Delegates congratulated the Military Families Against the War, represented by Rose Gentle and former soldier George Solomou, for continuing its successful campaign amongst soldiers and their relatives. Conference also heard of the work in the Swindon and elsewhere where leaflets for soldiers and their relatives have been well received. Such a campaign directed towards military personnel has not been seen since 1945. But the Coalition has not just been an anti-war movement. Seamus Milne described it as also being a "force for democracy" in a time when the New Labour government cracks down on dissent and protest. Lindsey German, convenor of the Coalition, spoke about the latest demonstration on the October 8 successfully defying a ban from protesting outside Parliament. She stressed that it was our moral duty to continue our protests, illegally if necessary, especially if an attack is launched on Iran. Such an attack initiated by Bush, whom Russian President Putin describes as "a madman with a razor", is indeed likely as Iran is now being blamed for the failure in Iraq.
With an ongoing war and occupation in Afghanistan, the threat of an attack in Iran and Kurdistan, and a slow strangulation of the Palestinian the prospect of peace in the Middle East is still remote.
The campaigning of the Stop of the War Coalition, and its allies such as the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, will continue until the troops are and the people of the region can determine themselves their own future