Fly, Sail, or Swim to London on October 8th

http://www.stopwar.org.uk

1)STOP THE WAR NATIONAL STEERING COMMITTEE
Report by: Andrew Murray, National Chair, Stop the War Coalition
Lindsey German, National Convenor, Stop the War Coalition

The Steering Committee of the Coalition held a highly successful and well-attended meeting at the weekend, at which we discussed the full rage [sic] of issues pressing on us in our campaign to end British involvement in George Bush’s wars.

Our immediate priority, the committee agreed, remains the demand to get the British troops out of Iraq. Indeed, this issue has acquired a new urgency with the redeployment of some British troops to the border with Iran. This makes clear the connection between the occupation of Iraq and the stepped-up preparations for extending the conflict to Iran.

That is why the BRING ALL THE TROOPS HOME demonstration on October 8, the
day MPs return to the Commons, is so important. It is not only about
ending the disastrous and unwanted occupation of Iraq, but about
preventing Britain getting sucked into a further war. Many local Stop the
War groups have already booked coaches for this demonstration, which will
take our message right to the doors of Parliament, and they are making
plans to lobby their local MP. Every group should now try to do so, so the
government can really get the message. And there is still time to get your
name on the TROOPS OUT ADVERT which will be appearing in The Guardian
newspaper in advance of the demonstration. For details – and material
promoting the protest – contact the office or visit our website:
http://www.stopwar.org.uk

The Steering Committee debated the situation around Iran at some length.
While we are far from fatalistic, and recognise that any attack would
cause the US great problems, we have to take seriously the stated intent
of Dick Cheney and others not to leave office with the Iran “problem”
unsolved. Among other initiatives, we are developing plans to meet the
imminence of any further aggression with direct and workplace action on a
broad scale. The Committee agreed to make opposing any attack on Iran the
central theme of the STOP THE WAR ANNUAL CONFERENCE, to be held on 27
October. The conference will be an opportunity to deepen and extend our
discussions on building the movement at this critical moment. It is open
to delegates from organisations affiliated to Stop the War, local STW
groups and individual members of the Coalition. Contact the Stop the War
office for further details and delegate application forms: Tel 020 7278
6694.

These issues highlight the demand of the Coalition – shared by millions of
British people – for a break with US foreign policy. We are now part of a
huge worldwide movement challenging Bush and the US drive for world
domination. Our WORLD AGAINST WAR CONFERENCE in London on 1 December will
bring that movement together. We are expecting speakers and delegates
from all continents and a multitude of struggles including, of course,
those in the Middle East. Please plan now to ensure that your community
is represented there.

DEMONSTRATE: PARLIAMENT MONDAY 8 OCTOBER
NOT ONE MORE DEATH – BRING ALL THE TROOPS HOME NOW
ASSEMBLE FOR RALLY 1.0 PM TRAFALGAR SQUARE
Speakers include:
TONY BENN
MARK STEEL, comedian and writer
BEN GRIFFIN, ex-soldier who served in Iraq
JEMMA TUMELTY, president, National Union of Students
LINDSEY GERMAN, national convenor, Stop the War
BILLY HAYES general secretary, Communication Workers Union
For more details, see:
http://www.stopwar.org.uk/

STOP THE WAR COALITION ANNUAL NATIONAL CONFERENCE
The StWC National Conference will be held on Saturday 27 October at
Friends Meeting House, 173 Euston Road, London NW1 2BJ.

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2) REPORT ON AFGHANISTAN DAY SCHOOL
by Jane Shallice, national officer of Stop the War Coalition

On 15 September Stop the War held a well attended and highly successful
day school on the war in Afghanistan. While the mainstream media has its
focus on Iraq and the increasing noise about Iran, the importance of the
Afghan adventure for the British must not be overlooked. British generals
think is a “good and winnable war” and Afghanistan is the place that the
new Foreign Secretary chose to visit as his first overseas engagement.

The day school, a recording which will be available shortly on the Stop
the War website, began with the history of western intervention in
Afghanistan, with specific reference to how the USA engaged in training of
Mujaheddin fighters in the 1980s, funded by Saudi money and trained by
Pakistan security forces. These fighters became the backbone of the
Taliban, Al Qaeda and the jihaddis.

The next session on women in Afghanistan examined the way “feminist”
arguments have been used to justify an invasion that has been a disaster
for Afghan women.

The final session looked at recent developments; the “victory” over the
Taliban and the gradual increase in opposition to NATO forces. The period
has been marked by a massive increase in opium production, huge but
unrecorded numbers of civilian casualties, a rising death rate amongst the
coalition troops, no reconstruction and growing chaos in Pakistan.

The central message coming from the discussions was that, as Gordon Brown
switches troops from Iraq to Afghanistan, the anti war movement must
spotlight this so called good war, point out that British troops have no
more business in Afghanistan than they do in Iraq and re-energise the
national campaign to get the troops out.

As a first step Stop the War is asking its local groups to organise public
meetings on the subject and circulate the fact sheet, available from the
Stop the War office, as widely as possible.

RECORDING OF STOP THE WAR DAY SCHOOL ON AFGHANISTAN AVAILABLE SOON:
http://www.stopwar.org.uk

STOP THE WAR AFGHANISTAN FACT SHEET: Tel 020 7278 6694--