imperialism and the imperialist war in the Middle East is growing daily. This period bears great resistance and struggle opportunities and dynamics. The neoliberal attacks of the imperialism, the consequences of imperialist war and occupation and the anti-imperialist traditions of struggle of the peoples of the Middle East led to the situation where a great anger accumulated within the peoples of the Middle East.

Under this objective and political circumstances on the Middle East, it is not surprising that radical Islamic trends and organizations are getting new possibilities and are popular. The progressive, revolutionary and communist parties and forces of the region surely have a historical and political responsibility in this situation. Although there is no serious development of international organization and actions of the revolutionary parties and forces from the region, the Islamic internationalism is developing a serious solidarity and a common struggle." 5

The USA, which has stuck in uncertainty and inability to solve the problem, will not easily accept the defeat. Because this will not mean a defeat only in Iraq and the Middle East, but it will also mean a step back in its hegemony of the world. Therefore, they will continue to stay in the region with their Greater Middle Eastern Initiative, military forces and different alliances, aggressions and threats. And this points to the duty for an anti-imperialist and anti-colonialist struggle in the region. MLCP is aware of this historical and political duty. It fulfils this duty decisively with calls and acts in the homeland, the region and throughout the world.

A STATELESS PEOPLE IN THE MIDDLE EAST: THE KURDS

The Kurds are a nation in the Middle East, whose country is under occupation and divided into four parts. It has come to a state that during local wars and conflicts they are treated as "refugees" in their own country. Historically, they have been kept under oppression by the colonialist and imperialist collaborator Turkish, Iraqi, Iranian and Syrian states. Kurds have been the victims of those states' denial and annihilation policies.

Kurds with a population of over 30 million have experienced examples of great struggles, rebellions, and national movements in the history, as well as betrayals, being the followers of colonialist states' policies and the failures of primitive nationalist leaders.

The Kurdish question is a principal factor to the relations and balance of power in the region, as well as to the alliances and co-operations. The Kurdish card has always been played by the imperialist forces and regional colonial states in their policies.

The main thing which feeds the reactionary, fascist and colonial regimes in the Middle East has been the existence of Kurdish problem. The Kurdish question brings together Turkey, Iran and Syria who have enmities against each other. It encourages them to meet in common attacks and military operations towards the Kurds. It brought the handover of Abdullah Ocalan, the Kurdish national leader, to the colonialist Turkish bourgeoisie as a result of common conspiracy of imperialist countries.

The annihilation of the PKK guerrillas could always be the basis of debates on sending Turkish troops to Iraq or on the negotiations to let American troops to use Turkish basis, and the first condition of developing deep and comprehensive collaboration with the USA.

The Kurdish question is pushing CIA, MOSSAD, and MIT (National Intelligence Organisation) to work together and makes them "strategic partners" despite their problematic relations.

It makes the Turkish state to step back from the Cyprus question and lets her to make meetings with the Kurdish politician's Talabani, the leader of YNK, and Barzani, the leader of KDP.

So there is not only the question of occupation of Iraq and Palestine in the Middle East. There is also a Kurdish question and it is a principle question in the Middle East.

Near past has witnessed many national awakenings and uprisings in the whole of Kurdistan. The handover of PKK's leader Abdullah Ocalan to Turkey by an imperialist conspiracy, the national festival of Kurds, the Newroz and lastly some achievements in Southern Kurdistan that reflected to the draft of new constitution have brought protests or celebrations all over Kurdistan. These national awakenings and movements have driven the colonialist states to a great fear and tensions. It is obvious that there are two important dynamics in the basis of these developments. One of them is the awakening and freeing impact of the guerrilla fight that lasted 15 years in Northern Kurdistan and second one is the achievements in Southern Kurdistan.

The guerrilla war started under the leadership of PKK in August 1984 in Turkish- Kurdistan (Northern Kurdistan) caused a national awakening, mobilisation and freedom in the biggest part of Kurdistan with about 20 millions of population. Kurdish people have politicized and freed themselves until they fight, and they fought more until they freed themselves and broke with the colonialist regime.

The colonialist Turkish State has been left insoluble, irremediable and unhopeful in the face of the guerrilla war that conducted both politically and militarily. It continued with its denial and annihilation politics. In 1992 the guerrilla struggle joined with revolutionary mass movement, and the national uprising came to its highest level ever.

Turkey and US imperialism has defined this process as a "low-density war". There was the situation of "strategic balance" for many years. Under these political conditions, the Turkish State has given heavy concessions to its imperialist masters in order to repress the Kurdish national liberation struggle, and bowed her head on strategic interests and needs that imposed by them. The fascist regime has gone into collaboration with CIA and MOSSAD. It put its methods and experiences of unlawful, dirty and secret war against the Kurdish people into the service of them. And they are today implementing this savageness in Palestine, Afghanistan and Iraq.

During the process of the concept of "low-density war", also supported by the USA, North Kurdistan was forced to be left without people. Thousands of villages were evacuated and burned down. Millions of Kurds were forced into migration; hundred thousands of them were taken to detention and thousands of them were massacred. Kurdish intellectuals, journalists and businessmen were killed in 1000 operations of "unknown perpetrators". Along with 1 million armed troops and police, they have also established a system of "paramilitary" that numbered with 60 thousand through gathering from collaborator Kurdish families. It formed the organisation of Turkish Hezbollah, which later troubled them, and tried to influence the Kemalist Kurdish Alevis.

The revolution started in Kurdistan was not being spread to Turkey. MLCP's idea and practice of forming a revolutionary front in the west was not able to change the situation. The support of external dynamics was not enough. The limits, national narrow-minded situation and etc. of the PKK have accelerated the defeat of the Kurdish national movement and its transition to reformism.

In the region, the defeat and destruction of the colonial Turkish regime in the face of the Kurdish national movement was not only going to mean the end of the rule of the ruling classes, but at the same time, it was going to mean the defeat of the USA's "strategic partner". The EU imperialists were also annoyed with the PKK's revolutionary line against the New World Order. And they also became the partner of the conspiracy and supported the process. Under this surrounding and squeezing, the reformist transition of the Kurdish national liberation movement was accelerated.

The Kurdish national movement has experienced a defeat over Abdullah Ocalan's "Imrali line" and PKK became a national reformist party. The new strategy of PKK is characterised with ideological surrender, break of political will and liquidation.

Following the call of Abdullah Ocalan, the armed guerrilla forces were left with no movement, in accordance with the process of cease-fire, for five years in Southern Kurdistan (Iraqi Kurdistan). This did not direct Turkish State to make new openings but caused internal contradictions and unhappiness within the PKK. Osman Ocalan and some of his friends have split from the PKK by the support of the USA and went into a process with unclear-ending.

KONGRA-GEL (PKK) and HSG (Armed Forces of the Peoples) have removed their decision of one-sided cease-fire with the reasons of ongoing operations of the Turkish bourgeois State, not changing their minds on annihilation of guerrilla forces and not making serious openings, and have declared that they will defend themselves.

Turkish bourgeois government has freed Leyla Zana and her 3 friends, former MPs of the legal Kurdish party, DEP (Party of Democracy), from prison after 10 years because of the pressure of the Kurdish national liberation fight and the insistence of the European Union. It has started a 30-minute of broadcasting in Kurdish language on an official TV channel. The Kurdish national forces consider this as a positive development but find as not enough. They also demand their own national identities, a general amnesty and stoppage of the operations.

The administration of the USA has announced that they will "work" together with the Turkish State against the guerrilla forces of PKK in Iraqi Kurdistan. In the future, this "work" may also include the idea of physical annihilation, but today they are searching for the ways of dividing PKK and making it ineffective by Osman Ocalan or - if they can - by influence on the former DEP MPs those being freed. We could say that the policies of the carrot and the stick against the Kurdish national movement are being carried out together. Because, the Kurds are also being wanted to be made a base in the Greater Middle East Initiative

In connection with the developments within the Middle East and Iraq, the process is also open to new developments for the destiny and future of the Kurds. o

1 - Teoride Dogrultu -Direction in Theory- theoretical journal of the Marxists Leninists Communists, published bimonthly in Turkish language, April/May 2004, vol. 16, p. 47

2 - ibid, p. 51

3 - ibid, p 50

4 - Call of MLCP, Dated 15 July 2003

5 - ibid
 

 

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IMPERIALIST OCCUPATION, MIDDLE EAST AND THE KURDS
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Crisis and stagnation in the USA and other imper-ialist countries has deepened the crisis of the order of international relationship be-tween the capitalist world. The occupation of Iraq, the internal clashes and contradictions of the UN, the EU and NATO show this. The imperialist globalisation attacks and neo-liberal politics applied mercilessly in every country is another evidence. Today, imperialist hegemony and rivalry throughout the world is at the same time linked to the target of re-establishing or shaping the order of international relationship.

US imperialism, closes its more than 500 billion dollars a year budget deficit and hundreds of billions of dollars militarism investment with occupation, plundering, colonialism and capital transfers in backward countries. They have already drawn a war bill costs 180 billion dollars for Iraq. The USA is not just aiming to become the only hegemonic power in the region by occupying and reshaping Afghanistan, Iraq and the Middle East, it also wants to become the unrivalled and undisputed ruler of the world. This is why it is in an unlimited and non-stop aggressiveness of war. It does not see the international agreements, rules and organisations, which it takes part in or voted for, as binding.

US imperialism is applying many ways in order to establish its domination in the world.

Firstly, through the occupation of Afghanistan, Iraq and Palestine in the name of a "pre-emptive war", and a "war against global terrorism", or, with the same imperialist aggressiveness and barbarism, through threatening what it calls "the forces of evil".

Secondly, through carrying out or attempting to carry out tens of coup d'etats on the governments of different countries such as Haiti and Venezuela.

Thirdly, as in Georgia and Azerbaijan, through the training of armies and the supply of weapons. The USA has carried concentrated masses of troops and military bases to all areas of the world. Today, there are a total of 320 thousand US troops in 120 countries. And this makes up 60% of the US army.

Fourthly, by indirectly deepening its hegemony and influence through international organisations or making partners of other powers; such as the Greater Middle East Initiative or the international struggle against terrorism.

Of course, if it is thought that, outside, the US and other imperialists apply militarism, competition, imperialist war and colonialism, and inside, they carry out neoliberal attacks and politics, then their quickness and agitation to organize internal reaction can be understood. These new arrangements are in the shape of the bringing out of reactionary and fascist laws, the establishment of new organisations and new international agreements. "The joint struggle against terror" is being used as the reason for new laws and practices on immigrants. Immigrants are being shown as the root of unemployment, crime and even environmental pollution. The laws and practices of repression on immigrants also target the native working class and toilers. They are also used to threaten and intimidate the struggle against imperialist war and the rising international mass movement.

In short, even the formal bourgeois democracy is being put to one side. It is such that, after being caught red-handed, it has been made public that the US President can order the human violation of torture when he considers it necessary; and that Americans will not be tried in international courts for war.

THE OCCUPATION OF IRAQ

USA aggression and occupation is, on one point, the regional echo of the attack of imperialist globalisation. Imperialist capital has charged the imperialist state and militarism to abolish all political, economical and administrative obstructions that would be in its way. The active participation in the occupation of Iraq and the Greater Middle Eastern Project of the G8 countries, NATO and the UN can be explained with the same needs and profits of the international monopolist capital.

US imperialism, by occupying Iraq and attacking the Middle East, is aiming to gain strategic advantages over its rivals in the hegemony of the world; to hold the world's economy in its hands by controlling the oil reservoirs and its distribution in Iraq and in the area; to crush the region's resisting states and political forces; to secure the safety and future of the state of Israel.

The USA occupation and aggression has not brought freedom and peace to Iraq. It has brought imperialist barbarism and plundering. The torture and rape cases of the USA have occupied the news for a long time, and were remembered with hate. In front of the world's eyes, the USA has plundered Iraq's petrol. No biological weapons have been found, and a connection between Iraq and Al-Qaeda has not been proved. Iraq's economic and social frame has been destroyed. The seeds of national, ethnic and religious slaughter, attacks and hostility have been planted in Iraq. Unemployment has grown, the poverty and misery has increased in Iraq. Burglary, sex trade, prostitution, illnesses etc. have grown. The Arab world and all peoples of Iraq have been degraded. It was natural that the Iraqi peoples' response to the occupiers was and only could have been to resist and to make the resistance larger.

The so-called "left-wing" and intellectual sanctifiers of capitalism or vain reformists, who described the US intervention in Iraq and the Middle East as "democratisation", raised their voices again through the Greater Middle East Initiative (GMEI) after all the things that were done in Iraq. According to them, "The USA is changing the status quo and bringing de-mocracy to the Middle East". Some of them have even tried to theoretically explain the situation by claiming that the contradictions between feudalism and capitalism are taking place again. Osman Ocalan and his friends, who broke away from the KONGRA-GEL ( PKK ) and became comfortable with US collaboration and support the GMEI and the occupation, are waiting excitedly for the role that they and the Kurds will be given. They are vulgarly showing that their lack of hope in the historical movement of the peoples and sanctifying capitalism with the phrase "democratic colonisation". This trend and individuality of non-belief in the determination and strength of the peoples is so natural to them that, they do not think that Iraq and Palestine are resisting for all the peoples of the world, it cannot be expected of them to take part in the international support and solidarity of the Iraqi resistance.

Therefore, revolutionary and communist forces not only have political struggle tasks against the occupation, but also ideological struggle tasks that can not be delayed. These tasks are firstly, to expose through the non-coverable practices and implementations that imperialism is the root of political reaction, fascism, and chauvinism; secondly, to struggle against and break the ideological influence and illusions which weaken the international support and solidarity of the Iraqi resistance.

IRAQ - RESISTANCE AND SOLIDARITY

The resistance in Iraq which grows widely and deeply for more than one year, the Afghan peoples' no accep-tance of protectorate colonialism, the Palestine Intifada (Uprising) which in every occasion renews and reproduces itself in different forms, they all are, at the same time, representing the power of resistance, tradition and the will of the people of the world. There is not only the will of USA in the world and despite its armament from top to bottom it is not invincible. On the contrary of this there is the peoples' historical action and power. It is abundantly being proven by the anger, will and struggle of the oppressed peoples that broke out in various forms in every corner of the world.

USA has sunk into a bog in Iraq, the centre of resistance. It is having difficulties in establishing the administration of protectorate colonialism. Its strategic targets and policies on Iraq and Middle East have struck the hard rock. It wants to "handover" the administration to the Iraqis, to involve NATO in the occupation and to overcome the situation, in which it could sustain a defeat, through Greater Middle East Initiative (GMEI). Moreover, it tries to involve the G-8 and UN to this uncertain and unsolvable process it is experiencing. We can also say, right from today, that the new moves and policies such as considering Turkey as a model country in GMEI, giving her a role of double-presidency and "democratic partner" will suffer the failure. Because, before anything else the will and struggle of the peoples' of the region will prevent this.

The anti-imperialist, anti-occupation front is gradually widening in Iraq. Different political forces, social classes, groups, and persons are taking part in this front. Pro-Baath and Saddam supporters, Islamists, nationalists and patriotic Iraqis, revolutionary and progressive parties, forces and individuals are the main elements of this wide front.

Searches and efforts for forming initiatives and platforms in order to develop the united struggle on the basis of ending imperialist occupation in Iraq are still continuing.

During the early days of occupation of Iraq, millions of anti-war people took the streets throughout the world. The struggle against imperialist war and occupation was, at the same time, able to unite with the reactions of the workers and toilers against the globalisation and neoliberal policies in the imperialist countries.

But, unfortunately, same solidarity and support was not shown in latter process of the occupation. The lack of active intervention of the progressive, anti-fascist, revolutionary and communist forces on the international mass movement and the process is doubtlessly the first reason of this. The dE9tente of Germany and France over the USA occupation, the "clash of civilisations" propaganda of the bourgeoisie, the outstripped Islamic motives in the resistance and some actions of the radical Islamic organisations have weakened the support and solidarity to the resistance.

However, on some points, the people of Iraq and Palestine resisted and are resisting for all people of the world. The USA, the one who announced a lawless and endless war against the peoples of the world was blocked. Its strategies, projects and policies have stuck into the desert of Iraq.

The resistance in Iraq is a just and legitimate resistance. Under the conditions where progressive and revolutionary forces are not able to become alternative it is natural for political Islam to give its colour to the resistance, and one cannot ignore their anti-occupation and anti-war position. If one will look at the history of national liberation fights in the world and the fronts against the occupations and imperialist wars than this fact would be seen without any discussion. Today, it is an historical and political duty to support Iraqi resistance and to be in solidarity with it. The principle criterion of being democrat is to stand against chauvinism and social-chauvinism.

With the growth of the Iraqi resistance, the USA's brutality, massacres, torture and rape has risen the anger of the peoples, at the forefront of which are the peoples of USA, of the countries which partake in the occupation. It is possible to see it in the surveys carried out in Spain, England, Poland, Italy and Ukraine, and in the protests against the existing governments.

THE BALANCE OF POWERS IN THE MIDDLE EAST IS SLIPPERY

The USA's occupation of Iraq, the GMEI and its threats has dragged certain Arab countries' administrators into panic. Saudi Arabia and Egypt did not take part in the G-8 summit, to which they were invited. Libya stepped back in the face of besiegement and threats and started to develop diplomatic relations with EU countries. USA's petrodollar partner Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, Libya, Syria and Iran have increased their diplomatic relations, meetings and visits on different levels and positions have become more frequent in the region. New examples of alliances and collaborations in different combinations are being formed.

In fact, the Middle East has never come out of the world's agenda. Oil reserves, imperialist rivalry and aggression, the Palestine question, Islamic radicalism, the Kurdish question, etc. have become the main subjects on the agenda.

Israel, with the support of the USA, is applying every form of dirty and lawless methods, massacres the Palestinians and their leaders. Palestine is resisting against this.

The oppressed Kurdish people, who fight for their national and democratic rights, are raising their national and democratic demands under the developing balance of political powers. They are having difficulties in going towards a revolutionary solution because of being squeezed between the region's colonial states, imperialist policies and reformist Kurdish national leaderships.

The Kurds in Iraqi Kurdistan (Southern Kurdistan), under the leadership of the traditional collaborationists YNK (Union of Kurdistan Patriots) and KDP (Democratic Party of Kurdistan), have gone to certain institutionalisations in the shadow of the USA, gained some achievements and were able to take steps towards forming a state. Even if they were under guidance, their experiences in administration and diplomacy have increased. These developments in Iraqi Kurdistan have affected the other parts of Kurdistan. Two demonstrations were organised in Iran, participated by 50,000 and 10,000 people. There was an uprising in Syrian Kurdistan which entered the world's agenda.

The PKK's (The Workers' Party of Kursistan) 15 years of guerrilla activity; the 1st Gulf War and the achievements obtained during the beginning of the occupation of Iraq strengthened the internal link and dynamics between the four parts of Kurdistan. It developed the trend to establish a national state and the United Kurdistan.

THE UNITY, BROTHERHOOD AND FREEDOM OF PEOPLES IN THE MIDDLE EAST

Imperialist rivalry and intervention, colonialist administrations, Israeli Zionism and reactionary Arabic regimes are the roots and causes of reactionary internal and external fights, national and religious strangles and slavery in the Middle East. The bourgeoisie of Imperialist and regional states has always incited national hatred. The enmity between Israelis and Arabs is the foremost of these. National hatred and distrust between Turks and Arabs, Turks and Kurds, Arabs and Kurds, Arabs and Persians, Persians and Azerbaijanis etc. continue.

Imperialist Capitalists incite and reinforce national enmity and distrust in the Middle East as they did in the Caucasus, the Balkans and in Central Asia. They sometimes become part of these conflicts and sometimes played the role of a referee. But each time they exploited existing conflicts and distrusts for the interests and needs of imperialism.

In the beginning of 20th Century, British and French imperialists prevented the formation of one Arabic nation and the establishment of a united Arabic nation state. They brought about many big and little Arabic states with artificial borders. In this way the Arabs were divided being governed by sheikhs in puppet kingdoms and emirates.

Imperialist forces have brought trouble to the peoples of the Middle East by creating the Zionist Israeli state. The occupation of Palestine by Israel and following massacres and wars caused a bloody distrust between the Israeli and Arabic peoples.

Arabic peoples live in another dimension of distrust caused by Sunni-Shiite separation.

Kurdish nation was di-vided into four parts with the Lausanne treaty. Kurdish nation's right of self-determination was prevented. The grounds for an enmity between Kurdish nation and colonialist nations of Turk, Persian and Arab were created.

Imperialist forces incited the war between Iraq and Iran which lasted for eight years. By providing reactionary Saddam regime chemical weapons, the imperialists had accomplice the killing of five thousand Kurds in Halabja.

The US imperialism, by getting support from the Kurdish organisations KDP and YNK during the beginning of the occupation of Iraq, brought deepening of enmity and distrust between the Arabic people and the Kurdish people.

Historical and current incidents indicate that the enmity and distrust between the peoples of the Middle East is in its apex and this enmity could continue for years in the form of blood feud in Iraq and the Middle East.

As can be seen, in this political environment, the brotherhood and unity of peoples in the Middle East can only be realized on the base of revolution and labour patriotism.

MLCP defends that this only will be possible by the Democratic and Socialist Federation of the Peoples in the Middle East, and struggles for this.

DEMOCRATIC AND SOCIALIST FEDERATION OF THE MIDDLE EAST

Related to that, the Marxists Leninists Communists point out an objective reality as follows: "Today's internationalisation level of monopolist capitalism has further developed the material ground of peoples' unity which occurred in the era of imperialism. Today's level of the socialisation and internationalisation of labour extremely presents the proletariat of different nations the possibility to establish socialism together on the ground of national freedom and volunteer unity." 1. Then they express their determination on the revolutionary solution to the question as follows:

"The development of trust and unity of labourer peoples of our region, as well as the role of divided and colony Kurdistan's war of independence in reinforcing the unity between proletariat and labourers' revolutions in many countries of the region, furthermore, the material ground created by the capitalist imperialist system's economic integration make urgently necessary the programmatic solution of the question of revolutions and international unity of labourer peoples and proletariat of our region. Demonstrating the proletarian internationalist responsibility, the Marxists Leninists Communists, developing the tradition of Comintern in actuality, take as a programmatic task the democratic federation of peoples of the Middle-East based on the working class and labourer peoples' governance giving preference to the success of the revolution. In this direction, they are currently trying to build up and develop the unity of struggle of the region's revolutionary and communist movements. They are determined to go forward in this proletarian internationalist path. They will raise the revolutionary path of the region's working class, labourers and oppressed people as an alternative to the USA bandits' imperialist world order and occupation of the region. From radical Muslims to Arab national movements, up to Kurdish reformist nationalists in the region, bourgeois and petty-bourgeois currents of different nations cannot develop any solution and struggle building the unity of peoples and self-confidence, and they will not..." 2

Communists fulfil their historical and political duties in this concept. And they formulize the understanding of federation as follows:

"Democratic Federative Unity of the Peoples of the Middle East, which was approved in .the Congress decisions of the Marxists Leninists Communists and agitated in daily struggle, is based on decisive victory of peoples' revolution in the region, and free and voluntary unity of power of proletariat and labourers. Moreover, it is based on the theoretical basis that peoples' international unification cannot be formed before smashing the power of bourgeoisie and realisation of definite victory of proletariat and labourers' power." 3

Just as, during imperialist attacks, war and occupation, the thought and call on progressive, revolutionary and communist parties, organisations and groups of the Middle East geography to organise a "Middle East Conference" is an actual reflection of this understanding.

MLCP, in the call on "Middle East Conference", which was seen as a stepping stone for a united anti-imperialist struggle in the Middle East, but has not been realized yet for outer reasons, were stating as follows:

"In order to developing further the anti-imperialist and anti-colonial struggle and to organize and prepare the united revolutionary struggle against imperialist occupation and aggression in the Middle East, as a first step, this conference has to be realized." 4

"The resistance against the US imperialism and the imperialist war in the Middle East is growing daily. This period bears great resistance and struggle opportunities and dynamics. The neoliberal attacks of the imperialism, the consequences of imperialist war and occupation and the anti-imperialist traditions of struggle of the peoples of the Middle East led to the situation where a great anger accumulated within the peoples of the Middle East.

Under this objective and political circumstances on the Middle East, it is not surprising that radical Islamic trends and organizations are getting new possibilities and are popular. The progressive, revolutionary and communist parties and forces of the region surely have a historical and political responsibility in this situation. Although there is no serious development of international organization and actions of the revolutionary parties and forces from the region, the Islamic internationalism is developing a serious solidarity and a common struggle." 5

The USA, which has stuck in uncertainty and inability to solve the problem, will not easily accept the defeat. Because this will not mean a defeat only in Iraq and the Middle East, but it will also mean a step back in its hegemony of the world. Therefore, they will continue to stay in the region with their Greater Middle Eastern Initiative, military forces and different alliances, aggressions and threats. And this points to the duty for an anti-imperialist and anti-colonialist struggle in the region. MLCP is aware of this historical and political duty. It fulfils this duty decisively with calls and acts in the homeland, the region and throughout the world.

A STATELESS PEOPLE IN THE MIDDLE EAST: THE KURDS

The Kurds are a nation in the Middle East, whose country is under occupation and divided into four parts. It has come to a state that during local wars and conflicts they are treated as "refugees" in their own country. Historically, they have been kept under oppression by the colonialist and imperialist collaborator Turkish, Iraqi, Iranian and Syrian states. Kurds have been the victims of those states' denial and annihilation policies.

Kurds with a population of over 30 million have experienced examples of great struggles, rebellions, and national movements in the history, as well as betrayals, being the followers of colonialist states' policies and the failures of primitive nationalist leaders.

The Kurdish question is a principal factor to the relations and balance of power in the region, as well as to the alliances and co-operations. The Kurdish card has always been played by the imperialist forces and regional colonial states in their policies.

The main thing which feeds the reactionary, fascist and colonial regimes in the Middle East has been the existence of Kurdish problem. The Kurdish question brings together Turkey, Iran and Syria who have enmities against each other. It encourages them to meet in common attacks and military operations towards the Kurds. It brought the handover of Abdullah Ocalan, the Kurdish national leader, to the colonialist Turkish bourgeoisie as a result of common conspiracy of imperialist countries.

The annihilation of the PKK guerrillas could always be the basis of debates on sending Turkish troops to Iraq or on the negotiations to let American troops to use Turkish basis, and the first condition of developing deep and comprehensive collaboration with the USA.

The Kurdish question is pushing CIA, MOSSAD, and MIT (National Intelligence Organisation) to work together and makes them "strategic partners" despite their problematic relations.

It makes the Turkish state to step back from the Cyprus question and lets her to make meetings with the Kurdish politician's Talabani, the leader of YNK, and Barzani, the leader of KDP.

So there is not only the question of occupation of Iraq and Palestine in the Middle East. There is also a Kurdish question and it is a principle question in the Middle East.

Near past has witnessed many national awakenings and uprisings in the whole of Kurdistan. The handover of PKK's leader Abdullah Ocalan to Turkey by an imperialist conspiracy, the national festival of Kurds, the Newroz and lastly some achievements in Southern Kurdistan that reflected to the draft of new constitution have brought protests or celebrations all over Kurdistan. These national awakenings and movements have driven the colonialist states to a great fear and tensions. It is obvious that there are two important dynamics in the basis of these developments. One of them is the awakening and freeing impact of the guerrilla fight that lasted 15 years in Northern Kurdistan and second one is the achievements in Southern Kurdistan.

The guerrilla war started under the leadership of PKK in August 1984 in Turkish- Kurdistan (Northern Kurdistan) caused a national awakening, mobilisation and freedom in the biggest part of Kurdistan with about 20 millions of population. Kurdish people have politicized and freed themselves until they fight, and they fought more until they freed themselves and broke with the colonialist regime.

The colonialist Turkish State has been left insoluble, irremediable and unhopeful in the face of the guerrilla war that conducted both politically and militarily. It continued with its denial and annihilation politics. In 1992 the guerrilla struggle joined with revolutionary mass movement, and the national uprising came to its highest level ever.

Turkey and US imperialism has defined this process as a "low-density war". There was the situation of "strategic balance" for many years. Under these political conditions, the Turkish State has given heavy concessions to its imperialist masters in order to repress the Kurdish national liberation struggle, and bowed her head on strategic interests and needs that imposed by them. The fascist regime has gone into collaboration with CIA and MOSSAD. It put its methods and experiences of unlawful, dirty and secret war against the Kurdish people into the service of them. And they are today implementing this savageness in Palestine, Afghanistan and Iraq.

During the process of the concept of "low-density war", also supported by the USA, North Kurdistan was forced to be left without people. Thousands of villages were evacuated and burned down. Millions of Kurds were forced into migration; hundred thousands of them were taken to detention and thousands of them were massacred. Kurdish intellectuals, journalists and businessmen were killed in 1000 operations of "unknown perpetrators". Along with 1 million armed troops and police, they have also established a system of "paramilitary" that numbered with 60 thousand through gathering from collaborator Kurdish families. It formed the organisation of Turkish Hezbollah, which later troubled them, and tried to influence the Kemalist Kurdish Alevis.

The revolution started in Kurdistan was not being spread to Turkey. MLCP's idea and practice of forming a revolutionary front in the west was not able to change the situation. The support of external dynamics was not enough. The limits, national narrow-minded situation and etc. of the PKK have accelerated the defeat of the Kurdish national movement and its transition to reformism.

In the region, the defeat and destruction of the colonial Turkish regime in the face of the Kurdish national movement was not only going to mean the end of the rule of the ruling classes, but at the same time, it was going to mean the defeat of the USA's "strategic partner". The EU imperialists were also annoyed with the PKK's revolutionary line against the New World Order. And they also became the partner of the conspiracy and supported the process. Under this surrounding and squeezing, the reformist transition of the Kurdish national liberation movement was accelerated.

The Kurdish national movement has experienced a defeat over Abdullah Ocalan's "Imrali line" and PKK became a national reformist party. The new strategy of PKK is characterised with ideological surrender, break of political will and liquidation.

Following the call of Abdullah Ocalan, the armed guerrilla forces were left with no movement, in accordance with the process of cease-fire, for five years in Southern Kurdistan (Iraqi Kurdistan). This did not direct Turkish State to make new openings but caused internal contradictions and unhappiness within the PKK. Osman Ocalan and some of his friends have split from the PKK by the support of the USA and went into a process with unclear-ending.

KONGRA-GEL (PKK) and HSG (Armed Forces of the Peoples) have removed their decision of one-sided cease-fire with the reasons of ongoing operations of the Turkish bourgeois State, not changing their minds on annihilation of guerrilla forces and not making serious openings, and have declared that they will defend themselves.

Turkish bourgeois government has freed Leyla Zana and her 3 friends, former MPs of the legal Kurdish party, DEP (Party of Democracy), from prison after 10 years because of the pressure of the Kurdish national liberation fight and the insistence of the European Union. It has started a 30-minute of broadcasting in Kurdish language on an official TV channel. The Kurdish national forces consider this as a positive development but find as not enough. They also demand their own national identities, a general amnesty and stoppage of the operations.

The administration of the USA has announced that they will "work" together with the Turkish State against the guerrilla forces of PKK in Iraqi Kurdistan. In the future, this "work" may also include the idea of physical annihilation, but today they are searching for the ways of dividing PKK and making it ineffective by Osman Ocalan or - if they can - by influence on the former DEP MPs those being freed. We could say that the policies of the carrot and the stick against the Kurdish national movement are being carried out together. Because, the Kurds are also being wanted to be made a base in the Greater Middle East Initiative

In connection with the developments within the Middle East and Iraq, the process is also open to new developments for the destiny and future of the Kurds. o

1 - Teoride Dogrultu -Direction in Theory- theoretical journal of the Marxists Leninists Communists, published bimonthly in Turkish language, April/May 2004, vol. 16, p. 47

2 - ibid, p. 51

3 - ibid, p 50

4 - Call of MLCP, Dated 15 July 2003

5 - ibid