When the enemy vanishes -- kill civilians‏

STOP THE WAR COALITION 
NEWSLETTER No. 1141  
15 February 2010  
Email office@stopwar.org.uk  
Tel: 020 7801 2768  
Web: http://stopwar.org.uk  
Twitter: http://twitter.com/STWuk


IN THIS NEWSLETTER:  
1) WHEN THE ENEMY VANISHES - KILL CIVILIANS  
2) YOUR CHANCE TO MEET DAVID MILIBAND ON TOUR 
3) VIDEO: THE DAY THE WORLD SAID NO TO WAR  
4) PROTEST AT JOE GLENTON'S COURT MARTIAL  
5) IF YOU LIVE IN CENTRAL LONDON OR… 
6) SONG OF THE WEEK WITH VIDEO

****************************** 
1) WHEN THE ENEMY VANISHES - KILL CIVILIANS

Nato's current offensive in the town of Marjah is being  
portrayed as a low casualty mission in the "good war" to get  
rid of the Taliban.

If you were to believe the news broadcasts, it's already a  
success.

Since the assault was always intended to be as much a 
publicity stunt as serving any military objective, Barack  
Obama and Gordon Brown will certainly be pleased at how the  
media has snapped into line and acted as stenographers for  
Nato press releases.

The truth is, most of the few hundred Taliban fighters in  
Marjah vanished well before the much touted offensive began,  
not being stupid enough to face up to 15,000 of the most  
heavily armed troops on the planet.

Much of what we've seen on the TV screens looks like random  
firing into empty space to give the cameras footage for the  
evening news bulletins.

But with very few enemy to engage it wasn't long -- two days  
in fact-- before tragedy struck when a missile attack looking 
for Taliban to kill managed to slaughter 12 civilians, five of 
them children -- the very people this war was supposedly  
tailored to keep out of harm's way.

The attack on Marjah is no different from the numerous other  
Nato "clear, hold and build" missions -- except in the amount 
of media ballyhoo.

And there's no reason why this should be different in the  
outcome, with the Taliban withdrawing tactically and biding  
its time, before infiltrating back into the town, once the  
overblown Operation Moshtarak, and its accompanying media  
circus, has moved on to some other flashpoint of resistance to 
foreign occupation.

The only reason the invading armies continue fighting a war  
that cannot be won is in the hope that some escape route can  
be found, from Obama and Brown's "war of necessity", which  
will leave in tact the credibility of the Western powers'  
ability to invade other countries with impunity.

The deaths of the 12 civilians this weekend is a brutal  
reminder of the heavy price many Afghans will pay in the  
months and years to come to save the face of those responsible 
for prosecuting a futile and unjustifiable war.

****************************** 
2) YOUR CHANCE TO MEET DAVID MILIBAND ON TOUR

Foreign Secretary David Miliband will be touring Britain in  
the coming weeks, holding Labour Party meetings to discuss  
Britain's foreign policy.

He has been much in the news recently, having failed in his  
protracted attempt to cover up British involvement in 
kidnapping and torturing -- a defining feature of the "war on 
terror".

Britain is long past that era when a minister caught deceiving 
the British public on this scale, would have had to resign.  
All the more reason why everywhere he goes to speak he is met 
by protests over his collusion with torture and his continuing 
advocacy of a war which in the past week alone has seen seven 
British soldiers killed.

Stop the War is asking its local groups to organise protests  
in towns and cities where Miliband is speaking. His first  
meeting is in London this Friday.

DAVID MILIBAND PROTEST 
TROOPS OUT OF AFGHANISTAN  
FRIDAY 19 FEBRUARY 6.00PM  
ST PAUL'S CHURCH  
HAMMERSMITH BROADWAY  
LONDON W6

****************************** 
3) VIDEO: THE DAY THE WORLD SAID NO TO WAR

Today is the seventh anniversary of the biggest demonstration 
in history  that took place on 15 February 2003.

A must watch trailer for a feature length documentary, which  
will be both a historical record and a celebration of an  
unforgettable day, is now available on the Stop the War  
website (see http://bit.ly/FeWuS). The film is titled WE ARE  
MANY and the brilliantly directed trailer certainly whets the 
appetite for the film to come.

The filmmaker, Amir Amirani, writing with playwright Caryl  
Churchill in the Guardian, sums up the central theme of the  
film: "The legacy of 2003 is that today many feel that it  
would be impossible for any government, even one convinced of 
a case for a just war, to carry the nation with it. Wars  
corrode our political system. But protest is the engine of  
democracy." (Read here: http://bit.ly/bGRHpA)

It's a lesson drawn by Lindsey German, national convenor of  
Stop the War, who says, "It's still hard to believe how many  
marched, and looking at the pictures now it brings back  
memories which will be with me forever.

"If we had succeeded on that day, the world would have been a 
better and safer place. But that demonstration was not the end 
of the story. We have kept campaigning over Iraq and over  
Afghanistan, Palestine and Iran.

"The warmongers have been disgraced in the public mind but  
still need to be held to account. Most importantly we must  
keep organising to end the existing wars and occupations and  
to stop future ones."

VIDEO: WE ARE MANY: http://bit.ly/FeWuS  
SEE ALSO: http://www.wearemany.tv

****************************** 
4) PROTEST AT JOE GLENTON'S COURT MARTIAL

Lance Corporal Joe Glenton, the British Soldier who refused to 
return to Afghanistan, faces court martial on Friday 5 March. 
As a result of his brave public campaigning against the war  
and the support he has received from the anti-war movement,  
the Ministry of Defence has dropped the most serious charge of 
desertion.

However, Joe still faces the possibility of a prison term of  
up to two years and Stop the War is calling a protest at the  
court martial when he appears.

The court martial will be held in Colchester and Stop the War 
is asking its supporters to publicise the protest as widely as 
possible.

Anyone wishing to join us and who requires transport from  
outside London should contact our national office: Call 020  
7801 2768 or email office@stopwar.org.uk.

Protest To Defend Joe Glenton 
9.30am Friday 5 March 
The Military Court Centre  
Merville Barracks  
Off Butt Rd  
Colchester CO2 7UT

FOR UPDATES ON JOE'S CASE SEE: http://bit.ly/2vHCKR

****************************** 
5) IF YOU LIVE IN CENTRAL LONDON OR…

Stop the War has numerous local groups across the country and 
covering most areas of London. A Stop the War supporter in  
central London is planning to set up a group and urges anyone 
who lives there and would like to get involved to contact her 
through our national office.

If there is no local Stop the War group where you live, or in 
the college where you study, and you would like to set one up 
, the national office can provide advice, resources, speakers 
for meetings etc.

STOP THE WAR NATIONAL OFFICE: 
Call 020 7801 2768 or email office@stopwar.org.uk.

****************************** 
6) SONG OF THE WEEK WITH VIDEO

This week's anti-war song of the week is a new version of 19  
by Paul Hardcastle, an anti-war track selling in its millions 
in the 1980's. Paul says: "The similarities between Vietnam  
and Afghanistan are quite alarming." Here the song with video 
here: http://bit.ly/bXD59p

Message to all Stop the War Coalition supporters‏

STOP THE WAR COALITION 
NEWSLETTER  
No. 1132 23 December 2009  
Email office@stopwar.org.uk  
Tel: 020 7801 2768  
Web: http://stopwar.org.uk  
Twitter: http://twitter.com/STWuk

IN THIS NEWSLETTER:  
1) A MESSAGE TO ALL STOP THE WAR SUPPORTERS  
2) REMEMBER GAZA: ISRAELI EMBASSY 27 DECEMBER 
3) VIVA PALESTINA CONVOY GAZA 27 DECEMBER  
4) STOP THE WAR'S SONGS FOR CHRISTMAS WEEK

*********************************  
1) A MESSAGE TO ALL STOP THE WAR SUPPORTERS

Dear Friends,

We are writing to thank you for all your work and support over 
the past year.

The Stop the War Coalition began 2009 by mobilising to stop  
the attack on Gaza, which included the biggest demonstration  
for Palestine ever held in Britain, when over 100,000 
protested on 10 January.

We have ended it campaigning to get the troops out of 
Afghanistan and remembering Gaza on the anniversary of 
Israel's attack.

Over this week alone we organised a protest by military  
families at Downing St, where we handed in our petition  
calling for British troops to be withdrawn from Afghanistan;  
we held a successful Beats Beat Bullets gig for Gaza, and --  
together with PSC, CND and BMI -- we will be holding a vigil  
at the Israeli Embassy in London on 27 December (see below).

Over the year we have organised -- both nationally and locally 
around the country --  a series of demonstrations, vigils,  
meetings, rallies, cultural and fundraising events. We will  
begin the new year with two important initiatives.

In London on 28 January, Gordon Brown has convened an 
international conference to discuss further escalation of the 
war in Afghanistan. Stop the War will be organising a protest, 
details of which will be available at the beginning of 
January.

Also in January or possibly February, it is expected that Tony 
Blair will appear at the Chilcot inquiry on Iraq. We want to  
mobilise the biggest possible protest against the man now  
widely regarded as having broken international law in taking  
Britain to war.

There is likely to be a major national demonstration in March 
as part of an international day of action, calling for all  
foreign troops to be withdrawn from Afghanistan.

A general election will be called in the first half of 2010  
and Stop the war will be organising a campaign to ensure that 
the war in Afghanistan is a prominent issue.

Our priority for 2010 will be to intensify the pressure on the 
government to bring the troops home, reflecting the view of an 
ever increasing majority of people in Britain. The recent US  
and British troop surge, the extension of the Afghan war into 
Pakistan and Yemen, and the threats against Iran, make our  
campaign more important than ever.

The coming year is clearly going to be as busy for Stop the  
War as any in our eight year history. Please continue to  
support our work and our activities.

We rely entirely on contributions by our supporters to fund  
our small office and all of our campaigns. If you are not  
already a member of Stop the War, we urge you to consider  
becoming one now, or make a donation to help us sustain our  
anti-war work as effectively as we can. You can join or donate 
online, here: http://bit.ly/APlKX

We wish you a happy holiday and new year, and we hope that by 
active opposition to our government's war policies, together  
we can help make 2010 more peaceful than the year just ending.

Best wishes,

Lindsey German 
National Convenor, Stop the War Coalition

Andrew Murray 
National Chair, Stop the War Coalition

*********************************  
2) REMEMBER GAZA: ISRAELI EMBASSY 27 DECEMBER

To mark that anniversary of Israel's attach and to protest at 
the continuing siege of Gaza,  there will be a vigil outside  
the Israeli Embassy, 3.00 - 5.00pm 5pm, High Street  
Kensington, London W8, called by Palestine Solidarity 
Campaign, Stop the War Coalition, British Muslim Initiative  
and Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament.

REMEMBER GAZA: END THE SIEGE  
SUNDAY 27 DECEMBER 2009 3-5PM 
HIGH STREET KENSINGTON LONDON W8  
(High St Kensington tube station)

*********************************  
3) VIVA PALESTINA CONVOY GAZA 27 DECEMBER

The Viva Palestina convoy taking 100 vehicles full of aid from 
Britain to break the siege plans enter Gaza on 27 December,  
when it will be joined by convoys from Turkey and the United  
States. For updates on the convoy,  
http://www.vivapalestina.org or Twitter: viva_palestina

*********************************  
4) STOP THE WAR'S SONGS FOR XMAS WEEK

We've chosen two songs for Christmas week.

Christmas in the Trenches by John McCutcheon, which is about  
Christmas Day 1914 when all sides in World War I laid down  
their weapons and made peace by playing a game of soccer.

Barra Barra by Rachid Taha is the soundtrack to a video called 
Israel - An Apartheid State, which powerfully captures life  
for Palestinians under Israeli occupation and siege. Plus  
we've included a bonus video of Rachid Taha and Brian Eno  
performing Barra Barra live at the great benefit concert they 
did for Stop the War in 2005.

FOR BOTH SONGS, GO TO: http://bit.ly/6vnfKN

Military families petition Gordon Brown to bring the troops home‏

Stop the War Coalition Friday
14 December 2009
Web: www.stopwar.org.uk
Twitter: http://twitter.com/STWuk
CONTACT: Andrew Burgin 07939 242 229
Lindsey German 07810 540 584

PRESS RELEASE: IMMEDIATE
Military families petition Gordon Brown to bring the troops home.

On Monday 21 December at 5pm military families, who have either lost loved ones
or have relatives serving in Afghanistan, will deliver a petition to Gordon
Brown in Downing Street, calling for all British troops to be withdrawn. They
will be joined by former soldiers.

The military families and former soldiers will hold a press conference an hour
prior to delivering the petition, at 4pm in the Silver Cross, Whitehall, SW1
2BX.

Graham Knight, whose son was killed in Afghanistan, said, "We will hold a vigil
at Downing Street for those who have been killed. We have suffered terrible
personal loss in this war and we don't want any more families to go through the
same pain."

Joan Humphries, whose grandson was killed in August 2009, said, "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."

Lindsey German, Convenor of Stop the War Coalition said, "Tens of thousands of
people from across Britain have signed this petition, and 71% of the population
oppose the war. 100 British soldiers have been killed this year in a senseless
and unwinnable war. Gordon Brown should listen to the families of those who
have lost loved ones in the war and bring the troops home."

For further information, contact:
Andrew Burgin 07939 242 229
Lindsey German 07810 540 584

Why have 100 soldiers died in Afghanistan this year?‏

STOP THE WAR COALITION 
NEWSLETTER 
No. 1130 07 December 2009 
Email office@stopwar.org.uk 
Tel: 020 7801 2768 
Web: http://stopwar.org.uk 
Twitter: http://twitter.com/STWuk

********************************** 
IN THIS NEWSLETTER 
1) WHY HAVE 100 SOLDIERS DIED IN AFGHANISTAN THIS YEAR? 
2) MILITARY FAMILIES PROTEST AT DOWNING STREET 
3) MEETING: FROM IRAQ TO AFGHANISTAN 
4) PICKET AT JOE GLENTON'S COURT HEARING 
5) FREE JOE GLENTON T-SHIRT 
6) LIVE IN LONDON? COME TO OUR XMAS PARTY 
7) SONG OF THE WEEK

********************************** 
1) WHY HAVE 100 SOLDIERS DIED IN AFGHANISTAN THIS YEAR

The hundredth British soldier to die in Afghanistan this year 
was killed because Gordon Brown refuses to learn the lesson of 
history: that the people of Afghanistan never accept 
occupation by foreign powers.

He died fighting to support one of the most corrupt 
governments in the world, which is dominated by war lords and 
drug barons and which has no legitimacy following a 
breathtakingly fraudulent election.

Gordon Brown says he died to safeguard Britain against 
terrorist attack. But no Afghan has ever attacked Britain or 
any other country.

He died, says Brown, to help defeat al-Qaeda. But more British 
soldiers have been killed in Afghanistan in 2009 than the 
total number of al-Qaeda in the country, which the US 
government admits is just a few dozen.

By increasing the number of British troops sent to kill and be 
killed in Afghanistan to over 10,000, Gordon Brown has 
condemned many more soldiers and countless Afghans to die in 
this unjustified and unwinnable war.

NAMING THE DEAD VIGILS

To mark the 100th death this year, Stop the War groups across 
the country will hold vigils and naming the dead ceremonies, 
at which the names of all 100 soldiers killed will be read 
out, together with the names of 100 Afghans, to represent the 
countless thousands who have died. If you would like to join 
an event in your area, please contact the Stop the War office 
for details: office@stopwar.org.uk or call 020 7801 2768.

********************************** 
2) MILITARY FAMILIES PROTEST AT DOWNING STREET

The tragically inevitable death of the 100th soldier to die in 
2009 gives even more focus to the military families protest at 
Downing Street, 5pm, on Monday 21 December.

The families, who have either lost loved ones in Afghanistan 
or have relatives currently serving, together with friends , 
supporters and former soldiers, will deliver to Gordon Brown 
Stop the War's Bring the Troops Home petition, numbering tens 
of thousands of signatures.

The families have asked for the widest possible support for 
their protest. If you live in London, please join them if you 
can.

MILITARY FAMILIES PROTEST AT DOWNING STREET 
MONDAY 21 DECEMBER AT 5PM 
DOWNING STREET, WHITEHALL, LONDON 
For more details: http://bit.ly/4Z3eCR

BRING THE TROOPS HOME PETITION: 
Sign online: http://bit.ly/8jLhRk 
Download to print and collect signatures: http://bit.ly/rNaTZ

If you would like to help collect signatures in your area, 
please contact the Stop the War office: Email 
office@stopwar.org.uk or call 020 7801 2768.

********************************** 
3) MEETING: FROM IRAQ TO AFGHANISTAN

Paul Flynn MP hosts a Stop the War briefing meeting at the 
House of Commons on Wednesday 9 December. The meeting is open 
to all and will provide up to date discussion of the 
Afghanistan War, following Gordon Brown's troop surge, and an 
expert briefing on the Iraq Inquiry.

FROM IRAQ TO AFGHANISTAN 
WEDNESDAY 9 DECEMBER 7PM 
HOUSE OF COMMONS 
PORTCULLIS HOUSE, WESTMINSTER BRIDGE ROAD 
LONDON SW1 
Hosted by Paul Flynn MP 
Speakers include Sabah Jawad and Sami Ramadani from Iraqi 
Democrats Against Occupation and Carol Turner from Stop the 
War Coalition.

To download flyer, go to: http://bit.ly/8s0tjh

********************************** 
4) PICKET AT JOE GLENTON'S COURT HEARING

Stop the War has called a picket of the court hearing on 16 
December, which will decide if Lance Corporal Joe Glenton, who 
faces court martial for refusing to serve in Afghanistan (SEE 
http://bit.ly/2vHCKR), is to be released from prison to spend 
Christmas with his family. If you live in London and are able 
to attend, your support will be much appreciated.

STOP THE WAR PICKET: 
WEDNESDAY 16 DECEMBER, 9.30AM, 
OFFICE OF THE JUDGE ADVOCATE GENERAL 
81 CHANCERY LANE, LONDON WC22A 1BQ

MESSAGES OF SUPPORT TO JOE 
* Email: defendjoeglenton@gmail.com 
* Write letters, cards etc to: 
Lance Corporal Joe Glenton 
Military Corrective Training Centre 
Berechurch Hall Camp 
Colchester CO2 9NU

********************************** 
6) FREE JOE GLENTON T-SHIRT

Stop the War has produced a Free Joe Glenton t-shirt. Picture, 
more information and to order, go to: http://bit.ly/1u7UJF

********************************** 
7) LIVE IN LONDON? COME TO OUR XMAS PARTY

Stop the War's Xmas Party on Friday 11 December is open to all 
our supporters. Admission is free. This will also be the 
launch event for Stop the War's archive, which is being housed 
at the Bishopsgate Institute. There will be a showcase 
representing Stop the War's campaigns for peace over eight 
years, since its founding in 2001.

STOP THE WAR'S XMAS PARTY AND LAUNCH 
EXHIBITION OF STOP THE WAR'S ARCHIVE 
FRIDAY 11 DECEMBER 7-10 PM 
BISHOPSGATE INSTITUTE 
230 BISHOPSGATE LONDON EC2M 4QH 
(Opposite Liverpool Street Station)

********************************** 
7) SONG OF THE WEEK

Universal Soldier, written by Buffy Sainte-Marie, performed by 
Donovan. To hear, go to: http://bit.ly/6SHteY

STOP THE WAR MEETING AT PARLIAMENT WED 9 DEC

STOP THE WAR MEETING AT PARLIAMENT

Paul Flynn MP and Sabah Jawad from Iraqi Democrats Against
Occupation are among the speakers at a Stop the War briefing
meeting on Afghanistan and the Iraq Inquiry at the House of
Commons on Wednesday 9 December.

The meeting is open to all and will provide up to date
discussion of the Afghanistan War, following Gordon Brown's
troop surge, and an expert briefing on the Iraq Inquiry.

STOP THE WAR BRIEFING ON AFGHANISTAN & IRAQ INQUIRY
Hosted by Paul Flynn MP
WEDNESDAY 9 DECEMBER 7PM
HOUSE OF COMMONS
PORTCULLIS HOUSE, WESTMINSTER BRIDGE ROAD
LONDON SW1.

What now? Secret Government reports prove Tony Blair lied

Leaked secret Government reports show that hiding Tony Blair's lies meant some troops were sent to Iraq with only five bullets each. The supply chain was such a farce that one container was sent full of skis to use in the desert. Some troops who were deployed to Iraq by civilian airlines took their equipment as hand luggage and had their weapons confiscated by airport security.
By Robin Beste
Stop the War Coalition
22 November 2009

The Iraq inquiry, chaired by Sir John Chilcot, begins its public hearings on Tuesday 24 November. Whether it turns out to be the whitewash clearly intended by Gordon Brown’s choice of the inquiry's committee members will be determined by how it deals with the latest revelations of secret Government reports, leaked to the Telegraph.

The price paid for Tony Blair's lies.

The reports show beyond dispute that Tony Blair had decided as early as February 2002 that Britain would join George Bush in waging an illegal war on Iraq, which began a year later in March 2003.

Despite this decision having been taken, throughout 2002 and up to the invasion, Blair lied repeatedly to MPs and the public, claiming that Britain’s objective was "disarmament, not regime change" and that there had been no planning for military action.

Because the lies had to be concealed from Parliament, only a tiny number of officials were involved in the planning process for war.

The result, say the Government reports, was a "rushed operation" "lacking in coherence and resources" which caused "significant risk" to troops.

Operations were so under-resourced that some troops went into action with only five bullets each. Others had to deploy to war on civilian airlines, taking their equipment as hand luggage. Some troops had weapons confiscated by airport security.

Skis in the desert

One army commander described the supply chain as "absolutely appalling", saying: "I know for a fact that there was one container full of skis in the desert."

The reports describe the war itself as a "significant military success" but only because the British forces faced a "third-rate army," adding that "a more capable enemy would probably have punished these shortcomings severely."

It was Blair’s lies and concealment that explain the almost complete absence of contingency planning once the military operations were completed. British forces were so "ill-prepared and equipped to deal with the problems in the first 100 days" that they could not safeguard Iraqi civilians.

Military commanders are expected to tell the inquiry that this was because preparations were sabotaged by Blair's government in its attempts to mislead the public. They believe members of the British and US governments at the time could be prosecuted for war crimes, for breaching the duty of occupying armies, as stated in the Geneva convention, to safeguard civilians in a conflict.

These secret Government reports show why Gordon Brown initially intended that the Iraq Inquiry should be held in private.

When he was forced by public uproar to make the inquiry public -- albeit with the inquiry chairman’s discretion as to how much -- Brown then chose a committee for the inquiry which was clearly aimed at exonerating the warmongers. On the evidence of these leaked reports, Tony Blair is incriminated in war crimes that have left hundreds of thousands of Iraqis and 179 British soldiers dead.

Sir John Chilcot was apparently shocked by the unanimity of the military families who lost loved ones in the the Iraq war and who, in giving evidence to the inquiry, insisted there should be no "whitewash" and that if the accusation of war crimes is proven then Tony Blair must be held to account, as must others in the government at the time who knew the scale of the lying Blair was using to justify an illegal war.

That said, Stop the War is not holding its breath as to the outcome the inquiry.

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

*******************************  
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.

*******************************  
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.

*******************************  
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.

*******************************  
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.

*******************************  
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."

*******************************  
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

*******************************  
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

Soldiers and their families lead Saturday's march

STOP THE WAR COALITION 
NEWSLETTER 
No. 1119 20 October 2009 
Email office@stopwar.org.uk 
Tel: 020 7801 2768 
Web: http://.stopwar.org.uk 
Twitter: http://twitter.com/STWuk

IN THIS NEWSLETTER 
1) SOLDIERS AND THEIR FAMILIES LEAD SATURDAY'S MARCH 
2) MUSICIANS AND ACTORS PERFORM AT THE RALLY 
3) HELP STEWARD THE DEMONSTRATION ON 24 OCTOBER

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1) SOLDIERS AND THEIR FAMILIES LEAD SATURDAY'S MARCH

Lance Corporal Joe Glenton (http://bit.ly/eO3V0 )will become 
the first serving British soldier to openly attend an anti-war 
demonstration when he leads marchers from Hyde Park to 
Trafalgar square on Saturday 24 October calling for all troops 
to be withdrawn from Afghanistan.

Joe, who is currently fighting a court martial for refusing to 
return to Afghanistan, will be joined by families of soldiers 
who have given their lives during the occupations in Iraq and 
Afghanistan.

Joan Humphries' grandson Kevin Elliott, 24, from Black Watch, 
was killed while on on foot patrol in the southern Afghan 
province of Helmand on August 31 of this year. She says:

"I have supported CND all my life and have been involved in 
Stop the War since the march in 2003 when more than a million 
people were on the streets. Kevin knew my feelings. But there 
were no jobs, education was poor and the politicians down 
south were dishonest and there was simply nothing else he felt 
he could do but join the army."

Peter Brierley ( http://bit.ly/C7atg ) will attend the 
demonstration in memory of his son, Lance Corporal Shaun 
Brierley, who was killed while on duty in Iraq. Peter refused 
to shake the hand of Tony Blair at a memorial service for 
those who died in Iraq at St Paul's Cathedral earlier this 
month, explaining that it had "my son's blood on it."

Paul McGurk, 25, served in Helmand province until April 2008 
but left the army last month because he could not support the 
war with Afghanistan. "My regiment has been posted back to 
Afghanistan and I will be attending the demonstration for 
them, calling for them to come home because this conflict 
cannot be justified.

"Morale in the army was very low when I was serving and this 
can only be getting worse. Those who intend serving for the 
next 22 years face being posted to Afghanistan six more 
times."

DEMONSTRATE SATURDAY 24 OCTOBER 
BRING THE TROOPS HOME 
ASSEMBLE 12 NOON HYDE PARK 
MARCH TO TRAFALGAR SQUARE 
Called by Stop the War, CND and BMI

Full details and map of march route: http://bit.ly/2pZlGD

Please use email, texts, tweets, Facebook etc to help 
publicise the demonstration as widely as possible.

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2) MUSICIANS AND ACTORS PERFORM AT THE RALLY

Up and coming band King Blues and the rapper Lowkey will be 
among the perfomers at the end of march rally in Trafalgar 
Square. Actors Bill Paterson, Corin Redgrave and Kika Markham 
will do readings, including naming the dead commemorations. 
Other speakers include Bianca Jagger, George Galloway MP and 
Andrej Hanko, who is an MP for Die Linke party in the German 
Parliament.

A full list of speakers will be posted soon on the Stop the 
War website: http://bit.ly/2pZlGD

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3) HELP STEWARD THE DEMONSTRATION ON  24 OCTOBER

Stop the War has always been fortunate in the number and the 
commitment of the volunteers who help us organise our 
demonstrations. If you would like to join the team organising 
the demonstration on Saturday 24 October, please email your 
name and contact details to office@stopwar.org.uk or call 020 
7801 2768

Shut Down the Dalston Army Showroom - Protest on Sat 25 July

The deaths of eight soldiers in Afghanistan in as many days brings home the
urgency of our campaign to bring the troops home from Afghanistan and to
shut down the Army showroom in Dalston.

The media may try to ignore us or spin the figures. But the fact remains
that a majority of people in Britain want the troops in Afghanistan
withdrawn by the end of the year. They do not believe this is a 'good war'.
In reality Nato forces are protecting a corrupt regime under President
Karzai and an undemocratic bunch of drug-running warlords. It is a state
where the position of women is worse than it was under the Taliban.

The government claims that the war must go on to prevent terrorism on the
streets of Britain. But the longer the occupation continues the greater the
likelihood of terrorist outrages occurring.

If politicians really want to save the lives of soldiers (and the lives of
Afghan civilians, who are now dying at double last year's rate), they should
recognise that this is a pointless, unwinnable war and bring the troops home
now.

And we must get the army showroom in Dalston shut down. Youth unemployment
is now at a sixteen year high. We don't want young people in Hackney being
conned by glitzy images into an army career, with the prospect of death,
injury or mental trauma as a result of the Afghan war.

Join the protest at 1.30pm on Saturday 25 July
at the Kingsland Shopping Centre, Dalston, opposite Dalston Kingsland
station.

We shall be leafleting, petitioning and distributing postcards. Any help you
can give would be much appreciated.

Iraq: Let's demand a proper enquiry

I am forwarding the following to everyone. Stop the War holds no position in respect of 38 degrees. But you may be interested in signing their petition.

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Iraq: Let's demand a proper enquiry

You may be interested in the campaign ‘Iraq: Demand a proper enquiry’, which is being run by an online campaigning organisation called 38 degrees, www.38degrees.org.uk

The campaign was launched this week in response to Gordon Brown finally announcing that there will be an inquiry into the Iraq war. He also announced that he intends it to be held in secret, not report until after the next election, and not apportion any blame. Does that sound like a proper inquiry to you? Brown is hoping that this inquiry will draw a line under the whole episode.

The Iraq war was declared in the face of fierce opposition. Serious questions about its justification and legality remain unanswered. Millions of us marched against the invasion, and many more felt betrayed when claims about Iraq's weapons of mass destruction turned out to be false. Countless thousands of Iraqis have died, as well as 179 British service men and women.

A genuine inquiry would be our chance to understand why all this happened and how to prevent it happening again. A stitched-up, secret inquiry will encourage future governments to think they can get away with the same again.

http://38degrees.org.uk/page/s/IraqInquiry

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Gareth Jenkins

Sec. Hackney Stop The War

IRAQ INQUIRY: PROTEST PARLIAMENT WED 24 JUNE

The scandal over Gordon Brown's decision to hold the Iraq war
inquiry in private has united in condemnation the most
unlikely people, including MPs, peers in the House of Lords,
military leaders, former civil servants, bereaved families and
even Sir Christopher Meyer, Britain's US ambassador at the
time the decision was taken to go to war.

The anger over this appalling decision has intensified with
the revelation that Tony Blair was behind Brown's decision to
have a completely secret inquiry (SEE http://bit.ly/oun55).

A motion calling for a public inquiry is to be debated in
parliament on Wednesday 24 June. Stop the War has called a
protest for 2pm at parliament to insist that there is a full
public inquiry, and not the whitewash Brown has planned,
prompted by Blair.

Stop the War is also asking all its local groups and
supporters to contact their MPs as a matter of urgency, by
letter, telephone, email or fax, and urge them to support the
call for a full public inquiry. A letter from Stop the War to
MPs can be downloaded here: http://bit.ly/GqK1P

There is every chance that Brown will have to make at least a
partial U-turn, but -- as Sir Christopher Meyer says -- there
is no reason why the whole inquiry should not be held in
public. We also need an inquiry with the power to subpoena
witnesses under oath and it needs to be broadly based, rather
than comprising the five establishment toadies appointed by
Brown to produce a cover-up.

Time is short but we need to do all we can to maximise the
pressure on Brown to reverse his scandalous decision. The need
for a full public inquiry has been highlighted yet again by
the leaked government memo from January 2003, which reports on
a meeting between George Bush and Blair, at which they plotted
in secret to commit the supreme crime of an unprovoked act of
aggression. (SEE http://bit.ly/SvSFd)

PROTEST: PARLIAMENT
WEDNESDAY 24 JUNE 2PM
Please publicise as widely as possible.

CONTACT YOUR MP AND URGE HIM/HER TO PRESS
FOR A FULL PUBLIC INQUIRY