Video: Paul Flynn MP speaks on the lies about Afghanistan told by the UK government, and urges people to join him and others at Stop the War Coalition's Naming the Dead protest on 7 October.
Stop the War Coalition
5 October 2012
Paul Flynn MP was expelled from parliament for saying the government was lying about the Afghanistan war. British soldiers, were he said, being used as "human shields" by politicians who would rather the killing and dying continued than have to admit this war was pointless and lost. In this video he explains why he believes he is telling the truth.
Why I was right to call the government liars.
Message from Paul Flynn MP
YOU WILL NO DOUBT have seen or heard of my recent expulsion from the House of Commons for telling what I and many others believe is the truth about Afghanistan.
We are fighting an unwinnable war of occupation there and the sooner we follow our former ISAF Coalition partners in withdrawing from the country the better.
Unfortunately successive governments have failed to realise this and continue putting the lives of our soldiers at risk, repeating the tired mantra that they are reducing the threat of terrorism in the UK in doing so. The Guardian's Simon Jenkins makes a similar point.
For many months I have been attempting to seek permission to read aloud the names of the 433 men and women, fallen in Afghanistan, in the House of Commons. Perhaps the stark realisation that it would take over half an hour of Parliamentary time to achieve this would have some influence on the Ministers using these brave soldiers as human-shields.
In the meantime the Stop the War Coalition are arranging a "Naming the Dead" ceremony in Trafalgar Square this Sunday October 7th 2012. I will be there, along with many others. Perhaps you could join us too.
Afghanistan Naming the Dead: Bring the troops home by Christmas
Sunday 7 October 1pm Trafalgar Square London
SEE: 10 reasons why the troops should come home by Christmas...
On the 11th anniversary of the start of the war on Afghanistan, Stop the War is organising a Naming of the Dead ceremony in Trafalgar Square, commemorating those killed -- both Afghan civilians and British soldiers.
The protest will also demand that the British government end its involvement in an unjustifed and futile war now and bring all the troops home by Christmas.
The ceremony will be led by Joan Humphries, whose grandson was killed in Afghanistan. She will be joined by Paul Flynn MP, who was recently expelled from parliament for accusing the government of lying about Afghanistan.
Also participating will be Musician Brian Eno, Mitra Quayoom from Afghans for Peace, actor Celia Mitchell, journalist Victoria Britain, Jeremy Corbyn MP, actor Miriam Margolyes, musician Dave Randall, Chair of CND Kate Hudson, convenor of Stop the War Lindsey German.