Time for action on Afghanistan: Bring the Troops Home by Christmas

It is clear that the whole military strategy in Afghanistan is in disarray. A quarter of all Nato troop deaths this year have been at the hands of Afghan police and army, the exact people who are supposed to be taking over from the occupiers in 2014.

There are demonstrations across Afghanistan aimed at the US over issues ranging from the anti Islamic film to the airstrikes which are killing many Afghans.

Nine troops died over the weekend, three of them British. The Taliban mounted a serious attack on Camp Bastion last weekend, with their stated target Prince Harry. Bastion has been regarded as completely safe, but last weekend 6 Harrier jets were destroyed, two more damaged, three refuelling posts destroyed and aircraft hangars damaged. Two US troops were killed. (SEE Lindsey German interview, The Islamic protests in over 30 countries are about more than religion: http://bit.ly/QBOkNv )

Paul Flynn MP was thrown out of the House of Commons on Tuesday for saying that defence secretary Philip Hammond was lying about the war (See video: http://bit.ly/PK828X). Even Denis McShane MP, who has supported wars in the past, argued forcefully that the troops should be home by Christmas.

The dawning realisation that the war is lost and that the whole argument of the British government is a lie is sinking in among wider levels of society.

Stop the War has opposed this war for 11 years. Calls for troops home are becoming louder and we need to put ourselves at the centre of this campaign. We are asking our individual supporters, local Stop the War groups and affiliated organisations to do what they can over the next week to get involved in the campaign.

For street petitioning and leafletting, see the Troops Out Petition available, here http://bit.ly/UshVMT. There will be a new military families open letter to the prime minister available on the Stop the War website by the end of the week, to use for getting signatures. If you can, help organise Troops Home by Christmas street stall in your area. Contact the Stop the War office for help and advice on doing this: office sJT stopwar.org.uk, Tel: 0207 561 9311.

We are reprinting our latest pamphlet on Afghanistan, which has sold out. You can order copies from the Stop the War office now.

Students are starting college again in the next two weeks. Stop the War is getting a fantastic response at the freshers’ fairs. If you are a student and would like to get involved, see if we have a stall at your college: http://bit.ly/SjObUi . If we do not, contact the Stop the War office for ways in which you can help mobilise support for the Troops Home by Christmas campaign: : office sJT stopwar.org.uk, Tel: 0207 561 9311

On October 7th, the 11th anniversary of the start of the war, we are organising a Naming the Dead ceremony in Trafalgar Square, to commemorate all those killed in the Afghanistan war — both Afghans and British troops. The ceremony will be led by Joan Humphries, whose grandson was killed in Afghanistan. She will be joined by Paul Flynn MP and Mitra Quayoom from Afghans for Peace. Celia Mitchell and Victoria Britain are among the others who are participating. The event will start at 1pm, details here: http://bit.ly/S9fDSi.

On the anniversary of the start of the war, Stop the War supporters in Birmingham will be demonstrating the demonstration outside the Conservative Party conference. Elsewhere, we are asking people to hold protests and vigils to mark the anniversary.