BRISTOL PEACE VIGIL : News and Actions
Bristol Peace Vigil | 22.06.2004 20:59 | Anti-militarism
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BRISTOL PEACE VIGIL NEWS
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DAY OF ACTION : Two Bristol Actions On 30th June...
BRISTOL PEACE VIGIL NEWS
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DAY OF ACTION : Two Bristol Actions On 30th June...
Watch A Trailer For Michael Moore's ' Fahrenheit 9/11 '
http://www.fahrenheit911.com/trailer/windows/large.php
WORD OF MOUTH......
is still the most powerful method of communication......
[1] Day Of Action Events ...... 30th June
[2] Week Of Action ..... 26 June - 4 July
[3] Visit The Bristol Peace Vigil
[4] More Local / Regional Vigils
[5] Latest ... The Occupation Continues
[1] DAY OF ACTION EVENTS IN BRISTOL ~ WED 30th JUNE
Cities are under siege; thousands of civilian deaths; torture & humiliation in prisons - Welcome to occupied Iraq. The US & British governments pretend that this will end on June 30th when there will be a 'handover' of power to an Iraqi government. In reality little will change. Two key Bristol actions have been called for 30th June to mark & resist this fraudulent handover of power to Iraq.
[a] MORNING Bristol Action
[b] EVENING Bristol Action
[c] The Handover Is A Fraud
[a] MORNING ACTION ~ 'MEET THE WARMONGERS'
[Independently Called Action. Please give your full support.]
TIME: 7:30am @The MOD procurement building in Filton. Come along and visit Bristol's very own warmongers at the MOD. Bring friends, bikes, banners, noise... No more business as usual! Throw a spanner in the works of the war machine.
HOW TO GET THERE: Buses: 70, 73. Train: Temple Meads 7:06 & 7:27
The University of the West of England is just round the corner from the MOD. Please also see their website for more details of how to get to the general area.
http://www.uwe.ac.uk/maps/Frenchaydirections.shtml
MEETING POINT: Near the main entrance just south of the roundabout on the A4174 where Station Rd becomes Filton Rd. Remember, this is not a static demo! Come prepared for action & use your imagination. There are a number of entances around the perimeter which are all worth exploring. Check your A to Z's & see...
http://www.streetmap.co.uk/streetmap.dll?G2M?X=361250&Y=178750&A=Y&Z=1
[b] EVENING ACTION ~ 'HAND BACK IRAQ'
Called by Bristol-Stop-The-War in association with the Independent Bristol Peace Vigil. The anti-war movement in Bristol continues to campaign for an end to the occupation. Join us on the Centre on June 30th and make your own dissent public.
MEETING POINT: The Bristol Peace Vigil @5:30-6:30pm. (Opposite Hippodrome, St. Augustines Parade). There will be an Open Mic session, & Protest. We want to give everyone who wants to speak a chance to, so do come along. MAP BELOW:
http://www.multimap.com/map/browse.cgi?gride=358590&gridn=172858&title
We understand that many of you feel dissilusioned with protest, but if you had not come on previous demonstrations the powers that be would have committed even greater crimes against humanity than so far committed. Your dissent is everything!
[c] WHY IT IS A FRAUDULENT HANDOVER IN A NUTSHELL:
*The US will control the bulk of Iraq’s capital budget & management of its oil resources. *The US/UK military occupation will continue & the US will remain in control of the Iraqi army. *The Interim Iraqi Government (I.I.G) will be a selected – not elected body - with no democratic mandate. The deadline for the first election is not until 2005, if it does happen. *The I.I.G is prohibited from altering any laws that the US has passed. *The US is creating a new secret police force for Iraq which, the Pentagon & the CIA have told the White House, will 'allow America to maintain control over the direction of the country' (Sun Telegraph, 4th.Jan). *US control will simply be moving to an 'embassy' with about 1,000 US & 700 foreign employees (NYT, 28th April) where 'most power will reside' (AP, 21st March).
READ MORE: A more detailed briefing is given at the end of this bulletin.
[2] WEEK OF ACTIONS ~ 26th JUNE - 4th JULY
'Voices In The Wilderness' is encouraging groups & individuals to take action during the week 26 June – 4 July to expose this fraud & to demand an end to the US/UK military occupation. An action pack - including further advice on press work, places to occupy, & the law, is available together with a pool of non-violent direct action (NVDA) trainers. Contact Voices in the Wilderness UK, 5 Caledonian Rd, London N1 9DX. Email:
voices@viwuk.freeserve.co.uk. Tel: 0845 458 2564
[a] More Bristol/Reonal Events During The Week
[b] More National Events During The Week
[a] SOME MORE BRISTOL & REGIONAL EVENTS DURING THE WEEK...
[i] BRISTOL BENEFIT NIGHT FOR PALESTINE : Saturday 26th June
(Not about Iraq, but still important). Link: http://www.palestinecampaign.org
Fundraiser for medical aid for Palestine, & Palestine Solidarity Campaign. This is a child friendly event. Tickets in advance or on the door. £4 / £3, from Greenleaf Books, 82 Colston St, Bristol. DATE: Sat 26th June. TIME: 8:00-11:30pm. TAX: £4 / £3. VENUE: St. Werburgh's Community Centre, Horley Rd, (Off Mina Rd). MAP:
http://www.streetmap.co.uk/streetmap.dll?G2M?X=360367&Y=174543&A=Y&Z=1
LINE UP: This is a MULTI-ROOM event with a Bar. Entertainment will include a soundsystem ~ Arabic drumming & dancers. ~ Middle Eastern food ~ A Satiric Poetry Slam (entries should be 10 lines or less.) ~ & much more.
[ii] EXETER STOP THE WAR PROTEST : Sat 26th June
If you are in the least bit sceptical about the handover on the 30th June, please come and join us on Sat 26th June 12.00pm-2.00pm in East Gate (High St, opposite Boots). MAP BELOW:
http://www.multimap.com/map/browse.cgi?lat=50.7239&lon=-3.5306&scale=10000
Website: http://www.exeterstopwar.fsnet.co.uk/index.shtml
[iii] YEOVIL & SHERBOURNE INDEPENDENCE DAY! : Sat 3rd July
Organisers Link: http://www.members.lycos.co.uk/yeosherstwc/
For More Details: 0845 456 1321 Email: ysastopwar@aol.com
To mark Independence Day for the USA on the 4th July, Yeovil & Sherborne will making a dancing declaration of UK independence from US domination.
CHILD FRIENDLY CELIDH & DANCE NIGHT. With DJ's Timmo & Hamish.
Date: Sat 3rd July. Time: 7pm - Midnight. TAX: £5 / £4. VENUE:
Thornford Village Hall, Pound Rd, Near Sherborne, Dorset. MAP BELOW:
http://www.multimap.com/map/browse.cgi?lat=50.9158&lon=-2.5616&scale=50000
[b] SOME MORE NATIONAL EVENTS DURING THE WEEK...
[i] LONDON. 'PUPPETS & PUPPET MASTERS' PROTEST: Tue 29th June
Meet: Oxford Circus @7:00pm. Link: http://www.worldrevolution.org.uk MAP:
http://www.streetmap.co.uk/streetmap.dll?G2M?X=529156&Y=181215&A=Y&Z=1
Organised by Revolution ~ The Socialist Youth Movement.
[ii] LONDON: 'LET THE IRAQIS CHOOSE' PROTEST: Wed 30th June
Meet: Parliament Square @6:00-9:00pm. Link: http://www.stopwar.org.uk MAP:
http://www.streetmap.co.uk/streetmap.dll?G2M?X=530250&Y=179750&A=Y&Z=1
Organised by London Stop-The-War-Coalition.
[iii] LONDON: NVDA TRAINING FOR FARNBOROUGH AIRSHOW: Sat 3rd July
If interested contact: Campaign Against Arms Trade (CAAT): 020 7281 0297
Email: action@caat.org.uk Visit: http://www.caat.org.uk/
Please get in touch for info, or to reserve a place. There will be a nominal charge.
[iv] MENWITH HILL: 'INDEPENDENCE FROM AMERICA' PROTEST: Sun 4th July
A 1997 European Parliament report said civil liberties are threatened by the US Spy Base at Menwith Hill, North Yorkshire, which intercepts communications from around the world. Information goes to Fort Meade, Maryland, in the US. The UK government is given information on a 'need-to-know' basis via GCHQ, Cheltenham.
Organised by CAAB: http://www.caab.org.uk Please visit the website for more info.
[3] THE DAILY BRISTOL PEACE VIGIL : The Independent Bristol Peace Vigil is an open space for discussion, as well as a crucial focus to Bristol's many anti-war campaigns. We've kept vigil every night since a few days after 11th Sept 2001, and we will keep Vigil onwards into the future. As far as we know this makes the Bristol Peace Vigil unique, but we do need your support to keep our flame alive. If you can only make it for 15 minutes, or a couple of times a month, please still come as all support is essential. Everyone's welcome at the Bristol Peace Vigil.
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WE DEMAND A WORLD FIT FOR PEOPLE
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TIMES: MON-FRI 5:30-6:30pm & SAT 3:00-4:00pm. PLACE: City Centre.
(Opposite The Hippodrome. St. Augustines Parade). MAP BELOW:
http://www.multimap.com/map/browse.cgi?gride=358590&gridn=172858&title
[4] MORE LOCAL & REGIONAL PEACE VIGILS
Please support these regional Peace Vigils. All support is essential & welcome.
To correct your details, or to add your Vigil, email: bristolpeacevigil@yahoo.co.uk
a) BATH PEACE VIGIL: Every Saturday. 11.30am-12.30pm. Bath Abbey. Off York St. From the Station walk up Manvers St. http://www.bathstopwar.org.uk/ MAP:
http://www.streetmap.co.uk/streetmap.dll?G2M?X=375149&Y=164717&A=Y&Z=1
b) BARNSTAPLE PEACE VIGIL: Every Saturday. 12:00-1:00pm. Guildhall
Pannier Market, High St. MAP:
http://www.streetmap.co.uk/streetmap.dll?G2M?X=255789&Y=133243&A=Y&Z=1
c) BRIDGWATER PEACE VIGIL: Every Saturday. 11:00am-1:00pm. By Robert
Blake Statue, Opposite Cornhill, Junction of Fore St. MAP:
http://www.streetmap.co.uk/streetmap.dll?G2M?X=329890&Y=137035&A=Y&Z=1
d) DORCHESTER PEACE VIGIL: Every Friday. 1:00-1:30pm.
(By the Town Pump) South St. MAP:
http://www.streetmap.co.uk/streetmap.dll?G2M?X=369250&Y=90640&A=Y&Z=1
e) EASTON PEACE VIGIL (Bristol) : Every Friday. 5:00-6:00pm.
Corner of Robertson Rd & Stapleton Rd. MAP:
http://www.streetmap.co.uk/streetmap.dll?G2M?X=360957&Y=174705&A=Y&Z=1
f) STROUD PEACE VIGIL: Every Saturday. 12:00-1:00pm. Stroud High St.
MAP: http://www.streetmap.co.uk/streetmap.dll?G2M?X=385183&Y=205205&A=Y&Z=1
g) TORQUAY PEACE VIGIL: Every Saturday. 1:00-2:00pm.
Top of Fleet St. (by the Post Office). MAP:
http://www.streetmap.co.uk/streetmap.dll?G2M?X=291745&Y=63745&A=Y&Z=1
h) WESTON-SUPER-MARE PEACE VIGIL: Every Thursday. 1:00-2:00pm
Along the High Street (Opposite Argos). MAP:
http://www.multimap.com/map/browse.cgi?X=332000&Y=161500&scale=10000
5) LATEST NEWS ... VOICES IN THE WILDERNESS BRIEFING
[A full PDF version will be available soon on the Voices web-site]
For More Information: http://www.voicesuk.org
30 JUNE ... THE OCCUPATION CONTINUES
According to the US & British governments, on 30 June the occupation of Iraq will end & 'full sovereignty' will pass to a new Iraqi Interim Government (IIG). In reality the IIG – a body chosen by the US & its proxies - is headed by a former CIA asset, its ministries are riddled with US ‘advisers’ & appointees &, dependent upon US money & military power for survival, the IIG will possess no meaningful control over the 138,000 US military personnel that will remain in Iraq after the 'handover'. In what follows we examine these realities in more detail.
MEET THE NEW BOSS …
Tony Blair hailed the naming of the new Iraqi cabinet as a 'historic day for Iraq',
dismissing as nonsense suggestions a puppet Iraqi government was primed to take over on 30 June (BBC, 2 June). In reality the Interim Government is dominated by members of the old US-appointed Governing Council (Economist, 5 June) & the most important position of Prime Minster, went to Ayad Allawi, a long-term protege of the CIA & MI6 who has spent much of his life in exile (Observer, 30 May).
A former Ba’athist, Allawi heads the Iraqi National Accord (INA), an 'opposition' group created in Dec 1990, on the initiative of Saudi Prince Turki ibn Faysal, with the support of the CIA, Jordanian, & British agencies, largely made up of Ba‘thists & former military officers (www.middleeastreference.org.uk). During the ‘90s the INA conducted a bombing campaign in Iraq which killed as many as 100 civilians (Saddam Hussein: An American Obsession, Patrick & Andrew Cockburn, p.211-215). It was also the CIA’s favoured vehicle for precipitating a military coup inside Iraq & provided the 'intelligence' – which it subsequently admitted had been a 'crock of shit' - that formed the basis for the British
Government’s infamous assertion that Iraq could deploy WMD within 45 minutes (Guardian, 27 Jan).
Meanwhile the crucial posts of defence & interior minister went, respectively, to former exiles Hazem Sha’alan & Falah al-Naqib, a former deputy chief of staff under Saddam (AP, 1 June) - both of whom had been appointed provincial governors following the invasion (Reuters, 1 June).
Clearly no puppet then.
THE 'POPULAR CANDIDATE'
The White House was quick to claim that Mr Allawi had emerged as a popular candidate'’ (Observer, 30 May) though the Financial Times notes that he ‘is the least popular of 17 prominent Iraqi political personalities monitored by the Iraqi Centre for Research & Studies (31 May), an Iraqi group considered reliable enough for the US-led Coalition Provisional Authority to have submitted questions to [them]’ (FT, 20 May). In fieldwork conducted in late April nearly 40% of Iraqis strongly opposed Mr Allawi’, beating even the despised Ahmed Chalabi (FT, 31 May).
‘THE DICTATOR OF IRAQ’
So how did Mr Allawi end up as Prime Minister of the 'sovereign' Iraqi Govermment? Back in April the US & Britain were keen to present the UN – in the person of its envoy, Lakhdar Brahimi – as the driving force behind the selection of the Interim Government but as things transpired his choices were ‘overruled in humiliating circumstances’ (Guardian, 3 June) with those close to the UN envoy ‘say[ing] the choices, especially that of the prime minister … were essentially negotiated between the [US] & the [US-appointed] Iraqi Governing Council’ (NYT, 2 June)
George Bush later claimed he had played no role in picking the new government (AFP, 2 June) – However, in an undiplomatic flash of anger, [Brahami] told reporters, 'I'm sure he doesn't mind me saying that [US civilian administrator for Iraq] Paul Bremer is the dictator of Iraq. He has the money. He has the signature. Nothing happens without his agreement in this country’ (Guardian, 3 June).
A 'BIG MISTAKE'
Having won this ‘popular’ mandate from the US Government & 25 US-appointed Iraqis, Allawi lost no time in spelling out his vision for the future, telling the Sunday Telegraph of his plans ‘to recall 4 divisions of Saddam Hussein’s old army & create a rapid reaction force & anti-terrorism unit to deal with the country’s security crisis’ (30 May). A few days later he intimated that he would shortly be passing a new law ‘reinstating some former members of the Ba’ath party’ (Reuters, 5 June). According to Allawi, dissolving Saddam Hussein’s internal security forces had been a big mistake. 'We have begun to rectify these mistakes,' he explained ominously.
THE 'MULTINATIONAL FORCE': THE MILITARY OCCUPATION CONTINUES
The new US/UK-drafted UN resolution regarding the 30 June transfer ‘reaffirms the authorisation for the multinational force’ established by UN Resolution 1511, declaring that this authorisation ‘shall expire’ once a constitutionally elected government is in place or ‘if requested by the Government of Iraq.’ Of course, no such request will be made, for, as ‘top' US officials explained last December, ‘the new Iraqi government’s sovereignty … rest[s] on a foundation of US military force & money’ (LA Times, 28 Dec 2003). Here, of course, they were simply echoing the words of British Colonial Secretary Leopold Amery who in 1925 wrote that ‘[i]f the writ of [the British-installed Iraqi monarch] King Faisal runs effectively through his kingdom, it is entirely due to to the British airplanes that had by then become the state’s main weapon of coercion (Inventing Iraq, Toby Dodge, Hurst, 2003, p. 131).
‘WHAT SOVEREIGNTY MEANS’
The new resolution does not grant the IIG veto power over the activities of US/UK forces in Iraq. Instead it merely states the ‘security structures’, described in a pair of letters exchanged between the CPA & Iraqi Interim Government, ‘will serve as the fora for the multinational force & Iraqi government to reach agreement on the full range of fundamental security & policy issues, including policy on sensitive offensive operations, & will ensure full partnership between Iraqi forces & the multinational force, through close coordination & consultation.’
Since the new resolution ‘does not stipulate what should happen if they fail to agree’ (Guardian, 9 June) the IIG has no real control over the 138,000 US forces that will continue to occupy Iraq after 30 June - save the option of slitting its own throat by asking them to leave. This should be of particular concern to Tony Blair, who on 25 May dramatically declared that if there were a ‘political decision as to whether you go into a place like Fallujah in a particular way, that has to be done with the consent of the Iraqi government ... That’s what the transfer of sovereignty means’ (Independent, 26 May) [3]. On 1 July the IIG will have no ‘final control’ - political or otherwise - & therefore no meaningful sovereignty.
POWERFUL LEVERS
On 7 June foreign secretary Jack Straw told the House of Commons 'the resolution would give the interim government … the power to pass laws [&] rescind laws passed by the [US]’ (Guardian, 8 June) - powers the US had been seeking to deny the IIG - though in fact there is nothing in the text of the resolution to this effect.
The US has been ‘quietly building institutions that will give the U.S powerful levers for influencing nearly every important decision the interim government will make’ (Wall Street Journal, 13 May). In a series of edicts the US created 'commissions that effectively take away virtually all of the powers once held by several ministries’ (WSJ, 13 May) & ‘110 to 160 American advisers will be layered through Iraq's ministries’ (NYT, 2 June). ‘In many cases, these U.S & Iraqi proxies will serve multiyear terms & have significant authority to run criminal investigations, award contracts, direct troops & subpoena citizens, & according to US officials & others familiar with the plans the new Iraqi government will be … unable to make major decisions within specific ministries without tacit U.S approval’ (WSJ, 13 May)
The new UN resolution also grants the IIG authority to ‘conclude & implement’ agreements regarding Saddam’s outstanding $120bn debts – raising the possibility that ‘the unelected transitional government will sign binding agreements with the Paris Club & other creditors forcing the future elected government to repay a large part of Saddam's odious debt & submit to economic conditions from the IMF in return for receiving partial debt 'forgiveness' ( http://www.jubileeiraq.org , 24 May).
KILLING DEMOCRACY
Meanwhile the deadline for Iraq’s first elections is not until 31 Jan 2005. This, of course, falls conveniently after November’s US Presidential election, allowing Mr Bush to claim, in the meantime, that Iraq is en route to democracy, without the potential embarrassment of having to stage-manage Iraq’s elections in front of the world’s media. That these elections – if they ever take place - will be meaningless is now almost certain. Since the invasion the US has consistently stalled on one-person-one-vote elections in Iraq, seeking instead to ‘put democracy on hold until it can be safely managed.’ (Salim Lone, Guardian, 13 April) -
See: http:www.voices.netuxo.co.uk/library/letter_may2004.html#enemies
With just days to go before the transfer of 'sovereignty' the US has passed yet another new law, this time barring members of ‘illegal militias’ from 'holding political office for up to 3 years after leaving their illegal organisation' (Guardian, 8 June) - a move plainly aimed at the Sadrist movement, led by Moqtada al-Sadr which draws many of its followers from the desperately poor Shia underclass. Since the US decided to crack-down on the Sadrists in late March, US & British forces have been killing members of its militia in large numbers - along with anyone else who gets in their way - with U.S military officials estimating that they have killed more than 800 Iraqis in Sadr City alone over the past 9 weeks (LA Times, 7 June).
FORWARD TO THE PAST.
Following WWI the British Government ‘naturally placed importance on establishing a friendly & co-operative Iraqi government which would be under its control’ (The role of the military in politics, Mohammed Tarbush, p. 36). Rhetoric aside this remains the driving imperative today.
The stakes are enormous: the Global Policy Forum recently estimated that US & British oil companies stand to reap profits from Iraqi oil of anywhere between $600bn & $9 trillion over the next 50 years, even if Iraq’s oil industry remains nationalised – so long as Iraq enters into production sharing agreements with the companies on favourable terms ( http://www.globalpolicy.org , 28 Jan).
Social movements in the US & Britain that can raise the social costs of occupation for their respective governments could act as a countervailing force. In their absence the prospects are grim & bloody indeed.
[END OF BRIEFING] http://www.voicesuk.org
"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world: indeed it's the only thing that ever does....." Margaret Mead (1901 - 1978).
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BRISTOL PEACE VIGIL NEWS
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http://www.fahrenheit911.com/trailer/windows/large.php WORD OF MOUTH......
is still the most powerful method of communication......
[1] Day Of Action Events ...... 30th June
[2] Week Of Action ..... 26 June - 4 July
[3] Visit The Bristol Peace Vigil
[4] More Local / Regional Vigils
[5] Latest ... The Occupation Continues
[1] DAY OF ACTION EVENTS IN BRISTOL ~ WED 30th JUNE
Cities are under siege; thousands of civilian deaths; torture & humiliation in prisons - Welcome to occupied Iraq. The US & British governments pretend that this will end on June 30th when there will be a 'handover' of power to an Iraqi government. In reality little will change. Two key Bristol actions have been called for 30th June to mark & resist this fraudulent handover of power to Iraq.
[a] MORNING Bristol Action
[b] EVENING Bristol Action
[c] The Handover Is A Fraud
[a] MORNING ACTION ~ 'MEET THE WARMONGERS'
[Independently Called Action. Please give your full support.]
TIME: 7:30am @The MOD procurement building in Filton. Come along and visit Bristol's very own warmongers at the MOD. Bring friends, bikes, banners, noise... No more business as usual! Throw a spanner in the works of the war machine.
HOW TO GET THERE: Buses: 70, 73. Train: Temple Meads 7:06 & 7:27
The University of the West of England is just round the corner from the MOD. Please also see their website for more details of how to get to the general area.
http://www.uwe.ac.uk/maps/Frenchaydirections.shtml MEETING POINT: Near the main entrance just south of the roundabout on the A4174 where Station Rd becomes Filton Rd. Remember, this is not a static demo! Come prepared for action & use your imagination. There are a number of entances around the perimeter which are all worth exploring. Check your A to Z's & see...
http://www.streetmap.co.uk/streetmap.dll?G2M?X=361250&Y=178750&A=Y&Z=1 [b] EVENING ACTION ~ 'HAND BACK IRAQ'
Called by Bristol-Stop-The-War in association with the Independent Bristol Peace Vigil. The anti-war movement in Bristol continues to campaign for an end to the occupation. Join us on the Centre on June 30th and make your own dissent public.
MEETING POINT: The Bristol Peace Vigil @5:30-6:30pm. (Opposite Hippodrome, St. Augustines Parade). There will be an Open Mic session, & Protest. We want to give everyone who wants to speak a chance to, so do come along. MAP BELOW:
http://www.multimap.com/map/browse.cgi?gride=358590&gridn=172858&title We understand that many of you feel dissilusioned with protest, but if you had not come on previous demonstrations the powers that be would have committed even greater crimes against humanity than so far committed. Your dissent is everything!
[c] WHY IT IS A FRAUDULENT HANDOVER IN A NUTSHELL:
*The US will control the bulk of Iraq’s capital budget & management of its oil resources. *The US/UK military occupation will continue & the US will remain in control of the Iraqi army. *The Interim Iraqi Government (I.I.G) will be a selected – not elected body - with no democratic mandate. The deadline for the first election is not until 2005, if it does happen. *The I.I.G is prohibited from altering any laws that the US has passed. *The US is creating a new secret police force for Iraq which, the Pentagon & the CIA have told the White House, will 'allow America to maintain control over the direction of the country' (Sun Telegraph, 4th.Jan). *US control will simply be moving to an 'embassy' with about 1,000 US & 700 foreign employees (NYT, 28th April) where 'most power will reside' (AP, 21st March).
READ MORE: A more detailed briefing is given at the end of this bulletin.
[2] WEEK OF ACTIONS ~ 26th JUNE - 4th JULY
'Voices In The Wilderness' is encouraging groups & individuals to take action during the week 26 June – 4 July to expose this fraud & to demand an end to the US/UK military occupation. An action pack - including further advice on press work, places to occupy, & the law, is available together with a pool of non-violent direct action (NVDA) trainers. Contact Voices in the Wilderness UK, 5 Caledonian Rd, London N1 9DX. Email:
voices@viwuk.freeserve.co.uk. Tel: 0845 458 2564 [a] More Bristol/Reonal Events During The Week
[b] More National Events During The Week
[a] SOME MORE BRISTOL & REGIONAL EVENTS DURING THE WEEK...
[i] BRISTOL BENEFIT NIGHT FOR PALESTINE : Saturday 26th June
(Not about Iraq, but still important). Link:
http://www.palestinecampaign.org Fundraiser for medical aid for Palestine, & Palestine Solidarity Campaign. This is a child friendly event. Tickets in advance or on the door. £4 / £3, from Greenleaf Books, 82 Colston St, Bristol. DATE: Sat 26th June. TIME: 8:00-11:30pm. TAX: £4 / £3. VENUE: St. Werburgh's Community Centre, Horley Rd, (Off Mina Rd). MAP:
http://www.streetmap.co.uk/streetmap.dll?G2M?X=360367&Y=174543&A=Y&Z=1 LINE UP: This is a MULTI-ROOM event with a Bar. Entertainment will include a soundsystem ~ Arabic drumming & dancers. ~ Middle Eastern food ~ A Satiric Poetry Slam (entries should be 10 lines or less.) ~ & much more.
[ii] EXETER STOP THE WAR PROTEST : Sat 26th June
If you are in the least bit sceptical about the handover on the 30th June, please come and join us on Sat 26th June 12.00pm-2.00pm in East Gate (High St, opposite Boots). MAP BELOW:
http://www.multimap.com/map/browse.cgi?lat=50.7239&lon=-3.5306&scale=10000 Website:
http://www.exeterstopwar.fsnet.co.uk/index.shtml [iii] YEOVIL & SHERBOURNE INDEPENDENCE DAY! : Sat 3rd July
Organisers Link:
http://www.members.lycos.co.uk/yeosherstwc/ For More Details: 0845 456 1321 Email:
ysastopwar@aol.com To mark Independence Day for the USA on the 4th July, Yeovil & Sherborne will making a dancing declaration of UK independence from US domination.
CHILD FRIENDLY CELIDH & DANCE NIGHT. With DJ's Timmo & Hamish.
Date: Sat 3rd July. Time: 7pm - Midnight. TAX: £5 / £4. VENUE:
Thornford Village Hall, Pound Rd, Near Sherborne, Dorset. MAP BELOW:
http://www.multimap.com/map/browse.cgi?lat=50.9158&lon=-2.5616&scale=50000 [b] SOME MORE NATIONAL EVENTS DURING THE WEEK...
[i] LONDON. 'PUPPETS & PUPPET MASTERS' PROTEST: Tue 29th June
Meet: Oxford Circus @7:00pm. Link:
http://www.worldrevolution.org.uk MAP: http://www.streetmap.co.uk/streetmap.dll?G2M?X=529156&Y=181215&A=Y&Z=1 Organised by Revolution ~ The Socialist Youth Movement.
[ii] LONDON: 'LET THE IRAQIS CHOOSE' PROTEST: Wed 30th June
Meet: Parliament Square @6:00-9:00pm. Link:
http://www.stopwar.org.uk MAP: http://www.streetmap.co.uk/streetmap.dll?G2M?X=530250&Y=179750&A=Y&Z=1 Organised by London Stop-The-War-Coalition.
[iii] LONDON: NVDA TRAINING FOR FARNBOROUGH AIRSHOW: Sat 3rd July
If interested contact: Campaign Against Arms Trade (CAAT): 020 7281 0297
Email:
action@caat.org.uk Visit: http://www.caat.org.uk/ Please get in touch for info, or to reserve a place. There will be a nominal charge.
[iv] MENWITH HILL: 'INDEPENDENCE FROM AMERICA' PROTEST: Sun 4th July
A 1997 European Parliament report said civil liberties are threatened by the US Spy Base at Menwith Hill, North Yorkshire, which intercepts communications from around the world. Information goes to Fort Meade, Maryland, in the US. The UK government is given information on a 'need-to-know' basis via GCHQ, Cheltenham.
Organised by CAAB:
http://www.caab.org.uk Please visit the website for more info. [3] THE DAILY BRISTOL PEACE VIGIL : The Independent Bristol Peace Vigil is an open space for discussion, as well as a crucial focus to Bristol's many anti-war campaigns. We've kept vigil every night since a few days after 11th Sept 2001, and we will keep Vigil onwards into the future. As far as we know this makes the Bristol Peace Vigil unique, but we do need your support to keep our flame alive. If you can only make it for 15 minutes, or a couple of times a month, please still come as all support is essential. Everyone's welcome at the Bristol Peace Vigil.
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WE DEMAND A WORLD FIT FOR PEOPLE
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TIMES: MON-FRI 5:30-6:30pm & SAT 3:00-4:00pm. PLACE: City Centre.
(Opposite The Hippodrome. St. Augustines Parade). MAP BELOW:
http://www.multimap.com/map/browse.cgi?gride=358590&gridn=172858&title [4] MORE LOCAL & REGIONAL PEACE VIGILS
Please support these regional Peace Vigils. All support is essential & welcome.
To correct your details, or to add your Vigil, email:
bristolpeacevigil@yahoo.co.uk a) BATH PEACE VIGIL: Every Saturday. 11.30am-12.30pm. Bath Abbey. Off York St. From the Station walk up Manvers St.
http://www.bathstopwar.org.uk/ MAP: http://www.streetmap.co.uk/streetmap.dll?G2M?X=375149&Y=164717&A=Y&Z=1 b) BARNSTAPLE PEACE VIGIL: Every Saturday. 12:00-1:00pm. Guildhall
Pannier Market, High St. MAP:
http://www.streetmap.co.uk/streetmap.dll?G2M?X=255789&Y=133243&A=Y&Z=1 c) BRIDGWATER PEACE VIGIL: Every Saturday. 11:00am-1:00pm. By Robert
Blake Statue, Opposite Cornhill, Junction of Fore St. MAP:
http://www.streetmap.co.uk/streetmap.dll?G2M?X=329890&Y=137035&A=Y&Z=1 d) DORCHESTER PEACE VIGIL: Every Friday. 1:00-1:30pm.
(By the Town Pump) South St. MAP:
http://www.streetmap.co.uk/streetmap.dll?G2M?X=369250&Y=90640&A=Y&Z=1 e) EASTON PEACE VIGIL (Bristol) : Every Friday. 5:00-6:00pm.
Corner of Robertson Rd & Stapleton Rd. MAP:
http://www.streetmap.co.uk/streetmap.dll?G2M?X=360957&Y=174705&A=Y&Z=1 f) STROUD PEACE VIGIL: Every Saturday. 12:00-1:00pm. Stroud High St.
MAP:
http://www.streetmap.co.uk/streetmap.dll?G2M?X=385183&Y=205205&A=Y&Z=1 g) TORQUAY PEACE VIGIL: Every Saturday. 1:00-2:00pm.
Top of Fleet St. (by the Post Office). MAP:
http://www.streetmap.co.uk/streetmap.dll?G2M?X=291745&Y=63745&A=Y&Z=1 h) WESTON-SUPER-MARE PEACE VIGIL: Every Thursday. 1:00-2:00pm
Along the High Street (Opposite Argos). MAP:
http://www.multimap.com/map/browse.cgi?X=332000&Y=161500&scale=10000 5) LATEST NEWS ... VOICES IN THE WILDERNESS BRIEFING
[A full PDF version will be available soon on the Voices web-site]
For More Information:
http://www.voicesuk.org 30 JUNE ... THE OCCUPATION CONTINUES
According to the US & British governments, on 30 June the occupation of Iraq will end & 'full sovereignty' will pass to a new Iraqi Interim Government (IIG). In reality the IIG – a body chosen by the US & its proxies - is headed by a former CIA asset, its ministries are riddled with US ‘advisers’ & appointees &, dependent upon US money & military power for survival, the IIG will possess no meaningful control over the 138,000 US military personnel that will remain in Iraq after the 'handover'. In what follows we examine these realities in more detail.
MEET THE NEW BOSS …
Tony Blair hailed the naming of the new Iraqi cabinet as a 'historic day for Iraq',
dismissing as nonsense suggestions a puppet Iraqi government was primed to take over on 30 June (BBC, 2 June). In reality the Interim Government is dominated by members of the old US-appointed Governing Council (Economist, 5 June) & the most important position of Prime Minster, went to Ayad Allawi, a long-term protege of the CIA & MI6 who has spent much of his life in exile (Observer, 30 May).
A former Ba’athist, Allawi heads the Iraqi National Accord (INA), an 'opposition' group created in Dec 1990, on the initiative of Saudi Prince Turki ibn Faysal, with the support of the CIA, Jordanian, & British agencies, largely made up of Ba‘thists & former military officers (www.middleeastreference.org.uk). During the ‘90s the INA conducted a bombing campaign in Iraq which killed as many as 100 civilians (Saddam Hussein: An American Obsession, Patrick & Andrew Cockburn, p.211-215). It was also the CIA’s favoured vehicle for precipitating a military coup inside Iraq & provided the 'intelligence' – which it subsequently admitted had been a 'crock of shit' - that formed the basis for the British
Government’s infamous assertion that Iraq could deploy WMD within 45 minutes (Guardian, 27 Jan).
Meanwhile the crucial posts of defence & interior minister went, respectively, to former exiles Hazem Sha’alan & Falah al-Naqib, a former deputy chief of staff under Saddam (AP, 1 June) - both of whom had been appointed provincial governors following the invasion (Reuters, 1 June).
Clearly no puppet then.
THE 'POPULAR CANDIDATE'
The White House was quick to claim that Mr Allawi had emerged as a popular candidate'’ (Observer, 30 May) though the Financial Times notes that he ‘is the least popular of 17 prominent Iraqi political personalities monitored by the Iraqi Centre for Research & Studies (31 May), an Iraqi group considered reliable enough for the US-led Coalition Provisional Authority to have submitted questions to [them]’ (FT, 20 May). In fieldwork conducted in late April nearly 40% of Iraqis strongly opposed Mr Allawi’, beating even the despised Ahmed Chalabi (FT, 31 May).
‘THE DICTATOR OF IRAQ’
So how did Mr Allawi end up as Prime Minister of the 'sovereign' Iraqi Govermment? Back in April the US & Britain were keen to present the UN – in the person of its envoy, Lakhdar Brahimi – as the driving force behind the selection of the Interim Government but as things transpired his choices were ‘overruled in humiliating circumstances’ (Guardian, 3 June) with those close to the UN envoy ‘say[ing] the choices, especially that of the prime minister … were essentially negotiated between the [US] & the [US-appointed] Iraqi Governing Council’ (NYT, 2 June)
George Bush later claimed he had played no role in picking the new government (AFP, 2 June) – However, in an undiplomatic flash of anger, [Brahami] told reporters, 'I'm sure he doesn't mind me saying that [US civilian administrator for Iraq] Paul Bremer is the dictator of Iraq. He has the money. He has the signature. Nothing happens without his agreement in this country’ (Guardian, 3 June).
A 'BIG MISTAKE'
Having won this ‘popular’ mandate from the US Government & 25 US-appointed Iraqis, Allawi lost no time in spelling out his vision for the future, telling the Sunday Telegraph of his plans ‘to recall 4 divisions of Saddam Hussein’s old army & create a rapid reaction force & anti-terrorism unit to deal with the country’s security crisis’ (30 May). A few days later he intimated that he would shortly be passing a new law ‘reinstating some former members of the Ba’ath party’ (Reuters, 5 June). According to Allawi, dissolving Saddam Hussein’s internal security forces had been a big mistake. 'We have begun to rectify these mistakes,' he explained ominously.
THE 'MULTINATIONAL FORCE': THE MILITARY OCCUPATION CONTINUES
The new US/UK-drafted UN resolution regarding the 30 June transfer ‘reaffirms the authorisation for the multinational force’ established by UN Resolution 1511, declaring that this authorisation ‘shall expire’ once a constitutionally elected government is in place or ‘if requested by the Government of Iraq.’ Of course, no such request will be made, for, as ‘top' US officials explained last December, ‘the new Iraqi government’s sovereignty … rest[s] on a foundation of US military force & money’ (LA Times, 28 Dec 2003). Here, of course, they were simply echoing the words of British Colonial Secretary Leopold Amery who in 1925 wrote that ‘[i]f the writ of [the British-installed Iraqi monarch] King Faisal runs effectively through his kingdom, it is entirely due to to the British airplanes that had by then become the state’s main weapon of coercion (Inventing Iraq, Toby Dodge, Hurst, 2003, p. 131).
‘WHAT SOVEREIGNTY MEANS’
The new resolution does not grant the IIG veto power over the activities of US/UK forces in Iraq. Instead it merely states the ‘security structures’, described in a pair of letters exchanged between the CPA & Iraqi Interim Government, ‘will serve as the fora for the multinational force & Iraqi government to reach agreement on the full range of fundamental security & policy issues, including policy on sensitive offensive operations, & will ensure full partnership between Iraqi forces & the multinational force, through close coordination & consultation.’
Since the new resolution ‘does not stipulate what should happen if they fail to agree’ (Guardian, 9 June) the IIG has no real control over the 138,000 US forces that will continue to occupy Iraq after 30 June - save the option of slitting its own throat by asking them to leave. This should be of particular concern to Tony Blair, who on 25 May dramatically declared that if there were a ‘political decision as to whether you go into a place like Fallujah in a particular way, that has to be done with the consent of the Iraqi government ... That’s what the transfer of sovereignty means’ (Independent, 26 May) [3]. On 1 July the IIG will have no ‘final control’ - political or otherwise - & therefore no meaningful sovereignty.
POWERFUL LEVERS
On 7 June foreign secretary Jack Straw told the House of Commons 'the resolution would give the interim government … the power to pass laws [&] rescind laws passed by the [US]’ (Guardian, 8 June) - powers the US had been seeking to deny the IIG - though in fact there is nothing in the text of the resolution to this effect.
The US has been ‘quietly building institutions that will give the U.S powerful levers for influencing nearly every important decision the interim government will make’ (Wall Street Journal, 13 May). In a series of edicts the US created 'commissions that effectively take away virtually all of the powers once held by several ministries’ (WSJ, 13 May) & ‘110 to 160 American advisers will be layered through Iraq's ministries’ (NYT, 2 June). ‘In many cases, these U.S & Iraqi proxies will serve multiyear terms & have significant authority to run criminal investigations, award contracts, direct troops & subpoena citizens, & according to US officials & others familiar with the plans the new Iraqi government will be … unable to make major decisions within specific ministries without tacit U.S approval’ (WSJ, 13 May)
The new UN resolution also grants the IIG authority to ‘conclude & implement’ agreements regarding Saddam’s outstanding $120bn debts – raising the possibility that ‘the unelected transitional government will sign binding agreements with the Paris Club & other creditors forcing the future elected government to repay a large part of Saddam's odious debt & submit to economic conditions from the IMF in return for receiving partial debt 'forgiveness' (
http://www.jubileeiraq.org , 24 May). KILLING DEMOCRACY
Meanwhile the deadline for Iraq’s first elections is not until 31 Jan 2005. This, of course, falls conveniently after November’s US Presidential election, allowing Mr Bush to claim, in the meantime, that Iraq is en route to democracy, without the potential embarrassment of having to stage-manage Iraq’s elections in front of the world’s media. That these elections – if they ever take place - will be meaningless is now almost certain. Since the invasion the US has consistently stalled on one-person-one-vote elections in Iraq, seeking instead to ‘put democracy on hold until it can be safely managed.’ (Salim Lone, Guardian, 13 April) -
See: http:www.voices.netuxo.co.uk/library/letter_may2004.html#enemies
With just days to go before the transfer of 'sovereignty' the US has passed yet another new law, this time barring members of ‘illegal militias’ from 'holding political office for up to 3 years after leaving their illegal organisation' (Guardian, 8 June) - a move plainly aimed at the Sadrist movement, led by Moqtada al-Sadr which draws many of its followers from the desperately poor Shia underclass. Since the US decided to crack-down on the Sadrists in late March, US & British forces have been killing members of its militia in large numbers - along with anyone else who gets in their way - with U.S military officials estimating that they have killed more than 800 Iraqis in Sadr City alone over the past 9 weeks (LA Times, 7 June).
FORWARD TO THE PAST.
Following WWI the British Government ‘naturally placed importance on establishing a friendly & co-operative Iraqi government which would be under its control’ (The role of the military in politics, Mohammed Tarbush, p. 36). Rhetoric aside this remains the driving imperative today.
The stakes are enormous: the Global Policy Forum recently estimated that US & British oil companies stand to reap profits from Iraqi oil of anywhere between $600bn & $9 trillion over the next 50 years, even if Iraq’s oil industry remains nationalised – so long as Iraq enters into production sharing agreements with the companies on favourable terms (
http://www.globalpolicy.org , 28 Jan). Social movements in the US & Britain that can raise the social costs of occupation for their respective governments could act as a countervailing force. In their absence the prospects are grim & bloody indeed.
[END OF BRIEFING]
http://www.voicesuk.org "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world: indeed it's the only thing that ever does....." Margaret Mead (1901 - 1978).
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BRISTOL PEACE VIGIL NEWS
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