Bring them home by Christmas‏

STOP THE WAR COALITION 
NEWSLETTER  
No. 1126 17 November 2009  
Email office@stopwar.org.uk  
Tel: 020 7801 2768  
Web: http://.stopwar.org.uk  
Twitter: http://twitter.com/STWuk

IN THIS NEWSLETTER  
1) BRING THEM HOME BY CHRISTMAS  
2) PROTESTS, VIGILS WHEN 100th SOLDIER KILLED IN 2009 
3) BRING THE TROOPS HOME POSTCARD  
4) CALLING ALL STUDENTS IN LONDON  
5) MILITARY FAMILIES GO TO DOWNING STREET  
6) DEFEND L/CPL JOE GLENTON - LET SOLDIERS SPEAK  
7) STOP THE WAR AT CHRISTMAS

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1) BRING THEM HOME BY CHRISTMAS

It is a sign of the strength of anti war opinion in Britain  
that Gordon Brown has been forced to say that he is thinking  
about an 'exit strategy' from Afghanistan.

Unfortunately, instead of announcing a date for withdrawal of 
British troops -- in line with majority public opinion in this 
country - his vague remarks smack more of a pre election  
manoeuvre than of a serious change in policy.

Brown's speech at the Lord Mayor's banquet last night reflects 
the political divisions in the US and Britain over the war,  
and the realisation that the antiwar movement is growing as  
calls increase for the troops to come home. Brown's claim that 
the war is helping to defeat al Qaeda is also disingenuous.

The killings of al Qaeda leaders have been carried out by the 
CIA in Pakistan. They are not the result of the war in 
Afghanistan.

We are almost at the tragic figure of 100 British soldiers  
killed in Afghanistan in this year alone. Thousands of Afghans 
have died. The only commitment worth anything from Gordon  
Brown is to get the troops out by Christmas.

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2) PROTESTS, VIGILS WHEN 100th SOLDIER KILLED IN 2009

Local groups of the Stop the War Coalition are organising  
protests, vigils and namings of the dead on the day that the  
100th soldier this year dies. The figure currently stands at  
97. Check the website for your local contacts.

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3) BRING THE TROOPS HOME POSTCARD

Stop the War has produced Bring the Troops Home postcards for 
sending to your local MP. To order call 020 7801 2768.

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4) CALLING ALL STUDENTS IN LONDON

Students across London are organising a DIE-IN protest  
calling for the troops to be withdrawn from Afghanistan at  
Parliament  Square on Wednesday 25 November at 1.30pm. For  
more details contact Stewart: stewart@stopwar.org.uk or call  
020 7801 2768.

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5) MILITARY FAMILIES GO TO DOWNING STREET

Military families and veterans are going to Downing Street at 
5pm on Monday 21 December to demand to see Gordon Brown and  
hand in the Bring the Troops Home petition. They would like to 
see as many people as possible join them to show support.

Two family members who have lost loved ones in the war have  
asked us to send out this invitation to all Stop the War  
supporters.

MESSAGE FROM GRAEME KNIGHT AND JOAN HUMPHRIES 
Graeme Knight is the father of Sergeant Ben Knight who died in 
Afghanistan in 2004 Joan Humphries is the grandmother of  
Private Kevin Elliott who died on foot patrol in Afghanistan  
2009.

"We have suffered terrible personal loss in this war in  
Afghanistan and we don't want one more family to go through  
the same pain. Everyone knows now this is a pointless war,  
deeply unpopular in Britain and Afghanistan. Young lives are  
being sacrificed so that politicians can save face.

"Britain is slavishly supporting the US just to keep up the  
so-called special relationship. Meanwhile the death toll is  
mounting.  It is high time the troops came home.

"We are going to Downing Street with other Families who have  
loved ones or have lost loved ones in Afghanistan and ex  
soldiers on Monday 21 December. We will be demanding to see  
Gordon Brown and give him a petition signed by tens of 
thousands calling for the troops to be brought home . Candles 
will be lit for those who have died.

"Please join us at Downing Street if you can and publicise 21 
December as widely as possible."

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6) DEFEND L/CPL JOE GLENTON - LET SOLDIERS SPEAK

Lance Corporal Joe Glenton who is currently in prison for  
speaking out against the war in Afghanistan faces a hearing  
tomorrow morning at 10pm. Join the protest to support him 9.45 
am, The Official Solicitors' Office, 81 Chancery Lane WC2A 1DD

Messages of support for Joe are pouring in. You can see a  
selection here: http://bit.ly/7AhDN

Send your message to: defendjoeglenton@gmail.com

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7) STOP THE WAR AT CHRISTMAS

Stop the war is offering some  Christmas gift ideas to help  
fund the campaign to get the troops home. We have Afghan  
slipper socks for only £9 plus postage and packing. Plus a  
special offer of the illustrated history of the Stop the War  
Coalition for just £5 plus postage.

To order and see all Stop the War merchandise, go to: 
http://bit.ly/1u7UJF