The whole New Labour/neo-liberal project needs to be brought down, which means Campbell, Mandelson and all the detritus they have accumulated around themselves over the years (Prescott,Short,Charles Clarke,ad nauseum) need to be swept away too.

Anyone who heard Blair being booed at the Corporatewealth Games must know that his popularity is probably now approaching that of Thatcher just before her downfall.

We can effectively turn the war into a referendum on 'Blairism', burying it once and for all.

ehh, what's the point in getting rid of Blairism ? What's the point in making Bush and Blair pay a political price for their actions ? You can be sure that what(who)ever will replace them won't be any better.

What we have to get rid of is militarism. And I do agree about blocking bases and so forth, but we should do it, we should do it all the time. War tax resistance is also an important step forward (see  http://www.conscienceonline.org.uk)

On the 10th of december 2001, just after the war on Afghanistan had been "won" (said the media), there was a mass blockade of Northwood Headquarters, the permanent joint forces headquarters (that is, the headquarter for all military actions involving more than one force) and also east atlantique nato regional headquarters. Hey, at least 30 people came... See  http://www.northwood.cjb.net

I can see it happening : Saddam Hussein will be somehow found guilty of links with Al-Queida, perhaps a video with Bin Laden playing poker over a map of NewYork, suddenly there will be undeniable proof that he is providing biological weapons to terrorists groups (and the proof will be even more deniable that we won't be able to see it - hard to deny indeed !), and we'll probably discover that he is involved in a network that abducts uk children to sell them as sex slaves in north korea and cuba.

There, 50% of the movement against the war is lost already. Then it will go on. People will march down trafalgar square. Some will take direct action at military bases - but not too many because, as they can't control such actions, political institutions will not back them.

Never mind, it will just go on. It'll give some people a reason to live, either side. And then what ? Nothing new. Blair might loose the elections, but really, who cares. It won't change a thing.

Oh yes, we need direct action, we need protest, we need a movement. But we need so much more.

bah.

Of course we need much more, but it doesn't mean "why bother?" Intelligent activist manifestations can give others the courage to do more quietly in their communities.

Of course we need much more, but it doesn't mean "why bother?" Intelligent activist manifestations can give others the courage to do more quietly in their communities.

If the scum at the top of the STWC used their puny brains they wouldnt take 10k people for a wlak in Hyde park,they would take those people and put the im a specific location, in a military base, somewhere in London which would stop it working, up blair's ass.. anywhere.

What comes after Blair will be decided to a large extent by those most active in the struggle against the war, and the effectiveness of their actions.

You ask why the Stop the War Coalition doesn't just order its supporters to blockade an army base or something.

How about this; the Coalition isn't a dictatorship! It's a coalition of lots of different people with their own ideas, who are unlikely to respond well to orders.

I think the Coalition co-ordinators are right to call a big national demo and try to get the largest possible number of people to participate.

If you want to take direct action, why not join DAAWN?

I disagree totally with the comments made by 'anti-war activist' concerning the STWC. Obviously 'anti-war activist' is a member of the SWP given his/her? views about the motives of the coalition.

On the contrary the STWC isn't a democratic, pluralist or open campaign group and as such does not represent the opinions of the many thousands who have participated in anti-war demos, marches, meetings and protests.

What it is an SWP front organisation established primarily to cash in on te wave of media interest and hype for SWP interests and their interests alone. What the 'coalition' does, thanks to the SWP's autocratic and blatantly dictatorial leadership of the SWTC is put forward the SWP message at the cost of building any alliances with other parties, campaign and lobby groups and other affiliated organisations who oppose war against Iraq. CND and the Green Party, for example are marginalised in all areas of STWC decision making, organisation and planning and this is clearly the case with the Socialist Alliance.

Lets not be fooled here! The STWC is a front for SWP interests. Do you seriosuly think that SWP leaders give a shit about the views of anyone taking part on this SWTC march in September who doesn't agree with their anti-war line? Democracy? I don't think so!!!!!!!!!!

I myself have changed my opinion. The war against Iraq has different intention than the west's campaign in Afghanistan. Saddam is a legitimate target as he clearly represents a threat to global peace. The misinformation about the sanctions issue shouldn't be used to discredit what is a rightful and necessary campaign against evil.

Lets give the war our support, be wary of the hidden agendas of those within the anti-war movement who claim to be campaigning for the poor of Iraq BUT keep in mind that western militarism is still a real concern. I have not suddenyl become a supporter of Bush/Blair militarism but i realise that this is a reality that can't be avoided in the short term.

Best wishes

Philipp Terhorst