The Militant(logo) 
    Vol.62/No.5           February 9, 1998 
 
 
Iceland YS: No To Iraq War, NATO  
 This column is written and edited by the Young Socialists (YS), an international organization of young workers, students, and other youth fighting for socialism. For more information about the YS write to: Young Socialists, 1573 N. Milwaukee, P.O. Box #478, Chicago, Ill. 60622. Tel: (773) 772-0551. Compuserve: 105162,605 BY KÁRI GYLFASON AND O'LOF ANDRA PROPPÉ

REYKJAVIK, Iceland - On January 17 a rally was held at city hall here titled "Stop killing our children." It demanded that the Icelandic government cease to cooperate in maintaining the United Nations embargo imposed on Iraq since the 1990 - 91 U.S.- led war against that country. The protest was called by a charity-oriented organization called Peace 2000. It was supported by the Women's Council of Culture and Peace; Dagsbrún, one of the main trade unions in Iceland; and the Iceland Federation of Handicapped People. Members of parliament from the Peoples Alliance and Independent slate spoke at the event, as did others.

The Young Socialists in Iceland did not attend the action. "One of the points of the action was to state that the UN embargo is only helping to keep Saddam Hussein in power," explained Sigurdur Haraldsson, a leader of the YS in Iceland. "The logic of it is that a different course is needed to get rid of him. But we are against any imperialist country dictating to a sovereign nation who should and should not be in power.

"We discussed it and decided that it would not attract any young fighters with whom we would want to work," Haraldsson said.

Instead of participating in this pro-imperialist action, the Young Socialists in Iceland have decided to organize a protest against Washington's war moves against Iraq, and the support given to this course by the Icelandic government. The protest will also demand that the Icelandic government end its membership in NATO and that it close down the U.S. military base here. Young Socialists are currently seeking to work with others to build this demonstration, which will be in front of the U.S. embassy some time in the next week. They will also carry out a special sales effort of the Militant newspaper and Pathfinder books, setting up tables at schools, outside factory plant gates, and in working-class neighborhoods. Last week Young Socialists participated in a sale outside of Myllan, a bread factory here.

The YS is also organizing a meeting at the Pathfinder bookstore January 31, titled "The U.S. War Drive Against Iraq." Young Socialists Ólof Andra Proppé and Kári Gylfason will be speaking at the event.  
 
 
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