From info at j-n-v.org Wed Jan 24 15:24:37 2007 From: info at j-n-v.org (JNV) Date: Wed, 24 Jan 2007 15:24:37 +0000 Subject: [JNV] Anti-War Events - Peace Activist Imprisoned - Latest Briefing Message-ID: <70f30d74af7c3cc1e8a2c8864d096839@j-n-v.org> 1) Peace Activist Imprisoned 2) Event Listings 3) Latest JNV Briefing: Saddam's Crimes: Avoiding The West's Responsibility Dear friends, We hope you find this email useful. All the best Maya Evans Milan Rai *** 1) Chris Cole in Prison Long-time peace activist Chris Cole, Director of the Fellowship of Reconciliation (and on the Board of Advisors of JNV), was sentenced to prison for 28 days on Monday 22 January 2007. He had refused to pay a fine of £661 arising from an anti-war action at the Ministry of Defence (MOD) in London on 28th December 2004. On that day, working with other Christian peace activists, Chris dug graves in the lawn of the MOD and sprayed ‘Remember the Innocent - No War in Iraq’. (28 December is Holy Innocents' Day in the Christian calendar.) Four of the group were arrested and eventually convicted of criminal damage. Please write to Chris in Wandsworth prison (colourful cards and cheerful messages particularly appreciated): Chris Cole XA7269, Wandsworth Prison, Heathfield Road, Wandsworth SW18 3HS (not far from where he was born and grew up!). Chris is due to be released on 5th February. A supporter writes: 'Chris was very clear with the court that the protest was an act of resistance to the war in Iraq. He said he could not in conscience pay the fine. He stated that it was reasonable for him to do this action, because the MOD institutions and buildings do not enhance life, instead they kill, maim and injure. He had a firm but fair magistrate who tried very hard to persuade him to pay, but he was steadfast in his refusal to pay, so she sentenced him rather reluctantly to 28 days.' **** 2) REGULAR EVENTS Every Month, ALDERMASTON: New Monthly Camp at Britain's Atomic Weapons Establishment(AWE) to add further pressure to the /Block the Builders/ campaign to halt development of the next generation of nuclear weapons. Contact 0845 4588 368 or www.blockthebuilders.org.uk. Every Sunday LONDON Freedom to protest picnics in Parliament Square. In defence of the right to protest, recently criminalised under s132 of the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act (April 2005). Bring food, drink and music to share. 1.30pm, Parliament Square, Westminster. For more info contact 0785 439 0408, marshall_darkness@hotmail.com or visit www.peopleincommon.org Every Wednesday MOULSCOMBE Noise Demo Outside EDO MB- 'an arms company that makes bomb parts used in the Iraq war (Guardian). 4-6pm, EDO MBM, Home Farm Road. Contact 07891 1405 923. www.smashedo.org.uk First Sunday or every month LONDON Walk in peace. A slow, silent walk for peace in peace.Meet at 11.00am, Speakers Corner Café, Speakers Corner, Hyde Park, London. (Nearest tube Marble Arch) Walk for an hour returning to starting place at 12 noon. Contact: Clare 020 8755 0353 or e-mail beatricemillar@freeuk.com. Every Monday LONDON Monday Love Screenings- a free weekly politically inspired film & music night at The Good Ship on Kilburn High Road, NW6 (tube: Kilburn). ‘I Know I’m Not Alone’ (12 Feb), 'Sir! No Sir!' (19 Feb), 'A Letter to the Prime Minister: Jo Wilding's Diary from Iraq' (12 Mar) and 'Rob Newman's History of Oil' (26 Mar). All screenings start at 7pm. See http://tinyurl.com/ynx7c9 for complete listings. Organised by London Indymedia, Filmmakers Against War, Spiritual Kids and IFIwatch.tv. Contact euan2000@onetel.com First Saturday of every month EASTBOURNE Peace Vigil outside Eastbourne Libaray 5-6pm. Organised by Eastbourne for Peace and Liberty. Contact michael3col@yahoo.co.uk or 01323 430040. UP COMING EVENTS Wed 24 Jan - Sat 19 May AROUND THE UK Events with former Guantanamo Bay Prisoner Moazzam Begg -Wed 24 Jan LONDON 'Detained at Guantanamo Bay.' Discussion with Dr James McKeith, Consultant Forensic Psychiatrist at the Bethlem Royal Maudsley Hospitals. 8:30 - 10:30pm, Ernest Jones Room, The Institue of Psychoanalysis, Byron House, 112A Shirland Road, London W9 2EQ. - Tues 30 Jan, LONDON 'The Plight of the British Detainees', 5.15pm, University College London. Part of UCL's 'War on Terror Week.' - Wed 31 Jan, LONDON 'Debate on Torture', 5:15pm, University College London. Part of UCL's 'War on Terror Week.' - Fri 2 Feb, LOUGHBOROUGH Talk to the Islamic Society at Loughborough University.1:10pm - Wed 7 Feb, CAMBRIDGE Talk at Cambridge Union. - Sun 11 Feb, KETTERING - Tues 13 Feb, BIRMINGHAM Talk to the Islamic Society at UCE, 2-3pm, Kenrick Lecture Theatre, UCE University, Perry Bar Campus. -Tues 20 Feb, LONDON SOAS talk and book signing. School of Oriental and African Studies, Russell Square. Part of SOAS Guantanamo week - 24 Feb, BELFAST - 4 Mar, BATH Conversation with Frank Furedi at the Bath Literature Festival. 2.30pm, Guildhall. Tickets £8. See http://tinyurl.com/vo3ga - 17 Mar KESWICK 'Guantanamo and Back.' Main House at the Theatre by the Lake. Part of Keswick’s Words by the Water Literature Festival. - 14 May LIVERPOOL Writing on the Wall Festival (WoW). 7:30-9pm.www.writingonthewall.org.uk - 19 May BRISTOL Sat 27 Jan LONDON School Students National Conference Against War- School students from across the country discuss the political situation and plan activities. Open to all under 19 or in a FE college. Guest speakers include George Gallowat MP Contact- contact@ssaw.org.uk or 07788 513 563 Tues 30 Jan - Tues 27 Feb HASTINGS Chomsky Course. Course of participatory talks with author and activist Milan Rai ('Chomsky's Politics', 'War Plan Iraq' and '7/7: The London Bombings, Islam and the Iraq War'): 'Mass Media' (30 Jan); 'US Terrorism' (13 Feb); 'How to fight propaganda' (20 Feb); and 'Making a New World' (27 Feb). All talks 7-9pm, Reading Room, Claremont Art Space, 12 Claremont, by the Hastings Library. Cost: £4 / £2.50 per session or £15 / £8 for all four sessions. For more info: milanraiATbtinternet.com Thur 1 Feb PLYMOUTH UNI STW Public Meeting 5.00PM Plymouth University Students Union The Scotts Building. Topic: Civil Liberties Speaker: Andrew Burgin Mon 5 Feb CROYDON STW Public Meeting 7.30 PM Arnhem Gallery, Fairfield Halls Speakers Tony Benn, George Galloway MP, Kate Hudson, (CND) and Lindsey German Stop the War Contact- 07854473523 Mon 5 Feb BRENT STW Public Meeting 7.30 PM Stop Trident/ Troops Out of Iraq Space 2, Willesden Green Library Centre 95 High Rd Willesden NW10 2SF Nearest tube Willesden Green Busaes 52, 98, 206, 260, 266, 460 Speaker: Craig Murray former UK Ambassador to Uzbekistan and CND speaker TBA Tues 6 Feb GLASGOW Screening of US Labour Against the War DVD on Iraq Trade Unionists. 7.30pm, STUC Centre, 333 Woodlands Road, Glasgow. With Mary Senior, Assistant General Secretary of the Scottish TUC. Organised by Iraq Union Solidarity Scotland: iraqunionsolidarityscotland@yahoo.co.uk Wed 7 Feb LONDON Parliamentary Lobby Against Depleted Uranium. Lobby: 2-4pm, Public Meeting: 7-9pm. Venue: House of Commons. Speakers: Dr Keith Baverstock - formerly of the WHO's Radiological Protection Division; Ria Verjauw - European Lobbyist ICBUW; John La Forge - anti Alliant Tech Systems Campaigner, Nukewatch USA; Dr Caroline Lucas MEP; Jeremy Corbyn MP; Rae Street - CADU. Organised by the Campaign Against Depleted Uranium (CADU). Contact 0161 273 8293 or visit www.cadu.org.uk Sat 10 Feb GLASGOW STW Scottish Conferencewith Kate Hudson (CND), Craig Murray, Yvonne Ridley (Islam Channel), Anas Altikriti (BNI), Walter Wolfgang (Labour Party NEC), Jeremy Corbyn MP, Lindsey German (Stop the War Coalition), Mozzam Begg (ex-Guantanano prisoner), Rose Gentle (Military Families Against the War), Pauline McNeill MSP, Sandra White SNP MSP, Mike Brider (T&G regional sec), Kenny Ross (FBU Scottish sec), Dr Azzam Tamimi (IIPT), and John McDonnell MP. 10am - 5pm, Sir Charles Wilson Building, Gibson Street, Glasgow University. Contact 078 661 769 60 or edinburghstw@tiscali.co.uk Tues 13 Feb BRISTOL STW/ CND Public Meeting Stop Trident- Troops Out of Iraq 7.30 PM Broadmead Baptist Church, Union Street, Bristol Speakers: TBA Wed 14 Feb YORK STW Public Meeting Stop Trident- Troops Out of Iraq 7.30PM Venue: Priory Street Community Centre Speakers: Kate Hudson Chair CND Lindsey German STW Thurs 15 Feb WANDSWORTH STW Public Meeting 7.30PM Balham Library. Speakers: Kate Hudson Chair CND, Chria NinwhamSTW, George Solomou MFAW Sat 24 Feb LONDON No Trident- Troops out of Iraq National demo organised by Stop the War and CND. Assemble 12 noon at a Central London location tba. See www.stopwar.org.uk Tues 20 Feb HOUNSLOW STW Public Speakers: Craig Murray (Former UK ambassador to Uzbekistan), Chris Nineham STW, Walter Wolfgang Labour Party NEC Meeting 7.30PM Montague Hall, Montague Road, Hounslow ( next to multi-storey car park, 5 minutes from Hounslow Central tube) Wed 21 Feb LONDON Metropolitan Uni Public Meeting 5.00PM City Campus Students Met Uni Union Building Bring the Troops Home: Stop Trident Speakers: Gearoge Galloway MP, George Solomou Military Families Against the War Tel Kate 07834 218 711 Tues 20 Feb LONDON Queen Mary's Uni Public Meeting 5pm Student Union Building Bring the Troops Home: Stop Trident Speakers: George Galloway MP George Solomou MFAW Contact Kate 07834 218 711 Mon 19 March AROUND THE WORLD Global day of Action Against the "War on Terror" on the 4th anniversary of the invasion of Iraq. To find out what's happening in Britain on this day see http://m19wiki.pbwiki.com. ***** 3) JNV Briefing 100 Saddam's Crimes: Avoiding The West's Responsibility SADDAM?S CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY Two weeks after the execution, it is the manner of Saddam Hussein's death that continues to hold Western attention. Saddam's crimes fade into the background - and the complicity of the West in those crimes - has been almost completely erased from public discussion. Saddam committed many crimes against the Iraqi people, including his role in the 1968 Ba'athist coup and the institution of a brutal dictatorship. Beyond this, Saddam was also guilty of crimes of aggression against Iran (1980-88) and Kuwait (1990-91), and crimes against humanity in his massacre of Iraq's Kurds (especially the Anfal campaign in 1987-88) and the Shia Arab majority (especially in the aftermath of the 1991 Gulf War). It is a matter of historical fact, as we shall see, that in all of these ventures (except the invasion of Kuwait), Saddam enjoyed the (often active) support of Britain and the United States. This barely features in the obituaries and profiles published in the aftermath of his hanging. WEAK ADMISSIONS Those who do not completely ignore the complicity of the West typically use of the vague word 'support' without specific details. David Aaronovitch gives us a classic example: 'For twenty years Saddam was tolerated or supported by various Western powers and by the Soviet Union, in the belief that he was better than the Iranians, better than chaos and, above all, in the mistaken belief that his depredations would be limited to the poor, bloody Iraqis.' (Times, 1 Jan. 2007, p.13 ) Soft words, backed by immediate justifications. THE OBITUARIES It is possible to understand part of the story of Western sponsorship of Saddam?s crimes from mainstream obituaries, if they are treated with care. (Obituaries: Independent, 1 Jan., p.28 ; Guardian, 30 Dec., p.24 ; Telegraph, 1 Jan., p.23 ; Times, 1 Jan., p.38 ) One way of de-emphasizing Western support for Saddam is to delay the first mention of it, indicating that it is unimportant. The Independent (first mention in para. 15) and the Guardian (para. 26) are worse on this than the right-wing Telegraph (para. 2) or The Times (para. 4). ATTACKING IRAN, ARMED BY THE WEST The Telegraph is also straightforward about the Iraqi invasion of Iran: 'Both sides were covertly supported by America and Britain in the hope that they might provide a check to each other's ambitions... British and American firms vied with one another for Iraq's plump rearmament contracts.' The Independent adds: 'It is worth recalling that Saddam, who was subsequently demonised by America, relied on financial and logistical support from the US (the US granted him $6bn in loans and provided him with satellite pictures showing Iranian troop concentrations).' The Guardian is almost alone in pointing out that not only did the West furnish conventional weapons, it also supplied 'the means to manufacture a whole array of unconventional ones: nuclear, chemical and biological.' For British newspapers, this should have been a headline item, given the Matrix Churchill affair and the massive Scott Report into the 'arms-to-Iraq' scandal. A crucial part of this concerned licences granted in 1989 to export high-precision machine tools to Iraq, despite the acknowledgement (by Minister William Waldegrave, in this case) that the British firm producing the machine tools, Matrix Churchill, had been 'taken over as part of a procurement network for the Iraqi nuclear, CBW [chemical or biological warfare] and missile programmes', and that previous orders had been 'shipped to the major Iraqi munitions establishments'. In another secret memo, Waldegrave defended the exports with the words, 'Screwdrivers are also required to make H-bombs'. (David Leigh, Betrayed, 1993, p.184) GASSING THE KURDS, REWARDED BY THE WEST Saddam's outstanding crime, which defines his rule, is the chemical attack on the Kurdish town of Halabja, in March 1988, killing 5,000 civilians. The Times is the only newspaper to record the 'punishment' meted out by Britain in response to the atrocity: 'Britain doubled Iraq?s export credit guarantees.' 'Export credit guarantees' are loans offered to countries buying British exports. The year before Halabja, Britain lent Iraq £175 million. Then, in 1988, 'the British taxpayer advanced Saddam £340 million in medium term credits.' (John Sweeney, Trading With The Enemy, 1993, p.99) The Department of Trade and Industry admitted in 1991 that in early 1988 it permitted the sale to Iraq of chemicals used to manufacture poison gas. The DTI then withdrew the admission - leaving open the possibility that British chemicals were used in the Halabja attack. (Sweeney, p.94) Saddam was emboldened to use chemical weapons against his own people after the lack of Western reaction to his earlier chemical weapons attacks on Iranian troops (a fact noted in passing by The Times, Guardian and Independent). (See Juan Cole for more.) The Times remarks correctly that, 'By now Saddam was convinced that no atrocity of his risked serious punishment. He believed that Western powers would not oppose his acquisition of nuclear weapons, since they had allowed him to buy chemical weapons technology and had apparently turned a blind eye to his agents buying nuclear triggers and fissile material, often with money borrowed from themselves under such guises as credit for agricultural products.' MASSACRING THE SHIAS, AIDED BY THE WEST In 1990, Saddam miscalculated, invading Kuwait. In 1991, he was expelled, and US-British-French forces drove deep into southern Iraq. A massive national revolt followed. The Guardian remembers: 'President George Bush senior had urged the Iraqis to rise up. But when they did so, he turned a deaf ear to their pleas for help.' This is not quite accurate. US forces were poised to crush the heart of the regime, the Republican Guard, in a 'battle of annihilation' (US commander Norman Schwarzkopf), but were stopped by President Bush Sr. (Cohen and Gatti, In The Eye Of The Storm, 1991, p.298) Then Schwarzkopf permitted Saddam's helicopter gunships to operate against the rebels. (Mentioned in The Times obituary.) At the same time, US forces were refusing to allow rebels to take weapons and ammunition from Iraqi military bases. (MERIP, May 1992, p.9, 12-13; Said Aburish, Saddam Hussein, London, 2000, p.308) This is rather more than just 'turning a deaf ear'. It was protecting the regime. US policy, supported by Britain, was summarized by a US National Security Council official in Feb. 1991. Richard Haass scolded an official of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, for doing too much to help a Kurdish rebel leader named Jalal Talabani (now President of Iraq). Haass said: 'You don't understand. Our policy is to get rid of Saddam, not his regime.' (Cited, Andrew and Patrick Cockburn, Out Of The Ashes, London, 1999, p.37) DEEDS UNACCOUNTED FOR At the time of his hanging, Saddam was also on trial for massacring the Kurds. Kani Xulam, founder of the American Kurdish Information Network, tells Inter Press Service: 'As a Kurd, I don't think Saddam should have been executed right now', before the Kurdish catastrophe had been spelled out in court, and before Saddam had revealed which countries helped him to carry out the atrocities. (IPS, 31 Dec. ) In the one mainstream UK media article to deal properly with the issue of complicity, Robert Fisk comments: 'The whole truth died with Saddam Hussein in the Baghdad execution chamber yesterday. Many in Washington and London must have sighed with relief that the old man had been silenced for ever.' (31 Dec. ) They must also have sighed with relief that the British mainstream media once again silenced itself over the West's complicity with Saddam?s crimes. Nuggets can be extracted here and there, but the overall pattern is one of self-censorship, of service to power. One marvels in particular at the suppression of any mention of Matrix Churchill and the damning Scott Report, which helped to undermine the Conservatives and paved the way for the squeaky clean Tony Blair. From info at j-n-v.org Sat Feb 17 12:02:14 2007 From: info at j-n-v.org (JNV) Date: Sat, 17 Feb 2007 12:02:14 +0000 Subject: [JNV] Help needed 24 Feb / Events / 'Threatening Tehran' JNV Briefing Message-ID: <34f67cde2b13f1222feba21077808243@j-n-v.org> 1) HELP NEEDED ON 24 Feb LONDON MARCH Maya and Mil banned from Central LondonDear friends 2) REGULAR EVENTS 3) UPCOMING EVENTS 4) JNV BRIEFING ON US ALLEGATIONS AGAINST IRAN Please find below our events listings, an appeal for help and a briefing giving some background to the current allegations against Iran. A longer briefing on the allegations is available on our website www.j-n-v.org. If you are intending to participate in the 24 February march in London against nuclear weapons and the Iraq war, JNV would be very grateful for your help. Please see the message below. We've been trying to send out this announcement for several days, but unfortunately have been blocked by technical problems. Best wishes Emily Johns Maya Evans Milan Rai JNV ****** HELP NEEDED ON 24 Feb LONDON MARCH Maya and Mil banned from Central London At the major anti-war demonstrations, Justice Not Vengeance hands out free briefings and leaflets, and sells anti-war books and badges. We often appeal for help in doing this - for the next London march this is even more necessary than usual because two of our most active hander-outers are banned from the borough of Westminster at the moment, and are therefore unable to participate. Until their trial on 10 April for breaking the Serious Organized Crime and Police Act last October (they were reading the names of people who had died in the Iraq war within the restricted zone near Parliament), Maya and Mil are not allowed to set foot in the entire borough of Westminster, and the march on the 24th takes place entirely within the borough. If you can help distribute materials or take a shift on a stall, we'd be very grateful. You can meet the JNV team under Marble Arch between 12 noon and 12.30 to pick up materials, or contact us in advance by calling 01424 428 792 or emailing info AT j-n-v.org with your phone number. Thank you, Emily, Maya, Mil ****** REGULAR EVENTS Every Month, ALDERMASTON: New Monthly Camp at Britain's Atomic Weapons Establishment(AWE) to add further pressure to the /Block the Builders/ campaign to halt development of the next generation of nuclear weapons. Contact 0845 4588 368 or www.blockthebuilders.org.uk. Every Sunday LONDON Freedom to protest picnics in Parliament Square. In defence of the right to protest, recently criminalised under s132 of the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act (April 2005). Bring food, drink and music to share. 1.30pm, Parliament Square, Westminster. For more info contact 0785 439 0408, marshall_darkness@hotmail.com or visit www.peopleincommon.org Every Wednesday MOULSCOMBE Noise Demo Outside EDO MB- 'an arms company that makes bomb parts used in the Iraq war (Guardian). 4-6pm, EDO MBM, Home Farm Road. Contact 07891 1405 923. www.smashedo.org.uk First Sunday or every month LONDON Walk in peace. A slow, silent walk for peace in peace.Meet at 11.00am, Speakers Corner Café, Speakers Corner, Hyde Park, London. (Nearest tube Marble Arch) Walk for an hour returning to starting place at 12 noon. Contact: Clare 020 8755 0353 or e-mail beatricemillar@freeuk.com. Every Monday LONDON Monday Love Screenings- a free weekly politically inspired film & music night at The Good Ship on Kilburn High Road, NW6 (tube: Kilburn). 'Sir! No Sir!' (19 Feb), 'A Letter to the Prime Minister: Jo Wilding's Diary from Iraq' (12 Mar) and 'Rob Newman's History of Oil' (26 Mar). All screenings start at 7pm. See http://tinyurl.com/ynx7c9 for complete listings. Organised by London Indymedia, Filmmakers Against War, Spiritual Kids and IFIwatch.tv. Contact euan2000@onetel.com First Saturday of every month EASTBOURNE Peace Vigil outside Eastbourne Library 5-6pm. Organised by Eastbourne for Peace and Liberty. Contact michael3col@yahoo.co.uk or 01323 430040. Every Friday BRISTOL Vigil Outside Offices of RAYTHEON, one of world's biggest arms manufacturers and a major supplier of arms to Israel. 8am, on the UWE/Bristol Business Park roundabout, Coldharbour Lane. Email: jandamarra@riseup.net. Every Month LONDON Monthly Meetings of Iraq Occupation Focus. Second Thursday of every month. Next two meetings: 7.30pm, 8 Feb and 8 Mar. Venue: Indian YMCA, 41 Fitzroy Square, W1T 6AQ. See www.iraqoccupationfocus.org.uk ****** UPCOMING EVENTS Feb- 27 Aug LONDON State Britain. Art exhibit by Mark Wallinger recreating peace campaigner Brian Haw's vigil display as it was prior to its destruction by police last year, including over 600 weather-beaten banners, photographs, peace flags and messages from well-wishers. 10am - 5.50pm, Tate Britain, Millbank, SW1P 4RG. See http://tinyurl.com/2xmlu5 Tues 13 Feb- Sat 19 May AROUND THE UK Events with former Guantanamo Bay Prisoner Moazzam Begg -Tues 20 Feb, LONDON SOAS talk and book signing. School of Oriental and African Studies, Russell Square. Part of SOAS Guantanamo week - 24 Feb, BELFAST - 4 Mar, BATH Conversation with Frank Furedi at the Bath Literature Festival. 2.30pm, Guildhall. Tickets £8. See http://tinyurl.com/vo3ga - 17 Mar KESWICK 'Guantanamo and Back.' Main House at the Theatre by the Lake. Part of Keswick’s Words by the Water Literature Festival. - 14 May LIVERPOOL Writing on the Wall Festival (WoW). 7:30-9pm.www.writingonthewall.org.uk - 19 May BRISTOL Tues 20 Feb - Tues 27 Feb HASTINGS Chomsky Course. A course of participatory talks with author and activist Milan Rai ('Chomsky's Politics', 'War Plan Iraq' and '7/7: The London Bombings, Islam and the Iraq War'): 'How to fight propaganda' (20 Feb); and 'Making a New World' (27 Feb). All talks 7-9pm, Reading Room, Claremont Art Space, 12 Claremont, by the Hastings Library. Cost: £4 / £2.50 per session or £15 / £8 for all four sessions. For more info: milanrai@btinternet.com Sat 24 Feb LONDON No Trident- Troops out of Iraq National demo organised by CND and Stop The War. Assemble 12 noon from Hyde Park, Speakers Corner. See www.cnduk.org www.stopwar.org.uk Tues 20 Feb HOUNSLOW STW Public Speakers: Craig Murray (Former UK ambassador to Uzbekistan), Chris Nineham STW, Walter Wolfgang Labour Party NEC Meeting 7.30PM Montague Hall, Montague Road, Hounslow ( next to multi-storey car park, 5 minutes from Hounslow Central tube) Wed 21 Feb LONDON Metropolitan Uni Public Meeting 5.00PM City Campus Students Met Uni Union Building Bring the Troops Home: Stop Trident Speakers: Gearoge Galloway MP, George Solomou Military Families Against the War Tel Kate 07834 218 711 Tues 20 Feb LONDON Queen Mary's Uni Public Meeting 5pm Student Union Building Bring the Troops Home: Stop Trident Speakers: George Galloway MP George Solomou MFAW Contact Kate 07834 218 711 Mon 19 March AROUND THE WORLD Global day of Action Against the "War on Terror" on the 4th anniversary of the invasion of Iraq. To find out what's happening in Britain on this day see http://m19wiki.pbwiki.com. Thurs 22 Mar - Thurs 24 May LONDON Haldane Society Human Rights Lectures. All lectures: 6.30pm, London South Bank University Keyworth Centre, Keyworth Street, London SE1 (tube: Elephant and castle, see http://tinyurl.com/2cud7g for map). Entrance free: - Thurs 22 Mar: 'Israel, Palestine and Human Rights' with Daniel Machover and Hannah Rought-Brookes - Thurs 26 Apr: 'Northern Ireland, human rights and the democracy deficit' with Professor Conor Gearty - Thurs 24 May: 'Guantanamo Bay - close it down' with Moazzam Begg and Sadat Sayeed. Tues 10 April LONDON Trial of peace activists Maya Anne Evans and Milan Rai, charged with organising and / or participating in an "unauthorised" demonstration within 1km of Parliament during last October's "No More Fallujahs" anti-occupation camp in Parliament Square. 2pm, Horseferry Magistrates Court, 70 Horseferry Road, SW1P 2AX. See Support very welcomed. April - July LONDON 'Bloody Terrorists'- TERRORISM IN CONTEXT. A series of public lectures chaired by Professor Ziauddin Sardar (School of Arts, The City University). All lectures: 6 - 8pm, Oliver Merton Hall, The City University, Northampton Square, EC1V 0HB. - Wed 25 Apr: 'Where Do Terrorists Come From?' by Milan Rai (Director, Justice Not Vengeance, and author of 7/7: The London Bombings, Islam and the Iraq War) - Wed 9 May: 'Wretched Earth: Terrorism, Wretchedness and Political Philosophy' by Professor Ted Honderich (University College, London -Wed 23 May: 'Terrorism and Islam: The British Muslim Experience' by Yahya Birt, (Director, City Circle and Research Fellow, Islamic Foundation) -Wed 6 Jun: 'Martyrs of Postculture: Analysing the Terrorist' by Dr Richard Appignanesi (Associate Editor, Third Text) - Wed 20 Jun: 'Reporting Terror: How the Media Covers Terrorism' by Professor Adrian Monck (Department of Journalism, The City University) - Wed 4 Jul: 'Cultural Terrorism and Terrorism of Culture' by Ms Merryl Wyn Davies (anthropologist and writer, co-author of "Why Do People Hate America?" and "American Dream, Global Nightmare") ****** JNV BRIEFING 102 THREATENING TEHRAN: BLAMING IRAN FOR US FAILURE IN IRAQ JNV Anti-War Briefing 102 (8 February 2007) FROM IRAQ, DOWNHILL TO IRAN Former US National Security Adviser Zbigniew Brzezinski: 'If the US stays bogged down in Iraq, the final destination on this downhill track is likely to be head-on conflict with Iran and with the broader world of Islam. A plausible scenario for a military collision with Iran involves Iraqi failure to meet US benchmarks [in other words, US failure in Iraq]; followed by US accusations of Iranian responsibility for the failure; then by some provocation in Iraq or a terrorist act in the US blamed on Iran. This could culminate in "defensive" US military action against Iran that plunges a lonely America into a deepening quagmire eventually encompassing Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan.' (Financial Times, 2 Feb. 2007, p. 15 ) It is not clear what Brzezinski means by 'some provocation in Iraq', but recent US actions and public statements have been sharply provocative. SEIZING IRANIANS 'A number of Iranians were arrested in the Iraqi capital on 21 December [2006], when US forces raided a compound belonging to Abdul Aziz Hakim, leader of a powerful pro-Iranian Shia party... Officials told Newsnight the arrests produced highly important intelligence, but no "smoking gun" about weapons supplies or attacks on coalition forces. They said that the arrested men were in Iraq to hold high-level meeting with representatives of several Iraqi Shia factions.' Iranian diplomats were among the arrested - they were released rapidly, but the US 'continued for some time' to hold two alleged intelligence officers. (BBC News Online, 4 Jan. 2007 ) It then emerged that the Iranians had been invited to Baghdad by Iraqi President Jalal Talabani. (Reuters, 26 Dec. 2006 ) Three weeks later, US soldiers raided a building in Irbil, Iraqi Kurdistan, seizing five Iranians, computers and documents. 'Iranian and Iraqi officials said the building was an Iranian consulate and the detainees its employees.' (BBC News Online, 11 Jan. 2007 ) 'The Iraqi Foreign Minister, Hoshiyar Zebari, called yesterday for the Iranians to be freed, stressing that they have been working with Iraqi government approval.' (Independent, 15 Jan. 2007, p. 23 ) KILLING IRANIANS Having failed to provoke Iran into responding aggressively, President Bush escalated the crisis. 'The belief that George Bush's troops "surge" policy in Iraq is also aimed at confronting Iran was strengthened yesterday when the White House declared that it was "going to deal" with the actions of the Tehran regime. In a series of interviews, Vice-President Dick Cheney, the Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, and the National Security Adviser, Stephen Hadley, struck belligerent notes on Iranian activity inside Iraq.' 'Mr Hadley did not rule out the possibility of US forces striking across the border' in so-called "hot pursuit". (Independent, 15 Jan. 2007, p. 23 . A suggestion withdrawn later: Times, 2 Feb., p. 40) 'Asked about reports that he had authorised a "kill or capture" policy against Iranians inside Iraq, Mr Bush did not deny it, but rather appeared to defend the decision. "It makes sense that if somebody is trying to harm our troop or stop us from achieving our goals or killing innocent citizens in Iraq, that we will stop them".' (Times, 27 Jan. 2007 p. 50) How would the US react if Iranian forces seized computers and documents from the US Embassy in Baghdad, detaining US diplomats? How would the US react if Iran authorised a "kill or capture" policy against US officials and troops inside Iraq? The intention seems to be to kidnap more officials, and, soon, to kill one - in order to provoke Iran into actions or statements that can be converted into a justification for a major US assault. NO EVIDENCE? ISSUE ANOTHER DOSSIER Bush says: 'If Iran escalates its military action in Iraq to the detriment of our troops and/or innocent Iraqi people, we will respond firmly.' (Guardian, 30 Jan. 2007, p. 15 ) The assumption is that Iran is already engaged in military action in Iraq. 'The Bush administration believes Teheran is fuelling the insurgency by supplying Shia militias with weapons, money, bomb-making equipment and expertise.' (Telegraph, 27 Jan. 2007, p. 18 ) In Jan. 2006, The Times and the Independent both reported that British officials in Iraq had withdrawn this claim, and in particular the assertion that Iran was supplying a new and more deadly design of roadside bomb with infrared triggers which cannot be disrupted by US/UK technology. (BBC News Online, 10 Jan. 2006 ) A year later, 'Senior British officials, citing mistakes over Saddam Hussein's alleged weapons of mass destruction, are voicing scepticism about US efforts to build an intelligence-based case against Iran... Amid signs of a concerted American operation to prove that Iran is threatening US troops in the region, British officials say that they are "not aware of a smoking gun" that would justify taking military action against Tehran.' (Times, 1 Feb. 2007, p. 38 ) Just as with the 2003 invasion of Iraq, there are divisions within the Bush administration: 'The rift has spilled over into a dispute about how and when to publish alleged evidence of Iranian backing for Iraqi militias and Iran's provision of supplies and technology for roadside bombs, the biggest killer of American soldiers in Iraq, a White House adviser revealed... The State Department and the CIA, which both objected to the way the Bush administration used pre-war intelligence on Iraq, also wanted to publicise clear evidence of Iranian interference in Iraq as a way of justifying the US stance. "The military's highest echelons really do not want the release of details of what Iran is up to as they don't want the Iranians to know what's working and what's not," the administration adviser said.' 'Stephen Hadley, Mr Bush's national security adviser, acknowledged on Friday that the intelligence briefing on Iranian interference in Iraq - publication of which has been delayed twice - was still being refined.' (Sunday Telegraph, 4 Feb. p. 24 ) The history of such "dossiers" is not promising. Bronwen Maddox notes that even the independent International Institute of Strategic Studies (IISS) issued a 'dossier' on Iraqi WMD 'which was authoritative and detailed, and soon proved wrong comprehensively.' (Times, 1 Feb., p 38 ) Maddox points out that the IISS has predicted Iran is 'at least two or three years' away from acquiring a nuclear bomb: 'That is the answer it has given for each of the past three years; it is reassuring that every year the threatening date is just as far in the future.' DIVISIONS IN WASHINGTON Condoleezza Rice, US Secretary of State, and Bob Gates, the new Defence Secretary are said to be pushing for open talks with Iran, 'having softened it up with the recent application of United Nations-approved sanctions on Iran and the beefing up of US naval forces off the Iranian coast'. Richard Haass, head of policy planning in the State Department in the first Bush administration, says: 'You could interpret Bush's recent actions towards Iran in two ways - either he is increasing pressure on the regime in order to soften it up for talks over its uranium enrichment plans, or this is classic gunboat diplomacy in which the US is preparing for some kind of punitive action. My guess is that Mr Bush's actions leave room for either scenario and the Bush administration remains divided over which to pursue.' Afshin Molavi of the New America Foundation warns: 'The danger to this strategy is that it carries the risk of accidentally leading into some kind of military confrontation.' (All references this section from the Financial Times, 27 Jan., p. 7 ) On the other hand, raiding an Iranian consulate, kidnapping and threatening to kill Iranian officials, and deploying two US navy carrier battle- groups to the region for the first time since mid-2003 (Paul Rogers ) seem to lean towards provoking a clash. 'A diplomatic source in Washington told The Times: "It is difficult to imagine Bush and Cheney leaving office without resolving the Iranian issue, if necessary by force." ' (Times, 31 Jan., p. 34 ) There are alternatives. 'The IAEA chief, Mohamed El-Baradei, called at the weekend for a "timeout" in the worsening confrontation in an attempt to enable both sides to save face and climb down. But the Americans rejected the proposal.' (Guardian, 31 Jan., p. 17 ) From info at j-n-v.org Mon Mar 19 16:42:43 2007 From: info at j-n-v.org (JNV) Date: Mon, 19 Mar 2007 16:42:43 +0000 Subject: [JNV] Events and Latest Iraq Opinion Polls Message-ID: <3a686bc8acd11377689f81428ebc2b40@j-n-v.org> Dear friends Please find below our events listings and a comment on the opinion polls published in the last two days. We hope you find them useful. Best wishes Maya Evans Emily Johns Milan Rai *** EVENTS Mon 19 March AROUND THE WORLD Global Day of Action Against the "war on Terror" on the 4th anniversary of the invasion of Iraq. To find out what's happening in Britain on today see Tues 20 March LONDON Stop the War Coalition "PEOPLE'S ASSEMBLY- The debate Parliament won't have" 2-8pm, Westminster Central Hall, London SW1. To register tel 020 7278 6694 or e-mail office@stopwar.org.uk (delegates £7, individuals £5). For more info see Thurs 22 March- Sat 24 May LONDON Haldane Society Human Rights Lectures. All lectures: 6.30pm, London South Bank University Keyworth Centre, Keyworth Street, London SE1 (tube: Elephant and castle, see http://tinyurl.com/2cud7g for map). Entrance free: -Thurs 22 Mar: 'Israel, Palestine and Human Rights' with Daniel Machover and Hannah Rought-Brookes -Thurs 26 Apr: 'Northern Ireland, human rights and the democracy deficit' with Professor Conor Gearty -Thurs 24 May: 'Guantanamo Bay - close it down' with Moazzam Begg and Sadat Sayeed. Sat 24 March LONDON 'Hands Off Iraq' teach-in With- Greg Muttitt from PLATFORM (author 'Crude Designs: The rip-off of Iraq's oil wealth') Ewa Jasiewicz from Naftana (UK Support Committee for the General Union of Oil Employees). Find out more about the new law, the companies involved, and the US and UK Governments' roles in this smash and grab law. Make plans to take action to stop British companies from joining the race to carve up Iraq's oil wealth. www.HandsOffIraqiOil.org. Supported by- Corporate Watch, Iraq Occupation Focus, Jubilee Iraq, Naftana, Platform, Voices UK and War on Want.Union Chapel, Compton Ave, London N1 Tube- Highbury and Islington, Map April WALES Drawing paradise on the "Axis of Evil" Exhibitions and talks on Iran by artist and JNV activist EMILY JOHNS (support act: MILAN RAI) (see http://tinyurl.com/j7gmf). Exhibitions: Mon 2- Fri 13 Apr TENBY 10am- 5pm, Mon- Sat (closed Sun), Little Wedlock Gallery, Gumfreston, SA70 8RB (www.littlewedlockgallery.co.uk) Sat 14- Fri 27 Apr NARBETH Span Arts, Town Moor, Moorfield Road, SA67 7AG. Contact 01834 869 323 for times. Sat 28 Apr- Fri 4 May MILFORD HAVEN Friends Meeting House Priory Road Contact 01646 651766 for times. Talks: Mon 2 Apr TENBY 7.30pm St Johns Church. Tues 3 Apr MILFORD HAVEN 7.30pm Friends Meeting House Priory Rd. Wed 4 Apr ST DAVIDS 7.30pm For time and venue ring 0845 458 9572. Thurs 5 Apr NARBETH 7pm, Span Arts, Moorfield Road, SA67 7AG. For more info see www.j-n-v.org or call 0845 458 9571. SAT 7 April - Sat 21 April NATIONAL Vanunu Freedom (cycle) fride from FASLANCE TRIDENT SUBMARINE BASE to the ISRAELI EMBASSY. Contact 0207 607 2302 for more info. Tues 10 April LONDON Trial of JNV peace activists MAYA EVANS and MILAN RAI, charged with organising and / or participating in an "unauthorised" demonstration within 1km of Parliament during last October's "No More Fallujahs" anti-occupation camp in Parliament Square. 2pm, Horseferry Magistrates Court, 70 Horseferry Road, SW1P 2AX. We'd really appreciate your support. Tues 10 APR, ALDERMASTON: MASS NONVIOLENT BLOCKADE OF BRITAIN'S ATOMIC WEAPONS ESTABLISHMENT. See www.tridentploughshares.org/aldermaston 11 - 17 ARPIL, LONDON: BIRDS OF WAR: HAWKS, DOVES AND ILLEGAL EAGLES. Exhibition of contemporary, visual artwork to mark the fourth anniversary of the Iraq invasion. A unique opportunity to view a dynamic collaboration between British and Iraqi artists. Times: Mon - Fri, 10am - 5pm; Sat - Sun, 10am - 4pm. Venue: Candid Arts Trust, 3 Torrens St, Islington, EC1V 1NQ. Admission Free. See www.birdsofwar.org 13-14 APR, LONDON: "PEACE HISTORY": ENCOURAGEMENT AND WARNINGS. Two-day non-residential conference at the Imperial War Museum, Lambeth Road, London SE1. Organised by the International Peace Bureau and the Movement for the Abolition of War. See www.abolishwar.org.uk. APR - JUL, LONDON: 'BLOODY TERRORISTS' - TERRORISM IN CONTEXT. A series of public lectures chaired by Professor Ziauddin Sardar (School of Arts, The City University). All lectures: 6 - 8pm, Oliver Merton Hall, The City University, Northampton Square, EC1V 0HB. - 25 Apr: 'Where Do Terrorists Come From?' by Milan Rai (Director, Justice Not Vengeance, and author of 7/7: The London Bombings, Islam and the Iraq War) - 9 May: 'Wretched Earth: Terrorism, Wretchedness and Political Philosophy' by Professor Ted Honderich (University College, London - 23 May: 'Terrorism and Islam: The British Muslim Experience' by Yahya Birt, (Director, City Circle and Research Fellow, Islamic Foundation) - 6 Jun: 'Martyrs of Postculture: Analysing the Terrorist' by Dr Richard Appignanesi (Associate Editor, Third Text) - 20 Jun: 'Reporting Terror: How the Media Covers Terrorism' by Professor Adrian Monck (Department of Journalism, The City University) - 4 Jul: 'Cultural Terrorism and Terrorism of Culture' by Ms Merryl Wyn Davies (anthropologist and writer, co-author of "Why Do People Hate America?" and "American Dream, Global Nightmare") 1 MAY - 2 JUN, LONDON: "FALLUJAH" PLAY written and directed by Jonathan Holmes. Based on research and interviews carried out by the Oxford Research Group, "Fallujah" presents verbatim testimony from those at the heart of the US siege of the city. Times: Mon-Sat, 7.30pm; Wed & Sat 3pm. Venue: The Atlantic Building, The Old Truman Brewery, 146 Brick Lane, E1 6RU. Tickets £20 / £18. Book now on 0207 930 3647 or via www.ica.org.uk. See www.fallujah.co.uk for more info. 14 MAY, BRISTOL: SECOND TRIAL OF TOBY OLDITCH AND PHIL PRITCHARD, two peace activists who entered RAF Fairford and attempted to disarm USAF B-52 bombers on 18th March 2003 (their first trial resulted in a hung jury). 10am, Bristol Crown Court, The Law Courts, Small Street, BS1 1DA. Support welcome: the trial is scheduled to last for several days. For background info on the trial see www.b52two.org 14 MAY, LONDON: BOOK LAUNCH OF 'IRAQI WOMEN' BY NADJE SADIG AL-ALI. 'An extraordinary book ... Particularly sobering is the author's balanced and sensitive analysis of the negative effects on women's rights and lives of the decade of sanctions and the current US-British occupation' - Lila Abu-Lughod, Professor of Anthropology and Gender Studies, Columbia University. 5.30 - 8pm, Khalili Theatre, School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), Thornhaugh Street, Russell Square, London WC1. 2 JUN, EASTBOURNE: PEACEMAKING IN PALESTINE. Talk by John Lynes (Christian Peacemaker Teams). michael3col@yahoo.co.uk or 01323 430040. 11 SEPT, LONDON: DISARM DSEI. Day of action outside Britain's biggest arms fair. See www.dsei.org POLLS FROM IRAQ There are two new polls out to mark the fourth anniversary of the invasion of Iraq. The ORB poll had one surprising and notable result, useful in arguing for an end to the occupation. The BBC poll again confirmed the complexity of Iraqi attitudes towards the occupation, while demonstrating a definite hardening of Iraqi attitudes towards the occupation forces *** 1) ORB poll Q2. And thinking ahead, do you believe that the security situation in Iraq will get better or worse in the immediate weeks following a withdrawal of Multi National Forces? Four answers were possible: 'a great deal better', 'a little better', 'a little worse' and 'a great deal worse'. Only 11 per cent of respondents said things would get 'a great deal worse'. In Anbar province, no respondent said it would get worse - either 'a little' or 'a great deal worse'. 29 per cent of all respondents said things would get 'a great deal better', and 24 per cent said it would get 'a little better'. So 53 per cent were optimistic about the first few weeks after withdrawal, twice as many as thought things would get worse (26 per cent in total). 6 per cent said things would stay the same, and 12 per cent didn't know, or refused to answer. A representative sample of 5,019 Iraqi adults was surveyed in every governorate in Iraq by the ORB polling organization between 10–22 February 2007. The poll results can be found at . *** 2) BBC poll On the one hand, only 35 per cent of Iraqis polled believed the US/UK forces should 'leave now' (though this was up from 26 per cent in 2005), and a majority thought they should stay until 'security is restored' (38 per cent), 'the Iraqi government is stronger' (14 per cent) or until 'the Iraqi security forces can operate independently' (11 per cent). So, in this poll, more Iraqis supported the official UK/US line ('stay until security is restored') than supported the 'leave now' option. It could be argued that all three answers (security better, Iraqi government stronger, Iraqi security forces operating independently) conform to UK/US propaganda about the justifications for occupation, which would mean 63 per cent of respondents supported the UK/US position on continuing the occupation for the time being. On the other hand, the poll demonstrated a deepening hostility to the occupation forces, with a majority thinking the US, and not the Iraqi government, was in control of Iraq (59 per cent up from 24 per cent in 2004); 76 per cent thinking the occupation forces were doing a 'bad job' (up from 59 per cent just last year); and 78 per cent somewhat or strongly opposing the US-led forces (up from 65 per cent in 2005). 49 per cent of those polled thought bringing more US troops into Baghdad and Anbar province would make things there 'worse', while only 29 per cent thought it would improve matters. As in 2005, more Iraqis think the invasion of Iraq was wrong (53 per cent) than now think it was right (47 per cent). The most dramatic change in the poll results is that the acceptability of attacking the occupation forces has tripled from 17 per cent (2004) to 51 per cent (2007). More than 2,000 people were questioned in more than 450 neighbourhoods and villages across all 18 provinces of Iraq by D3 Systems between 25 February and 5 March 2007. The poll results are available from *** Some BBC poll questions: Q23 Who do you think currently controls things in our country; is it the Iraqi government, the United States, somebody else, or no one? Iraqi Government: 34 per cent (2007) 44 per cent (2005) United States: 59 per cent (2007) 24 per cent (2005) Q24 Since the war, how do you feel about the way in which the United States and other Coalition forces have carried out their responsibilities in Iraq? Have they done a very good job, quite a good job, quite a bad job, or a very bad job? A Very Good Job: 6 per cent (2007) 10 per cent (2006) Quite a Good Job: 18 per cent (2007) 27 per cent (2006) Quite a Bad Job: 30 per cent (2007) 19 per cent (2006) A Very Bad Job: 46 per cent (2007) 40 per cent (2006) Refused/don’t know: - per cent (2007) 5 per cent (2006) Q25 Do you strongly support, somewhat support, somewhat oppose, or strongly oppose the presence of Coalition forces in Iraq? Strongly Support: 6 per cent (2007) 13 per cent (2005) 13 per cent (2004) Somewhat Support: 16 per cent (2007) 19 per cent (2005) 26 per cent (2004) Somewhat Oppose: 32 per cent (2007) 21 per cent (2005) 20 per cent (2004) Strongly Oppose: 46 per cent (2007) 44 per cent (2005) 31 per cent (2004) Refused/don’t know: - per cent (2007) 3 per cent (2005) 10 per cent (2004) Q26 Do you think that bringing more US forces into Baghdad and Anbar will make security in these areas better, worse, or have no effect on the security situation in these areas? Better: 29 per cent Worse: 49 per cent No Effect: 22 per cent Refused/don’t know: - per cent