Stop Stoking the Flames of War

Issued by the Central Executive Committee,

Communist Party of Canada

September 13, 2012

The September 6 decision of the Harper government to cut all diplomatic relations between Canada and Iran is a dangerous and irresponsible act. The reasons given by Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird for this brazen move do not stand up to scrutiny. There is no evidence that Iran’s nuclear program includes plans to produce nuclear weapons, nor is there any evidence that Canadian diplomatic personnel face any imminent danger. And while Tehran no doubt supports political movements and formations in other countries in the region, the same can be said of most other states, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Israel itself.

Mr. Baird’s accusations over Iran’s alleged nuclear weapons plans is especially hypocritical, given that the Canadian government has never uttered a single word of concern over, let alone condemnation of Israel’s nuclear weapons cache – something which has been an open secret for many years – in complete defiance of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).

Canada’s unilateral action is hardly an isolated or misconceived act. It is part of an orchestrated campaign, the real purpose of which is to increase tensions in this already enflamed region and provide the appearance of international justification for a military strike against Iran – most likely by Israel with tacit U.S. and NATO support, even without UN approval. The fact that this announcement came only days after the conclusion of the 16th Summit of the Non-Aligned Movement, hosted by Iran and attended by over 120 countries, shows that the Harper government has shifted Canada’s foreign policy into the camp of the most aggressive circles of imperialism.

This move should be a wake-up call for the peace movement across Canada and for all peace-loving Canadians to speak out and mobilize to oppose foreign aggression against both Syria and Iran, and the Harper government’s complicity in fomenting war. It is a call to action! In this context, the Communist Party of Canada welcomes the call for an International day of Action on October 6th to prevent foreign aggression on Iran, and urges anti-war activists to organize broad and united peace actions in cities and towns across Canada on that day.

The Communist Party of Canada unreservedly condemns the decision to sever diplomatic ties with Iran as a most irresponsible and reprehensible act. We join with many other voices in demanding that this move be immediately rescinded and that the respective embassies be re-opened, and in telling all the parties in Parliament that Canada should instead act to find peaceful political solutions to the problems in the region.

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Oct 6 Rallies:

Dear comrades and friends,

We are writing you with regard to the ever-growing danger of aggression and war in the Middle East – especially foreign aggression against Syria and Iran – and the need for all peace-loving individuals, groups and organizations across Canada to speak out against any such aggression, and to condemn the role of the Harper government in imposing crippling sanctions, breaking off diplomatic relations and helping to whip up an atmosphere of war hysteria with its bellicose and dangerously irresponsible statements.

The prevailing propaganda campaign in the mass media and from government circles would have Canadians believe that this drive to war is motivated by the most noble of considerations: the humanitarian “responsibility to protect” (R2P) innocent civilians from a bloodthirsty government (in the case of Syria), and the need to prevent a nuclear holocaust brought on by a fanatical regime (in the case of Iran).  Nothing could be further from the truth!

The real intent of this aggressive campaign is to further weaken and destabilize these governments and bring about ‘regime change’ to impose ‘US friendly’ client states in these countries; to completely isolate and crush the Palestinian movement once and for all; and to consolidate Western imperialist domination over the oil resources of  this entire region.

Whatever differences or criticisms one might have of the governments in either Syria or Iran, it is essential to see through this elaborate construction of demonization and lies, and to oppose imperialist designs on this region which, if unopposed, will invariably lead to another catastrophic war (or wars). Instead, we must reject foreign interference and aggression, uphold the national sovereignty of all states, and support peaceful resolutions to conflicts in the region.

The Canadian Peace Alliance has called for demonstrations and rallies across the country on October 6^th to denounce the recent decision by the Harper government to sever all diplomatic ties with Iran, to oppose any NATO military intervention in Syria and to call for an end to the ongoing war and occupation in Afghanistan (the 11^th anniversary of which will be on October 7).

The Call for an International Day of Anti-war Action on October 6^th is an important initiative, and we urge all members and friends of the Communist Party, and all progressive-minded people to mobilize the largest and widest mobilizations possible on October 6^th. If local peace and solidarity groups are organizing a local event, we urge you to support and help build for their success. If nothing is yet planned in your area, we encourage you to initiate an anti-war action.

The Communist Party of Canada has taken clear and principled positions on both Syria and Iran, which we reproduce below. As always, we welcome your consideration and feedback.

Central Executive Committee,

Communist Party of Canada

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CAMPBELL CLARK
NDP working toward balance as it crafts new foreign policy

Globe and Mail, Sept 20

 The NDP is quietly working on a foreign policy that won’t scare off Canadians ................

As they return to the House of Commons this week, the NDP has made that a key strategic goal ...........
More broadly, Tom Mulcair is pressing ahead with efforts to mainstream NDP international policies that Jack Layton began..........

When he became leader, Jack Layton had the party endorse Canada’s membership in NATO, with the aim of making his party mainstream. He appointed moderates as foreign-affairs critics. The NDP supported intervention in Libya, at least until the fall of Moammar Gadhafi.

Mr. Mulcair’s instinct is toward the centre, but his stamp is still unclear. He’s viscerally more pro-Israel, but NDP policy remains a middle-ground compromise. He seems to have conservative instincts, overriding party critics and offering lukewarm support for the Harper government’s decision to cut ties with Iran..........