You are herecontent / Afghanistan: A weekend of carnage, an occupation in turmoil

Afghanistan: A weekend of carnage, an occupation in turmoil

By davidswanson - Posted on 17 September 2012

    Stop the War Coalition 17 September 2012
    Newsletter No. 1254
    Email: office@stopwar.org.uk
    Tel: 0207 561 9311
    Web: http://stopwar.org.uk
    Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/stopthewarcoalition
    Twitter: https://twitter.com/STWuk

IN THIS NEWSLETTER:

1) Afghanistan: A weekend of carnage, an occupation in turmoil
2) The anti-Islam video and blowback for western intervention
3) Going to university? Help build the movement in the colleges
4) The Media and War - Challenging the Consensus
5) Tenth anniversary of the largest demonstration in UK history
6) London activists meeting - September 26th

**************
1) Afghanistan: A weekend of carnage, an occupation in turmoil

A few days ago we were being told by UK Defence Secretary Philip Hammond that progress was so significant in Afghanistan that the Ministry of Defence was accelerating the withdrawal of British troops. This weekend exposed the real situation. Nine NATO soldiers have been killed, including two British soldiers and two others at the high security Camp Bastion. The attackers at Bastion, NATO's most secure encampment, caused massive damage including destroying six vital aircraft. The attack will be a terrible blow to the morale of the occupiers. If Camp Bastion is vulnerable, NATO is at risk everywhere. (SEE: Weekend of Carnage in Afghanistan by Lindsey German http://bit.ly/NxLCuP).

Sunday 7 October is the anniversary of the invasion of Afghanistan in 2001. Stop the War is co-organising a Naming of the Dead ceremony with Afghans for Peace in Trafalgar Square. It will coincide with protests in the US and Canada and with the march for peace against drones being organised in Waziristan.

**************
2) The anti-Islam video and blowback for western intervention

The outrage across the Muslim world at the 'Innocent Muslims' video insulting the prophet Mohammed should surprise no-one.

The video itself is a hateful act of provocation, but the worldwide response also reveals boiling resentment at the atrocities committed against Muslims by the west in country after country. Events in Libya put the lie to the Western narrative of a stable, democratic regime coming out of the Western intervention there. (SEE Killing of US ambassador in Libya is yet more blowback for western intervention: http://bit.ly/NxMU96)

But as Tony Blair's appalling interview on Radio 4's Today programme this morning showed, western leaders continue to believe in their right to intervene around the world in the name of 'progress'. At present there is a constant threat of an increased intervention in Syria, while Israel continues to push for an attack on Iran. (SEE Why is the deluded, self-justifying war criminal Tony Blair given airtime by the media? http://bit.ly/Rg1lRi)

Stop the War has organised an autumn campaign of public meetings around the country to protest against the drift towards more war in the Middle East. Check the campaign page for details of meetings near you: http://bit.ly/TPweKh.

NATIONAL RALLY IN LONDON
Syria and Iran: No to Western Intervention
Tuesday 9 October, 7pm,
The Venue, University of London Union,
London WC1 E7HY
Speakers include: Tariq Ali, Lindsey German and Sabah Jawad
Please share the Facebook event for this rally with your online contacts: http://on.fb.me/NxNBz6

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

3) Going to University? Help build the movement in the colleges

This September and October, Stop the War is organising more stalls at university freshers' fairs than for many years. For details see http://bit.ly/NxNWSp.

A number of unis have contacted us asking for help in setting up Stop the War societies. If you would like to get involved, please email office@stopwar.org.uk

**************
4) The Media and War - Challenging the Consensus

Day conference at Goldsmith's College - November 17
Stop the war is co-organising this event with the Centre for Global Media and Democracy at Goldsmiths University

Speakers include John Pilger, Peter Oborne, Seumas Milne, Michelle Stanistreet, David Miller, Jeremy Corbyn MP, Chris Nineham and Rizwan Sabir. More details and publicity and how to reserve a place will be on the Stop the War website soon.

**************
5) Tenth anniversary of the largest demonstration in UK history

Stop the War is organising a conference to mark the tenth anniversary of the biggest global demonstrations in history that took place on the eve of the Iraq War on 15 February 2003. The conference will be held at Friend's Meeting House in London on Saturday 9 February 2013. Leading speakers from the movement in Britain will join with international guests to discuss the impact of the 'war on terror' and the priorities for the campaign against further wars.

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

6) London activists meeting - September 26th

Westminster Quaker Meeting House at 7pm.
52 St Martins Lane
London WC2N 4EA
Two minutes from Leicester Square. Map bit.ly/TNc1Wu

This open meeting is to discuss preparations for our upcoming national events and building the campaign to stop a new war in the Middle East. All welcome. Facebook event http://on.fb.me/RCet2E

Afghanistan: A weekend of carnage, an occupation in turmoil

User login

Sign Up Fast Here