Chicago SDS
Iraq Research Project

The anti-war movement remains at an impasse because of its inability to
define and support a clear plan for the withdrawal of troops from Iraq.
Even though a majority of Americans want the US presence in Iraq to
end, there is not a strong voice for an immediate pull out. We must
reorient our efforts away from premature “mass actions” and
individual actions that too often lead to martyrdom at the hands of the
police and focus towards building a broad base of support for a radical
campaign centered on the removal of US troops from Iraq.

MDS and SDS must articulate a plan for removal of troops from Iraq and
have ironclad arguments ready as to why the US must end its occupation.
We must then create a group of organizers able to confidently and
effectively communicate our arguments to the rest of the public.
Finally organizers must hold presentations and teach-ins to communicate
our defined position to the larger public.

Essentially the Iraq Research Project is an attempt to create a
comprehensive plan for the immediate withdrawal of US soldiers from
Iraq and an attempt to refute every justification for the continued
occupation. The project is open to anyone interested in achieving the
aforementioned goal.

Below is our proposal for the Iraq Research Project.

1. This winter Chicago SDS/MDS and any other interested individuals are
compiling information from as many sources as possible on Iraq and
creating various plans for removal of American forces from Iraq.
2. Chicago SDS/MDS and other interested individuals will then
synthesize a coherent plan for the withdrawal of American forces from
Iraq. In addition we will create a comprehensive guide to refuting
every justification provided to support the American presence in Iraq.
3. After the plan for American withdrawal from Iraq and the
comprehensive guide to refuting arguments for the occupation are
completed they will be subjected to open review and editing and both
will be posted on the Chicago SDS/MDS website and anyone will be able
to comment and improve upon the drafts.
4. Chicago SDS/MDS will have the ultimate editorial control over the
final drafts of both documents, but membership will continue to be open
for anyone interested in a society based on participatory democracy and
democratic alternatives to capitalism.
5. After both documents are completed Chicago SDS/MDS will hold an
organizer training where we will present our work. We will educate and
train interested individuals on how to present the plan for removal of
US troops to audiences through teach-in models. The training will be
focused on building the confidence and presentation skills to
participants along with imparting a vast working knowledge of the
situation in Iraq. Trained members will be critical in creating a
larger base of activists ready for more radical actions to end the
occupation.
6. Chicago SDS/MDS and organizers attending the training will then
begin to hold teach-ins and presentations to local audiences. We will
create a list of Chicagoland libraries, community centers, sympathetic
churches, high schools, colleges, sympathetic unions and other
potential venues to hold teach-ins and presentations.

We have learned the hard way that there is not a large enough base to
sustain radical direct action against the military industrial complex.
Too many premature actions have floundered due to the lack of support.
The goal of the teach-ins will be to nurture a larger group of radicals
to undertake direct action against the occupation.

The reality is that as organizers do not know enough about Iraq. Our
position of immediate withdrawal is convincing among those already sold
on the idea of radical change but we lack the ability to recruit others
not involved in activist circles. As organizers we currently do not
have the confidence and detailed understanding necessary to make
effective appeals to apolitical citizens. The Iraq Research Project
will attempt to create an impeccable case against the continued
occupation and its justifications, and impart the tools and confidence
necessary to organizers who can then effectively create a radical
anti-war movement.

Presentations and teach-ins are the most critical elements of the
anti-war movement. Holding these teach-ins and presentations will be a
crucial route towards building a sustainable community based opposition
to the Iraq war. Our person to person contacts through our
presentations will be our most valuable assets.

Media and institutional manufactured consent crumbles in the face of
effective personal contacts and understandings. We have to take full
advantage of our ability to present our case directly to the people. As
organizers we must be as educated as possible on Iraq to teach others.
The Iraq Research Project is necessary to help us coherently
communicate with the public our radical opposition to the occupation of
Iraq and create support large enough for direct actions.

If you are interested in participating in the Iraq Research Project please email
chicagosds@gmail.com or join our google group at http://groups-beta.google.com/group/chicagosds/