Stop the War News Letter

[Annie]

STOP THE WAR COALITION NEWSLETTER
No 2006/6: March 27
Email office@stopwar.org.uk
Telephone 020 7278 6694

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IN THIS NEWSLETTER:
1) WAR CRIMINALS NOT WELCOME HERE
2) THE VOICE OF HUMANITY
3) BBC SAYS "WHAT MARCH?"
4) UK COST OF THE WAR: £6 BILLION
5) EIGHT REASONS TO LEAVE IRAQ IMMEDIATELY
6) NORMAN KEMBER: IRRESPONSIBLE? UNGRATEFUL?
7) NAMING THE DEAD: MASS CIVIL-DISBEDIENCE
8) BOOK COMPETITION WINNERS

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1) WAR CRIMINALS NOT WELCOME HERE
"The most unwelcome visit to Liverpool since Oswald Mosley came here in the
1930s", is how the mass circulation Liverpool Echo newspaper describes
Condoleezza Rice's visit to the city on Friday 31 March, organised for her
by UK Foreign Secretary Jack Straw. Oswald Mosley was the leader of the
British fascist party, the BUF. Condeleezza Rice, George Bush's Secretary of
State, is one of the architects of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and
directly implicated in the horrific levels of death and destruction
inflicted on those countries.

Anti-war activists in Liverpool and in Blackburn are outraged by her visit
and have organised demonstrations on 31 March and 1 April. Support for these
demonstrations is being called from across the country and already transport
has been organised to bring protestors from London, Manchester, Bradford,
Leeds and Sheffield.

Mark Holt, chairman of Merseyside Stop the War Coalition, which is
organising the Liverpool demonstration on 31 March, says, "They want to make
this some wonderful cultural events to show off the City of Culture.
But we say it would be a better way to show off the City of Culture by
saying no to this visit in remembrance of the Iraqi culture, which lies in
rubble or in the fires still burning in the Middle East. Condoleezza Rice
and Jack Straw must not be allowed to parade as connoisseurs of culture when
they have destroyed so many lives and so much culture. They are not welcome
here."

The campaign against Rice's visit to Liverpool is already having an impact.
She is due to be entertained on Friday by the Liverpool Philharmonic
Orchestra. Following protests by the local anti-war movement, the well-known
Liverpool poet Roger McGough, who was due to compere the performance, has
now withdrawn. Members of the orchestra are being asked to boycott the event
in protest at US policies in Iraq and Guantanamo Bay. Alec McFadden,
president of Merseyside TUC, said: "The orchestra are all members of the
Musicians Union and we have asked them not to perform."

The utterly shameless Jack Straw plans to take Condeleezza Rice to visit a
mosque in Blackburn, no doubt for a nauseating photo opportunity aimed at
countering the widespread revulsion and outrage expressed throughout the
Islamic world over the war crimes in Iraq and Afghanistan, which Rice has
been so instrumental in perpetrating.

Rice and Straw must be left in no doubt that this cynical media stunt is an
affront to the vast majority of British people who have consistently opposed
the war in Iraq. And it is a particular affront to the Muslim community,
following Tony Blair's latest speech on foreign policy, in which he sought
to justify the "war on terror" by claiming that the enemies of
"civilisation" were to be found in Islam.

Blackburn Stop the War Coalition has called a demonstration for 12 noon on
Saturday 1 April. Stop the War's organiser in Blackburn, Alex Martindale,
says, "We are determined she will see the protests and she will know she is
not welcome."

KEEP UP TO DATE WITH THE PROTEST PLANS
The location of the Blackburn demonstration will be announced soon. A
special website called CondiWatch has been set up for the Liverpool and
Blackburn protests. TO KEEP UP TO DATE GO TO:
http://www.condiwatch.co.uk/
Information also available at:
http://www.stopwar.org.uk

BOOK YOUR SEAT ON THE COACHES FROM OUTSIDE LIVERPOOL:
The organisers of the Liverpool demonstration are calling for support from
across the country. Coaches have already been booked to take protesters from
LONDON, MANCHESTER, BRADFORD, LEEDS and SHEFFIELD. For details of coaches
and how to book your ticket, go to:
http://www.stopwar.org.uk/new/Ricevisit2.htm

TO READ THE GUARDIAN REPORT ON THE WAR CRIMINALS NOT WELCOME HERE PROTESTS,
GO TO:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/antiwar/story/0,,1740367,00.html

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2) THE VOICE OF HUMANITY
On Saturday 18 March, tens of thousands gathered outside Parliament on the
third anniversary of the invasion of Iraq and marched to Trafalgar Square to
give the clearest indication to Tony Blair and his fellow war criminals that
the British anti-war movement is as united and determined as ever to make
its voice heard, and to show that we will demonstrate for as long as they
are inflicting mass slaughter and destruction in other people's countries.

THE MOOD OF THE LONDON DEMONSTRATION was summed up by Sheik Zagani, foreign
affairs spokesperson for Moqtada al-Sadr, the radical Iraqi political leader
and Shia cleric. Speaking at the rally in Trafalgar Square Sheik Zagani
said, "Do not get tired of demonstrating and protesting. We are the voice of
humanity, and we have to continue fighting."

WORLDWIDE PROTESTS were held in over 250 cities and towns. For an up to date
list, go to:
http://www.stopwar.org.uk/march20/events.asp

FOR REPORTS AND PICTURES of the London demonstration and of the protests
around the world, go to the following web pages:
http://www.stopwar.org.uk/new/March18-reports.htm
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2006/03/336290.html
http://www.flickr.com/photos/autobiographical/sets/72057594085124947/

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FOOTNOTE: When asked on the third anniversary of the Iraq invasion what he
would have done in 2003, knowing everything he knows today, who replied,
"I'd do it all again"?
Was it:
a. Tony Blair?
b. George Bush
c. Both of them.

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3) BBC SAYS "WHAT MARCH?"
Dozens of people complained to the BBC that it had no coverage of the 18
March demonstration on its evening news bulletins. If you can stomach a BBC
TV news editor justifying this non-coverage, you can see his explanation
here:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/newswatch/ukfs/hi/default.stm

The Stop the War office has received many calls and emails expressing
outrage at the BBC's decision, particularly since on the morning of 18 March
Defence Secretary John Reid was given no end of air time to rubbish the
demonstration, claiming the marchers were only helping the "terrorists",
without any opportunity allowed to the anti-war movement to respond to his
comments.

We're not prepared to accept the BBC's excuses for the non-coverage of a
demonstration which, on the third anniversary of the Iraq invasion, showed
that many tens of thousands refuse to be silent when crimes are being
committed in their name.

PROTEST AGAINST BBC NON-COVERAGE
There will be a lunchtime protest at BBC Broadcasting House, Portland Place,
London W1A 1AA, from 1-2pm on Tuesday 4 April. We are also encouraging
local Stop the War groups to hold lunchtime protests outside regional BBC
offices. If there is a BBC office in your area, contact your local Stop the
War group for details of their protest.

PROTEST AT THE BBC
TUESDAY 4 APRIL 1-2PM
BBC BROADCASTING HOUSE,
PORTLAND PLACE, LONDON W1A 1AA
Supported by Media Workers Agains the War

THE PRINT MEDIA GUILTY TOO
Some national newspapers have also been prompted by readers' complaints to
explain their reluctance to cover the 18 March demonstration appropriately.
Here is The Observer's mealy mouthed justification for its conclusion that
Iraq news is no longer "fresh"!
http://politics.guardian.co.uk/foreignaffairs/comment/0,,1739987,00.ht ml

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4) UK COST OF THE WAR: £6 BILLION
We are frequently asked how much Britain has spent on the wars in Iraq and
Afghanistan. In announcing another £800 million next financial year, Gordon
Brown's budget statement brought the total to £5.6 billion, which is
expected to top £6 billion at the end of the year due to additional demands
from the Ministry of Defence. This is approaching £3 million every day.

It's worth noting that £800 million is almost exactly the "shortfall" in the
funding of London's hospitals, which is now leading to thousands of job
cuts. In short, £800 million is available to destroy lives in Iraq but not
available to save lives in London.

Just a fraction of the £33 billion Britain spends annually on its military
budget would solve all of the funding issues currently suffered by the
national health service.

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5) EIGHT REASONS TO LEAVE IRAQ IMMEDIATELY
Every activist in the anti-war movement recognises the dilemma described by
writer Anthony Arnove in his forthcoming book Iraq: The Logic of Withdrawal:
"We confront the strange situation of many people mobilizing against an
unjust war but then reluctantly supporting the military occupation that
flows directly from it. We need to be able to answer the objections and
concerns of thoughtful, well-meaning people who have been persuaded by one
or more of the arguments for why U.S. troops should remain in Iraq, at least
until "stability" is restored."

We have all met these arguments, whether on our street stalls, at our public
meetings, in discussions at our workplaces and colleges or with our friends.
In an extract from his book, Arnove provides an invaluable resource for all
of us who are confronted repeatedly by these arguments, giving eight reasons
why the Iraq occupation must end immediately.
TO READ ARNOVE'S EIGHT REASONS, GO TO:
http://www.zmag.org/content/showarticle.cfm?SectionID=15&ItemID=9945

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6) NORMAN KEMBER: IRRESPONSIBLE? UNGRATEFUL?
Lindsey German, National Convenor of Stop the War Coalition, writes:
Could you make it up? Norman Kember, released after four months in captivity
after being kidnapped in Iraq, is now facing a barrage of attacks from the
military and the press. His crime? Having been in Iraq in the first place
and showing insufficient gratitude for his rescue.

The phrase pots and kettles comes to mind. The troops are the people who
shouldn't be there, and while there is no sign that Iraqis have done
anything but welcome Norman and his fellow campaigners that can't be said of
the troops. Demonstrations regularly call for them to go and the highest
votes in last year's election went to anti occupation candidates.

As for the claim that costs of Norman's rescue ran into millions and that
soldiers risked their lives rescuing him, the facts seem rather different.
There appears to have been an uncontested handover of the hostages, the
kidnappers having fled. It seems hard to understand how this could have cost
millions, unless he was flown back in a private jet. But no, he was on a BA
scheduled flight from Kuwait.

This claim about costs looks a little thin in the light of the billions
already spent and the fact that we the British taxpayers pay for mercenaries
to run private security in Iraq.

Norman and Christian Peacemakers surely have a right to be in Iraq, since
they see this as the way to bring peace to the Middle East. Even if you
disagree with that way of campaigning (and personally I think our most
effective campaigns are those carried out in solidarity with Iraqis here)you
should accept that they have gone there to try to help. If only all of the
westerners who had gone there in recent years had the same aim.
Meanwhile I'm waiting for government calls for Halliburton, the oil
companies and the 'private security' firms to quit.

LINDSEY GERMAN'S REGULAR ANTI-WAR BLOG CAN BE READ ON THE STOP THE WAR
WEBSITE:
http://www.stopwar.org.uk/

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7) NAMING THE DEAD: MASS CIVIL-DISBEDIENCE
A mass act of civil disobedience in Parliament Square has been called for
SUNDAY 2 APRIL 2006,12 NOON, PARLIAMENT SQUARE, when the names will be read
of 1,000 Iraqis who have died as a result of the invasion and occupation.
The protest will be demanding:
• an immediate end to the US/UK military occupation of Iraq
• massive reparations and debt cancellation so that Iraqis can rebuild their
country free from foreign interference
• prosecution of those responsible for war crimes

Protestors are asked to wear black if possible and come prepared for a long
ceremony and possible arrest, as this is an "unauthorised" demonstration
within 1km of Parliament. Under the new restrictions on protest contained in
the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act (April 2005) participation in
such an event is a criminal offence punishable by a fine of up to £1000.
There will be post action support from the organisers for anyone arrested.
FOR FURTHER DETAILS, GO TO:
http://www.voices.netuxo.co.uk/namingthedead.htm

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8) BOOK COMPETITION WINNERS
In Newsletter 2006/4 we run a competition offering five free copies of the
recently published book "Not One More Death". The question was, who said
this, when and about where?

"We have no interest in oppressing other people. We are not moved by hatred
against any other nation. We bear no grudge. I know how grave a thing war
is. I wanted to spare our people such an evil. It is not so much the
country; it is rather its leader. He has led a reign of terror. He has
hurled countless people into the profoundest misery. Through his continuous
terrorism, he has succeeded in reducing millions of his people to silence.
The maintenance of a tremendous military arsenal can only be regarded as a
focus of danger. We have displayed a truly unexampled patience, but I am no
longer willing to remain inactive while this madman ill-treats millions of
human beings."

Many thanks to the dozens who entered and commiserations to those who said
it was George Bush, Tony Blair, Saddam Hussein or Osama bin Laden. Many of
the entrants got the correct answer, which was Adolf Hitler on 14 April
1939, justifying the German invasion of Czechoslovakia.

The five lucky winners of a free copy of "Not One More Death", randomly
selected from all those who answered correctly, are Lu Mason, Charli, Seif,
George Arthur and Christina Parpoula.

For everyone else, "Not One More Death", which includes articles by John le
Carré, Harold Pinter, Richard Dawkins, Haaifa Zangana and Brian Eno, can be
ordered online for £5 at:
http://www.stopwar.org.uk/new/NotOneMoreDeath.htm

[andrewwatson]

I seem to be on their mailing list following an email I wrote which has never been replied to. I wrote again today:

I find it impossible to believe you are genuinely interested i n stopping the war or you would have joined the massive worldwide 911 truth movement. To expose the whole basis behind the War as false and Islamic terrorism as a US sponsored front, which is what we believe, would stop the War dead in its tracks. Your shouting and marching will do nothing. You know this and therefore I consider you to be warmongers and not pacificist in any sense.

Sorry to be truthful.