Stepping up Stop the War's election campaign‏

STOP THE WAR COALITION 
NEWSLETTER No. 1149  
12 April 2010 
Email office@stopwar.org.uk  
Tel: 020 7801 2768 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              020 7801 2768      end_of_the_skype_highlighting  
Web: http://stopwar.org.uk  
Twitter: http://twitter.com/STWuk

IN THIS NEWSLETTER:  
1) STEPPING UP STOP THE WAR'S ELECTION CAMPAIGN  
2) LONDON DEBATE: SHOULD THE TROOPS BE IN AFGHANISTAN? 
3) ASTOUNDING RESPONSE TO ELECTION SURVEY  
4) SPECIAL ELECTION RESOURCES 
5) CRUEL PRISON TREATMENT OF SOLDIER JOE GLENTON  
6) IT'S OFFICIAL: THROWING SHOES AS A PROTEST IS ALLOWED  
7) WATCHING THIS VIDEO ANGER CALCIFIES THE HEART

************************************** 
1) STEPPING UP STOP THE WAR'S ELECTION CAMPAIGN

Hardly any of the politicians vying for our votes in this  
election have mentioned the war in Afghanistan, even as the  
country sinks further into a quagmire of destruction and  
wasted lives, with the rate of British soldiers being killed  
double what it was a year ago.

We are stepping up our campaign to raise the profile of the  
war as an election issue and to get the candidates to state  
their views publicly on Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran and other  
anti-war issues, which many people will want to know when  
deciding how to cast their vote.

Local Stop the War debates, question times, hustings etc are  
now rolling out across the country. We are posting details of 
these on our website as soon as we receive them: SEE  
http://bit.ly/crQiHe

A major all-London debate will take place this Wednesday 14  
April (details below) .

Stop the War now has available a range of election special  
resources (see below). Our Cost of War briefing card has  
proved so popular that it sold out within a few days and is  
now being reprinted.

************************************** 
2) LONDON DEBATE: SHOULD THE TROOPS BE IN AFGHANISTAN?

WEDNESDAY 14 APRIL 6.30 PM  
OLD CINEMA LECTURE THEATRE  
WESTMINSTER UNIVERSITY 
309 REGENT STREET, LONDON W1B 2UW

Participants include Mehdi Hasan from the New Statesman,  
Professor Christopher Coker from the London School of 
Economics, Martin Cakebread from the National Defence 
Association, and Lindsey German, Convenor of Stop the War.

Arguments for and against the war will be presented and there 
will be plenty of opportunity for contributions and questions 
from the floor.

************************************** 
3) ASTOUNDING RESPONSE TO ELECTION SURVEY

In just a few days, we have had an astounding response to our 
Election Candidates Survey. Close to 4000 emails to candidates 
have been sent already, asking where they stand on  
Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran and other anti-war issues.

This is a reflection of the anger many voters must feel seeing 
all the main parties ignore what should be a key issue in the 
election.

If you haven't sent a message to your local candidates yet,  
requesting they tell you what their view is of this country's 
current war policies, we urge you to do so now. It takes just 
1-2 minutes here:  http://bit.ly/8X35fk

The more people pressure candidates, the more they will feel  
they have to respond. Please forward the link to or Candidates 
Survey to everyone you know and encourage them to send their  
message.

As we get the responses from candidates, they will be 
publicised on the Stop the War website, and we will name and  
shame those who have remained silent.

************************************** 
4) SPECIAL ELECTION RESOURCES

Stop the War has produced a range of election special 
resources for our campaign to force the war in Afghanistan  
onto the election agenda. These are all available from the  
national office: Tel: 020 7801 2768 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              020 7801 2768      end_of_the_skype_highlighting

* AFGHANISTAN: THE COST OF WAR This briefing card has proved  
so popular that it sold out within days. It is now being  
reprinted.

* PETITION: DON'T THEY KNOW THERE'S A WAR ON - BRING THE  
TROOPS HOME A petition for downloading to print and collect  
signatures in your work, school, college, community etc.  
Download here:

* AFGHANISTAN: 10 REASONS WHY THE TROOPS SHOULD COME HOME  
A new pamphlet written by Steve Bell with a preface by Paul  
Flynn MP. £2.50 incl p&p. BUY ONLINE: http://bit.ly/bGJTi3

* STOP THE WAR'S PRINTED NEWSLETTER We produce a by-monthly  
printed edition newsletter, the latest issue of which is an  
election special (50p. Reduced rate for 5 or more copies). If 
you've not seen the printed newsletter before, back issues are 
available here: http://bit.ly/c4r9Ot

************************************** 
5) CRUEL PRISON TREATMENT OF SOLDIER JOE GLENTON  
.  
Joe Glenton, the British soldier who refused to return to  
fight in Afghanistan because he believed the war to be 
unjustified and unwinnable, is receiving cruel treatment at  
the hands of military prison staff, following his court  
martial and sentence to nine months imprisonment.

The prison authorities are trying to force him to sleep under 
an unwashed or dirty blanket - a punishment that often leads  
prisoners to get body lice - and to wear boots despite the  
fact he has broken his toe. This follows a disciplinary  
hearing following what his legal team say is the trumped up  
claim that Joe insulted an officer.

Please send complaints about the way Joe is being treated in  
prison to: mctcwelfare@hotmail.com.

To send Joe a message of support and for background and  
updates on his case, go to: http://bit.ly/dgLAck

Joe's legal team is lodging an appeal against his jail 
sentence, at which Stop the War will be organising a protest  
calling for his immediate release.

PROTEST AT JOE GLENTON'S APPEAL HEARING  
CALLING FOR HIS IMMEDIATE RELEASE  
WEDNESDAY 21 APRIL 9.30AM  
ROYAL COURTS OF JUSTICE  
STRAND, LONDON WC2

************************************** 
6) IT'S OFFICIAL: THROWING SHOES AS A PROTEST IS ALLOWED

Seventy protestors face imprisonment for their involvement in 
the demonstrations in January 2009 against Israel's onslaught 
on Gaza, but one after another the cases are falling apart.

In the latest, Student Aquib Salim, 21, was likely to face  
prison for throwing a shoe at the Israeli Embassy but, as the 
Sunday Times reported (see http://bit.ly/b6b2h0 ), not now it 
has been revealed that the Metropolitan Police had said  
previously that throwing shoes as a sign of protest was  
permitted.

For background and updates to the Gaza Protestors Defence  
Campaign, see: http://bit.ly/d1FqIA

************************************** 
7) WATCHING THIS VIDEO ANGER CALCIFIES THE HEART

The video released by Wikileaks showing airmen in US  
helicopters slaughtering Iraqi civilians with unrestrained  
glee, is shocking enough in itself, but it is only unique in  
the footage we can now watch and hear which makes the atrocity 
irrefutable, unlike the countless occasions when Iraqis -- and 
Afghans -- have reported equivalent atrocities and were  
ignored.

See the video and the comments of Haifa Zangana, Iraqi 
novelist and former prisoner under Saddam Hussein, who tells  
how watching it made anger calcify in her heart:  
http://bit.ly/9iUnkT

************************************** 
LOBBY YOUR ELECTION CANDIDATES HERE: http://bit.ly/8X35fk  
**************************************

Forthcoming events in London

1. Debate: Should the Troops be in Afghanistan?

Wed 14 April 7pm.

Old Cinema lecture theatre, Westminster University, 309 Regent Street, W1B 2UW

In the weeks leading to the general election Stop the War is organising debates around the country on the war in Afghanistan. The London debate is on Wednesday 14 April. The participants include Mehdi Hasan from the New Statesman, Professor Christopher Coker from the London School of Economics, Martin Cakebread from the National Defence Association, and Lindsey German, Convenor of Stop the War. Please make every effort to attend. It's important that supporters of the occupation are in no doubt about the scale of the opposition to keeping the troops in Afghanistan. 2. Defending the Welfare State and Public Services March and Rally Saturday 10 April Assemble 12 noon for 1pm Temple Place, Embankment Rally 2pm, Trafalgar Square (with speakers, music and entertainment) Whoever wins the next general election will be looking at the welfare state and public services as a way of cutting public expenditure. This demonstration must therefore send a clear message to all the political parties that the majority of people do not want to see further cuts and privatisation. As Stop the War has pointed out this government has spent £12 billion on the Afghan war since 2001 and spent at least £45 billion on defence last year. That's money that could be spent on welfare, pensions and benefits. The demonstration is supported by the TUC, by all the major trade unions, by the BMA and by NHS: Keep our NHS public 3. London Conference: What Now for Iraq?

Date: Saturday, 10 April 2010
Time: 10:30 - 16:30
Location: Conway Hall, 25 Red Lion Square, Holborn, London WC1R 4RL

A one day conference organised by WSIUI (Women Solidarity For Independent & Unified Iraq).

Iraq is moving towards a neo-colonial era of indirect rule. This is based on the Anglo and US - Iraq Status of Forces Agreement and the long-term US "strategic framework", to establish "cooperation in the political, economic, cultural and security fields". A situation similar, in many aspects, to the British neo-colonial rule in the aftermath of signing the 1930 treaty.

The conference will address the recent developments identifiable in the neo-colonial era especially through key areas of human rights, gender, damaged environment, the effects of the use of unconventional weapons, and cultural cleansing. It concludes by addressing the highly important issue of what should be done to establish justice for Iraq.

The Sessions are;

1- Human rights
2- Culture, Gender and occupation
3- Environment; the deadly reality.
4- The future starts now; International law and Justice for Iraq

About the speakers:

The four sessions feature Iraqi commentators including Dr Sana al Khayat (Academic), Dr Sawsan Al Assaf (Academic), Sabah al Mukhtar (President of the Arab Lawyers Association), Professor Zuhair Al Sharook (Academic), Mundher al Adhami (Academic), Salah al Hashimi (Lawyer), and Haifa Zangana (author & activist). Speakers from international organisations and activists including Dr Said Boumedouha (Amnesty International), Lindsey German (Convenor - Stop the War Coalition), Dirk Adriaensens (The B Russell s Tribunal), Mike Phipps (Iraq Occupation Focus), Tahrir Swift (Activist), Julie Flint (Journalist & film maker) and Nicholas Wood (author - Joint Secretary to The Blair War Crimes Foundation).

Women Solidarity For Independent & Unified Iraq (WSIUI)
http://solidarityiraq.blogspot.com

--
Hackney Stop The War

Jailed for protesting against Israeli war crimes‏

STOP THE WAR COALITION 
NEWSLETTER No. 1142  
24 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) JAILED FOR PROTESTING AGAINST ISRAELI WAR CRIMES  
2) GORDON BROWN APPEARING AT IRAQ INQUIRY  
3) JOE GLENTON'S COURT MARTIAL FRIDAY 5 FEBRUARY  
4) IRAQ: THE PEOPLE'S DOSSIER PAMPHLET SELLING OUT

************************************  
1) JAILED FOR PROTESTING AGAINST ISRAELI WAR CRIMES

Young people who took part in the mass demonstrations against 
Israel's attack on Gaza in January 2009 are being handed down 
jail sentences for minor offences. A protest has been called  
this Friday 26 February at Isleworth Crown Court and there  
will be a public meeting, open to all, in Parliament next  
Tuesday 2 March (details below).

Friday's protest and Tuesday's public meeting will be in  
support of those now being treated so harshly by the courts,  
and to defend our democratic right of protest.

Israel's barbarism -- which devastated Gaza and left 1400 dead 
-- brought tens of thousands on to London's streets, including 
the demonstration of over 100,000 on 10 January 2009.

Numerous complaints were made about police aggressive 
behaviour on the Gaza demonstrations. Thousands of protestors 
were 'kettled' -- illegally held for hours and only released  
after the police had obtained their names and addresses.

In the months that followed the demonstrations, over 90  
protestors were arrested -- most of them Muslims, many of them 
teenagers, often in intimidating dawn raids. More than seventy 
of those arrested were charged with disorder offences.

The courts are now hearing these cases. The defendants 
pleading guilty are being tried first and the sentences have  
been draconian. The judge has made clear that he is issuing  
deterrent sentences.

We are seeing first-time offenders receiving two and a half  
years imprisonment for minor offences which would not normally 
face custodial sentences.

It is hard not to conclude that this is a concerted attempt by 
the police and judiciary to  criminalise protest, intimidating 
in particular young Muslims.

Meanwhile, there has been no investigation into the aggressive 
and often violent policing on the Gaza demonstrations, despite 
the high level of complaints.

And while these young people are facing years in prison for  
protesting against Israel's war crimes, no one is being held  
to account for those crimes, which have been fully documented 
by reports from the United Nations, Amnesty International,  
Human Rights Watch and others.

FOR MORE BACKGROUND TO THE COURT CASES, GO TO: 
http://bit.ly/daqyC7

FRIDAY 26 FEBRUARY, 9.30AM  
DEFEND THE RIGHT TO PROTEST  
SUPPORT THE GAZA PROTESTORS  
ISLEWORTH CROWN COURT 
36 Ridgeway Road, Isleworth TW7 5LP  
(nearest tube Osterley on the Piccadilly Line)

For more info: contact the Stop the War office: 020 7801 2768, 
office@stopwar.org.uk

NEXT TUESDAY 2 MARCH 6.30 PM - 8.30 PM 
PUBLIC MEETING ON JAILING OF GAZA PROTESTERS  
Speakers include Jeremy Corbyn MP, George Galloway MP, Andrew 
Murray (Stop the War), Betty Hunter (Palestine Solidarity  
Campaign), speaker from British Muslim Initiative  
COMMITTEE ROOM 19, HOUSE OF COMMONS, LONDON SW1  
(St Stephens entrance, allow plenty of time to get through  
security).  
Organised by Stop the War, PSC, BMI and supported by CND.

************************************  
2) GORDON BROWN APPEARING AT IRAQ INQUIRY

Stop the War has called a protest at the Iraq Inquiry on  
Friday 5 March when Prime minister Gordon Brown appears to  
give evidence on his role in the run up to the Iraq war.

Our protest when Tony Blair appeared on 29 January received  
world wide media coverage (SEE http://bit.ly/avPIQP ). Gordon 
Brown has as much blood on his hands as Blair for an illegal  
war that slaughtered around one million Iraqis. As chancellor 
of the exchequer, he bankrolled the war and never publicly  
distanced himself from plans as they were hatched for the  
invasion of Iraq.

Since becoming prime minister, Brown has been zealous in  
continuing the war policies of his predecessor, not least in  
his support for the unwinnable war in Afghanistan, which the  
latest BBC poll shows is opposed by two thirds of the British 
public (SEE http://bit.ly/9meRQf ).

STOP THE WAR PROTEST AT THE IRAQ INQUIRY  
BLOOD ON GORDON BROWN'S HANDS 
ASSEMBLE 8.30 AM, QUEEN ELIZABETH CONFERENCE CENTRE,  
BROAD SANCTUARY , WESTMINSTER  SW1  
(Nearest tubes St James's Park or Westminster)

************************************  
3) JOE GLENTON'S COURT MARTIAL FRIDAY 5 FEBRUARY

On the same day that Gordon Brown appears at the Iraq Inquiry, 
Lance Corporal Joe Glenton will face his court martial hearing 
in Colchester for refusing to return to fight in Afghanistan.

Stop the War will be protesting in support of Joe at the  
court. Anyone in London wishing to know about transport for  
travelling to the protest should contact the Stop the War  
office: Email office@stopwar.org.uk, Tel: 020 7801 2768

SUPPORT L/CPL JOE GLENTON  
FRIDAY 5 MARCH 9.30AM 
MILITARY COURT CENTRE 
MERVILLE BARRACKS, OFF BUTT RD 
COLCHESTER C027UT

FOR MORE DETAILS OF JOE'S CASE AND FOR FURTHER UPDATES, SEE:  
http://bit.ly/2vHCKR

************************************  
4) IRAQ: THE PEOPLE'S DOSSIER PAMPHLET SELLING OUT

Stop the War's latest pamphlet Iraq: The People's Dossier is  
selling out fast. Order now to avoid disappointment. £2 + 50p 
postage (£1 a copy for bulk orders of five or more).

TO ORDER GO TO:  http://bit.ly/bJCnhs

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

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

The people's voice on Blair's judgement day‏

STOP THE WAR COALITION 
NEWSLETTER  
No. 1135 24 January 2010  
Email office@stopwar.org.uk  
Tel: 020 7801 2768  
Web: http://stopwar.org.uk  
Twitter: http://twitter.com/STWuk

IN THIS NEWSLETTER  
1) THE PEOPLE'S VOICE ON BLAIR'S JUDGEMENT DAY 
2) NEW PAMPHLET - IRAQ: A PEOPLE'S DOSSIER  
3) PUBLIC MEETING: FROM IRAQ TO AFGHANISTAN  
4) GORDON BROWN'S WAR CONFERENCE  
5) L/CPL JOE GLENTON'S COURT MARTIAL HEARING  
6) FUNDING A WEEK OF ANTI-WAR PROTEST

*******************************  
1) THE PEOPLE'S VOICE ON BLAIR'S JUDGEMENT DAY

Writers, musicians, relatives of the dead, Iraqi refugees,  
poets, human rights  
lawyers, comedians, well known actors, MPs and ordinary  
citizens are joining a day of protest, performance and 
politics outside the Iraq Inquiry on Friday 29 January, as  
Tony Blair faces his judgement day.

People who oppose Britain's foreign wars are coming from all  
corners of the country. The verdict on Blair will affect  
present and future wars. It needs to be made clear to the  
world that people here regard him as a man guilty of taking  
Britain into an illegal war.

The approximate timetable for Tony Blair's Judgement Day at  
the QE2 Conference Centre, is as follows:

8.00: PROTEST STARTS AS BLAIR ARRIVES 
A delegation including Iraqi citizens and grieving military  
families take the People's Dossier of questions for Tony Blair 
to Sir John Chilcot.

9.00-10.00: NAMING OF THE DEAD CEREMONY  
When Blair's testimony begins, names of Iraqis killed in the  
war will be read by novelist A.L Kennedy, Musician Brian Eno, 
actor and director Sam West, actor and director Simon 
McBurney, playwright David Edgar, Lancet editor Richard  
Horton, former UK ambassador Craig Murray, Iraqi author Haifa 
Zangana, comedian and author Alexei Sayle, actor Miriam  
Margoyles, and more.

10.00-11.00: SPEECHES, READINGS AND PERFORMANCES  
Including by many of those participating in the Naming the  
Dead ceremony.

12.00-13.00: PERFORMANCE FROM LOWKEY, KING BLUES AND  
OTHER MUSICIANS.

13.00-14.00: MILITARY FAMILIES NAMING OF THE DEAD  
Members of military families who lost loved ones in the Iraq  
war will read the names of all 179 British soldiers who died.

16.00: PROTEST AS TONY BLAIR LEAVES THE INQUIRY

Tony Blair's Judgement Day  
Friday 29 January from 8.00am 
Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre  
Broad Sanctuary, London, SW1P 3EE  
Nearest tube: Westminster

*******************************  
2) NEW PAMPHLET - IRAQ: A PEOPLE'S DOSSIER  
A new Stop the War pamphlet, IRAQ: A PEOPLE'S DOSSIER, will be 
available on Blair's Judgement Day. It is a compilation  
representing the voices that have been excluded from the Iraq 
Inquiry - that is, the majority of people in Britain who  
consistently opposed Tony Blair's war.

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

WEDNESDAY 27 JANUARY 7PM  
CAMDEN CENTRE, BIDBOROUGH STREET  
LONDON WC1H 9DB

At this Stop the War/CND public meeting leading figures will  
focus on another war initiated war by Tony Blair, and expose  
the lies behind the "good war" in Afghanistan.

Speakers include  Tony Benn, Seumas Milne (The Guardian),  
George Galloway MP, a speaker from the German movement, Kate  
Hudson (CND) and Lindsey German (Stop the War) .

*******************************  
4) GORDON BROWN'S WAR CONFERENCE

The day before Blair appears at the Chilcot inquiry, on  
Thursday 28 January, Gordon Brown has called a war conference 
on Afghanistan, which will be attended by Hilary Clinton,  
President Karzai and representatives from all the Nato 
countries supporting the US-led occupation. Stop the War and  
CND are organising a protest demanding an end to a war which  
is every bit as immoral and devastating as the war in Iraq.

Protest on Thursday 28 January, 8.30am, Lancaster House,  
Stable Yard, St James's, London SW1A 1BB

*******************************  
5) L/CPL JOE GLENTON'S COURT MARTIAL HEARING

It is ironic that Tony Blair is facing an inquiry into his  
decision to send soldiers to an illegal war which has 
slaughtered hundreds of thousands on the same day that a  
soldier who refuses to fight what he regards as another  
unjustifiable war started by Blair is facing court martial.

Lance Corporal Joe Glenton, faces the first hearing of his  
court martial on Friday 29 January at Bulford in Wiltshire.  
Stop the War has called a picket to support Joe. Supporters  
travelling from London will meet with anti-war activists in  
Wiltshire.

It is essential that the only soldier to stand up and say  
publicly what many soldiers privately admit - that the war in 
Afghanistan is both unwinnable and unjustifiable - gets the  
widest possible support from the anti-war movement. Messages  
of support can be sent to Joe at defendjoeglenton@gmail.com.

For more information and updates on his case, see:  
http://bit.ly/2vHCKR

*******************************  
6) FUNDING A WEEK OF ANTI-WAR PROTEST

Stop the War has had a hectic beginning to 2010, with three  
major events and the publication of a new pamphlet this week. 
We are now gearing up for the general election campaign, to  
ensure that the war in Afghanistan is not sidelined by the  
major political parties, all of which supported the recent  
troop surge that will inevitably lead to further escalation  
following eight years which have brought nothing but ever  
increasing levels of death and destruction.

We have had a tremendous response to our emergency appeal for 
funds this month, but we still urgently need financial support 
to help sustain our activities and events for peace. We rely  
entirely on the contributions of our members and supporters  
for funding. If you have not donated to the current appeal,  
please consider doing so now:

How to donate: 
   * Donate online: http://bit.ly/8g4iQ4  
   * By credit/debit card: Call 020 7801 2768 
   * By post: Send cheque made out to "Stop the War  
Coalition":  
     231 Vauxhall Bridge Road 
     London UK  
     SW1V 1EH

Protest days in January

23 January, 1.30pm: Protest outside Army Show Room at Kingsland Shopping Centre, opposite Dalston Kingsland Station. Come and give out leaflets to publicise the blocade of Brown's Afghanistan Conference on 28 January and Blair's judgement day on 29 January. Helping us will be a masked Tony Bliar (no, not the real one) to answer any questions you have. 27 January: Central London Public Meeting Why we should get out of Afghanistan

Speakers: Tony Benn, Seumas Milne, George Galloway MP, a speaker from the German movement, Kate Hudson (CND), Lindsey German (Stop the War) 7pm, Camden Centre, Bidborough Street, London WC1H9DB

28 January: Blockade Gordon Brown's Afghanistan conference

Gordon Brown's international conference on Afghanistan is part of a concerted effort to revive the brand Afghanistan as "the good war". In reality the warmongers are gathering for a war council masquerading as a peace conference, which is why Stop the War has called for a blockade. Blockade Gordon Brown's War Conference Thursday 28 January 8.30am Lancaster House, Stable Yard, St James's London SW1A 1BB

29 January: Tony Blair's Judgement Day

Queen Elizabeth Conference Centre, Westminster, London SW1P 3EE On Friday 29 January, Tony Blair try to explain to the Iraq Inquiry the lies he used to take Britain into an illegal war. Stop the War will hold an all-day protest outside the inquiry, which will include a naming the dead ceremony, street theatre, poetry readings, music and other performances. Many military families will be there for the appearance of the man responsible for the deaths of their loved ones.It is time for the voice of the majority to be heard. Over 60% of the British public opposed the invasion in 2003. Today 52% say Blair deliberately misled parliament and the country. One in four say he should face trial for war crimes. On 29 January we will demand no whitewash by the Iraq Inquiry. Join us from 8.00am onwards

The people's dossier versus the dodgy dossier‏

STOP THE WAR COALITION 
17 January 2010 
Email office@stopwar.org.uk 
Tel: 020 7801 2768 
Web: http://stopwar.org.uk 
Twitter: http://twitter.com/STWuk

THE PEOPLE'S DOSSIER VERSUS THE DODGY DOSSIER

Have you submitted your question to Tony Blair for the 
People's Dossier, which Stop the War will be presenting to the 
Iraq Inquiry? Hundreds of questions have been sent in, 
including contributions from Hans von Sponeck, the former UN 
coordinater in Iraq, musician Brian Eno and a number of 
military families.

Sami Ramadani, from Iraqi Democrats Against Occupation, has 
sent in this question:

Mr Blair, you have often said that you "strongly believed" you 
were doing "the right thing" when you sent British troops to 
invade and occupy Iraq. Considering that Hitler and other war 
criminals strongly believed that what they were doing was 
right, do you think that strongly believing in something makes 
it right, or pardonable if it proved to be terribly wrong?

Last week Alistair Campbell told the Iraq Inquiry he defends 
"every single word" of the dossier presented to parliament in 
September 2002. Blair wrote in the forward that it showed 
"beyond doubt" that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction, when 
both he and Campbell knew full well that the intelligence had 
not produced any evidence that they existed.

The second "dodgy" dossier" published in February 2003 was an 
even more blatant fabrication intended to justify war crimes.

If you haven't sent in your question yet, please do so now. 
Blair will be appearing at the Iraq Inquiry within the next 
three weeks and we want the People's Dossier to be 
representative of everyone who protested in such vast numbers 
against his warmongering under the slogan "not in our name".

HOW TO SEND YOUR QUESTION 
Send it by email to Stop the War. Write "Blair question" in 
the subject title of the email and send to 
office@stopwar.org.uk

SEE UPDATES TO THE PEOPLE'S DOSSIER 
We have posted a selection of questions received so far here: 
http://bit.ly/5lfaSN 
We will be posting the full list of questions received soon, 
which will be update daily.

PROTEST THE DAY BLAIR GIVES EVIDENCE 
Stop the war will call a protest outside the Iraq Inquiry when 
Blair appears to insist there is no whitewash of his war 
crimes. There will be events all day, including a naming the 
dead ceremony, poetry readings, music and other performances.

Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan on public trial‏

STOP THE WAR COALITION 
NEWSLETTER  
No. 1134 13 January 2010  
Email office@stopwar.org.uk  
Tel: 020 7801 2768  
Web: http://stopwar.org.uk  
Twitter: http://twitter.com/STWuk

IN THIS NEWSLETTER:  
1) WARS IN IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN ON PUBLIC TRIAL  
2) BLOCKADE GORDON BROWN'S WAR CONFERENCE  
3) TONY BLAIR'S JUDGEMENT DAY 
4) L/CPL JOE GLENTON'S COURT MARTIAL HEARING  
5) BRITISH  GAZA PROTESTORS IMPRISONED 
6) GAZA ONE YEAR ON: PUBLIC MEETING  
7) KEEP THE MONEY COMING IN

*********************************  
1) WARS IN IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN ON PUBLIC TRIAL

The Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are on public trial in the  
next few weeks. In January we will have the opportunity to  
give high profile expression to the opinion of the  
overwhelming majority of people in this country, that these  
wars are wrong and that they have to end. Stop the War is  
calling demonstrations at both Gordon Brown's International  
Conference on Afghanistan and for the day Tony Blair gives  
evidence to the Iraq Inquiry. See below for details.

*********************************  
2) BLOCKADE GORDON BROWN'S WAR CONFERENCE  
THURSDAY 28 JANUARY  
LANCASTER HOUSE, STABLE YARD, ST JAMES'  
LONDON SW1A 1BB

Gordon Brown has called a conference to discuss the  
Afghanistan War. It will be attended by leading players,  
including Hilary Clinton, stooge Afghan President Kharzai,  
President Sarkozy from France and Chancellor Angela Merkel  
from Germany.

The conference aims to parade support for Obama's second troop 
surge and to boost Gordon Brown in his general election  
campaign, for which the lives of Afghans and British soldiers 
are being cynically used .

Stop the War and CND are calling for the biggest possible  
protest to attempt to blockade the conference. We will be  
protesting as near as possible to the conference before it  
starts, probably in the morning. The government has not  
announced timings yes, so book the day off now and look out  
for update mailings or check our website:  
http://www.stopwar.org.uk

********************************  
3) TONY BLAIR'S JUDGEMENT DAY 
QUEEN ELISABETH CONFERENCE CENTRE  
WESTMINSTER LONDON SW1P 3EE

Stop the War is calling a protest at the Chilcot Iraq inquiry 
from 8am on the day Tony Blair gives evidence. He is due to  
appear within the two weeks following 25 January and he will  
be questioned all day.

Stop the War is planning a "judgement day" for Blair, which  
will include protest, politics and performance. We aim to  
involve all the groups and individuals that came together to  
oppose Blair's criminal war, and which culminated in the  
demonstration by two million people on 15 February 2003.

Many military families who lost loved ones because of Blair's 
lies will be attending the Inquiry and joining our protest  
outside.

There will be a naming of the dead ceremony when Blair first  
appears at the morning session, followed by readings, 
speeches, music and performance throughout the time he is  
giving evidence.

Appearances  have already been confirmed by by playwrights  
Caryl Churchill and David Edgar, the band King Blues, rapper  
and poet Lowkey, novelist A.L. Kennedy, actor Tim  
Piggot-Smith, Bruce Kent from CND, Lancet editor Richard  
Horton and many more.

We welcome more suggestions for activities to dramatise the  
need for Blair to be brought to justice for his war crimes.

Student and local Stop the War groups are already calling  
activist meetings to build support for Blair's Judgement Day  
and to discuss proposals for activities. Please contact the  
Stop the War office if you would like to be put in touch with 
your local or college Stop the War group.

Please spread the word about these protests. Publicity will be 
available soon. In the meantime please use every means you can 
to publicise these events by forwarding this e-mail, texting  
or tweeting your contacts etc.

*********************************  
4) L/CPL JOE GLENTON'S COURT MARTIAL HEARING

Lance Corporal Joe Glenton, the only serving British soldier  
refusing to fight in Afghanistan, was released from the  
Military Correction Training Centre in mid December and is now 
awaiting the legal hearings prior to his court martial. The  
initial legal arguments will be heard on Friday 29 January.

The army has decided that the hearing will be held at Bulford 
Camp , about 10 miles from Andover, probably because it thinks 
holding it in Wiltshire will diminish media coverage.

Stop the War will be organising transport to go to Bulford to 
give support to Joe on the day of his first court martial  
hearing. If you would be interested in going, please inform  
the Stop the War office: Call 020 7801 2768 or email  
office@stopwar.org.uk.

For background and updates on Joe's case see: 
http://stopwar.org.uk/content/view/1594/27/

*********************************  
5) BRITISH  GAZA PROTESTORS IMPRISONED

It is outrageous that while the United Nations Goldstone  
Report -- which listed Israel's war crimes in its attack on  
Gaza and called for those responsible to be held to account -- 
has been ignored, those who demonstrated against these crimes 
at the time are being imprisoned for their protests.

Over 60 protestors who joined the major demonstrations in  
January 2009, which brought over 100,000 on to London's  
streets, have been charged with 'violent disorder' offences.  
Prison sentences are now being handed down by the courts.

To help those that have been charged we need film footage,  
photographs or video of any of the protests outside the  
Israeli Embassy or of the demonstrations on the 3rd, 10th or  
17th January 2009.

If you can help, please contact Joanna Gilmore who is helping 
with the defence of the protestors who have been charged:  
Email joanna.gilmore@manchester.ac.uk 
Call 07813 797 853.

*********************************  
6) GAZA ONE YEAR ON: PUBLIC MEETING

END THE SIEGE OF GAZA TUESDAY 19 JANUARY 7PM  
CONWAY HALL, RED LION SQUARE  LONDON WC1R 4RL 
Organised by Palestine Solidarity Campaign, Stop the War  
Coalition, Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament and British Muslim 
Initiative.

FULL DETAILS: http://bit.ly/4Oq31K  
Palestine Solidarity Campaign 0207 700 6192

*********************************  
7) KEEP THE MONEY COMING IN

We have had a fantastic response to our emergency financial  
appeal, receiving over three thousand pounds in the last 36  
hours. However we need much more than this to ensure we can be 
as effective as possible in the coming weeks.

If you have not already donated, please consider doing so now:

* Donate online: http://bit.ly/APlKX  
* By credit/debit card: Call 020 7801 2768  
* By post: Make cheque out to "Stop the War Coalition" and  
send to:  
     231 Vauxhall Bridge Road 
     London UK  
     SW1V 1EH

Download appeal letter as pdf: http://bit.ly/6kGWu1