When the talking has to start

Thursday, June 29, 2006

You don't experience many nights like the one we held to raise money for Malcolm Kendal Smith, the flight lieutenant who refused to serve in Iraq and who was court martialled and sentenced to eight months in prison. The beautiful St James's church in Piccadilly was standing room only last night. More than 600 people inside with another 100 turned away.

Music, poetry, readings, comedy, speeches, a scene from a play _ and a recording from the man himself, now out of prison but tagged and curfewed, courtesy of that defender of liberty and democracy the British government. Janet Suzman, Ken Loach, Tony Benn, Michael Nyman, David Edgar, Simon Callow and Vivienne Westwood were just some of the names who gave their time and talent to make it such a great evening.

But there was something more _ people coming together in outrage at the treatment of a brave and principled man, but also in celebration of a diverse and determined movement which keeps campaigning and finding ways of bringing new elements and ideas and individuals into it.

The atmosphere was therefore one of hope and solidarity. It kept me going even through the late night bendy bus experience on the 38 back to Hackney. The experience was somewhat shattered by the news this morning: prominent Palestinians including members of the Hamas government arrested by the Israelis while the Syrian president's summer palace has been buzzed by Israeli jets.

Aren't both of these pretty major breaches of international law or am I missing something? What if Iranian jets buzzed Turkey or Afghanistan? Can you imagine the talk about the international community, UN resolutions, rogue states and the rest? How about if the Irish government arrested Ian Paisley in revenge for Loyalist killings? Can't help feeling that would be a major international incident.

Of course they operate to rather different rules in the Middle East. Rule 1 is that Israel can get away with pretty much what it wants and the 'international community' looks on, wishing it would all go away. Rule 2 is that this behaviour is defended on the grounds of 'dealing with terrorism' or 'dealing with states who foster terrorism'.

Any state which is in conflict with the US or Israel is accused of fostering terrorism (rule 3). So Saddam Hussein's Iraq, Syria, Iran have all stood accused, as did Libya until it did a deal with the west.

Interesting developments then in post Saddam Iraq, where the new prime minister is now talking to terrorists. Or at least some of them. Not foreign terrorists of course, but home grown Iraqis. It's a recognition, of course, that this talk of terrorism hides a genuine opposition and resistance to the occupation which cannot be dealt with by designating all those who fight British and American troops as criminals, foreign fighters or fanatics.

At some point, the Iraqi government and their occupation masters are saying, we will have to do a deal. If they want to ever have a prospect of pulling the troops out they have to try to get stability, hence the talks.

They're not the first ones. We'll never talk to terrorists is the cry of politicians throughout the world. But of course they do. Those who were pariahs, outcasts and prisoners end up in positions of power and government, even taking tea with the queen as heads of Commonwealth states.

So when the Israelis and their supporters talk about being tough on terrorism, remember the way to end terrorism has always been to find a political solution, not to continue the oppression which helps to breed resistance in the first place.

6/29/2006 05:44:00 PM | Permalink