13) ON THE GROWING WAR DANGER IN THE MIDDLE EAST

Central Executive Committee, Communist Party of Canada

     The Communist Party of Canada has denounced Israel's unprovoked and illegal attacks against Syria earlier this month which killed over 300 people - mostly civilians - and caused extensive damage. This blatant act of war was attended to further weaken the Syrian government and armed forces at a time when it is gaining the upper hand against the right‑wing and extremist armed insurgency, supported and funded by the imperialist powers, Turkey and the Gulf states.

     As evidence continues to mount about atrocities committed by the so‑called Free Syrian Army and other anti‑government groups - including mass executions of captured government soldiers, cannibalism, and the use of chemical weapons (to presumably blame on the Syrian government as a pretext for foreign intervention) - the Syrian people are increasingly rallying behind the Syrian government in defence of their national sovereignty and independence.

     The leading imperialist powers aim to impose "regime change" in Damascus and its replacement with a more pliant, pro‑imperialist regime which would compound this catastrophe for the Syrian people. It would also dramatically alter the regional balance of forces, providing a launch pad for NATO/Israeli aggression against neighbouring Iran.

     Our Party calls for full respect of Syrian national sovereignty and independence, the removal of sanctions, an immediate halt to all financial and military support to the armed groups inside Syria, an immediate ban on arms sales to states sending arms to Syrian terrorist groups, the recognition of the right to self‑defence of Syria, and a comprehensive national dialogue to restore peace in Syria.

(The above article is from the May 16-31, 2013, issue of People's Voice, Canada's leading communist newspaper. Articles can be reprinted free if the source is credited. Subscription rates in Canada: $30/year, or $15 low income rate; for U.S. readers - $45 US per year; other overseas readers - $45 US or $50 CDN per year. Send to People's Voice, c/o PV Business Manager, 706 Clark Drive, Vancouver, BC, V5L 3J1.)