STOP THE WAR COALITION NEWSLETTER No 2006/9: April 22 Email office@stopwar.org.uk Telephone 020 7278 6694 Web www.stopwar.org.uk

************************************************* IN THIS NEWSLETTER 1) WORSE THAN UNDER SADDAM HUSSEIN 2) SUPPORT MALCOLM KENDALL-SMITH 3) MILITARY FAMILIES UNPRECEDENTED PROTEST 4) BUNKER BUSTERS: THE MOVIE 5) US MARCH FOR PEACE, JUSTICE AND DEMOCRACY 6) STOP THE WAR ANNUAL CONFERENCE

1) WORSE THAN UNDER SADDAM HUSSEIN This week, Daniel Pipes, adviser to George Bush and a leading proponent of the Iraq invasion complained about "the ingratitude of the Iraqis for the extraordinary favour we gave them: to release them from the bondage of Saddam Hussein's tyranny." The reasons for that "ingratitude" are given below in the shocking statistics which show that, three years after the US/UK invasion, Iraqis are far worse off now than they were under Saddam Hussein's brutal regime.

There can be no clearer indictment of those who took us into this illegal war � not least our prime minister Tony Blair and the Labour MPs who supported him -- nor can there be any clearer vindication of the anti-war movement, which predicted the horrors that continue to be inflicted on the Iraqi people. We always opposed Saddam Hussein's tyranny, and wished for his overthrow as much as anyone, but it was obvious that getting rid of a tyranny was the last motive in the minds of George Bush and Tony Blair, as is shown from US/British support for tyrants around the world, not least in earlier years for Saddam Hussein himself .

LEVEL OF VIOLENT DEATHS The level of violent deaths is far higher than in the last years of Saddam Hussein's rule. At least 100,000 Iraqi civilians have died, most of them at the hands of U.S. forces but increasingly from terrorist groups and Iraqi government death squads. Thousands of Iraqi soldiers and police have also been killed.

CRIME AT RECORD LEVELS: Violent crime, including kidnapping, rape, and armed robbery, is at record levels. There is a proliferation of small arms, and private militias are growing rapidly. A Lebanon-type multifaceted civil war, only on a much wider and deadlier scale, grows more likely with time.

MORE IRAQIS IMPRISONED: Over 50,000 Iraqis have been imprisoned by U.S. forces since the invasion, but only 1.5% of them have been convicted of any crime. Currently, U.S. forces hold 15,000 to 18,000 Iraqi prisoners, more than were imprisoned under Saddam Hussein.

WIDESPREAD USE OF TORTURE AND OTHER ABUSES: Amnesty International and other human rights groups have cited U.S. forces with widespread violations of international humanitarian law, including torture and other abuses of prisoners.Fear of arrest and torture that have worsened since the U.S. conquest of Iraq.

INCREASED DEATHS FROM MALNUTRITION AND PREVENTABLE DISEASES: Deaths from malnutrition and preventable diseases, particularly among children, are again on the increase. The supply of drinking water, reliability of electricity, and effectiveness of sewage disposal are all worse than before the invasion.

FIFTY PERCENT UNEMPLOYMENT AND INCOMES CUT BY HALF: As much as half of the labour force is unemployed, and the cost of living has skyrocketed. The median income of Iraqis has declined by more than half. The UN's World Food Program (WFP) reports that the Iraqi people suffer from �significant countrywide shortages of rice, sugar, milk, and infant formula,� and the WFP documents approximately 400,000 Iraqi children suffering from �dangerous deficiencies of protein.�

OIL PRODUCTION HALVED, RECONSTRUCTION HALTED: Oil production, the country's chief source of revenue, is less than half of what it was before the invasion. And despite Bush administration promises to infuse billions of dollars worth of foreign aid to rebuild the country's civilian infrastructure, only a small fraction of these ventures have been completed, and most projects have been cancelled.

ONE MILLION IRAQIS HAVE LEFT THE COUNTRY: Close to one million Iraqis, most of them from the vital, educated middle class, have left the country to avoid the violence and hardship brought on as a result of the U.S. invasion.

The above statistics are taken from IRAQ THREE YEARS AFTER "LIBERATION" by Stephen Zunes. A link to the full article can be found on the new STATISTICS page on the Stop the War website: http://www.stopwar.org.uk/Statistics.htm

************************************************* 2) SUPPORT MALCOLM KENDALL-SMITH Following Flight Lieutenant Malcolm Kendall-Smith's sentence to eight months imprisonment by a military kangaroo court for refusing to serve in Iraq, messages of support have been flooding in. The email address given originally for messages of support can no longer cope with the volume. Full details of how to support Malcolm and how to donate to the fund to help pay his court costs of 20 thousand pounds are available on the Stop the War website: http://www.stopwar.org.uk/StoptheWar-Kendall-Smith.htm

************************************************* 3) MILITARY FAMILIES UNPRECEDENTED PROTEST Lieutenant Richard Palmer, 27, of the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards died in Iraq on Saturday 15 April, the 104th fatality since the invasion in 2003. Tony Blair has never met one of the families of soldiers sent by him to die in an illegal war. On 26 April dozens of the bereaved families will go to parliament and to Downing Street to insist that Blair meets face to face those who have suffered most from his warmongering. They will be joined by the parents of British troops on active service in Iraq in what The Independent newspaper calls an "unprecedented protest, signalling growing discontent over the conflict in military circles". FOR MORE INFORMATION AND HOW TO SUPPORT THE MILITARY FAMILIES GO HERE: http://www.stopwar.org.uk/

************************************************* 4) BUNKER BUSTERS: THE MOVIE Saturday 6 May has been designated an international day of protest against George Bush's plans to attack Iran, revealed by Seymour Hersch's article in the New Yorker. For details of protests planned in Britain go to: http://www.stopwar.org.uk/StoptheWar-Iran.htm

If the rumours of the Pentagon planning to use nuclear bunker busting weapons in an attack prove to be true, an animation by the US Union of Concerned Scientists shows just what horrific consequences would follow: http://www.ucsusa.org/global_security/nuclear_weapons/nuclear-bunker-buster- rnep-animation.html

************************************************* 5) US MARCH FOR PEACE, JUSTICE AND DEMOCRACY In New York on Saturday 29 April the US anti-war movement will unite in a national demonstration calling for the end to the Iraq war and for all troops to come home immediately. With two thirds of the US people now opposed to the war and George Bush's poll rating down to an almost unprecedented 33 percent, this demonstration will be representative of the vast majority of Americans. For details of the New York protest and news about the US antiwar movement, go to: http://www.april29.org/

************************************************* 6) STOP THE WAR ANNUAL CONFERENCE Booking for delegates and observers to Stop the War's fifth annual national conference is now underway. The added feature this year of workshops lead by an impressive range of speakers has generated a lot of early interest. Online registration will be available very shortly. Anyone wishing to attend the conference as an observer should reserve their place now by telephone or email to the national office, as observer places will be strictly limited and allocated on a first-come first-served basis. Groups and organisations wishing to send delegates must have re-affiliated for 2006. This can be done online at the Stop the War website. FOR FULL DETAILS OF THE CONFERENCE AND TO AFFILIATE ONLINE GO TO: http://www.stopwar.org.uk/StoptheWar-Conference.htm -- To unsubscribe from this list, send a blank e-mail to stwc-unsubscribe@lists.riseup.net

STOP THE WAR COALITION NEWSLETTER No 2006/8: April 6 Email office@stopwar.org.uk Telephone 020 7278 6694 Web: www.stopwar.org.uk

************************************************* IN THIS NEWSLETTER 1) MILITARY FAMILIES LOBBY PARLIAMENT 2) A CARNIVAL OF CONDI PROTESTS 3) BUSH BLAIR CORPORATION 4) A STANDARD FOR ANTI-WAR ACTIVISM 5) STOP THE WAR ANNUAL CONFERENCE 6) FUNDING APPEAL

************************************************* 1) MILITARY FAMILIES LOBBY PARLIAMENT Tony Blair has refused to meet the families of those killed in Iraq. He has not visited the many hundreds of soldiers wounded in his war nor attended any of the funerals of those killed.

The families are demanding a meeting with Tony Blair because they need an accounting for the reasons the country was taken to war and the reasons why they have suffered so much.

On Wednesday April 26 the military families are organising a lobby of MPs in parliament. Following the lobby they will be laying a wreath at the Cenotaph and delivering a petition to Downing Street. They are calling on other families and servicemen and women to join then to make clear to Tony Blair that he cannot continue to ignore them.

The open letter the families have written to Tony Blair can be downloaded from here: http://www.mfaw.org.uk/

The petition demanding that Tony Blair meet the bereaved families can be signed here: http://www.petitiononline.com/MFAWAp06/petition.html and downloaded for collecting signatures here: http://www.stopwar.org.uk/new/resources/index.htm

The families are asking every anti war group and peace activist to contact military veterans they know or anyone they know with family in the services, and encourage them to join the lobby of parliament in London on the 26 April. Please circulate this call as widely as possible. Stop the War Coalition will of course fund expenses for the military families attending the lobby.

WEDNESDAY 26 APRIL 26 MILITARY FAMILIES LOBBY PARLIAMENT 12 noon - 2.30pm : meeting and lobbying MPs in parliament. 2.30 pm: proceed to the cenotaph for wreath laying, then to downing street to deliver the petition.

************************************************* 2) A CARNIVAL OF CONDI PROTESTS Well, whose idea was the Condoleezza Rice visit? What a PR disaster it turned out for these experts in spin. Everywhere she has been met by large protests: on Friday 31 March at the Blackburn school, outside the Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts, and on the steps of Liverpool Cathedral, where at least 3000 gathered, and then on 1 April again in Blackburn, when a thousand mainly locals braved torrential rain on the last day of Rice's tour.

It's not just the size of the protests but the support. LIPA students turned their backs on Rice. Blackburn school students refused to go into school. Jennifer John sang Imagine at the concert but then went on to an unscheduled Give Peace a Chance. That's a really brave thing to do and apparently Straw was furious.

It's also the hundreds and thousands of little things that make up a demo: the homemade placards and the different slogans that come forward; the bands like the samba band in Liverpool; the coffin which a kind Liverpool undertaker lent us free of charge on condition we returned it; the music and poetry and creative ways people express themselves.

So these demos were real carnivals of protest where everyone felt great and that we'd achieved a great thing. The north west has said she's not welcome here. Even the civic reception with Muslim leaders looked very sparsely attended on TV.

There are a lot of thanks due to a lot of people but especially Merseyside Stop the War Coalition, and Blackburn Stop the War and their colleagues across Lancashire.

And we should be grateful to Condoleezza for building such big protests which will only help Stop the War in the north west. Maybe they'll send us Dick Cheney or Donald Rumsfeld next.

THIS IS AN EDITED VERSION OF LINDSEY GERMAN'S REGULAR BLOG ON THE STOP THE WAR WEBSITE: http://www.stopwar.org.uk/lindsey/

FOR A SUMMARY OF HOW THE INTERNATIONAL MEDIA REPORTED THE CONDI VISIT FIASCO GO TO: http://www.stopwar.org.uk/new/Coniworldpress.htm

FOR PHOTOS OF THE CARNIVAL OF PROTESTS SHE FACED ON HER VISIT, GO TO: http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2006/04/337313.html

************************************************* 3) BUSH BLAIR CORPORATION This is the text of a letter from Stop the War Coalition to Mark Thompson, Director-General of the BBC, which was handed in to BBC offices when they were picketed across the country on Tuesday 4 April.

Dear Mr Thompson,

We write to protest in the strongest possible terms against the failure of the BBC to broadcast any reports of the anti-war demonstration in London on March 18 on any of its TV news bulletins.

This demonstration was one of a large number held around the world to mark the third anniversary of the start of Iraq war, a significant landmark. We estimate that 80-100,000 people attended the London protest. Speakers at the concluding rally included the chief foreign representative of the al-Sadr movement in Iraq, a major force in that country�s politics, parliamentary figures from the Labour, Liberal Democrat, Plaid Cymru and Respect parties, the well-known musician Brian Eno and the parents of several of the British soldiers who have died in Iraq, as well as an SAS soldier who had recently served there.

It defies belief that you found this event unworthy of the slightest mention. Such an attitude can only undermine belief in the power of peaceful democratic protest. We would like to quote from just one of the many e-mails received on this subject: My daughter and her friend joined the march on Saturday. It was their first independent project as 'citizens' and they were elated to be doing it. On returning home they both looked to see what coverage of the march there was on the BBC. As you say, there wasn't. This was a disappointment to two idealistic young people eager to make their voices heard. It was not a good experience of 'living in a democracy'.

We also note that the Defence Secretary John Reid was afforded the opportunity to attack the demonstration�s purpose on the Today programme on the morning of March 18 � thereby incidentally establishing its news-worthiness � without any representative of the organisers, or any alternative view, being given a chance to comment.

This would seem to us to indicate a systematic hostility to the anti-war movement and to those critical of the government�s Iraq policy, notwithstanding that we speak for most of the country on this matter if opinion polls are to be believed. We believe that this represents an abandonment of the BBC�s charter obligations to impartiality and fairness on matters of political controversy.

We would be grateful for an explanation of BBC policy on these matters, and in particular as to why news of Saturday�s demonstration was blanked out by BBC News, and would ask you to make time for a meeting with us to discuss this further.

Yours sincerely, Andrew Murray (chair) Lindsey German (convenor) Stop the War Coalition

STOP THE WAR COALITION HAS RECEIVED NO REPLY FROM MARK THOMPSON. IF YOU WANT TO WRITE YOUR OWN LETTER OF COMPLAINT TO MR THOMPSON, YOU CAN DO SO ON mark.thompson@bbc.co.uk

If you wish to complain to Peter Horrocks, Head of BBC Television News: email: peter.horrocks@bbc.co.uk

FOR REPORTS AND PHOTOS OF THE BBC PROTESTS ON 4 APRIL GO TO: http://www.stopwar.org.uk/new/beebdemo.htm

************************************************* 4) A STANDARD FOR ANTI-WAR ACTIVISM From the USA come these complimentary remarks about Stop the War Coalition in David Swanson's review of the Verso/StWC book NOT ONE MORE DEATH. David is no slouch himself when it comes to anti-war campaigning and we very much appreciate his comments.

"The Stop the War Coalition in the UK has set a standard for anti-war activism that we in the United States struggle to match. They've held larger protests, convened more significant conferences, and moved their agenda further in public opinion, in Parliament, and in the courts than we have done.

On Tuesday they organized protests nationwide outside the studios of the BBC, which of course already provides a level of openness and honesty in its reporting that those of us in the Land of the Free can only fantasize about.

Many in the U.S. turn to the BBC for better news than the muck our networks produce. Many of us who want to end the war in Iraq look to the Stop the War Coalition's leadership and are grateful for the protests they create when Condoleezza sets foot on their soil, and for the statements, posters, pamphlets, and books the coalition produces.

The newest book from the Stop the War Coalition is called "Not One More Death". It's as good a statement as I've seen of why this war is cruel and destructive and why we must devote our energies to ending it as soon as possible."

NOT ONE MORE DEATH is available from the Stop the War office, price �5: Order by telephone 020 7278 6694 or online at http://www.stopwar.org.uk/new/NotOneMoreDeath.htm

DAVID SWANSON'S WRITINGS ARE AVAILABLE AT: http://www.opednews.com/author/author9.html David is also a leading organiser in the campaign to have George Bush impeached for his illegal war in Iraq. SEE: http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/

************************************************* 5) STOP THE WAR ANNUAL CONFERENCE SATURDAY 10 JUNE FRIENDS MEETING HOUSE EUSTON ROAD, LONDON WC1 As well as the usual resolutions and elections to be discussed and voted on, the fifth annual national StWC conference on Saturday 10 June will include a wide range of workshops lead by keynote speakers (see below). The conference is open to delegates from groups affiliated to Stop the War Coalition and to paid up individual members who wish to attend as observers.

FOR FULL DETAILS OF THE CONFERENCE ARRANGEMENTS AND REQUIREMENTS GO TO: http://www.stopwar.org.uk/new/Conference.htm

Early registration for the conference is recommended to ensure your place as either a delegate or observer. All affiliated groups must complete 2006 re-affiliation before submitting delegate names.

FIFTH ANNUAL STOP THE WAR CONFERENCE SATURDAY 10 JUNE FRIENDS MEETING HOUSE EUSTON ROAD, LONDON WC1

SPEAKERS CONFIRMED ARE: Craig Murray, Tony Benn, Louise Christian, Rose Gentle, George Galloway MP, Elaheh Rostami Povey (Action Iran), Lindsey German (National Convenor, StWC) Yvonne Ridley (Islam Channel), Kate Hudson (Chair CND), Karma Nabulsi, John Rees, (Respect), Jeremy Corbyn MP, Sabah Jawad (Iraqi Democrats), Loukas Christodoulou, Explo Nani Kofi (African Liberation Support Group), Jane Shallice, Dahabo Isse, AR Lokongo, Andrew Murray, Andrew Burgin, Chris Nineham, Salma Yaqoob

WORKSHOP TOPICS WILL INCLUDE - Iraq Today: Towards Democracy of Civil War? - Why Iran is Under Threat - Where Now for Palestine? - Is Latin America the Next Target? - The Forgotten Wars in Africa - Civil Liberties and Guantanamo - Islamophobia and the Anti-War Movement - Military Families Against the War

************************************************* 6) FUNDING APPEAL Tony Blair is spending 2.8 million pounds on the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan every day. Killing thousands of people and destroying their country is an expensive business.

Tony Blair gets this money to destroy human life and resources from the taxes of ordinary people, most of whom have opposed his warmongering from the start. Stop the War Coalition also relies on contributions from ordinary people to sustain our campaign to help bring the end to Blair's wars and to hold him to account for his war crimes.

As always after organising a large national demonstration, we have accrued large expenditures which need to be covered. To encourage our supporters to give a donation to ensure Stop the War Coalition is able to continue organising the peace activities which have brought us an international reputation for anti-war activism, we are offering a complimentary copy of our new book NOT IN OUR NAME (list price 5 pounds) to everyone who donates 10 pounds or more to our campaign. You can donate in three ways:

a) By telephone with debit/credit card: 020 7278 6694 b) Online at http://www.stopwar.org.uk/new/involved/joinonline.htm c) By post to Stop the War Coalition, 27 Britannia Street, WC1X 9PG

Many thanks to all who have contributed in the past.

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