World Wide Day of Protest to Stop the War

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World Wide Day of Protest to Stop the War

Commentary on Tony Blair’s Glasgow Speech:
Desperate Words Further Expose Justifications for Aggression

Stop the War Rally in Hyde Park

What Bush and Blair are preparing is most definitely Not in Our Name. And more; we plan to stop it – this was the sentiment of those marching against the imperialist war against Iraq in London on Saturday.

In London, with the multitudes converging from Victoria Embankment and Gower Street in Bloomsbury, Piccadilly – from its Circus through to Green Park – became an ocean of people, spanning the width of the route to Hyde Park. Thousands more made their own way through back streets. Those attending on their own recognising their belonging to one humanity joined others representing collectives which had contributed in planning and organisation to attend and participate. Banners representing Stop the War Groups from cities and towns throughout Britain, organisations of all types, every major trades union, peace and women’s groups, every collective of the people imaginable, mosques, churches, scientists, lawyers, musicians, artists, poets, sex workers – all united in action, militantly taking a stand for peace. Handmade and mass-produced placards, national flags and creative slogans and artwork representing the people will for peace and against war all denouncing Bush and Blair and the governments they represent. Children in prams, families, youth, school children, and pensioners enjoyed street theatre, music, samba bands, drummers, sound systems, creating a noisy and carnivalesque atmosphere of militancy firmly opposing the crimes against humanity being planned in our names. A loud and resolute response is being heard around the world.

Whilst Blair and Bush try to face down the opposition and prevent the alternative from coming into being – one that replaces neo-liberal globalisation, poverty and war with a world where the peoples are empowered to decide. The alternative was seen in the millions demonstrating in London on Saturday. They are part of a worldwide movement expressing their will for peace and against war; and importantly the fundamental right to decide. Confident in the justice of its cause, hopeful, resolutely defiant of the violations of rights being planned abroad and the fascisation of the state at home through anti-terrorism laws and other means, the breadth of participation, and the depth of opposition to Anglo-American imperialism is the alternative to endless war, state terrorism and to neo-liberal globalisation and the anti-social offensive.

The success of Saturday’s Day of Action was not just the united voice of the people saying no to war, but that it represented people on the threshold of a new political movement to decide their own future. This success must be consolidated by immediately organising for an anti-war government that can give voice to widespread anti-war sentiment and open the door to political renewal and social progress. Maintaining a vigorous proactive stance in the movement’s actions and discussions, developing the forums and committees as tribunes of the people, keeping the initiative and setting the agenda can turn things around in favour of peace and for an anti-war government.

As the people's anti-war movement rapidly grows, with over 10 million people in some 600 cities in over 60 countries taking part in the February 15 global day of action against the war and with some two million people taking part in the biggest demonstration ever in the history of Britain, the warmongers are becoming more desperate to justify their planned attack on Iraq.

Speaking at the Labour Party's local government, women and youth conference in Glasgow on Saturday, Blair set out what he termed his "moral case for removing Saddam". Repeating once again his claim that the Iraqi government has weapons of mass destruction, he argued that it is part of the threat posed by "terrorism and rogue states with weapons of mass destruction", since he claimed the governments of "rogue states" such as Iraq "are answerable to no democratic mandate, so are unrestrained by the will of ordinary people". He continued, "Think of a nation using a nuclear device, no matter how small, no matter how distant the land. Think of the chaos it would cause."

The constant claims of the British and US governments that Iraq possesses weapons of mass destruction have been exposed before the whole world to be a politically motivated pretext under which they can unleash a war to seize control of the strategically important Gulf region. Colin Powell himself acknowledged this when testifying to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in early February, when he declared, "I think there is also the possibility that that success (overthrowing the government of Iraq) could fundamentally reshape the region in a powerful, positive way that will enhance US interests." In both reports to the UN Security Council to date, the inspectors have categorically stated that they have found no weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. Unlike Iraq, however, both Britain and the US possess huge arsenals of weapons of mass destruction which they want to keep a monopoly on so that they can bully and threaten other states in order to secure their own interests. Therefore, Blair's claim that war on Iraq can be justified by the so-called threat of weapons of mass destruction it poses is completely discredited.

By sleight of hand, Blair tries to draw a distinction between the governments of Britain and the USA which are "answerable to a democratic mandate" and "restrained by the will of ordinary people" and hence are entitled to possess weapons of mass destruction and "undemocratic rogue states" which are not. This is a truly breathtaking argument, coming from a government which was voted for by less than 25% of the electorate and which is completely "unrestrained by the will of ordinary people" who are demanding peace and no attack on Iraq while it steps up its preparation for war and declares its willingness to embark on such a war irregardless of the "will of ordinary people". The notion implicit in Tony Blair's argument that the differences in political systems between countries can be the basis for the unleashing of wars between states is tantamount to elevating hooliganism and gangsterism to being the basis of relations between states. It would be a recipe for international chaos and endless wars if countries began attacking each other because the government in one country did not like the political system in another country. It represents a direct attack on the principles of international relations laid down at the end of the Second World War and enshrined the United Nations Charter and international law. These state that countries should respect each other's sovereignty, refrain from interfering in each other's internal affairs and conduct their relations peacefully and without the use or the threat of the use of force.

Tony Blair declares that the use of a nuclear weapon, no matter how small and how distant would produce chaos, while being at the head of a government which has made it clear that it is prepared to use such weapons. He must also be aware that not only is his great ally, the US government, the only government to have used such weapons in war, but that their present strategic military doctrine actually encompasses the use of such weapons. In fact, it has been widely reported that the present plans for an attack on Iraq include a possible use of so-called "tactical nuclear weapons". Therefore, it is clear that the real threat of "nuclear chaos" comes not from Baghdad, but from the plans for war and aggression which are being hatched up in London and Washington.

Turning from the issue of weapons of mass destruction to his "moral case for removing Saddam", Tony Blair condemned the Iraqi government for torturing and murdering the Iraqi people and declared, "Ridding the world of Saddam would be an act of humanity. It is leaving him there that is in truth inhumane. That is why I do not shrink from military action, should that indeed be necessary." Tony Blair is trying to present his plans for war and aggression against Iraq and its people as an act of "liberating them from the tyranny of Saddam Hussein". But who appointed Tony Blair to be the "liberator of the Iraqi people"? What colonialist arrogance drives Tony Blair to claim that he can "liberate the Iraqi people" better than they can liberate themselves? The Iraqi people are an ancient people who have made a huge contribution to humanity's progress, constructing the civilisation of Mesopotamia long before the English nation had come into being. They do not need more big powers meddling in their affairs which has brought them nothing but calamities in the past and which today is threatening them with a catastrophe. Tony Blair's racist and colonialist arrogance and his 19th century doctrine of the "white man's burden" can no more justify aggression against Iraq today than it justified the endless crimes of British imperialism against the world's people in the past.

Recognising that his warmongering, along with his baseless justifications, are being rejected by ever growing numbers of people, Tony Blair declares, "I do not seek unpopularity as a badge of honour. It is the price of leadership and the cost of conviction." With this statement, Tony Blair is trying to skate around the fundamental question which more and more people are asking, namely: "what type of democracy is it in which the overwhelming will of the people is against an attack on Iraq yet the government which allegedly represents their will is advancing on its course to attack Iraq?" The issue is not the popularity or unpopularity of Tony Blair, far less about his convictions. It is about the kind of democracy that is needed in the 21st century.

Tony Blair's desperate attempts to justify aggression just will not wash. The people's anti-war movement must forge ahead and take up the task of creating an anti-war government in Britain.

We are posting below summaries of speeches given on February 15. The speeches, together with interviews, can be listened to at www.cableradio.co.uk

Sheheeda, a woman Moslem, said that there is no real evidence against Iraq. It is double-speak where war is peace. But we question the tanks at Heathrow and the raids on mosques. We say, try democracy in Britain first. Big business has a greed for oil. The war would be a racist war. The Terrorism Act strikes at the heart of civil liberties. We will not be deceived. There can never be a sanction to a so-called "moral war".

Mark Serwotka, General Secretary of PCS, declared that the march is a victory for every single one of us. This war is wrong, and would see consequences that we would have to live with for years to come, he said. This war is not about democracy or weapons of mass destruction. It is about oil and US power in the region. We are part of a world-wide movement, he continued, and we will not let war happen. What about the other injustices, he asked – the Palestinian people’s suffering and other countries who have broken UN resolutions. The money for war can pay for pensions, the fire-fighters and other programmes. Today is a staging post, he said. Trade unionists everywhere must say: Not In Our Name.

A member of the Executive Committee of the Federation of Student Islamic Societies spoke. She said that we represent the majority of people in saying No to Attacks on Iraq, No to Israeli oppression of Palestinian People. These actions will not only be opposed by Moslems but by every humanitarian person. We must prove ourselves not by hollow talk but by action. How can Tony Blair who forced students to pay, as though education were not a right but a privilege, now pay for war in Iraq? Students, she declared: make your voices heard.

Adrian Mitchell read his poem, "Tell Me Lies about Iraq". In his introduction, he said that if Tony Blair calls go to war, don’t go but go onto the streets to stop the war.

A journalist from Iraq said that today is only the beginning of a massive movement against war. The war is not about human rights or weapons of mass destruction but about control of the Middle East and putting their hands on the oil resources. The people of the world are united from Bahrain to London. In the last Gulf War over 100,000 Iraqi people were killed and over one million innocent Iraqis have been killed since then by sanctions. Blair and Bush want a repeat of this massive crime against humanity. This time they want the occupation of Iraq, with massive casualties and suffering. The US and Britain talk about regime change, but this has to be done by the Iraqi people and nobody else. It is not the business of the US and Mr Blair who should rule them. We do not want Saddam Hussein to be replaced by General Franks, the journalist concluded.

Paul Mackney¸ General Secretary of NATFHE said that he was speaking on behalf of all in the universities and colleges who oppose war. We don’t want your war and your alliances, he said of Tony Blair. We don’t want more deaths in the Middle East. Israel is in breach of 68 UN resolutions and has refused access to inspection teams. It is being armed to the teeth by Britain and the US. There must be justice for the Palestinian people. Stop clinging to an imperialist past, he said. Don’t spend two or three million on war but the colleges, hospitals, the railways. Rule 8K says the TUC should do everything in its power to prevent wars. If people walk out over the war, they may be breaking Thatcher’s laws, but they will be taking a stand against wars.

Caroline Lucas, Green MEP for South East England affirmed that this rally can make a difference. If each and every one of us stands up and is counted, we are the majority and we can stop this war, she said. This war is illegal and immoral. Nothing in international law sanctions a strike of this kind. The people of Iraq are in the middle of a humanitarian crisis. People are dying as the result of sanctions. It is a devastating situation and war will make it worse. People are still living with depleted uranium. This war is not for the people of Iraq but is for imperialism and oil. There are alternatives. The United States and Britain have been in breach of the Non-Proliferation Treaty for three decades, she said. We can change things, we really can.

Jack Heyman, representative of the San Francisco Longshore Workers Union said that it was an honour to be here. We will trample the grass in Hyde Park to protest Blair’s atrocity! The only power that has used nuclear weapons of mass destruction against the people is the USA. Labour against War organises four million trade unionists against this bloody war, he said. The main enemy is at home. We have to organise. The way to stop this war is by using the power of the working class, he declared. Down with Blair! Down with Bush!

Bob Crow, General Secretary of the RMT, said that he had just come back from south Korea where they had been holding demonstrations not against north Korea but against the US and Britain. Britain has weapons of mass destruction as has America. It is a liberty for them to tell north Korea they cannot have nuclear weapons! Tony Blair is not listening to the people of this country. If the leadership of this country doesn’t represent the people, we should occupy our industries and not allow a war, he stressed. We are not prepared to allow a Labour Party to act in this way. If people support peace let us mobilise people to support a party against war, he declared. We need to take united industrial action to protect civilisation.

This is a truly historic march, said Mark Seddon, Editor of Tribune. It is a powerful message to Bush and Blair: we do not want war. If this madness carries on it will be Iran, then north Korea, and then maybe France and Germany! If Tony Blair takes us to war, he will be remembered with Anthony Eden.

Michael Foot, former Labour Party leader and founder member of CND, recalled that twenty years ago CND organised a demo in Hyde Park saying Protest and Survive. Now we have got to do it again in the highest cause of abolishing nuclear weapons all over the world. This march is going to save the whole world from nuclear weapons.

An Islamic Forum Europe representative said that the constant propaganda of Bush and Blair has not affected our consciousness. The US and British governments have been supporting Israel against the Palestinian people. In fact they created the problem in the first place. The attack on Iraq would be an unjust war..

Iqbal of Friends of Al Aqba asked where is the democracy in Britain. It is only the minority who are in the cabinet. He said that Sharon was equally a tyrant as Saddam. There could be no peace until the Palestinians were set free. The idea of war for peace was abhorrent.

Veteran activist Tariq Ali said that if one country needed regime change it was Britain. New Labour would never win a majority for a "war for humanity" as Tony Blair had described it. Tony Blair, he said, speaks for a minority and for the White House. He had forfeited the right to speak for Britain. This march will make a difference, he said. Labour MPs would worry what will happen in any coming election. He said the protest must not stop here. The warmongers must be punished if necessary. Tony Blair spoke about "weapons of mass destruction". But who gave Saddam such weapons in the first place? Donald Rumsfeld, a British Conservative government, a British Labour government, he said. Saddam was more dangerous when an ally of the West than today. To remove dictators, he said, we must strengthen the people. We must appeal to all MPs: Bring Blair Down!

John Aston, Anglican Bishop of Aston, said that everybody of faith knew the reasons for protest. He said he bore witness to Jesus Christ and the Kingdom of God for compassion and friendship. He had travelled to the march with the Muslim community as an act of friendship. He had no time for Saddam but it was the people of Iraq who would suffer if war took place. He was concerned also about the effect on community relations. War was not morally justified. We were, he said, being given a false choice, between a so-called lily-livered UN and war. Truth was the casualty. He was against abuse of power and bullying by the US and Britain. Pure self-interest threatens us all, he said. A war against Iraq would be contrary to the purposes of God.

Tony Woodley, Assistant General Secretary of the TGWU, said that this was a fabulous day. It must open the eyes of Tony Blair. He said his union had a proud record of fighting for peace. He said it was a duty to the British people and to the world to oppose this impending disaster. The message must be No to War, Don’t Attack Iraq! The British people were not taken in. War was no answer. It would not bring peace to the Middle East. It would deepen the suffering of the Palestinian people. This would not be a war for democracy, he said, but a war to install an American military dictatorship. Tony Blair had spoken of a "blood price". There would also be a jobs price. The vast majority of people said Not in Our Name. They wanted a government of peace.

Alice Mahon MP said that no Labour MP had agreed to any manifesto advocating war. Tony Blair had answered her question in the Commons about who was next by saying "North Korea". This reflected the new Bush doctrine. We must stop the western warlords, in her words. The Palestinian question must be settled; the Israeli occupation ended; a dialogue on Kashmir started. The US and British governments were in material breach of humanity.

Lawyer Imran Khan said that war would lead to the killing of millions and attacks on people because of the colour of their skin. We must not allow Bush and Blair to portray this as a "clash of civilisations". It was rich against poor, to do with oil and Empire. This would not be a just or lawful war. International law stipulated the resolving of conflicts by peaceful means. There must be justice for the poor of the world, for the Palestinians, the Kashmiris, asylum seekers and others. Terror was wrong whether against the US or by the West itself. State terror against the Palestinians must end. Demonstrations, he said, had helped stop the Vietnam War and free Mandela. We will stop this war!

Ahmed Ben Bella, first President of Algeria, speaking in french, with a translator said that millions were demanding No to War. War was like disease and slavery and must be stopped. Bush and Blair were lying about "weapons of mass destruction". Terrorism did exist but not as conceived by Bush and Blair. Millions died because of global capitalism; democracy could not be brought about by bombing. Bush and Blair were waging a crusade against Islam, but in reality against Islamic countries where there was oil. Their "democracy" stinks of petrol! Today millions around the world were saying No to War. A new humanity was arising from the people, especially the youth. War must be eliminated like disease. As one who had fought French colonialism, he ended, on account of its opposition to Bush he was proud to say Vive la France!

Keith Sonnet, Deputy General Secretary of UNISON, said that Blair must be told there was no support for war even with a second UN Resolution. UNISON, representing 1.3 million public service workers, would affiliate with the Stop the War Coalition.

Mo Mowlam MP said war would be a failure, it would act as a recruiting agent for terrorism and millions would hate us. She said Blair and his government had got themselves into a corner. Things can only get better, she said, if we stick together.

Dr Azzam Tamini of the Muslim Association of Britain said that the march signalled the defeat of the sceptics, the formerly progressive on the front bench and those bent on sabotage. It was a great coalition of Muslims and non-Muslims, people of all races and religions all agreed on one common ground, the sacredness of human life. War on Iraq would only increase the misery of the Palestinian people.

Former MP Tony Benn said today saw the founding of a new political movement world wide. It was the biggest ever British demonstration whose first cause must be preventing war against Iraq, but it must also be for the establishment of a Palestinian state, for a democratic Middle East and for a democratic Britain, where parliament decides. He spoke of those 35 million dying of hunger in the world, of the great disparities brought about by military, media and multinational domination. We wanted a democratic world safe for our children and grandchildren. We needed weapons inspectors in Israel, Britain and the USA, UN sanctions against the arms manufacturers. Money wasted on weapons of mass destruction should be spent on food, clothing, hospitals, schools. This was the start of something big, he said.

Charles Kennedy MP, leader of the Liberal Democrats, said he was delighted and privileged to participate in such a historic occasion. The UN Security Council had spoken yesterday, today the people were speaking. Bush and Blair must listen! He said he had been asking questions of Tony Blair for months, but the replies had been confusing, alarming and lacking persuasion. He said British and European opinion was not convinced. The Liberal Democrats argued, he said, that only the UN could give a mandate based on adequate information, there was no just or moral case for British troops to be involved in conflict and the House of Commons must be given the right to vote on the issue. He was not a pacifist, he said, or anti-American, but he was deeply worried by George W Bush as by the appalling regime of Saddam. He said that without a second UN Resolution based on authoritative facts from the inspectors the Liberal Democrats would not support war. He said the Middle East peace process must be restarted. Its absence fuelled terrorism. He said this was the riskiest moment since Suez. International justice must be pursued through the UN.

Jeremy Corbyn MP said this biggest ever political demonstration, as well as others worldwide, showed we were not a force alone or isolated. He said that even with a second UN Resolution, even if the UN Security Council was bribed and cajoled into passing one, war would be wrong. He objected as an MP to being denied a vote with the Prime Minister using the medieval Royal Prerogative to send British soldiers to die and Iraqi people too. He wished to vote against the war on behalf of his multicultural community. He denounced Tony Blair and Jack Straw for travelling the world’s conference halls echoing the calls of Bush and Rumsfeld. Why should millions be spent on war rather than on AIDS and world poverty, he asked? September 11 was dreadful, he said, but 8,000 deaths in Afghanistan had not brought anyone back and nor would thousands more dead in Iraq. It would only set off new conflict, bring more misery and fuel terrorism. He said one cannot humiliate the Palestinians, arm Iraq and Iran and not expect trouble. We want a world free from war, free from injustice and poverty. Today the movement was giving this message to the British government.

Billy Hayes of the Communication Workers Union said his union members said No to War. He said the trade union movement with seven million members was calling on the TUC to join shoulder to shoulder with the peace movement. The British Prime Minister at the time of Suez had failed to listen. The government must listen now. He said we needed a government for peace and against war.

George Galloway MP began by saying he was a member of "Old Europe". He would rather be eating cheese by the Seine than popcorn in Texas. He said that although a vote had been denied in the House of Commons today the British people had voted with their feet, No to War with Iraq and Justice and Freedom for Palestine. He denounced the Prime Minister for acting as if Governor of the 51st state. He said we do not want Bush’s war, Star Wars or to be in an axis of evil with Sharon. He said that if Tony Blair, despite the demonstrations here and throughout the world, took us over the cliff, he would break the Labour Party he was supposed to be leading. He said some were ready to rebuild the party as a real Labour Party standing for real Labour values.

Michel Massih, the only practising Palestinian QC, said that war against Iraq would illegal, a breach of every international law. He said if war was justifiable, one had to ask which country was occupying others lands, holding weapons of mass destruction and committing war crimes? Israel! There could be no peace in the Middle East without justice for Palestine.

Lindsey German of CND said this was part of a worldwide movement. She said she had been asked if the demonstration would be violent and contain extremists and had replied that the violent extremists were Tony Blair and his clique. She said Bush had said his patience was running out, but the patience of the people was running out. If Blair followed Bush into a war we will bring him down, she said. Today is only a beginning. If war breaks out, she said, there would be a mass movement of civil disobedience, with strikes, occupations of colleges and city centres. We will occupy London’s political centre, she said, and will be back in this park.

Mike Rix of ASLEF expressed solidarity with the peace movement. He warned Tony Blair that if war started there would be industrial action. He called for the recall of the TUC. Blair, he said, it is time to go!

Ismael Sakranie, General Secretary of the Muslim Council of Britain, said wars of aggression must be removed as pillars of national policy. Terrorism was a problem, but so was state terrorism. He said this was the beginning of a long march. The world could not remain dominated by arms merchants and oil magnates. It was immoral to use war for political gain. Problems must be solved by peaceful means, in Iraq, in Palestine, in Kashmir.

Playwright Harold Pinter said the US was a monster out of control. Unless we challenged it, US barbarism would destroy the world. It was a country run by criminal lunatics, with Tony Blair as a hired Christian thug. An attack on Iraq would be an act of premeditated mass murder. The only words were, he said: Resistance! Tony Blair Resign!

Peace and human rights campaigner Bianca Jagger said this was a historic day. There must be no war for oil. It would leave a trail of blood of Iraqis and US and British soldiers. The peaceful road was that set out by the UN Charter. She said she was saddened Tony Blair had forgotten the UN Charter, international law, the ABM and other treaties. The UN Charter in 1945 spoke of preventing future generations suffering from the scourge of war. The only exceptions, under Article 51, were self-defence against attack and against an imminent threat to national security. Neither applied now to the US and Britain. But now there was a new doctrine of pre-emptive strike. She asked why Tony Blair listened to Bush but not to the British people. She did not condone the human rights violations of Saddam, but there were no provisions under the UN Charter to overthrow governments. Yes, she said, let there be democracy in Iraq, but not by carpet-bombing, not by half a million casualties, not by two million refugees.

Ken Livingstone, Mayor of London, spoke of his pride at this biggest ever political demonstration taking place in London. He denounced the double standards applied to Iraq and Israel. He asked how Tony Blair could be dragged along by George W Bush, a draft-dodger, share-dealing fraud and stooge of the oil interests. How could he ask young men to die for this creature! He asked where were the voices denouncing Saddam in Thatcher’s time, when he was supplied with weapons, given lists of Iraqi communists and trade unionists to kill by MI5 and the CIA. He said people did not support war or to prop up a corrupt and racist US administration. He said that already, on news of the demonstration, Blair was talking of giving the inspectors more time and a new UN Resolution. But, he warned, there were nations for sale on the UN Security Council. We must watch the Security Council and continue to demand Not in Our Name!

American politician Jesse Jackson gave the call to Stop the War and Save the People! He said Give Peace a Chance and We the People Will Win! He said that as a US citizen he had come to bring greetings from the US peace movement and to say it was not too late to stop the war. He said if the US launched a pre-emptive attack on Iraq it would lose all moral authority. He said Tony Blair must protect Britain’s independence. Quoting Dr Martin Luther King he called for an end to the cycle of terror and for peace and reconciliation. He spoke against what he called the US "Wild West rhetoric" and said that arrogance precedes a fall. He appealed to Saddam to co-operate with the weapons inspectors and called on Tony Blair to take a step back from war. He said Bush and Blair must hear the voice of the people. We can have a new world, he said, this is Hope Time, Healing Time. Give Peace a Chance!

The rally was brought to a rousing conclusion by the singer Ms Dynamite, who had the vast crowd swaying, raising their fists in the air, to cries of "Peace!" and "Freedom!".