The spoils of war

Wednesday, March 22, 2006

Stop press. Gordon Brown has just announced another £800 million to be put aside for troops in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere.(!)Obviously he hasn't been talking to John Reid who thinks we just have a few local difficulties there. Isn't it incredible that these sums of money are just allocated with no real public debate, whereas most schools and hospitals struggle to replace staff or buildings.

Britain had one of the largest anti war demos in the world last weekend but has some of the worst press about the war. The BBC's coverage of the 3rd anniversary barely touched on any opposition to the war or occupation. And what about the Financial Times, which covered a demo they claimed was a few hundred in Washington but said nothing about what happened in London.

Anti war protesters from elsewhere in the world say its the same for them _ they hear about our demos before they hear about their own. I notice there is a free speech demo in Trafalgar Square this weekend backed by the not quite reconstructed warmonger Johann Hari. I bet that gets coverage.

Meanwhile in the real world, we are mobilising against Condoleezza Rice's visit to Liverpool and Blackburn next week. The big question is what will be the programme for her visit to the Liverpool Philharmonic: Give peace a chance, Imagine or Masters of War?

Flight Lieutenant Kendal Smith is not being let off as easily as the terrible twins, Rice and Straw. He only refused to obey orders in an illegal war_rather than actually starting one_so he's up for court martial, not a night at the concert hall.

3/22/2006 04:34:00 PM | Permalink