LAST FRIDAY Panamanian-registered oil tanker heading for the Iranian port of Bandar Khomeini was sunk by Iraqi jets the first ship to be sunk in the Gulf war. Dozens of ships have now been attacked by the Iraqi air force, although this is the first to be actually sunk. The Iranian oil terminal Kharg island has been repeatedly attacked by the Iraqis, utilising the French-supplied SuperEtendarde aircraft and Exocet missiles.
But now the picture ha: changed, with Saudi Luwaiti planes headed for Iraq being attacked by Iranian fighters. There likelihood that the retaliation will lead to a further internabonalisation of the con. ilict.
The choice of Saudi and Kuwaiti planes for the Iranian attacks was not accidental. Iraq has been Financed and armed by the Lacionary promperialist regimes to its south in particular Saudi-Arabia. Indeed most of the Arab regimes have backed Iraq, not necessarily because of sympathy with Saddam Hussein and his regime, but because they fear Iranian Shi'ite expansionism.
Saddam Hussein's decision attack Iranbound shipping in the Gulf was designed to internationalise the conflict and thus more rapidly end it. This move successtul. Last week there Were urgent discussions between the United States and Iran about providing an aerial shield for Iraqbound ships in the Gulf.
The most likely force to carry out this task in the first instance is the Saudi air force, which has aerial reconnaisance provided by USAF AWACS planes. The Saudis are with the world's most modern jet fighter, F-15 but are thought to be caulous aboul laking on the combat-hardened Iranian air force.
If the Iranians attempted to close the Straits of Hormuz through which a quarter of the West's oil is transported, then the United States is likely to intervene directiv in the Last week, formally Saudi's perquested the mission for the US to use their air bases along the Gulf.
Even was the announcement last week ine had taken a policy decision to intervene in the Gulf war against Iran. if there wa any possibility of the Iraqi regime Taling.
Department official commented: 'We do not want see be governmen Baghdad destabilised. We want to see a stable and internally Irao. We see it as the first line of neTence against Iranian expansionism...
Like the Arab states, the US has no great love of the Saddam lussein regime, but fears the of an Islamic fundamentalisi surge in the region.
form of Us in. tervention currently being discussed is the use of US Iraqi gunners attack Iranian troops aircraft to attack Iranian tanks and troop formations, and the staffing of Iraq by US personnel.
Among the Arab states only Syria has maintained relations with Iran and backed Khomeini in the war. Reports suggest that Syria is intensely worried by the prospect of a military confrontation between the Arab states and the United States and Iran and is urging an ending of air attacks on shipping. Saddam Hussein, however, has indicated that there will be no let up in Iraqi attacks to try to cripple Iran's oil industry.
Khomeini's regime in Iran is undoubtedly one of anti-working governments in the world, guilty of untold atrocities Chic. But the working class and the poor can exSpeakers explained how the affiliation of the British should he capitalist party fought in the labour movement. By raising the issue nature of Poale Zion the whole question of Labour Zionism could be raised in the Lahour Par ty.
To carry forward the work supporting the pect nothing from an American intervention.
Opposition to Us intervention is a question of the defence of Iranian self-determination. The work. ing people and oppressed of Iran will have to deal with Khomeini selves.
Palestinian cause the conference decided move. ment delegation Pal1985 to report back on the situation the Palestinian general and the Palestinian lahour activists In parlicular. It was also decided to organise a speaking tour Palestinian unionists in Britain.