Iraqi Communist Parties

[il Commie]

Which communist party in Iraq do you think is right - the Communist Party who participates the temporary council the US organized or the Worker-Communist Party who don't participate it?

Do you think participating this council is just another way of fighting imperialism or do you think it means saying "yes" to imperialism?



I want to hear arguments for both sides before I'll decide what I think is right.

[Kez]

To not work within the structure for the sake of not working with the bourgeoise structure is an ultra left thing to do.

However, if the CP is co-operating with the council and not using it as a platform for propaganda for the masses to rebel, then the CP is doing the wrong thing.

I think we should also look at their theoretical stances, not just organisational...

[il Commie]

Aren't you from the CMI? I thought you guys had an official statement against the participation in the "national council". It was actually a member of your israeli sect who brought this question to my attention, calling the council "puppets' councils" (I hope that's the correct translation of the term) and saying that by participating it the CP gives away the mass struggle to the muslims.

[redstar2000]

Collaboration is collaboration...with only one exception.

I saw a report earlier today that suggested some of the new "Iraqi" police are secretly furnishing intelligence to the resistance. That is an unconfirmed report.

Participating in the the quisling regime is, of course, completely indefensible. All it does is discredit "communism" in the minds of ordinary Iraqis and strengthen the appeal of Islamic fundamentalists.

I would suspect that the Iraqi "communist" party is probably not a political party at all in the western sense of the word...it's probably a group of closely-related families. That's what political groups usually are in the Arab world...the fate of family/clan is really what politics are about in a pre-capitalist region.


To not work within the structure for the sake of not working with the bourgeois structure is an ultra left thing to do.

And, as is very often the case, it's also the best thing to do.

http://anarchist-action.org/forums/images/smiles/redstar.gif

The RedStar2000 Papers (http://www.anarchist-action.org/marxists/redstar2000/)
A site about communist ideas

[Kez]

il commie,
yes im from CMI, however i havent read the article, i will try and find it and see if i agree with it or not. I have not seen the reasons why not to participate in the council. Its clear its a puppet council tho, most of the are US educated!

Redstar i suggest you read about communist parties in the arab world before you make such slurs against them. Im genuinly surprised even you would make such a brash and crude comment

[Guest1]

communist parties in the middle east are not families... that's a strange thing to say.

politics in the north are actually much better developed in some cases than here. my dad was part of an underground Ba'ath support cell in Syria for years, and later lead one. these cells are what brought that party, which was at the time socialist, to power. I say support cell, because most of these cells did not affiliate themselves directly with the party, fearing they would not hold to their leftist ideology. oh, and Saddam is to Ba'athism as Stalin is to Communism.

to be a communist in the middle east requires balls, and conviction. no one calls themselves a communist for fun. that's like saying that gay people in the middle east are just looking for attention. you don't do that, you would risk your life for no reason.

[LuZhiming]

Originally posted by Che y [email protected] 1 2003, 05:02 AM
to be a communist in the middle east requires balls, and conviction. no one calls themselves a communist for fun. that's like saying that gay people in the middle east are just looking for attention. you don't do that, you would risk your life for no reason.
What? That certainly doesn't apply to the entire Middle East. In Oman you can pick up both Communist and Islamic fundamentalist papers.

[Guest1]

not in iraq. and even though the communist party forms a coalition government with the rulers in syria, real communists are persecuted quite a bit. the running joke there is that when they interrogate you, they slap you and call you an islamist, if you deny it, they slap you and call you a communist. if you still deny it, the ask "what the fuck are you?" and if you say, I'm just a guy like you, they slap you and tell you not to get them involved.

jordan has a pretty bad habit of persecuting communists too. as does saudi arabia. beyond that, those are really the only countries I can comment on, cause they're the only ones i have lived in/had family in.

[il Commie]

I would suspect that the Iraqi "communist" party is probably not a political party at all in the western sense of the word...it's probably a group of closely-related families. That's what political groups usually are in the Arab world...the fate of family/clan is really what politics are about in a pre-capitalist region.

This shows clear ignorance. Iraq, like most of the middle-east, is far from being "pre-capitalist". 78% precent of the iraqi people live in cities. Most of the economy is based on industry, especially oil industry (and in Saddam's times - also weapon industry). Both Iraqi CP's are workers' parties in the full sense - formed by organized workers and feminist organizations. The CP was founded after October revolution, and when Saddam came to power 5,000 party members were executed, some of the leaders fleed to exile and only secret cells remained in Iraq. The WCP was formed in 1993, under Saddam's regime, and was made of small workers' and women's organization which steadily grew. There's no connection with any tribals espects, that's just pre-judice.


What? That certainly doesn't apply to the entire Middle East. In Oman you can pick up both Communist and Islamic fundamentalist papers.

There are more and less free countries. In Oman or Israel we can work not under-cover, but in countries like Iran or Lebiya they must hide their organizations.

[LuZhiming]

Originally posted by il [email protected] 1 2003, 06:55 PM
like Iran or Lebiya they must hide their organizations.
Yes, that is unfortunate. Everytime I see corruption in Iran mentioned, I always think of the U.S.' overthrowing of Mossadeq. :(

[Maynard]

Which communist party in Iraq do you think is right - the Communist Party who participates the temporary council the US organized or the Worker-Communist Party who don't participate it?


Are the Communist Party part of the council ? I was unaware. I guess it's a concession from America to appear as if they are letting in a wide spectrum of views, when they will get who they want in the "real" places of power.
I don't know there positions on anything really, so it's hard for me to say who I think is better but I think both will be futile. America will not allow any of them to gain any sort of power, while they are in control of the country, which will be a long time now. America owns the system there now, so to use the system owned by the "enemy" seems like it will achieve very little if anything.

Here (http://www.alternatives.ca/article560.html) is the positions of the Iraqi Communist Party.

To be honest , I really don't think being part of the governing council will help the situation or improves the advancement of communism either but I don't think it'll necessarily discredit it either. I think they are more concerned about other matters at this present time, then whether any communists are involved perhaps it may be look back on one day but there contribution to the occupation is rather minimal.