attended the Stop the War conference on February 12 as a delegate from the Jewish Socialists' Group and subsequently wrote a report for Brent Stop the War of which he is also an active member. This is a shortened version of his impressions and opinions Issues which might have been used to create problems and weaken the Coalition notably the attacks on trade
and murder of IFTU leader Hadi Saleh -were properly dealt with.
Resolutions from the RMT and Brent Stop the War Coalition on these issues were passed overwhelmingly, so the STWC emerged with a positive policy that we can feel John Lister
A BACK proud of.
Thoughtful and moving speeches from Military Families Against the War (MFAW), including Territorial Army (TA) Refusenik George Solomou, and Rose Gentle and Reg Keys, whose sons died in Iraq, lifted the whole tone of the event and brought delegates to their feet to applaud.
This new phenomenon initially owed much to the US comes with tight strings
Support was also
given to protests at
the G8 Summit at
Gleneagles in July,
and the Faslane
nuclear sub base. example relayed here by Mike Marqusee/Iraq Occupation Focus, and to STW press officer Andrew Burgin who than the Third World poor know described how Tony Blair, though finding time for such trivia as a message to Ozzy Osborne after his accident, didn't even send a personal message of sympathy to the bereaved service parents.
Noting a fall in army recruitment, a resolution from MFAW called for systematic work at army centres and recruiting offices. Another, from Leeds GMBAPE pledged backing for MFAW and for soldiers who refuse to participate in the occupation.
Other resolutions dealt with the attack on civil liberties in the name of "war on
A resolution from the African Liberation Support Campaign network drew attention to proxy wars and the looung of Africa by Western multinationals, and the imprisonment of Mumia Abu Jamal, threatened with the death penalty in the United States.
A motion on depleted urahas already been extensively nium was moved by Richard Cramp who was a "human shield" volunteer in Iraq, and motions agreed against USUK intervention in Nepal and Colombia and support for the boycott of Coca Cola, in response to the murder of trade unionists its Colombia plant.
Several resolutions from different organisations dealt in their own way with the need to build links and assist trade women's groups, students and others in
All were passed without opposition.
So was a motion from Socialist Resistance on the reported 100,000 civilian casualties in Iraq, and torture cases, reaffirming STWC's support for an International War Crimes Tribunal.
Support was also given to protests at the G8 Summit at Gleneagles in July and the Faslane nuclear sub base.
More controversial resolutions from the Communist Party of Britain (Marxist Leninist), Finsbury Park STW, Workers Power and others, sought to commit the Stop the War Coalition to slogans like "Victory to the Iraqi
Much as we might sympathise with the aim of national liberation, what precisely is resistance is not so straightforward to agree.
Such a slogan would contribute nothing to liberating Iraq; but split our movement dollars without keeping proper and thus perpetuate the occupation. The motions were rejected.
Also rejected was a motion from the Communist Party of Great Britain, moved by Ann McShane, opposing any idea that democracy, secularism and progressive politics were unsuitable for the Middle East, and committing us to support for such forces in
One speaker against suggested this reflected lingering colonial notions that we know what is best for subject peoples. Perhaps he had not noticed the proposer's (Irish) ACCOUL
Opinions may differ as to which attitude is patronising. My view is that with the danger of post-election sectarian triumphalism deepening divisions, bringing nearer the threat of partition as well as reactionary religious laws, supporting the democratic and secular, progressive forces which are struggling in Iraq may be essential if we are for liberation.
But hopefully, even if the word "secular" worries people or causes misunderstandings, the resolutions we adopted on supporting trade womens' groups and other progressive forces will take care of this issue.
The Steering Committee acknowledged its failure to provide a crèche (raised by a motion from Central London Amicus), and there was some discussion on resolutions concerning the need to develop regional links and local initia-