A blow for civilisation

What a grim start to August this is. Three British troops killed in Afghanistan, another hit by a mortar at a camp in Basra (the first British soldier to be killed in this way). Dozens killed every day in Iraq. But more than anything else the Israeli aggression on Lebanon.

There are now 10,000 Israeli soldiers on Lebanese soil. This assault on a supposedly sovereign country is one of the most atrocious actions at a time when atrocities come thick and fast.

I have often wondered how in the 1930s the 'international community' turned a blind eye to or even condoned Mussolini's attack on Abyssinia or Franco's overthrow of a democratic government in Spain. Yet today we have governments, including our own, refusing to call for a ceasefire in Lebanon on the grounds that it would not achieve a sustained settlement in the region.

True, given the historic injustice meted on the Palestinians since 1948, which will not be solved by a ceasefire.

Would it, on the other hand, stop the killing of refugees, the rising death toll of children, the bombing of hospitals, the destruction of Beirut, a city only just rebuilt after the last war, and the destruction of the last vestiges of peace in the Middle East?

Most people, excepting Tony Blair, George Bush and the Israeli government, would probably think that was worth it.

On the subject of the prime minister, his speech in California seemed to me very far from the coded attack on George Bush spun by Downing Street. It consisted of an echo of the 'axis of evil' speech _ the 'arc of extremism', an attack on Iran and Syria, and a retread of the 'clash of civilisations' theory. His contempt for Labour opinion was demonstrated by him delivering it while loving up to Rupert Murdoch and Arnold Schwarzenegger in a swish California resort.

Mahatma Gandhi, when asked about western civilisation replied he thought it would be a good idea.

The more you see of the 'war on terror' the more you can can see what he meant.

I have, incidentally, seen no reference in the press to the fact that Baalbek, the latest target for the Israelis, is the site of some of the most dramatic and beautiful ancient Roman buildings, including massive temples to Dionysus and Jupiter. So much for civilisation.

I visited Baalbek three years ago and shudder to think what is happening to the town and its people now.

This week I ended my holiday early to come back for our emergency demonstration this Saturday in London. Our office is buzzing as I haven't seen it for a long time. We have more people in it than I've ever seen, the phones, e mails, inquiries, don't stop and people constantly come in to pick up leaflets, posters, make placards.

We have a great route, from Hyde Park via the US embassy and Downing Street to a rally in Parliament Square. I think it will be a mega demo. Which will be a small blow for civilisation against the Bush and Blair barbarians.