Join us today!
Printable version
Link to this page: https://secure.socialistparty.org.uk/issue/538/6170
From The Socialist newspaper, 17 June 2008
End the occupations
 |
Protest against George W Bush visit to Britain, photo Paul Mattsson |
SEVERAL THOUSAND anti-war demonstrators gathered in Parliament Square, London, last Sunday evening to protest against the two-day visit to Britain of US president George Bush.
While warmonger Bush was entertained at Downing Street by his willing coalition partner, prime minister Gordon Brown, protesters - kept at bay by a heavy police presence - called for an end to the military occupations in Iraq and Afghanistan by US and UK troops.
Socialist Party members distributed anti-war leaflets and sold over 100 copies of The Socialist to protesters and tourists who were passing by.
 |
One of the Socialist Party stalls in Parliament Square protesting against George W Bush's visit to the UK, phtot Sarah Mayo |
Later, when the demonstrators attempted to march up Whitehall, riot police used batons to beat back the crowd, injuring several people and making arrests.
Afghan quagmire
AS GEORGE Bush's twilight administration attempts to turn Iraq into a permanently occupied US military outpost, it was announced that more coalition troops were killed in Afghanistan than in Iraq for the first time last month.
Clearly, the Taliban insurgency is becoming stronger (shown by the mass breakout of prisoners at Kandahar prison), as the corrupt regime of beleaguered US-backed Afghan president Hamid Karzai, has left the mass of Afghanis in dire poverty and insecurity.
Yet, despite the obvious failings of the seven-year occupation of Afghanistan by coalition forces to bring about reconstruction, employment and social justice, Gordon Brown gave a commitment to lame duck president George Bush that UK troops in Afghanistan would be increased to their highest level ie over 8,000.
Donate to the Socialist Party
Finance appeal
The coronavirus crisis has laid bare the class character of society in numerous ways. It is making clear to many that it is the working class that keeps society running, not the CEOs of major corporations.
The results of austerity have been graphically demonstrated as public services strain to cope with the crisis.
- The Socialist Party's material is more vital than ever, so we can continue to report from workers who are fighting for better health and safety measures, against layoffs, for adequate staffing levels, etc.
- We must be ready for the stormy events ahead and the need to arm workers' movements with a socialist programme - one which puts the health and needs of humanity before the profits of a few.
Inevitably, during the crisis we have not been able to sell the Socialist and raise funds in the ways we normally would.
We therefore urgently appeal to all our viewers to donate to our Fighting Fund.
In The Socialist 17 June 2008:
No! to racism: Yes! to decent jobs, homes and public services
No! to racism: Yes! to decent jobs, homes and public services
Unite and fight against racism
Protest at BNP 'hate festival'
International socialist news and analysis
Lisbon Treaty 'No' vote delivers major shock for political and big business Establishment
Socialist Party campaigns
David Davis - sanity or carving a position?
Greater Manchester - save your post office
London protest over Rajapaksa's dismal human rights record
Stop big business polluting our environment
Education
Stop New Labour's divisive school academy plans
Socialist Party NHS campaign
NHS: Polyclinics - Stop this backdoor privatisation
PFI - a very bad deal for the NHS
Socialist Party campaigns
Unison conference: Angry delegates attack leaders
Post office closures
Leeds: Stop Beeston post office closures
Socialist Party workplace news
National Shop Stewards Network Conference
CWU's link with Labour hotly debated
Victory against bosses at Keele
Home | The Socialist 17 June 2008 | Join the Socialist Party
2021