Against War
proposed seminar and email discussion

Clearly the focal point is the war in Iraq. Related to it is the Israel/Palestine conflict and the movement of opinion in the 22 Arab states and throughout Islam. A world-wide confrontation is in the making. In American most of the media is colluding with the White House and Pentagon to keep the people of the US largely in the dark. This massively increases our responsibility in Europe. The body bags arrive at dead of night, off camera.

We need at the Forum, surely, to agree that the most urgent need is for a publicly declared exit strategy for all foreign troops? Then we need to discuss what to do about it. When Bush is asked about withdrawal he says: 'When the job is done'. But what job? It looks at the moment that he is piling on the pressure for an invasion of Iran, using Iraq as his main launching pad. Incredible but true! I get about a hundred E-mails day from networks in the US and there is no mistaking the evidence.

The E-mail dialogue that yet to start here, is humming in the US. Can we catch up - pronto?
Every country in Europe is differently placed in relation to the US and the Middle East. The position of the UK is central because we have 8000 troops in Basra The UK is Bush's main single backer. We have to come up with something special. But what?

The problem, however, is a shared one. We need something we have not known since 1945, ie all European public opinion on the move, in action. We had it from 1940 to 1945, decisive popular continental agreement to defeat Hitler and all his works. And we did it - at the cost of millions of lives and incredible destruction. We now need to recreate something of that spirit, to meet
a very different challenge, lest Armageddon be upon us.

Please do not underestimate the threat! People can and do move governments. If that were not true - what is the ESF about? Can we, from the Forum, utter an Appeal to all the peoples of Europe to act together to stop the war in the Middle East? And then in our respective countries see to it that the Appeal followed up in every corner of the continent? How can we possibly settle for less?

Over Vietnam the White House only just stalled a second American revolution through its seven year exit strategy 1968/75. Today there is no exit strategy. The country is deeply divided and unless that strategy is forthcoming the US will face political, military and financial collapse. It is as bad as that. The Implications for us in Europe hardly barethinking about.The issue is in the balance and it is no use putting faith in the November Election in the US. Both candidates support the war.

Contact: Peter Cadogan: PeterCadogan@aol.com
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