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Resist the Occupation! Resist the war!

category north america / mexico | imperialism / war | policy statement author Tuesday July 26, 2005 11:19author by Kdog - NorthStar Anarchist Collective Report this post to the editors
Over the last few months the people of Iraq have stepped up the resistance to the U.S. occupation of their land. Is this a surprise? What would you do if a foreign army rolled tanks down your streets, imposed curfews, raped and tortured prisoners, shot missiles into neighborhoods, turned the resources and infrastructure of the country over to multinational corporations?

Resist the Occupation!
RESIST THE WAR!


We have to become the global resistance to the occupation.
-Arundhati Roy, Indian novelist and activist


Over the last few months the people of Iraq have stepped up the resistance to the U.S. occupation of their land. Is this a surprise? What would you do if a foreign army rolled tanks down your streets, imposed curfews, raped and tortured prisoners, shot missiles into neighborhoods, turned the resources and infrastructure of the country over to multinational corporations?

The Iraqi people have suffered a great deal under the Baathist dictatorship, through a war with Iran and two wars with the United States, and now this brutal military occupation. It is a sign of hope and determination that our brothers and sisters in Iraq can effectively resist such a powerful enemy. We support their efforts.
Among the working-classes here in the United States, the occupation has started to take a toll as well. Hundreds of soldiers, all from working-class and poor families, have come home in coffins, thousands more with terrible injuries. Like with Vietnam, this generation of soldiers will pay an enormous physical and psychological price for the ambitions of our rulers. Paying for this “War Against Terror” has meant cuts for our schools, hospitals, and housing. Social Security is threatened as well.

We must build the resistance, here too, to this war of occupation and the racist, sexist, homophobic, capitalist system that produced it.

Against Empire and Fundamentalism

This does not mean we are unconcerned with who presently leads the resistance movement in Iraq and in some other countries as well. The same Islamic fundamentalists who fight the U.S. have also attacked secular and socialist Iraqi workers organizations and put death threats on prominent woman organizers. In areas where the fundamentalists have gained control there are reports of a twisted version of Sharia (Islamic Law) being imposed on the population. Women must cover themselves and are banned from public life like work and school. Strict rules against drinking, dancing, etc. are enforced. Non-muslims are intimidated. This is no more “Liberation” than Rumsfeld’s tanks.

As revolutionary anarchists we fight for a society free from all oppression and exploitation- including Patriarchy (the rule of men over women and children). We oppose any forced religion. We believe that all people must have an equal say in the economic, social, cultural, and security affairs of their community. In place of state, military, or religious authority, we propose popular councils (called shuras in Iraq)- directly democratic decentralized bodies that would federate with each other across neighborhoods, workplaces, schools, and among women, oppressed nationalities, queers, youth, etc. Community militias would coordinate defense of truly liberated territory. Inspiration for these forms of organization range from the anarchist collectives of the Spanish Revolution to the popular committees of the first Palestinian Intifada.

The only way for this vision to become reality is for antiauthoritarians in North America, the Middle East and the world to begin building models of autonomous resistance. We have to become the global resistance to the occupation.

Some immediate projects that NorthStar Anarchist Collective proposes:

  • Build up the newly formed antiauthoritarian Twin Cities Antiwar Spokescouncil: mnspokescouncil@yahoo.com
  • Direct Action anti-occupation demonstrations- not just the same marching in circles
  • Antiwar agitation in workplaces, the unions and workingclass & oppressed communities
  • Outreach to, and support for, U.S soldiers who are questioning, or resisting this war
  • Support Iraqi groups who are resisting both the U.S. empire and the fundamentalists
  • Defend Arab and Muslim activists and communities facing repression here


NorthStar Anarchist Collective

mnacollective@yahoo.com • www.arampls.com/northstar

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