Cass Ilia
ALP leader Mark Latham’s promise to bring the troops home has been welcomed by many anti-war organisations and parties, including the Socialist Alliance.
Lisa Macdonald, who is the alliance’s candidate for Reid in the federal election, described the promise as “very good news”.
“It is a recognition that the majority in this country now know that the Howard government’s support for the US-led invasion of Iraq was based on lies”, she said.
“There were no weapons of mass destruction. There was no threat of terrorism from Iraq. In fact, the invasion of Iraq 12 months ago made the world a less safe and less free place.”
The alliance’s Blaxland candidate, Raul Bassi, pointed out the impact of the Spanish election results, which he argued “show that governments ignore public opinion at their peril”.
“The ALP would be wise to now make a clear and unqualified statement that the Australian troops will be withdrawn regardless of United States pressure”, he added.
“An ongoing occupation will not bring more security to Iraq, the Middle East or the rest of the world”, said SA candidate for Wills, David Glanz. “Iraq must be allowed real independence, the first step being to pull out all foreign troops and allow democratic elections to be held.”
Macdonald also pointed out that withdrawing the troops would not be “washing our hands of the Iraqis' problems”. She argued for war reparations, instead of an occupation.
From Green Left Weekly, March 31, 2004.
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