6-10-09, 9:14 am

Iraqi Communist Party leader: 'Our peoples need deeds to be convinced of Obama’s credibility'

The Secretary of the Central Committee of the Iraqi Communist Party of Iraq, Hamid Majeed Mousa, has called upon Arab forces and governments to exert pressure in order to transform items mentioned in US President Barack Obama's speech in Cairo into concrete reality. He said that our peoples need deeds that would convince them of the credibility of Obama.

The speech delivered by the US President at Cairo University last Thursday was addressed to the Islamic world and ushered in a new and important phase of US relations with Arab and Islamic states. Obama said that “the cycle of suspicion and discord” between them must end. He admitted that there had been “years of mistrust,” and said that the two sides must exert “a sustained effort … to respect one another, and to seek common ground.”

Mousa said that Obama's speech was marked by a calming approach and a balanced language, attempting to get closer to the Muslim world and raising issues of concern to everyone. He added: 'The speech involves a lot that is new. It is different from the approach adopted by the previous administration that had represented the neo-conservatives and those obstinately pursuing policies of unilateralism and imposing unipolar domination.” He added that 'the new administration, represented by Obama, has come up with new 'tactics' and a different flexible spirit. It is an expression of American society’s resentment towards the policy of George Bush, Jr., and the rejection by broad sections of Americans of the policy of aggression, interference, diktats and imposition. This resentment has been further aggravated by the severe financial crisis and universal economic recession experienced by the US.”

Mousa pointed out that the reputation of the United States and its previous administration had come under criticism by even close friends of Washington. This forced Obama 'to adopt the slogan of Change and to undertake clear changes in approach and discourse, in order to give a feeling that America does not want to continue its old approach, but rather desires diplomatic solutions and keeping away from wars and direct intervention.'

Regarding the issue of Iraq, Mousa said that Obama has complied with the demands of the majority of Iraqis who are keen on their country’s sovereignty and independence by pledging to withdraw the American forces on specific dates. The US President had said in his speech that Washington was committed to the timetable of withdrawal from Iraq, and that the Americans will “leave Iraq to Iraqis.”

--“Tareeq Al-Shaab” (People’s Path), the central organ of the Iraqi Communist Party, 7th June, 2009.