Responding to the Afghan election farce‏

IN THIS NEWSLETTER: 
1) RESPONDING TO THE AFGHAN ELECTION FARCE 
2) LONDON STOP THE WAR ACTIVISTS' MEETING

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1) RESPONDING TO THE AFGHAN ELECTION FARCE

NATO's operation in Afghanistan has descended into farce. 
Gordon Brown and Barack Obama have both congratulated Hamid 
Karzai - a man they installed as Afghanistan's ruler in the 
first place - for winning an election they themselves have 
condemned as corrupt.

The result of this charade will be to further weaken support 
for the war here. The fact that there are now establishment 
voices arguing the war is pointless also strengthens the hand 
of those of us who want to bring the troops home altogether.

Following the excellent Bring The Troops Home demonstration 
ten days ago we need to use the weeks up to Christmas to put 
maximum pressure on the government.

We are asking all our supporters to do as many of the 
following as possible:

- PETITION: 
Get everyone you know to sign the Bring the Troops Home 
petition. We plan to hand it in very publicly to Gordon Brown 
in December,  so we need the maximum possible number of 
signatures by then. You can sign it online 
(http://bit.ly/ft6BP) or download a copy (http://bit.ly/rNaTZ) 
and take it round your workmates, neighbours,  friends etc.

- LOBBY YOUR MP: 
Lobby your MP and demand he or she does everything possible to 
end the occupation. Send a Bring the Troops Home postcard 
(available from the office) to your MP.

- ANNIVERSARY OF AFGHAN "LIBERATION": 
Join local protests on Bring the Troops Home day Friday 13th 
November - the anniversary of the so-called liberation of 
Afghanistan.

- MILITARY FAMILIES: 
If you have family connections with the military or know 
anyone who does and is against the war, please contact the 
Stop the War office. More and more military families are 
getting in touch. As Michael Clarke, Director of the Royal 
United Services Institute is quoted as saying in Today's 
Guardian  'The cynicism that eventually corroded the morale of 
US forces in Vietnam is a spectre that is beginning to haunt 
the whole Afghanistan enterprise'.

5) DONATE: 
Donate to the Bring the Troops Home appeal. In order to 
maintain a high profile campaign, the Stop the War Coalition 
we need money, for leaflets and postcards, for office and 
transport costs.

HOW TO DONATE: 
* Online: http://bit.ly/APlKX ; 
* By credit / debit card: Phone 020 7801 2768 
* By cheque: Made out to 'Stop the War Coalition' and sent to:
  Stop the War Coalition 
  231 Vauxhall Bridge Road 
  London SW1V 1EH

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2) LONDON ACTIVISTS' MEETING: OPEN ALL

If you are based in or near London, a Stop the War activists 
meeting has been organised for Tuesday 10 November at the 
Indian YMCA 41, Fitzroy Square London W1T 6AQ. Nearest tube 
Warren Street.

The meeting will give us a chance to assess the situation in 
Afghanistan, brainstorm about the campaign to bring the troops 
home and protest ideas in the run up to Christmas and to 
exchange ideas about strengthening the local groups. We are 
keen to make sure we get newer activists along to the meeting 
to get them fully involved.

For more details, see: http://bit.ly/1rMvCE