on Wednesday night by 397 to 223 to bomb Syria, despite public opinion clearly shifting against bombing. In the wake of the tragic shootings in Paris it wasnt surprising that Cameron would push for war. The Tories have been itching to bomb Syria for months, well before the Paris events. Disgracefully 66 Labour MPs backed the Tories, headed up by shadow foreign secretary Hilary Benn. Despite Labours leader Jeremy Corbyn (and the majority of the shadow cabinet) opposing bombing, Benn had the nerve to compare the British government bombing Syria with the International Brigades of the 1930s. The international brigades were socialists and trade unionists who went to Spain to fight fascism and defend the elected Spanish Republic. There is no comparison between working class people fighting the forces mobilised by the rich and powerful, and the wars launched for oil and power.
Enforcers
Hilary Benn lined up with the
government of the millionaires, the austerity enforcers, and those who use racism to divide us. Benn voted for the war in Iraq in 2003. He was wrong then and he is wrong now. None of the wars launched by Britain and the US from Afghanistan in 2001, through Iraq in 2003 to Libya in 2011, have yet ended. Millions still suffer from those decisions and Wednesdays vote will add millions more. ISIS is a product of these years of war and occupation across the Middle East. It has links with British allies in the region such as Turkey and Saudi Arabia.
Bombing and putting troops on
the ground has led to more death and destruction. It helped to create first Al-Qaeda and now ISIS. Dropping more bombs will just fan the flames. It will add to the bitterness across the Middle East that has fuelled the growth of ISIS and makes Parisstyle attacks more likely here. In Syria the American, Russian, French and British warplanes arent helping the millions of ordinary people that are suffering. Neither is it helping those fleeing as refugees. If Cameron and Co really wanted to help ordinary Syrians theyd open the borders to refugees so they can escape the war. Instead they offer sanctuary to a mere handful.
Money
Weve lived through years of Tory
austerity. They claim they have to slash public services because theres not enough money but they can always find plenty of it for another war! Millions of people can see through Camerons lies. Thousands have taken to the streets over the last few days to oppose airstrikes. We need to say no to war and argue that if we want to help the Syrian people we shouldnt allow our government to bomb them or to let them freeze in refugee camps.
Stop the War national demonstration
STOP BOMBING SYRIA
Saturday 12 December, London
Details to be confirmed. For updates go to: stopwar.org.uk
Pass this motion
This branch/campaign opposes the decision to bomb Syria. We condemn those MPs both Tory and Labour who voted to bomb and support the stance of Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn who has opposed the move to war. Bombing will only pour petrol on the fire and increase the bitterness across the Middle East that has bred ISIS. The wars in Afghanistan and Iraq were a disaster and laid the basis for the present situation. Camerons government and those Labour MPs who backed him are just repeating the same terrible mistakes made by the Blair government. Bombing will also make attacks similar to those in Paris more likely. We pledge to mobilise for the national demonstration called by Stop the War on 12 December and any other local mobilisations. We agree to collect for the Winter Appeal to support refugees in Calais organised by Stand up to Racism.
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