I've posted this Declaration not to say that I necessary support
any claim
that is made here, but I think it is important that the American people begin to
get a sense of what the rest of the world feels about what our government is
doing in our name. CNN didn't cover it. Your government won't tell you about it.
Figure out for yourself why. :-)
--ericTHE CAIRO DECLARATION
Against U.S. 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:
- 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
- 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
- Work towards cooperation with the international anti-globalization
movement of the North and South, and participation in activities and meetings
organized by this movement
- 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
- 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
- Invite Arab and international human rights organizations to evaluate
humanitarian conditions in Iraq and disseminate their findings worldwide
- Prepare to send human shields to Iraq
- 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
- 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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