In an effort to prop up the SPD-Grünen government, German Green leader and Foreign Secretary Joschker Fischer has managed to secure German government backing for the war on Afghanistan and the deployment of over 4,000 German troops. The vote among Green delegates in Rostock over the weekend Die Grünen have overwhelmingly sanctioned the first German military campaign since the Nazis. This is in stark contrast to Die Grünen's 1998 manifesto commitment "to non-violence, peace and human rights" ( http://www.gruene.de/sache/english/election98/global.htm). This comes on top of the party's backing of the government's support for Nato strikes against Yugoslavia which led to scores of civilian deaths, polluted the rivers with oil spills from bombed silos and refineries and spread depleted uranium throughout the countryside (how Green!).

Die Grünen is a member of the European Parliament's Green grouping, which includes the anti-war British Green party. However, the British Greens have refused to move against Die Grünen and expell them from the group. Margaret Wright, one of their principal speakers who spoke at the last anti-war demo, wrote to me stating that "I think it is better they remain. Die Grünen is completely split over the issue ... those who oppose the war need support. I think there is a real chance that they could easily become the majority. In addition, Schroder put in the vote of confidence to make it much harder to vote against.I would like to see Joscha Fischer leave. The Green Party is not pacifist (just almost!) a minority of our members apparently support some degree of military action.(no official poll). What help is it to expel people?"

Is this an acceptable response from the British Greens? I think not. This is an imperial, racist war which is equivalent to the Vietnam war and even the Nazi pogroms. It is unleashing mass destruction on Afghanistan, contributing to widespread starvation and destabilising the entire region, shoring up oppressive regimes which now have an excuse to kill ethnic minorities and political opponents. By refusing to expell Die Grünen, the British Greens are refusing to take a principled stand. They are behaving like cowards.

If you share my feelings, then write a polite letter to:
Margaret Wright, co-speaker -  mew30@cam.ac.uk
Jean Lambert MEP -  jeanlambert@greenmeps.org.uk
Caroline Lucas MEP -  carolinelucas@greenmeps.org.uk
Penny Kemp, national executive chairperson -  penny.kemp@virgin.net

You can also try writing to Buero Buetikofer ( buero.buetikofer@gruene.de), the thoroughly unpleasant General Secretary of Die Grünen. He told me that I knew nothing about the war and I should mind my own business after I lobbied him to oppose the war. At least, he's fun to irritate.