EDITORIAL

Mobilise To Stop The War

AS we go to press, the crucial meeting of the United Nations Security Council is taking place. US imperialism is seeking to earn the legitimacy of the United Nations to proceed with its predetermined plans  to militarily attack Iraq.  The USA had declared that even if the United Nations does not sanction its war of aggression against Iraq, it will nevertheless  go ahead unilaterally. Of the permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, it is only Britain, whose Prime Minister Tony Blair is behaving "more loyal than the king", which is unabashedly supporting the US. Tony Blair’s brazen subservience to US imperialist designs come in the face of a massive popular disapproval that Britain has ever faced in the post-second world war history. 

In the meanwhile, Israel and the United States, confirming their decision to go ahead with their aggressive designs, have embarked on the final phase of preparations for the war.  Simulated missile exercises are being held. Israel's active involvement in this war is, thus, confirmed.

As the possibilities of war become imminent, many Arab countries apprehending the entrenchment of  Pax-Americana in the  region are taking measures to strengthen Arab-European Union axis.  Given the fact that the leading members of the European Union like Germany and France are opposed to the war, such an alliance may well emerge stronger. The six Persian Gulf states body, the Gulf Cooperation Council, is having a dialogue with the EU on March 3.  The Arab League has preponed its annual summit to early March to explore further possibilities for preventing the war.

US imperialism's intransigence, however, remains unaltered. Despite the complete cooperation given by Iraq to the UN weapons inspection team and despite the International Atomic Energy Agency chief certifying that Iraq has not re-started its nuclear programme, the USA is going ahead with its war preparations.  Clearly, the economic interests of  control of the oil resources  and the future permanent presence of US troops  in the region as a part of its strategic designs for  hegemony are dictating the USA's agenda.

Massive popular protests across the globe notwithstanding, US imperialism is bent upon exercising its hegemonic designs.  Such State-sponsored terrorism cannot be tolerated. The Indian people will have to actively mobilise all that is there at their command to join the world wide people's upsurge against this war.