[van-announce] MAWO Statement on the Capture of Saddam Hussein

[aliy]

BlankMobilization Against War and Occupation  -MAWO 

Statement on the Capture of Saddam Hussein 

December 16, 2003

Despite the Dec 13th/2003 capture of Saddam Hussein
the most significant question in Iraq still remains
the same. This question, for over a year, has been one
of imperialist war and occupation through which they
have been exercising brutality, humiliation and
repression against the Iraqi people. Now, after the
capture of Saddam the question is if this development
changes the relationship between the US-occupier and
the occupied people of Iraq, and, more importantly,
does this change anything at all in Iraq? 

What has become most clear, after the capture, is that
for the past months Saddam has been in no position to
be leading the Iraqi resistance. The resistance will
not stop or slow down as a result of the capture of
Saddam Hussein. The course of the events in the last
few days is proof of this with the result of three US
soldiers seriously injured and one soldier killed. 

As the resistance by Iraqi people escalated in the
last couple of months it has been always a
characterized by imperialists occupation forces as
pro-Saddam, when in fact the resistance movement had
clear demands: No to Occupation! US-UK Out! The
capture of Saddam Hussein by the US forces and the
propaganda war around this issue - that is claiming
this is a big victory for US government and a victory
for Iraqi people - is nothing but a hoax for
distracting people around the world from the quagmire
the US and all imperialist forces have sunk into. This
is a desperate move that serves only to provide a
short-term cover for their total failure. 

Sustained unemployment, continued killing of Iraqis, a
destitute infastructure and the desperate situation
that Iraqi women and children are in, all in all are
proof of the unstable and shaky position of the US and
UK forces in Iraq. As resistance continues and surges
daily, it has become more apparent to people across
the globe that this will, in fact, be a long, drawn
out war and occupation. 

The question of who will put Saddam on trial exposes
the United States government and its hypocrisy. The
United States has no moral authority to lead and
facilitate any legal process against Saddam Hussein.
The people of Iraq are the only body with the
authority to run this trial and they cannot be denied
that right. To achieve this end the first step is
US–UK and all occupying forces out of Iraq. As well,
as a result of over a decade of war, sanctions and
occupation, the poor and working people of Iraq also
have the authority demand the right to charge and try
the presidents of the United States from George Bush
Sr., to Bill Clinton, to George W. Bush, for their
mass killing of more than 1.5 million Iraqis,
devastation, illegal sanctions, illegal war and
illegal occupation of Iraq. 

The role of the global antiwar movement, regardless of
the capture of Saddam, must be to mount pressure on
the US-led forces to leave Iraq to the Iraqis.
Consequently, Vancouver’s antiwar coalition,
Mobilization Against War and Occupation (MAWO), is
obligated to continue to organize and build momentum
against war and occupation. As a result, MAWO will be
building actions and events through the next 3 months
and beyond. This includes a free day-long Antiwar Film
Festival on Dec 20th 2003 at Britannia Auditorium; a
major mobilization on January 24th 2004 at the
Vancouver Art Gallery at 12noon to demand: Occupation
IS Occupation! Hands off Iraq! No to US Occupation, No
to UK Occupation, No to UN Occupation!
Self-Determination for Iraqis, Palestinians, Afghans
and Indigenous People in Canada! As well, MAWO is
planning a major conference for Feb. 21st 2004 and
finally, we will be joining in the global day of
action on March 20, 2004 with a Rally and March at 1PM
at the Vancouver Art Gallery to demand: The War is Not
Over! Bring All Troops Home Now! End The Occupation!
Canada Out of Afghanistan! US-UK Out of Iraq! 

Kira Koshelanyk 
Shannon Bundock 

MAWO Co-Chairs
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