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.

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Coronavirus crisis - 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 government has now ripped up its 'austerity' mantra and turned to policies that not long ago were denounced as socialist. But after the corona crisis, it will try to make the working class pay for it, by trying to claw back what has been given.

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.
Our 'fighting coronavirus workers' charter', outlines a programme to combat the virus and protect workers' living conditions.
When the health crisis subsides, 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.