-
Passed by the SPUSA National Action Committee- August 30, 2013
ITen years ago, the United States led a coalition of
forces into yet another war against Iraq, under the guise of stopping
weapons of mass destruction from being used by the Iraqi government, as
well as spreading their version of democracy and freedom.Two years ago, the United States again led a coalition forces into war, this time in an effort to destabilize Libya. This was carried out under the guise of protecting the Libyan people.
In both of these instances, and many prior, the publicly-stated rationales were completely false. No weapons of mass destruction were in Iraq, and no legitimate attempt to protect the Libyan people was made. In both cases, the United States government produced horrific images and ideas, and told us that if they went to war against a certain country, these horrific images and ideas could be prevented.
This is happening again with Syria.
The Syrian Civil War is a battle between the dictatorial government of Bashar al-Assad, backed primarily by Russia, and a Western-backed armed opposition, neither of which represent the interests of the Syrian people, specifically the working class. Despite the lack of clear and convincing evidence to determine who was responsible for the recent use of chemical weapons against Syrian civilians, the United States has chosen to blame the Syrian government, and is using said blame as a pretext for yet another act of U.S. military aggression against a Muslim country. In an repeat performance of its contact before the Iraq War, the U.S. corporate media has abandoned critical inquiry, and the lives of innocent women, men, and children hang in the balance as a result.
In the midst of this, we have President Barack Obama, who was elected in 2008 as the anti-war Democrat that would end the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Instead, he has proven to be as much of a warhawk as George W. Bush. Iraq and Afghanistan remain occupied, Libya is now occupied, and as far as President Obama is concerned, Syria is next on the list.
The Socialist Party USA, in keeping with the third force approach of democratic socialism, has been opposed to U.S. military intervention since our reconstitution in 1973. Our Statement of Principles states that, “People around the world have more in common with each other than with their rulers. We condemn war, preparation for war, and the militaristic culture because they play havoc with people's lives and divert resources from constructive social projects. Militarism also concentrates even greater power in the hands of the few, the powerful and the violent. We align with no nation, but only with working people throughout the world.”
We stand in solidarity with our sisters and brothers of Syria, and oppose both the Syrian government and the armed opposition groups for using the working class as pawns in their battle for power. We also express our solidarity with the refugees that have been seen their homes destroyed and lives forever changed by this conflict. The humanitarian crisis that now exists in refugee camps as a result of this civil war is further proof that no side in this conflict has the Syrian people at heart.
We strongly condemn all direct and indirect military intervention in Syria, including using humanitarian aid as a false banner for military aid. Freedom for any population cannot come from the missiles of imperialism or from war profits of corporations. Instead, it will come when the working class as a whole recognizes our various struggles as a single, common struggle for liberation.
Solidarity with our sisters and brothers of Syria!