Imperialist Invasion of Afghanistan Enters 9th Year
IMC UK Features | 29.10.2009 08:06 | Anti-militarism | Cambridge | World
Billboards around the country have been subtly subvertised to display anti-war messages calling for the troops to be brought home and for Tony Blair to be prosecuted. As the imperialist occupation enters its ninth year, a YouGov survey found 62% of the public want British troops pulled out this year and 48% think that victory is impossible. Countless thousands of Afghans have perished and many Western soldiers have gone to Afghanistan, only to come home in body bags.
On Saturday 24th October, thousands of people gathered in central London to protest against the continuing conflict. Organisers, 'Stop The War Coalition', claimed there is growing resentment among the lower ranks who feel locked into a military occupation with no clear justification or exit strategy. Soldiers and their families joined the estimated 5,000 marchers who gathered in Hyde Park.
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You know something is amiss when even the top brass in the military seem on an almost weekly basis now are seen to be breaking the usual protocols and going on the record in the press to say that they cannot win the campaign in Afghanistan. Something is really amiss when you have soldiers going AWOL and joining anti war demonstrations in London!
Lance Corporal Joe Glenton defied orders to become the first serving soldier to address a national anti-war rally. His statement read, "When I went to Afghanistan I was proud to serve the Army and to serve my country, but before long I realised the government was using the Army for its own ends. It is distressing to disobey orders, but when Britain follows America in continuing to wage war against one of the world's poorest countries I feel I have no choice. Politicians have abused the trust of the Army and the soldiers who serve."
Another veteran on the demo was Paul McGuirk, a 25 year old who served in Helmand but left the Army because he could not support the war in Afghanistan. "I just left the Army last month because I think it's ridiculous we are there. I think the government should stop pretending it's a just war and wasting the lives of our guys, and stop pretending it's a winnable war.", he said.
Joan Humphreys, a 62-year-old from Dundee said, "My grandson was killed 54 days ago on 31 August in Afghanistan. Nothing's going to be achieved." Joan's grandson, 24-year-old Kevin Elliott, was one of the 222 British soldiers killed since the invasion began on 7th October 2001.
On the eve of the march, peace activists in Cambridge used lanterns placed on Parkers Piece to spell out the phrase "END THE WAR NOW".
IMC UK Features
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Smash NATO! - Edinburgh - 13th November!
29.10.2009 14:05
Join us in Edinburgh on Friday 13th November to take action against militarism, imperialism and capitalism. Bring warm clothes, noise, banners and whatever else you hope to find.
Solidarity Fundraiser to support the Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan
Saturday 14th of November, from 7pm, Bristo Hall (upstairs in the Forest Cafe), 3 Bristo Place, Edinburgh.
NATO WC
e-mail:
natowc [at] noflag.org.uk
Homepage:
http://natowc.noflag.org.uk/
coverage of the subvertising
29.10.2009 21:24
Press Association Photo
Poppy Appeal posters in Kent have been defaced by protesters attacking former prime minister Tony Blair's war record.
The Royal British Legion annual appeal adverts emphasise their support for personnel who served in Afghanistan.
The poster shows war widow Hester Wright, 22, and her son Josh, six, holding a portrait of her late husband.
The slogan "For their sake, wear a poppy" has been replaced with "For their sake, prosecute Blair" on a billboard in Gillingham.
Objectors to Mr Blair's war record altered the sign outside Gillingham railway station.
'Making sacrifices'
Other posters in the Medway area have been changed to make the original message read: "For their sake, bring them home".
A spokesman for the Royal British Legion said they intended to amend the defaced images.
He said: "We do understand that the current campaign in Afghanistan and the recent activities in Iraq are not popular universally in the country.
"Opinion is divided but we do find that the public is four-square behind our British Armed Forces who are out there representing their country and making sacrifices."
Mrs Wright, from Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, became one of the public faces of the Poppy Appeal after her husband, Damian Wright, died in a roadside explosion in Afghanistan in 2007, aged 23.
The appeal aims to raise £31 million.
A Kent Police spokesperson said they were investigating the incident.
BBC
Homepage:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/kent/8331269.stm
Hate Mail piece on the subvertising campaign
29.10.2009 21:34
Defaced: One of the posters changed by anti-war vandals and, inset, the official
By Christian Gysin
Anti-war protesters have vandalised billboards for the Royal British Legion's Poppy Appeal.
They have changed the wording on a poster showing the widow and young son of a soldier killed in Afghanistan.
The poster, which will be appearing nationwide, says: 'For their sake wear a poppy.'
But protesters in Gillingham, Kent, changed one poster to 'For their sake, prosecute Blair' and a second to 'For their sake, bring 'em home'.
Enlarge Defaced: One of the posters changed by anti-war vandals and, inset, the official British Legion wording
Defaced: One of the posters changed by anti-war vandals and, inset, the official British Legion wording
One resident said: 'It was so cleverly done I thought for a moment the British Legion had suddenly become political'.
More...
* Police compiling database of 'domestic extremist' protesters
* Soldier who refuses to return to Afghanistan leads thousands on anti-war march in London
* Peek in the life of a RAF nurse: 'We don't have time to feel fear because we are so focused on getting to the injured person'
* Obama faces the real cost of the Afghanistan war as he salutes coffin of fallen soldier in midnight homecoming
The vandalism has horrified friends and family of Private Damian Wright, who was 23 when he was killed by a roadside bomb in 2007.
The poster shows his widow Hester, 22, and her son Joshua, six, from Mansfield, proudly displaying his picture.
Pte Wright's mother Debbie Smalley, 45, called the vandalism 'plain wrong'.
She said: 'The British Legion do a great deal for ex- servicemen and widows and they are not political. Whoever did it should be ashamed.'
The British Legion said: 'We would say to whoever did this that we hope they feel they have had their bit of fun. We would never discuss the rights or wrongs of conflicts.'
Police are investigating.
Daily Mail
Homepage:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1223698/Mark-disrespect-Anti-war-protesters-deface-poppy-poster-urge-prosecute-Blair.html
Torygraph outraged by subvertising
29.10.2009 21:36
A Royal British Legion poster urging the public to support this year's Poppy Appeal has been defaced to attack former prime minister Tony Blair.
The original wording on the poster, featuring war widow Hester Wright, 22, and her six-year-old son Josh clutching a portrait of her dead soldier husband, should read: For their sake, wear a poppy.
But objectors to Mr Blair's war record altered one version of it outside Gillingham railway station, Kent, to read: "For their sake, prosecute Blair."
And a small number of other Poppy Appeal posters in the Medway area are said to have been changed to make the original message read: For their sake, bring them home.
A spokesman for the Royal British Legion said: ''We do understand that the current campaign in Afghanistan and the recent activities in Iraq are not popular universally in the country.
''Opinion is divided but we do find that the public is four-square behind our British Armed Forces who are out there representing their country and making sacrifices.''
The defacing of the posters came to light at 4.30am this morning and they are to be amended back to their original messages, the spokesman added.
Ms Wright, from Mansfield, Notts, became one of the public faces of the Poppy Appeal after her husband, Damian Wright, died in a roadside explosion in Afghanistan in 2007, aged 23.
The appeal aims to raise £31 million, and this year's campaign is emphasising the need to help the Afghan generation of the Armed Forces and their families.
Telegraph
Homepage:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/6456693/British-Legion-poster-defaced-to-attack-
Poppy appeal posters vandalised in Medway (by Jenni Horn)
29.10.2009 23:05
The billboards were defaced just days after the Royal British Legion launched the appeal which calls upon the public to honour the fallen and to care for injured veterans and their families by wearing a poppy.
The slogans on the campaign adverts should read 'For their sake, wear a poppy', but vandals have changed this to 'For their sake, prosecute Blair' and 'For their sake, bring 'em home'. It is thought at least two adverts have been targeted in Medway, including one in Balmoral Road, Gillingham.
Royal British Legion member Alan Collins, from Gillingham, expressed his anger at the tactics used by the protesters.
He said: "The whole point of the Poppy Appeal is to promote and finance support for servicemen who have fought bravely and professionally for our freedom. They fought, and in many cases, died to give us the freedom to protest, not to give us the freedom to commit criminal acts.
"The Poppy Appeal isn't about arguing about which wars are just and which should never have been entered into. It's about supporting and helping our servicemen and women for their bravery and professionalism.
What do you think of those who have altered this poster? Is it freedom of speech, or should we be honouring those who serve for our country?
Join the debate by clicking on the Make a Comment tab below
"The fact that these people have manipulated the Poppy Appeal campaign for their own political protest is, quite frankly, disgusting."
A spokesman for the Royal British Legion said they were alerted to the damage on Wednesday morning.
She said: "We are treating it as an unauthorised artistic protest. All damaged posters will have been replaced by the end of the day on Wednesday."
Ch Supt Steve Corbishley, from Medway Police, said officers would be making enquiries into the incident.
He added: "At a time of year when we should all remember those who have given their lives in conflict I recognise the significant upset an incident such as this could cause.
"Whilst we support people's right to share their opinions this must be done in a legal, peaceful and respectful way."
KentOnline
Homepage:
http://www.kentonline.co.uk/kentonline/news/2009/october/29/poppy_appeal_poster_vandalised.aspx
Where else are these being subverted?
30.10.2009 00:18
Bristol is usually a hot bed of subvertising and Nottingham (which has the story as front page of one of the local papers) has also some history of subvertising billboards.
Shame much of the media predictable condeming the subvertisers but timing wise, this national coverage must be embarrasing for Blair what with all the crap about him becoming the EU president. Typically outraged, everyone I know seems to love it.
Lets have some more photos or even just a list of cities where these subverts have been seen.
Maybe post the 'how to' comment as a promoted piece with a link from the front page feature also.
Bill Posters
Nuclear Weapons
30.10.2009 01:25
It must be extremely frustrating for the soldiers to fight know that we are holding back on the big guns. Whats the point in having all these weapons that can save our soldiers lives if we don't use them? totally stupid
Gandrat
Might suprise some of the readers of this site but
31.10.2009 15:42
Legion Posters Defaced!!!!
Posted: Thu Oct 29, 2009 8:18 am
Author: Underworld_Guitar_Hero
Anti-War Protesters Deface Poster
What particularly got me with this is the offence caused to the family whose son is depicted on the poster!!
What are these Anti-War t**ts going to do next?
Re: Legion Posters Defaced!!!!
Posted: Thu Oct 29, 2009 8:22 am
Author: tropper66 Location: cardiff
Underworld_Guitar_Hero:
Anti-War Protesters Deface Poster
I dont like the disrespect shown but I like the Idea of Teflon Tony at a War crimes court
Re: Legion Posters Defaced!!!!
Posted: Thu Oct 29, 2009 8:25 am
Author: Tango
Whilst I disagree (of course) with the defacing of the poster, I don't disagree with either the way it was done, or the message it is now conveying.
As far as graffiti/vandalism goes, it's not disrespectful, and it's not saying anything that a lot of ARRSE members aren't thinking. But as I said, I'm not condoning the vandalism.
Re: Legion Posters Defaced!!!!
Posted: Thu Oct 29, 2009 8:42 am
Author: PrinceAlbert
I quite like it.
Re: Legion Posters Defaced!!!!
Posted: Thu Oct 29, 2009 8:46 am
Author: Oil_Slick Location: Neue Europa
While the method may be wrong, the message is right.
I for one would be very happy to see BLiar on trial at the Hague.
Alas, we never will. I suspect a large part of B'Liars desire to become President of Europe is driven by the fact that it would grant him Diplomatic Immunity from prosecution.
Re: Legion Posters Defaced!!!!
Posted: Thu Oct 29, 2009 8:55 am
Author: classic
May be a lot of people think that tony blair should be accountable for his actions, But for protestors to deface a poster of a mother anda little boy who have lost their loved one fighting for queen and country and were only raising awareness highlighting the poppy appeal 'For their sake wear a poppy.' for all the brave soldiers who lost their lives and been injured etc in previous and past conflicts and their families.
The protestors were totally disrespectful to this lady and her family and all the brave soldiers who lost their lives and been injured etc in previous and past conflicts and their families.
The protestors should apologize for the hurt and disrespect they have caused .
Re: Legion Posters Defaced!!!!
Posted: Thu Oct 29, 2009 8:59 am
Author: vvaannmmaann
Very cleverly done.
Re: Legion Posters Defaced!!!!
Posted: Thu Oct 29, 2009 9:01 am
Author: Oil_Slick Location: Neue Europa
MrShanklysboots:
Very cleverly done. However, here's a thought.
Pay for your own fecking advert rather than hijack that of a charity that is advertising their greatest collection time of the year.
Don't agree… this has given a huge boost to the Legions profile and campaign IMO.
Re: Legion Posters Defaced!!!!
Posted: Thu Oct 29, 2009 9:02 am
Author: Hakagure Location: Fit Like Toon
I agree with the sentiment.
I don't agree with the method though.
You dont HAVE to deface a poster such as this to get that message across, if they are that keen for people to hear their viewpoint pay for your own fcuking poster. Not going to jump on the outrage bus as such but I just think that remembrance posters such as this one should be above being used in this way.
Re: Legion Posters Defaced!!!!
Posted: Thu Oct 29, 2009 9:03 am
Author: MrShanklysboots Location: Just off to the side of the fight.
classic:
The protestors should apologize for the hurt and disrespect they have caused .
You should apologize for constantly re registering on this site Chubb.
Go away. For ever.
Re: Legion Posters Defaced!!!!
Posted: Thu Oct 29, 2009 9:05 am
Author: Flymo Location: Malta
Oil_Slick:
MrShanklysboots:
Very cleverly done. However, here's a thought.
Pay for your own fecking advert rather than hijack that of a charity that is advertising their greatest collection time of the year.
Don't agree… this has given a huge boost to the Legions profile and campaign IMO.
Time to fall off the fence on this one.
I believe that this is a win win here. At the end of the day, any publicity is better than no publicity.
Re: Legion Posters Defaced!!!!
Posted: Thu Oct 29, 2009 9:30 am
Author: bullet_catcher
My tuppenceworth - disapprove of vandalism, it has cost me plenty recently, and someone will have to pay to fix the poster. It is a clever piece of work though, so may be copied elsewhere, resulting in more expense. This act of vandalism will make me make an extra donation to help with repairs, so if others feel the same way, the Poppy Appeal could end up with a net profit.
Tony Blair lied to us, so he should have resigned or been punished for that. To define this incident in terms of New Labour morality, an Evil Big Person who got away with something bad has forced a Nice Small Person to break the law, so the Nice Small Person is a victim who should get counselling, compensation &c &c.
Re: Legion Posters Defaced!!!!
Posted: Thu Oct 29, 2009 9:37 am
Author: Queensman Location: Tangier
Sorry, but I think it's brilliant! Inspired, even.
When I saw 'Legion poster defaced' I was already half on the Outrage bus ready to call for the unleashing of the hounds of hell...... But having seen the poster, first I laughed, then I nodded in agreement. Now I will make a copy and promulgate it as widely as I can.
I say these things as a member of the Royal British Legion, as a poppy collector etc etc.
I feel sorry for the family concerned, the last thing they'd want or need is to be bathed in limelight about all this - however, having lost a son because of the reprehensible Mr Bliar's duplicity, I wouldn't mind betting that they probably agree with the sentiment. If they don't, they should.
What will undoubtedly happen now is for all the 'easily offended' to completely over react and leap up and down and make an arrse of themselves as they did about that drunken prat who pished on a war memorial recently.
Re: Legion Posters Defaced!!!!
Posted: Thu Oct 29, 2009 10:10 am
Author: CaptainWillard Location: 75 clicks above the Do Lung bridge
Message says to me - 'Blair is responsible for the deaths of our country's finest so therefore prosecute the tw*t!'.
It doesn't come across as disrespectful to our soldiers, only to the chief lying politician that got us into the whole sorry mess in the first place and his lunatic successor who has woefully mis-managed it ever since.
As has already been said - it's only what many people have frequently stated on this site. At least now that opinion, has been broadcast to a wider audience.
CW
Quis Separabit
Vestigia Nulla Retrorsum
Re: Legion Posters Defaced!!!!
Posted: Thu Oct 29, 2009 10:14 am
Author: Queensman Location: Tangier
pombsen-armchair-warrior:
Much as I despise Blair, I absolutely despair of the incredibly naive conclusion that he is guilty of 'war crimes'. Sheer fantasy.
He is guilty, and hopefully will be publicly hung out to dry when his time in the dock comes, of illegally committing this country to an unjust war. He must shoulder the resposibility for causing the needless deaths of and injuries to those whom he sent.
In the same way that Mr Radavan Karadic don't actually drop the mortar bombs himself on Serbian Muslims, he, Bliar, ordered people to do something illegal, ergo, a War Crime.
Of course, all this could open up a huge can of worms. As you will doubtless know, it is also illegal to accept and obey an illegal order. Just how far down the Chain of Command will the buck stop rolling?
Re: Legion Posters Defaced!!!!
Posted: Thu Oct 29, 2009 10:32 am
Author: Underworld_Guitar_Hero
Support for the War Veterens, injured or dead should be kept well away from Anti-War sentiment. While in its self a valid view and have made some relevent comments they do themselves a disservice by using such a forum. Will we go the way of the Animal Activists and start harrassing off duty soldiers and families putting graffiti on their cars because they do a job. Extreme I know but, Blair is even remotely connected to the RBL.
Its worth making the point that the family of the soldier have complained about this and are distressed by this despite someones opinion to the contrary!
Is Blair a war criminal I dont think so but, by all means go to the Hague and make your case!
It was clever though!! Shame they have no morals!!
Re: Legion Posters Defaced!!!!
Posted: Thu Oct 29, 2009 12:01 pm
Author: tropper66 Location: cardiff
I am begining to think of it as an Enhancement rather than a Defacement
Re: Legion Posters Defaced!!!!
Posted: Thu Oct 29, 2009 12:35 pm
Author: 5_mile_sniper Location: Basha'd up in the land of Buckfast & Burberry
Like many here I agree with the sentiment, but perhaps not the placement of the message.
It's also possible to agree with the message and not be "Anti-War". Whilst you would be hard pressed to class me as a pacifist, I do take issue with our soldiers being killed in pointless, possibly illegal wars, so that cnuts like Blair can strut it on the world stage.
The manner of the defacement is also pretty clever, and appears to have gained some PR for both the Antis and the Legion. Win-Win.
Re: Legion Posters Defaced!!!!
Posted: Thu Oct 29, 2009 11:57 pm
Author: Kurtle
I think the only reason it's really wrong is because it has the faces of actual people on who have lost loved ones recently on.
...And the advert could mean less poppies sold.
I do agree with the powerful message though.
ARRSE
Homepage:
http://www.arrse.co.uk/Forums/viewtopic/printertopic=1/t=136587/start=0/postdays=0/postorder=asc/vote=viewresult.html
No surprise
31.10.2009 17:03
not stupid
Royal British Legion complaints
01.11.2009 14:56
"I was left worrying that I could possibly lose my house and everything we worked hard for. All they could say was that marines are lazy and he probably did not do one. I did get an apology, but that won't take away the weeks of anguish and upset it caused, I almost started to believe that he chose not to look after me."
Bereaved are 'distraught' at MoD gaffes
Missing wills and misplaced headstones prompt families' fury at handling of dead soldiers' affairs
Danny
Now 223 dead British soliders (and tens of thousands of Afghans)
02.11.2009 17:37
never again ...?
bring 'em home
Left in Ruins
05.11.2009 14:45
Two fingers to all occupying forces.
Congrats to those who refuse to fight
T
The Number's Up
08.11.2009 09:29
Five of those eight extra deaths this week were killed by an Afghan policeman called Gulbuddin. Contrary to initial mainstream reports, he was not Taliban and his aim wasn't to kill British troops but to kill the Afghan commander they were protecting. This commander had beaten, sodomised and sexually abused Gulbuddin. Many of the warlords that the British are employing and protecting take young men as sexual slaves or 'bacha bazi'. The troops who died would have known they were acting as protection for a rapist 'mafia' commander - typical of our 'allies' in this dirty war. The mainstream media lynching of Gulbuddin as a treacherous assasin is at odds with the truth of him being a victim of UK sponsored abuse.
A YouGov poll for Skynews shows public support for the conflict down 7 points to 21%, with opposition up 7 points to 63%.
As the British army are retreating back to a few main bases, a rational person might expect this unwinnable, unpopular war, where we are now clearly the bad guys, to end soon as if that was an inevitable outcome that doesn't require hastening. In truth the US have said this war will last 50 years and they are quite capable of carrying out that threat, current US policy is escalation. It is also true that wavering British involvement could be ended quickly by our own 'surge' of direct action. This war is ready to be extinguished now but the US is currently trying to reignite it. Even if you do great direct actions solely for other causes, in fact especially if you do great direct actions in other causes, now would be the perfect time to do your one 'anti-war' action. NATO is meeting in Edinburgh next week but there are army recruiting centres and MoD bases nationwide.
Danny