MASS WEAPONS INSPECTION OF USAF FAIRFORD
DATE & TIME: Saturday 14th December @ 12:00noon
The Gloucestershire Weapons Inspectors are coming:
 http://www.gwi.org.uk

NOT IN OUR NAME - NOT FROM OUR LAND.

AT LEAST 6 TOWNS & CITIES ARE SO FAR INVOLVED. SPREAD
THE WORD, & BOOK YOUR COACHES NOW.

Bristol-Stop-The-War have called a REGION WIDE demo of USAF
Fairford (Gloucestershire) in response to it's use by US Stealth Bombers, which will be used to carpet bomb Iraqi Cities. The public have repeatedly made clear we oppose this war, yet our government has the audacity to invite these weapons of mass destruction into our country.
Upon arrival we will encourage protesters to surround the base in a peaceful show of strength, while our weapons inspection team requests entry to base. People wishing to engage in non-violent direct action (NVDA) are welcome to attend, but please be aware that Bristol-Stop-The-War cannot offer specific legal support for NVDA actions.

PLEASE BRING VIDEO CAMERAS.

THIS MAY BE OUR LAST 'PEACE-TIME' OPPORTUNITY TO SHOW
CLEAR PUBLIC OPPOSITION TO THIS WAR.

Fairford is 10 miles north of Swindon & 20 miles west of Oxford. Fairford is on the A417 going east to west. Or along the A361 going north to south, turning onto the A417 at Lechlade village. USAF Fairford is 10 minutes walk from Fairford Village.

*********************************************
DEMONSTRATE: Sat 14th December. 12noon. USAF Fairford.
BRISTOL COACH TICKETS: £10 waged / £4 unwaged
AVAILABLE FROM: Greenleaf Books. 82 Colston St. BS1 5BB
(Top Of Christmas Steps. City Centre)
COACHES LEAVE: Anchor Road @ 10.00am
(Behind The Watershed Complex. City Centre)
DIRECTIONS : CLICK BELOW
 http://www.multimap.com/map/browse.cgi?gride=358590&gridn=172858&title

What is this war really about? This is a question which constantly circulates in my brain. Tony tells us that Saddam is an evil and wicked man who harbours either "weapons of mass destruction" or the materials required to create them who is an immediate danger to Britain. What's new? Doesn't Britain, America, Israel, France, etc. etc also harbour weapons of mass destruction and aren't they prepared to use them? Look at the volume of heavy weaponary that is being trandported to the Middle East in preparation for the invasion of Iraq and the sophisticated military hardware supplied by America to Israel that is employed in the destruction of human life on the West Bank. Aren't these weapons of Mass destruction?

Is it about the control of oil resouces? Perhaps. The West engulfs huge volumes of oil each year to sustain the lifestyles and greed of those who run the multinationals and conglomerates, it is imperative to them that the most important resouce (oil) is under their absolute control. Oil prices have risen in recent years, Saddam isn't pumping enough and since Iraq floats on the second largest oil fields in the world it would be highly desirable for Western Interests to have control of such a valuable resource.

Is it about regime change? Could be. Saddam is a depicable monster who has committed genocide against the Kurds, murdered the Marsh Arabs, his own henchmen, as well as members of his own family. In all, Saddam rids himself permanently of anyone who might be perceived as a risk or those whose death is useful in spreading fear among the people - a perfect example. So yes, to rid Iraq of Saddam Hussein would certainly be a postive move. But couldn't this man work with our leaders? Isn't he just the right sort who can find a way to co-operate with Western Democracies. He has done in the past.

America and Britain appear to want to establish a new regime. They have developed bases in Kuwait, Jordan,Yemen. Qatar and Saudi Arabia to help them carry out their war plans and of course they have Israel in the background flexing its military muscles.

Finally, is it that America is expanding her Empire and Iraq, a secular and potentially wealthy and powerful country in the world, is too great a risk to Western expansionism and intersts. Is it that Iraq cannot be controlled like other Arab states such as Saudia Arabia and Egypt and that its potential power and wealth could inhibit American economic plans for the future. Will we see an American born "democracy" in Iraq with the intent of it spreading it to neighbouring coutnries?

I hope the war doen not happen. My husband's extended family live in Baghdad; my children's aunts, uncles, cousins and grandparents all reside there. The media, George and Tony all talk about the demon Saddam, they never talk about the innocents; those who were murdered last time, the bereaved, those dying from lack of medical resouces due to sanctions, those living in poverty and those living in the "no-fly zone" who live in fear of the daily incursions of military jets - recently, I spoke to a lovely lady, an Iraqi English teacher who described the terror of children and their mothers when these planes fly low overhead . My eternal memory will be of my sister-in-law visiting Britain and talking about the bombing od Baghdad which took place in 1991. She said the bombing was so intense, incessant and terryfing that as they sat together in the dark with the chidrenthey prayed for death, just so that the noise would stop.