The Threat of War With Iran Hasn't Gone Anywhere
Yesterday, a member of the Royal Army Medical Corps was killed along with two US soldiers at Camp Taji, north of Baghdad. The last time an incident like this occurred it led to the assassination of General Soleimani and brought the world to the brink of a major conflict.
Although no one has yet claimed responsibility for the incident it is likely that Donald Trump will seek to blame it on Iran and its proxy forces, which could lead to a similar crisis to the one we saw at the start of this year. Once again, we need to make clear that the British public has no desire to be dragged into a war of Donald Trump's creation.
The incident also raises the issue of British troops in Iraq. 17 years on from Bush and Blair's disastrous invasion we must continue to demand that all British troops leave the country immediately. At the height of the crisis in January, following Soleimani’s assassination which also took place in Baghdad, the Iraqi parliament voted overwhelmingly to expel all foreign troops from the country. Huge street demonstrations backed up these demands.
Since that vote, Iraqi sovereignty has been continually undermined and both Boris Johnson and Donald Trump have patronised and threatened the country in equal measure. Johnson called for "the Iraqi authorities to continue providing the Coalition all the necessary support" just after the vote while his sponsor in the White House was typically gung-ho: "We will charge them sanctions like they’ve never seen before ever. It’ll make Iranian sanctions look somewhat tame.”
This latest incident is proof that the presence of Western troops in Iraq is detrimental to all sides and raises the threat of war in the region substantially.
As for Trump's comments on sanctions, they demonstrate a President completely out of touch with reality. US sanctions are currently preventing the import of disinfectant and basic medical supplies to Iran, a country currently being hit hardest by a global pandemic. Sanctions can be a tool of war, they just kill more slowly and silently than the drama of military shock and awe. Sanctions on Iran must be lifted immediately.
Postponed: Don't Attack Iran Day of Action - Saturday 14 March
This Saturday some local groups were going to be out petitioning against sanctions and the risk of war on Iran. Due to the current outbreak of Coronavirus and the risk it presents we are postponing this Saturday's activities. We will be monitoring the situation as it develops.
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