Editor’s note: Joseph Farah’s G2 Bulletin is an online, subscription intelligence news service from the creator of WorldNetDaily.com – a journalist who has been developing sources around the world for the last 25 years.
U.S.-led coalition forces in Iraq have battled former members of Saddam Hussein’s military, guerrillas from Syria, Iran, the Palestinian Authority and other Arab nations, Sunni terrorists and local Shiites seeking power.
Now there’s a new threat on the horizon, says Joseph Farah’s G2 Bulletin. – Communists.
The online intelligence newsletter reports the Communist Party of Iraq, the oldest and most experienced political party in the country, holds a better position in Iraqi society today than does the U.S.-backed Iraqi National Congress headed by Ahmed Chalabi.
The Communist Party of Iraq, al-Hzib al-Shuyui al-Iraq, was formed in 1934. Over the years, the party has experienced a political roller-coaster ride, as an underground organization, a legitimate political force and, then again, in the underground, as members were being viciously hunted down by the Saddam Hussein regime.
Iraqi communists cooperated over the years with a number of Iraqi regimes, including, from time to time, even the Baath party. The last period of cooperation with Baath ended in 1979, with the party going again underground. By 1993 another communist party, The Workers Communist Party of Iraq, joined the scene and linked with the Iranian Communist Party. Another force has been the Kurdish Communist Party.
At times it is difficult to differentiate between the origins of statements and actions, and, in the eyes of their opponents, they are all labeled with one term “Iraqi Communists.” The Workers Communist Party of Iraq has stronger relations with the Kurds and with the Iranians.
Iraqi communists at times actually assisted hostile countries such as Iran, especially during the long Iraq-Iran war of 1980-1988, according to G2 Bulletin. The Workers Communist Party of Iraq cooperated with Kurdish rebels and communists in Kurdistan. All branches formed their own militias, some fighting alongside the Kurds and later on with the Iranians.
A former Iraqi communist now living in North America described the party’s activities during those years as: “The communists made an art of walking between raindrops and coming out dry.”
With the re-emergence of the party across the country one can understand the meaning of that description. Apparently this political survival ability is being demonstrated once again.
While the U.S.-led coalition is trying to adjust to the reality of growing urban and rural guerrilla campaigns, the communists were quick to utilize their experience in the diverse Iraqi society. In today’s situation, old contacts and underground experience are their main advantage over the numerous new parties trying to enter the political arena. The Iraqi communists have always been successful in concealing internal and ideological power struggles between their various factions. This fact leads to confusion around the question of who is who in the Iraqi communist camp.
Intelligence analysts say the communists were, in the eyes of the Baath regime, a major threat because of their success in building an underground network, which from time to time stung the Hussein regime. A common description of the communists in the streets of Iraq, especially within the large Shiite community is: “They know how to hide their hammer and sickle under the ayatollah’s headdress.” In other words, communist activists who for years were forced to work in the underground can if necessary act as pious Shiites.
The communist network includes ties to other Iraqi ethnic groups. They are known to have excellent connections with the Assyrian and Chaldean minority and with the Kurds. Their ties with Kurdish communists were boosted and became significant following the first Gulf War and the creation of the Kurdish enclave in the north.
One of the questions following the resurface of the communists is where the funding comes from. This question is of particular interest since the old Soviet Union is gone.
The answer is financial support comes from diverse sources, all of which are anti-West, particularly anti-American. Most are linked to global interests, which do not coincide with those of the U.S. Intelligence analysts say European communist parties are responsible for some of the funding, but countries such as North Korea and Iran are at the forefront of funneling funds to their preferred communist branches. Iran has a long-standing obligation to the Workers Communist Party of Iraq for its support, including providing vital intelligence during and after the Iran-Iraq war. The North Koreans are interested in pinning down in Iraq as many U.S. troops as possible to keep them away from the Pacific and the Far East. In addition, funds are being funneled by Syria as part of her anti-U.S. agenda. Other funds come from large communist parties in Asia, predominantly from India.
Some intelligence analysts familiar with Iraqi politics suggest that, at this point, Baath activists might even funnel funds to their communist rivals aiming at strengthening them – for the moment. They will use any and every avenue to pose more problems for the U.S. A review of the Iraq political scenario reveals growing discontent among former army and government officials, many of
whom are now unemployed due to the policies of the coalition administration. Many realizing the coalition has not prohibited communist activities are opting to start a new political affiliation.
The communists continue to conduct many of their clandestine organizational and planning activities outside of Iraq, as far as possible from the coalition’s grip. They have no problem of communication, organizing meetings and planning their strategy as they prepare for the possibility they may have to hit the streets to fight for their agenda. This moment will come if and when the coalition administration offers the Iraqis an American-tailored government, which will not include the communists. The Workers Communist Party of Iraq and the Communist Party of Iraq are
already describing such a possible government as a puppet regime.
The coalition should expect that, following the re-emergence of the red banner and the new face, the communist parties will in due course reveal their claws, demanding what they believe is their historic right and mission – to be at the helm.
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