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CounterPunch
December
27, 2002
Cairo Declaration
Against US Hegemony and War
on Iraq and in Solidarity with Palestine
The international meeting organized by the Egyptian
Popular Campaign to Confront U.S Aggression was convened in Cairo
on December 18 and 19 to launch the International Campaign.
We, the participants reaffirm our resolve
to stand in solidarity with the people of Iraq and Palestine,
recognizing that war and aggression against them is but part
of a U.S. project of global domination and subjugation. Solidarity
with Iraq and Palestine is integral to the internationalist struggle
against neo-liberal globalization. The Cairo meeting is not
an isolated event, but an extension of a protracted international
struggle against imperialism, from Seattle and Genoa to Lisbon
and Florence, to Cordoba and Cairo.
The U.S. provides unlimited support,
and even justification, to the Zionist perpetrators of genocidal
crimes against the Palestinian people. The suffering of the Iraqi
people under a regime of genocidal sanctions lasting over a decade,
and the aggressive militarism which they face today is but a
logical outcome of the structures of power asymmetry of the existing
world order:
- The U.S. monopolizes political, economic
and military power within the framework of capitalist globalization,
to the detriment of the lives of the majority of the world's
people;
- The U.S. imposes control through naked
aggression and militarized globalization in pursuit of its rulers'
interests, all while reinstating the characteristic direct occupation
of classical colonialism;
- The U.S. global strategy, which was
formulated prior to September 11 2001, aims to maintain the existing
uni-polar world order, and to prevent the emergence of forces
that would shift the balance of power towards multi-polarity.
The U.S. administration has exploited the tragic events of September
11, under the pretext of fighting terrorism, to implement the
pre-existing strategy.
Attention to this global context helps
explain current world developments:
First: Capitalist Globalization and U.S. Hegemony
- prioritize the interest of monopolistic
capitalist circles above those of the people, including Europeans
and U.S. citizens.
- integrate the economies of different
countries into a single global capitalist economic system under
conditions which undermine social development and adversely affect
the situation of women, child health, education, and social services
for the elderly. In addition, unemployment and poverty increase.
- generalize the culture of consumerism
and individualism, to the detriment of a sense of collective
responsibility, whether towards the thousands of infant and child
deaths in Iraq resulting from polluted water, malnutrition and
deficiencies in medical supplies, or towards the victims of AIDS,
malnutrition and famines around the world. Among millions of
people standards of living have deteriorated while unemployment
and poverty have become widespread. Globalization has resulted
in the marginalization of entire peoples who could no longer
acquire the basic necessities to sustain life.
Second: In the absence of democracy, and with widespread
corruption and oppression constituting significant obstacles
along the path of the Arab peoples' movement towards economic,
social, and intellectual progress, adverse consequences are further
aggravated within the framework of the existing world order of
neo-liberal globalization.
- Admission to restrictions on democratic
development in Iraq in no way constitutes acceptance of U.S.
justifications for continuation of sanctions, and now preparations
for war. Without disregarding long-standing restrictions on democratic
development in Iraqi society-, as is the case in all Arab societies-
it is evident that the U.S.-imposed sanctions have had a devastating
effect on Iraq's development. Whereas Iraq had once enjoyed a
relatively positive profile according to certain human development
indicators, its people now suffer severely as a result of the
sanctions regime. Iraq has witnessed a significant rise in child
mortality rates, the spread of several diseases, reduction of
opportunities in education, and a marked deterioration of the
standard of living. As human suffering increases it generates
a sense of defeatism.
- The Palestinian people are suffering
as a result of the loss of their land and continued Zionist aggression,
which the U.S. supports militarily, economically, and politically,
making its administration a de facto accomplice in the crimes
committed against the Palestinian people. The U.S. protects
Israel from condemnation in international forums under the pretext
of combating terrorism, and it asserts additional false claims,
such as when it equates the legitimate struggle of the Palestinian
people to resist occupation, liberate their land, and return
to their homes, on the one hand, with terrorism that we all abhor,
on the other.
- The policies of Structural Adjustment
associated with neo-liberal globalization have precipitated global
crises manifest in a widening wealth gap, increase in poverty
and unemployment, and general deterioration of standards of living.
- U.S. military presence in the Arab region,
and its dictates to governments of sovereign nations of the region
has compounded the suffering of the Arab people. Interference
in the internal affairs of these nations now extends to demands
of educational reform, and insistence on "democratization".
Ironically this is occurring at a time when civil liberties in
the U.S. are clearly under siege, especially with regard to Arab
and Muslim Americans, along with other minorities. The U.S. administration
also violates international law by its inhumane treatment of
the POWs in Guantanamo. Also evident is the wealth gap in the
U.S., which is the widest among the industrial nations of the
world.
- Far from secretly, the US intends to
partition Arab countries into smaller entities on ethnic or religious
basis. This would enable Israel to become the dominant regional
power within the framework of the Middle East Project,
to the peril of an Arab project of equitable development and
regional unity.
- The suffering of the Arab people and
U.S. unwavering support of the system of apartheid imposed on
the Palestinian people, will undoubtedly fuel conflict and lead
to the escalation of violence in one of the most sensitive areas
of the world. Such danger can easily extend to neighboring Europe,
Asia and Africa. Continued preparation for war on Iraq in spite
of its acceptance of a UN resolution of aggressive inspection
of its armament, as well as civilian industries, signals a predetermined
intent to control the Arab region, its oil and indeed the entire
world supply of oil.
Third: For all these reasons we declare our total opposition
to war on Iraq and our resolve to continue the struggle against
U.S. policies of global domination. We strongly believe in the
urgency of mobilizing against these policies. All democratic
forces in the world that are for genuine Peace and Justice must
join together within the framework of an international campaign
against neo-liberal, US-centric globalization and promote an
alternate globalism based on Equity and Justice. This would mean
better utilization of the world's resources and protection of
the environment. Together the people of the world are quite able
to combat aggression and all forms of injustice, prejudice and
racism, and make a better world possible.
The Cairo conference against war on Iraq
and in solidarity with Palestine represents the launching of
an international popular movement that creates effective mechanisms
for confronting policies of aggression. The participation of
international activists who are prominent for their struggles
for Human Dignity, Rights and Justice, as well as intellectuals,
authors, unionists, human rights workers, journalists and artists-
from Egypt and the rest of the Arab World, Africa, Asia, Latin
America, Europe, and the United States- will no doubt accelerate
this noble endeavor in spite of the numerous obstacles that we
have to confront.
Fourth: It is important that this international popular
initiative of solidarity with Iraq and Palestine proceed according
to an Action Plan which includes clearly defined priorities:
1.Condemnation of U.S. military presence
on Arab land along with pressuring the Arab governments that
allow U.S military bases on their territory to close them down,
and not to provide air, naval, or land facilities.
2. Develop cooperation among popular
organizations of the South to reinforce solidarity in confronting
the policies and practices of neo-liberal globalization and U.S.
hegemony.
3. Work towards cooperation with the
international anti-globalization movement of the North and South,
and participation in activities and meetings organized by this
movement
4. Promote the unity of democratic forces
and popular organizations in different parts of the world, and
form solidarity committees which oppose war on Iraq, and the
genocidal crimes faced by Palestinians, supporting their right
to resistance and struggle for liberation.
5. Under the banner Together against
globalization and U.S Hegemony add Iraq and Palestine to
the agendas of international progressive meetings, particularly
the next Social Forum at Porte Allegre.
6.Invite Arab and international human
rights organizations to evaluate humanitarian conditions in Iraq
and disseminate their findings worldwide.
7. Prepare to send human shields to Iraq
8. Introduce the boycott of U.S. and
Israeli commodities in solidarity campaigns in support of Iraq
and Palestine, with emphasis on the right of return for Palestinians.
9. Elect a Steering Committee to follow
up on the implementation of the Cairo Declaration, and coordination
among organizations which commit to its principles, and enhance
awareness through appropriate actions ranging from the preparation
of posters to organizing marches and demonstrations in solidarity
with Iraq and Palestine.
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