HANDS OFF IRAN AND SYRIA - NO NEW WARS

STOP THE WAR COALITION	 
Newsletter No.1230   
4 January 2012	 
Email office@stopwar.org.uk   
Tel: 020 7801 2768   
Web: http://stopwar.org.uk   
Twitter: http://twitter.com/STWuk   
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/stopthewarcoalition

IN THIS NEWSLETTER:   
1) HANDS OFF IRAN AND SYRIA - NO NEW WARS   
2) TROOPS OUT OF AFGHANISTAN - PROTEST AT 400th UK DEATH   
3) GUANTANAMO PROTEST SATURDAY 7 JANUARY   
4) STOP THE WAR NATIONAL CONFERENCE   
5) VIDEO OF THE WEEK: IF ARMED CHINESE TROOPS WERE IN TEXAS

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1) HANDS OFF IRAN AND SYRIA - NO NEW WARS

PROTEST RALLY: SATURDAY 28 JANUARY, 2-4PM   
OUTSIDE THE US EMBASSY	 
24 GROSVENOR SQUARE, W1A 1LQ

Simon Jenkins writes in Wednesday's Guardian that 'Imposing   
sanctions at Washington's behest is an idiocy, and likely to do   
little other than escalate the steps to open conflict'. (See   
http://bit.ly/zk2kVc ) The new year opened with further threats   
against Iran.

More sanctions from Washington and a blacklist of anyone who does   
business with the country are an escalation of the Western   
confrontation with the country. Israel is talking more and more   
of an attack on Iran to 'deal with' its nuclear capability (even   
though Israel is the only country in the Middle East which   
actually possesses nuclear weapons). In an election year for the   
US, tensions around this issue are almost certain to grow.   
Already, Iran has responded by testing missiles in the Gulf and   
there has even been talk of closing the Straits of Hormuz to oil   
exports.

Following a year when Britain and France led the intervention in   
Libya the dangers of further western attacks in the region are	 
very real. Under the guise of 'humanitarian intervention' in   
recent weeks there have been threats to Syria and Iran. There are   
many signs of covert intervention in both countries.

Stop the War has called a protest outside the US embassy in   
Grosvenor Square on Saturday 28th January from 2-4pm. We are   
asking all our supporters in London and the South East to   
mobilise for it. Any attacks on Iran or Syria will almost   
certainly herald a much bigger war in the Middle East than   
anything seen so far. We must build an opposition to these   
threats now.

As Jenkins goes on to say, 'Economic sanctions are coward's   
diplomacy. They purport to high moral stance but are merely a	
low-risk way of bullying the world. The danger is that they   
encourage militarist lobbies to escalate the steps that lead to   
open conflict.' We know that there are plenty of militarist   
lobbies and politicians willing to back them.

We would like all our supporters to campaign against this threat.   
There are petitions on the website that can be downloaded (see	 
http://bit.ly/x9nxvP ) and local groups will be holding meetings   
on the topic to build a national campaign.

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2) TROOPS OUT OF AFGHANISTAN - PROTEST AT 400th UK DEATH

A big effort was made over the new year to present the situation   
in Afghanistan in a favorable light. The reality on the ground is   
suggested by the death of five British soldiers in less than a	 
month, taking the total to 395. The fact is last year the Taliban   
proved their resilience and their military capacity with a series   
of assassinations, bombings and raids in northern cities which	 
had been virtual no-go areas for them. Unsurprisingly, the   
occupation is increasing levels of violence in the country. In	 
December there were two attacks by Afghan soldiers on foreign	
troops making a mockery of plans for an imminent 'security   
handover'.

The Western response to what is in reality a worsening security   
situation has been to accept the need for talks with the Taliban   
against President Karzai's wishes but also to plan for troops to   
be kept in Afghanistan permanently. General Allen has publicly	 
called for troops to stay indefinitely despite President Obama’s   
pledge to withdraw them by 2014.

Tens of thousands of people have been massacred during the   
occupation, and there are many people without food. Most surveys   
show life has got worse for the majority in the last decade. As   
Afghan activist and ex MP Malalai Joya said on her 2011 tour, the   
US and NATO use women's rights and human rights as an excuse for   
occupation, "yet they blindly bombard my people from the sky".	 
There is no democracy, she said: "It is the same donkey with a	 
different saddle. It doesn't matter who votes, it only matters	 
who's counting".

Stop the War is asking its supporters to prepare for a national   
day of protest when the 400th British soldier death is announced,   
calling for all the troops to be brought home.

Please send any local details for posting on the website.

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3) GUANTANAMO PROTEST SATURDAY 7 JANUARY

PROTEST RALLY	
SATURDAY 7 JANUARY, 2-4PM   
TRAFALGAR SQ, OUTSIDE THE NATIONAL GALLERY

This week marks the shameful tenth anniversary of the opening of   
the Guantanamo Bay prison camp. The ill treatment of these   
prisoners detained without trial or any legal rights has produced   
widespread opposition to the camp. There will be a protest   
organised by London Guantanamo Campaign and Save Shaker Aamer	
Campaign  this Saturday 7th Jan, 2pm to 4pm in Trafalgar Square   
(outside the National Gallery). It is supported by STWC, CND and   
other organisations. Please attend if you can.

MORE DETAILS: http://bit.ly/zChwv9

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4) STOP THE WAR NATIONAL CONFERENCE

NATIONAL CONFERENCE   
SATURDAY 3RD MARCH   
ULU, MALET ST, WC1E 7HY

We are holding our Annual General Meeting on March 3rd at the	
University of London Union in Malet Street. The conference will   
be a chance to discuss and analyse the West's interventions in	 
Central Asia and the Middle East and to debate and decide our	
policies, strategy and campaigns for the coming year. It will be   
addressed by MPs activists and experts. As well as delegates from   
affiliated groups, the conference is open to all members of Stop   
the War before January 1st 2012. Members who have joined since	 
can attend as observers. To book a place for yourself or a   
delegation e-mail office@stopwar.org.uk or phone 0207 801 2768.

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5) VIDEO OF THE WEEK: IF ARMED CHINESE TROOPS WERE IN TEXAS

The United States has 750 military bases across the globe.   
Imagine if China followed the US model and had armed troops in	 
Texas. MUST WATCH VIDEO: http://bit.ly/xR4qlb