Kassim Abood speech to Sydney Walk Against the War

Some of the real objectives of US war in the region are:

• control over Central Asia, the oil resources and
• creating a new balance of forces favourable to US political and economic interests.

The Iraqi people once again have been caught between a dictatorial regime, which is gambling to remain in power at any cost, and a US administration determined to make Iraq the opening phase in its "pre-emptive strikes" doctrine.

The US is justifying its threats by making a connection between terrorism and weapons of mass destruction. Where was the US administration when Saddam Hussein terrorised, tortured and murdered thousands of Iraqi civilians?

This included the use of chemical weapons against Kurdish people in Halabgha, in the north of Iraq, and the Marshland people in the south.

All that happened when the regime was enjoying good relations with the US administration.

We reject the war option and foreign military intervention and its tragic consequences.

Previous experiences have proved that war leaves behind death, destruction and tragedies, and does not bring about democracy.

Our rejection of war as an option does not mean at all that there is any reluctance in the determination to continue the struggle to achieve our people's salvation from the Saddam dictatorship.

As Australian citizens and residents of Australia, we object to Australian participation in the American war against our people and our families.

The task of changing the regime in Iraq is a task for the Iraqi people.

This could be effectively achieved with legitimate and genuine regional and international support based on mutual respect and interest and authorised by the United Nations.

We urge you to distinguish between the dictatorial regime and the people of Iraq.

Oppose war and dictatorship, and support the struggle of the Iraqi patriotic and democratic opposition forces and the Iraqi people for a unified democratic and federal Iraq.

Kassim Abood is President of the Iraqi Migrant Council