Join Sept. 24-25 International Actions for Support of Iraq Freedom Congress and Immediate Withdrawal of Occupation Troops

Draft "constitution" alien to the people

On August 29, the "constitution drafting committee" under the "National Assembly" "finalized" the draft, pushing away "an opposition from the Sunni." On August 30, Zalmay Khalilzad, the US ambassador to Iraq, representing the occupier nation, requested the puppet politicians to revise the draft through negotiations, saying, "I believe that a final, final draft has not yet been, or the edits have not been, presented yet." However, the reported "conflicts between the Shiite-Kurdish camp and the Sunni force" are simply ugly disputes over vested interests and power in disguise of some ethnic or religious/sectarian platforms.

From the very beginning, the draft constitution was drawn up in an effort totally alien to the will or wishes of the Iraqi people. The Iraq Freedom Congress (IFC) has released a statement as follows. "The process of drafting constitution is ... a manoeuvre to legitimize its (US) crimes in Iraq. The draft constitution ... is the declaration of ... separating the Iraqi society from all progressive values and principles. We in the Iraq Freedom Congress reject the draft constitution and all of US political scenarios." The Worker-Communist Party of Iraq is calling for unity with the Iraq Freedom Congress, appealing to the public, "Such constitution should not be put for deceptive referendum. ... No to occupation, no to the puppet government, and their constitution and laws."

The alternative is the IFC - advocators of civil freedoms and rights.

Surging demand in the US for troops withdrawal

Like in other countries, the majority of the US public has expressed their desire for the withdrawal of US troops.

According to the June 27 USA Today/Gallup polls, disapproval of the Bush administration has reached record high in both handling of the Iraq War and handling of the president's job, with the former at 58% and the latter at 53%. At its 25th Convention, the AFL-CIO (American Federation of Labor - Congress of Industrial Organizations) adopted a resolution demanding a rapid US troop withdrawal from Iraq by an overwhelming majority. Supported by the public opinion, 64 congresspersons including ruling Republicans, submitted a resolution calling for a troop withdrawal. Also a senator is quoted by The Nikkei Shimbun September 2 issue as saying, "I can't take no more news of victims."

The "most catastrophic natural disaster in the US history" brought by Hurricane Katrina was aggravated due to reduction of levee improvement budgets and dispatch of the state's National Guard troops to Iraq. Mayor C. Ray Nagin of New Orleans blasted his outrage, saying, "You know, did the Iraqi people request that we go in there? Did they ask us to go in there? What is more important?" Oppositions against Bush's war in Iraq and calls for a troop withdrawal are mounting around the country.

Stage worldwide actions on September 24

In the US, UFPJ (United For Peace and Justice) and ANSWER (Act Now to Stop War and End Racism) are calling for actions on September 24 through 26 to end the Iraq War. On September 24, there will be a Mass March in Washington DC and demonstrations in 400 cities across the US. On September 25, participants will stage a mass civil disobedience action, and on September 26, people participating in lobbying will surround US congresspersons.

"Listen to Cindy (the mother of a fallen soldier)" is the call to Bush, a phrase uniting people for the withdrawal of US troops. Cindy Sheehan has been presenting essential queries that expose the true meaning of the Iraq War. She says, "I want to ask the president, why did he kill my son?" "He said my son died in a noble cause, and I want to ask him what that noble cause is."

The September 24 anti-war mobilization is an international joint action that the Stop the War Coalition, UK, and the Iraq Freedom Congress also join in calling for. Join the September 24-25 anti-war actions all over Japan. Stand up to say "No to the Iraqi draft 'constitution,'" to activate solidarity with the Iraq Freedom Congress and to demand the immediate withdrawals of Japan Self-Defense Forces troops and all other occupation troops from Iraq. Confront war policies of global capitalism by spreading the Non-Defended Localities movement and activate local communities in dismantling military capacity. (September 3)