Tom Hayden reports from London on Iraqi group who want to end US occupation

Interesting report from Tom Hayden about interviews with an Iraqi organization opposed to the occupation:

The National Foundation Congress (NFC), a coalition of 20 Iraqi political parties and organizations opposed to the occupation, was formed in April 2004. Since its second Congress in May 2005 the group has begun seeking contact with Western anti-war networks, including journalists and officials. I met in London Sept. 28 with two Iraqis who work closely with the international network, who explained the Congress' agenda and goals.

They are two years on the ground, I was told, and now seek a voice on the outside of Iraq. They are not a street-based organization but effective at peacemaking bridges within the country. To counter the divide-and-rule strategy of the occupiers, they attempt to cross ethnic and sectarian lines in order to rebuild a nationalist and united Iraqi state.

They see themselves as the political wing of the resistance, which they define on three levels: the armed resistance, the political resistance and the community resistance against sectarianism.

They include the Association of Muslim Scholars and have productive links with Moktada Al-Sadr's movement. They boycotted the January 2005 elections and have refused so far to meet with any American or British officials.

In general summary, these are their demands [see also Le Monde, Sept. 17, 2005].

First, there must be a schedule of US withdrawal from the occupation.

Second, the US must hand over the agenda to an international body including the United Nations, Islamic countries and the Arab League [no one from the occupation forces] that creates an interim or transitional security force. The same body or contact group should take over economic reconstruction.

Third, there should be internationally-supervised elections.

Fourth, the Iraqi state and army should be rebuilt with the aid of Arab and Islamic countries.

Any interim government would have to be rebranded as a caretaker and technical one. ["mettre les competences nationales sous la supervision de l'ONU au service du pays, et non plus des politicians"].

"The people who came with the tanks [the upper levels of the current regime] will have to leave with the tanks."

These Iraqis reviewed the American "people's petition for a peace process" and found it compatible with their efforts to end the conflict. They also indicated general support for proposals by Russia and France for an international conference which would include representatives of the resistance. Further, they volunteered interest in learning more about the South African transitional model.