Kabul conference shows the war at an impasse

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

1. KABUL CONFERENCE SHOWS THE WAR AT AN IMPASSE
2. 'AFGHANISTAN:TIME TO GO'. PUBLIC MEETING MONDAY 26TH JULY








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1. KABUL CONFERENCE SHOWS THE WAR AT AN IMPASSE

The Kabul conference discussing the war in Afghanistan has only served to
demonstrate the impasse which the war has now reached. Even the US
administration has conceded that talks with the Taliban – so far resisted by
Obama - are going to happen. The recognition that the war is losing contradicts
the statements, still reiterated by foreign secretary William Hague, that there
is a gradual improvement in the situation in Afghanistan.

The much-touted date for withdrawal in 2014 shows the desperation of the Nato
governments, faced with defeat in Afghanistan and growing unpopularity of the
war domestically. The fact that they are talking about a withdrawal date
reflects the growing costs of the war, in human life and in billions of
dollars. The death rate of British soldiers now stands at similar levels to
those of Russian soldiers just before their withdrawal 20 years ago. The death
rate of Afghans has increased over the past year. The Afghan army, supposedly
being trained to take over the war from the Nato forces, has a 25% desertion
rate.

But the conference today answers nothing. Why is fighting continuing in Helmand
and the south when a likely outcome of negotiations to end the war will be to
hand over that area to the Taliban? How can western governments claim the war
is about human rights when it backs a government ranking among the most corrupt
in the world? Why are these same governments ignoring public opinion, which is
for rapid withdrawal of troops and an end to the war?

The role of the British government in this war has been shameful, from John
Reid’s claim four years ago that the troops might be able to leave Helmand
without a shot being fired in anger, to Hague’s current increasingly
desperate justifications for the war.

How many more people will die before the proposed withdrawal date? How many
billions will be spent on an unjustifiable war while the welfare state is
slashed by the Coalition government. And which government minister will have to
tell the families of the dead what exactly they were fighting for?

We are asking all our supporters to redouble their efforts campaigning to bring
the troops home. Now is a moment when the movement can really make a
difference. Our timetable for withdrawal starts now, with campaigning in every
locality, involving military families, trade unions, school students and
students, faith groups and anti war campaigners. We are aiming for a big
national demonstration to coincide with the next Nato summit on November 20th
saying it’s time to go –bring the troops home.
Please start spreading the word about the demonstration – leaflets will be
available on Monday and get in touch with your local group or check the website
for local activities.

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2. 'AFGHANISTAN:TIME TO GO'. PUBLIC MEETING MONDAY 26TH JULY

7pm, Monday, 26th July
Conway Hall
25 Red Lion Square
London, WC1R 4RL

Joe Glenton, jailed for refusing to fight in Afghanistan, speaks out against
the war. With Caroline Lucas, Jeremy Corbyn and Mark Steel.

The war in Afghanistan is in crisis. The strategy is crumbling, with Obama's
sacking of General McChrystal and an increasingly corrupt Karzai government.
The violence is intensifying with No clear goals and even fewer results.
ThousandS of Afghan civilians are dying every year and very little rebuilding
is being done. Despite the 77% of people being opposed to Britain's
involvement in Afghanistan, this government continues to send troops to kill
and die in a war that is being lost.

This war is wrong, this war has failed and it's Time To Go--

Hackney Stop the War Public Meeting CRISIS IN THE 'WAR ON TERROR': home and abroad

1) Please come to our next public meeting (which is also our AGM).

The new year brings a worsening of the situation in Afghanistan and Pakistan as a result of increased military intervention in that area. Iran is under renewed threat and the Yemen is now under attack. Most people want the troops brought home. The government is desperately attempting to regain the initiative by banging on about the threat of terrorism.

That means that our next public meeting will be a chance to discuss the situation and debate what we do.

Public Meeting

CRISIS IN THE 'WAR ON TERROR': home and abroad

Speaker: Andrew Murray, chair of Stop the War Coalition

Tuesday 23 February @ 7.30pm

Round Chapel, Powerscroft Road, E5, Lower Clapton

Buses: 38, 48, 55, 106, 242, 253, 254, 425, 488.

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This meeting is open to everyone even though it is our AGM.

2) Please see attachment. This is a petition asking for donations to help Ibrahim Avcil's legal defence. The charge against Ibrahim relates to our protests against the Army Show Room in Dalston. If you are free, please come and support Ibrahim when he appears in court this Wed 10 February. Meet at 9.30am, Bow Magistrates Court, Bow Road, near Bow Road tube station.

Gareth Jenkins
Hackney Stop The War

SUPPORT IBRAHIM AVCIL

STOP POLICE HARASSMENT

DEFEND CIVIL LIBERTIES

Ibrahim Avcil, chair of Refugee Workers Cultural Association, faces serious charges following an incident involving security guards in Kingsland Shopping Centre last June. His arrest by the police is an attempt to intimidate Stop the War protests against the Army Showroom in Dalston.

Please help defend Ibrahim by donating to his legal costs.

NAME	ADDRESS	DONATION	SIGNATURE

Afghanistan: Vital October Dates for your Diary

Hackney Stop the War Public Meeting

Afghanistan: Why are we there?
Speakers:Seumas Milne, Guardian columnist

Clare Glenton, wife of soldier refusing to serve in Afghanistan

John Rees, Stop the War Coalition

Thursday 22 October @ 7.30pmRound ChapelPowerscroft Road E5Lower Clapton
Buses: 38, 48, 55, 106, 242, 253, 254, 425, 488

The government finds it more and more difficult to sustain the case for keeping the troops in Afghanistan. The death toll of soldiers continues to spiral - and for what? We are told this is a war for democracy. Yet the recent elections have revealed how corrupt the government is. We are told this is a war to protect women's rights. Yet the parliament has passed vicious anti-women legislation with the government's support. And we are told this is a war to prevent terrorism. Yet the longer Nato troops stay the greater the threat of terrorism.
Opinion poll after opinion poll in Britain shows that people are not taken in by government propaganda. A majority want the troops home either immediately or by the end of the year.
Come and hear the speakers at our public meeting and join in the discussion.

Also make sure that you, your friends, neighbours and workmates come to the national demonstration to get the troops out of Afghanistan, organised by Stop the War, CND and the British Muslim Initiative.

Saturday 24 OctoberCentral London*****************************************************************************
We need your help.
We need help publicising the meeting and the demonstration. We shall be having stalls in different parts of the borough on Saturdays in October. If you can help please let me know as soon as possible.
3 October, 1.30pm, Kingsland Shopping Centre (opposite Dalston Kingsland Station).(This will also be a protest against the continuing presence of the Army Showroom.)
10 October, 10.30pm, Stoke Newington Church Street (outside William Patten School/Farmers Market).
17 October, !.30pm, Narrow Way, top of Mare Street (outside Marks and Spencer).

Gareth JenkinsSec. Hackney Stop The War

Public Meeting: Shut down the Army Showroom in Dalston Thursday 18 June

Public meeting

Shut Down the Army Showroom in Dalston

7.30pm, Thursday 18 June

Round Chapel, Powerscroft Road, E5, Lower Clapton

Speakers:

Councillor Angus Mulready-Jones

Jenny Sutton, College of North East London

George Solomou, Military Families Against the War

Lindsey German, Convenor Stop the War Coalition

Twelve soldiers were killed in Afghanistan in May this year. The death rate is now higher than at any time since the invasion in 2001.

And, at around a thousand major casualties a year, every British soldier in Afghanistan has a one in eight chance of being seriously injured or contracting a serious illness.

Why doesn’t the army tell visitors to its showroom in Dalston about these horrific statistics instead of presenting war as a video game?

Our petitioning shows that people are also concerned at the Army’s attempt to exploit youth unemployment in a poor borough like Hackney.

The war in Afghanistan is getting uglier by the week. British pilots are firing an increasing number of “enhanced blast” thermobaric weapons, designed to kill everyone in buildings they strike. The violence will get worse, warns Lieutenant General Jim Dutton, Nato deputy commander in Afghanistan.

Everyone should ask themselves: is this what we want for the people of Afghanistan or for young people here to become involved in?

Youngsters in Hackney deserve better. The choice shouldn’t be between rotting on the dole or facing death or maiming in Afghanistan. Money should be poured into education, not chopped from college budgets.