Many role in the diplomatic manoeuverThe Soviet has siderably stepped up its shipments to Syria. Israel and the US have accused the Soviet Union of sending 5000 troops to Syria -- doubtless an exaccerated freure. • But it is pro. bable that the Soviet Union has shippea troops the long-range SAM 5 anti-aircraft missiles, capable of hitting Israeli planes deep inside Last week the Syrians blockaded the main highway out of Beirut in retaliation for the Israeli-LebaneseAmerican negotiations, aimed at expelling them from the country. In addition to its anti-aircraft missiles, the Syrians lost many aircraft in combat with the Israelis during last year's invasion. These have also been replaced by the Soviet Union. Syria remains he Soviet Union's sole ally in the Domination A continued Syrian presence in Lebanon is incompatible with Israeli domination. the Syrians, withdrawal without fight politically impossible. In that impasse drift towards doubtedly the Syrians would prefer to avoid an all-out conflict, but they may be left with no choice.
The United States is certainly not in any position to exert substantial pressure on Israel, with Reagan loath to take anti-Israeli action in a pre-election period, even if he were inclined to. On the other hand, the Peace Movement in Israel would not be capable of mobilising sufficient forces to hold back Israel in the event of war with Syria - which has much sympathy in Israel than the Palestinians.
For socialists there would be no question of who to support in the event of war. Syria is a capitalist state, ultimately allied with imperialism. But nonetheless it would, in a war, represent the forces _o Arab na tionalism, against an imperialistbacked aggressor. Socialists should stand without question for the defeat of Israel and a Syrian victory however unlikely such an outcome. THE BLOODY revolutionary repression in Iran, which in the past three years has claimed lives, continues to deepen.
The latest victim is the pro-Soviet Communist Party, known as the Tudeh Party. Its principal leader Nourredin been forced to appear on Iranian TV and 'confess' rest of the Tudeh leadership are 'Soviet spies'. has been made illegal.
The banning of the Tudeh party is is just the latest move in the consolidation of the Islamic Republican Part: Un- regime. Four years after the downfall of the Shah, porters in destroying the major gains of the 1979 In particular the workers committees (shoras) which grew up in the factories during and immediately after the anti-shah revolution have been incorporated into 'Islamic societies' tools of the regime. All democratic rights of the workers movement are under ferocious attack.
National minorities, especially the Kurds, have come under increasingly vicious military attack. •social code, destroying counterof thousands of Kianouri has Iranian that he and the The Tudeh party employed SECLUS regime.
Khomeini and his supthe Islamic clergy organisations defended The Islamic HUHIC OUN ACTioN social and democratic rights, has been vigorously imposed. This has been particularly detrimental to the rights of women. Last November all secular laws were declared invalid.
Without doubt support for the regime is rapidly decreasing among Iranian workers. Despite the relative buovancy of the economy due to ou revenues the living standard of the masses have not improver since 1979. Corruption and economic mismanagement are rife. There are still millions unemployed and underThe attack on the Tude Party i particularly significant since the pro Moscow party, together with other of the Iranian 'left' had adopted a position of 'critical sup Khomeini, attempting to align themselves with a section of the The moves against the Tudeh Par. ty represent the growing strength of the extreme right wing Hojjatieh faction within the government determined to break all links with the Soviet Union and its allies.
Despite the fact that the Tudeh COOT by like the Mujahidin against the counterrevolutionary attacks of Khomeini.
• A full analysis of the developmen of the Iranian revolution since 1979 will appear in a forthcoming issue of Socialist Action.