U.S. intensifies Persian Gulf War

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On Oct. 23, 1987, the United States launched its third attack against Iran and destroyed two Iranian oil platforms in the Persian Gulf. According to the Pentagon, the attack was in response to a missile attack on a reflagged tanker in Kuwait.

The latest attack by U.S. forces occurred less than five weeks after the United States attacked an Iranian gunboat allegedly laying mines in the Persian Gulf. Three weeks later, U.S. helicopters attacked four Iranian gunboats which were protecting an offshore oil platform.

The rapid escalation of attacks in the Gulf shows that the U.S. military presence in the Gulf is not promoting peace as claimed by the Reagan administration. Rather, the U.S. presence is only destabilizing the entire region and threatening to intensify the Iran-Traq war.

By agreeing to protect the Kuwaiti oil shipments, the U.S. government is serving notice that it will not allow the war to threaten the oil supply for the "free" world.

A war of attrition Given the surplus of oil on the world market, the Iran-Iraq war does not pose a threat to the capitalist West as long as the war does not endanger other countries' oil exports.

Moreover, as long as the war continues, both Iran and Iraq grow increasingly dependent—both economically and militarily—on the advanced capitalist countries. Iran purchases most of its weapons from Israel (with the tacit approval of the United States), while Iraq purchases its weapons from France and the Soviet Union. Germany, Britain, and Italy sell weapons to both sides.

Because of the arms sales to both countries, the conflict has become a war of attrition. Neither side has the military strength or the international support needed to launch an all-out offensive which could win the war.

As a result, both sides have resorted to indiscrimate bombings of cities and other non-military targets. Estimates for the number of people killed during the six-year war range as high as 1 million!

The principal economic targets in the war are oil-production and export facilities. By attacking these targets, both Iran and Iraq have attempted to prevent the other side from using its oil income to purchase more weapons.

Since Iraq exports most of its oil through pipelines directly to Turkey and Saudi Arabia, Iran has not been able to reduce Iraq's oil production. Iran's oil production has been vulnerable to attack since it exports its oil through the Persian Gulf.

In fact, over two-thirds of the ships that had been attacked in the Persian Gulf were U.S. warmakers sailing either to or from Iran. As a result, Iran has retaliated by striking one of Iraq's most important allies-Kuwait.

Role of the Soviet Union Kuwait initially sought protection from the United States in late 1986. Reagan, however, was in the middle of the IranContragate scandal and could not get support for intervening in the Persian Gulf. As a result, Kuwait turned to the Soviet continuation of Gulf War through Union for help.

The Soviet Union took advantage of Reagan's crisis and offered to carry Kuwaiti oil through the straits of Hormuz in Soviet flagships. It even sent three Soviet tankers to Kuwait and offered to appease OPEC, the oil-producing nations' cartel, by cutting Soviet oil exports.

Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev has signaled the Soviet bureaucracy's willingness to promote "peaceful coexistence" Times (May 24, 1987) explained that "since coming to power, Gorbachev has courted moderate Arab states and restored diplomatic relations with Oman and the Arab Emirates."

The Times article continues: "The Russians say that what they seek is not a new sphere of influence, but a partnership with the United States in pursuing peace and stability in the region. The Middle East conflict is a threat to Moscow's southern flank and a drain on its arms export budget."

"The Soviets are suddenly becoming very aggressive in the Middle East," a U.S. State Department official told The New York Times. "They hope that their performance with the Iran-Iraq war will demonstrate they can play a role in the Middle East peace process."

Even Secretary of State George Shultz had to acknowledge that "the Soviet Union's presence [in the Persian Gulf] could be constructive" and "that there have been some interesting developments recently." (New York Times, May 24, 1987)

Nonetheless, because Reagan considered the Persian Gulf to be "Western" property, the Soviet tankers were considered as an unwelcome intervention. By July, Reagan had the support needed to reflag 11 Kuwaiti tankers and protect them with the U.S. Fleet.

Negotiations to end war?

At the same time, the United Nations began negotiations to end the war. During these negotiations, both countries temporarily refrained from attacks. This unofficial cease-fire allowed Iran to increase its oil revenue as its exports sailed through the Gulf unimpeded. This new revenue allowed Iran to begin to quickly purchase more miltary supplies. Moreover, this extra income emboldened the Iranian government, which refused to accept the cease-fire.

On Aug. 29, Iraq, realizing that Iran was gaining military strength, broke the informal cease-fire and launched an attack. Since then, Iraq has attacked several Iranian cities as well as ships carrying oil from Iran. Iran, in turn, has launched missle attacks against Basra, as well as attacking several tankers carrying oil from Kuwait.

The other countries in the region-such as Kuwait and Saudi Arabia-fearing that the war could spill over to their own borders, are also making more concessions to the United States and opening the countries to the U.S. military.

Not content with profits from arms sales, the United States is seeking to escalate the war. As long as the war continues, both countries will continue to weaken until such time as the United States is able to install more dependable governments.

By its presence in the Persian Gulf, the U.S. government has indicated its willingness to provoke crises to further destabilize the region and prolong the war. For this reason, we demand:

• The immediate withdrawal of the U.S.

Navy from the Persian Gulf!

U.S. Hands off Iran!

• An immediate and unconditional ceasefire!

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