Link to this page: http://www.socialistparty.org.uk/issue/374/6117
From The Socialist newspaper, 11 December 2004
Bring the troops home
Money for jobs and services not war and occupation
ANOTHER
£520 million for war in Iraq. That's how much Gordon Brown announced in
his pre-budget report on 2 December.
That's £520 million that could have been spent on our hospitals, schools and other public services. Money that could have been used to increase rather than attack pensions as New Labour are doing.
"A Christmas message from George W Bush" - Cartoon by Alan Hardman
Instead, the money will be used to kill more Iraqis and put more soldiers' lives at risk.
Tony Blair says that British troops will stay in Iraq "until the job is done". But when will that be? Even if elections go ahead in Iraq on 30 January (which is far from certain), resistance to occupation by US and British troops will still continue. Elections could even trigger an escalation in the violence.
An official at the Iraqi interior ministry has said that troops will have to stay for at least 10 years! The eventual cost of war will be much more than the £5 billion that New Labour have wasted so far.
The Black Watch have been told that they will be flown home for Christmas. We say bring all the troops home, not just the Black Watch, and not just for Christmas. The occupation should be ended now and the Iraqi people allowed to decide their own future.
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In The Socialist 11 December 2004:
Socialist Party campaigns
Private contractors rip off public services
Saving pensions: united action needed
International socialist news and analysis
USA: Poverty in the world's richest country
Concrete steps towards formation of new party
Italy stops in fifth general strike against Berlusconi
Belgium: Fighting the fascists in Gent
Socialist Party workplace news
Challenge to UNISON'S Labour links by UNISON general secretary candidate
Fighting the fire service cuts
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