Stand Fast is having a speak-out against the war in Afghanistan at the Enoggera Army barracks on Thursday September 9, 12pm – 5pm.
Thursday September 9, 12pm – 5pm
Front gate Enoggera Barracks, Lloyd St. Enoggera
Till now there have been regular vigils against the war on Thursdays from 4 pm at Enoggera Army barracks.
These vigils were organised initially by Catholic Workers but now is supported by a broader group.
The election outcome and the anti-war movement
I wonder if Stand Fast has asked Andrew Wilke, the new independent member for Denison, if he wants to join their group?
On the surface at least Wilke qualifies for membership.
Wilke is ex-army and is still very pissed off about the lies by the Australian government about Weapons of mass destruction (WMD’s) been used as justification for the war on Iraq.
I wonder if Stand Fast would exclude Wilke on his politics?
Wilke’s CV is pretty reactionary. He graduated from Duntroon, was a lieutenant colonel in the army, worked for Raytheon (A US arms manufacturer), and then the Office of National Assessments (ONA).
However Wilke says that he is opposed to the war on Afghanistan – see Andrew Wilkie: Afghan military intervention justified by a ‘great lie’
Did readers notice how Andrew Wilke exploited an anomaly in the preferential voting system in Australia to win the seat of Denison. Not that I am complaining, someone has to do something about compulsive gambling and you can be sure the major parties wont (of there own volition).
Andrew Wilke won the seat even though he only won 21% of the vote and came 3rd on first preferences.
Candidate Party Votes (%)
WILKIE, Andrew Independent 21.28
JACKSON, Jonathan Australian Labor Party 35.84
BARNES, Mel Socialist Alliance 1.32
SIMPKINS, Cameron Liberal 22.64
COUSER, Geoffrey Australian Greens 18.92
Wilke achieved this result by obtaining a high count of first preferences from Labor, Green, Socialist Alliance and Liberals.
The Liberals put Wilke above Labor not realising that he could win.
It has come back to bite Liberals with a deal signed by Wilke yesterday to help Labor form a minority government.
Just how stupid were the back-room-boys in the Federal Election 2010?
Why isn’t the Left as devious as the party hacks, Andrew Robb and Mark Arbib et al?
Why didn’t we get a socialist to change her name to Gillard?
Then socialists could have had a Gillard running against Rudd in Griffith.
The Revolutionary Socialists already had Kevin Rudd’s nephew, Van Rudd, running against Gillard in Victoria.
I think a Gillard running against Kevin Rudd in Griffith would have got more votes than Van Rudd did against Gillard in Lalor.
As it was Kevin Rudd had a 9% swing against him – Labor might even lose Griffith to the Greens in the next election.
It was a good thing the Revolutionary Socialists were already running in Griffith, otherwise I would have had to cross out Kevin (Rudd) and substituted Van (Rudd). I am sure Mark Latham would have backed my informal vote.
The truth is very little change comes through the parliament but having someone like George Georges in the parliament did provide resources and a base to organise from. If the Left joined forces and began building there are enough contradictions in capitalism that, down the track, socialists may choose to have a member of parliament.
A socialist member would operate as representative of her electorate, as an advocate or like a union rep. The politics of the candidate should not prevent the electorate from voting for her, so long as she was honest and well organised. Bob Katter jokingly said that he is the only socialist left in the federal parliament. That is stretching it a bit, Bob. Perhaps the only agrarian socialist.
Hope to see you all at the speak out,the details are below:
Speak out against the war in Afghanistan
Thursday September 9, 12pm – 5pm
Front gate Enoggera Barracks, Lloyd St. Enoggera
Stand Fast, a group of veterans and former service personnel who oppose the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, will be holding a speak out at the front gate of Enoggera Barracks. Join us in calling for troops out of Afghanistan. Show soldiers you don’t want them to kill or die for politicians’ lies and corporate greed. Help us hand out flyers to the troops. Drop by for a while or stand with us the whole time – any of your time appreciated.
For more info on Stand Fast visit www.stand-fast.webs.com
Support the troops – bring them home now!
For info on the speak out contact Hamish 0401 586 923
Please pass on to all you know.
Reference
“outright lie, a lie that shows the contempt” The only contempt is for the facts by Stand Fast they should Stand Back and connect the dots. Clearly this is not a war fought in one or two theaters but one being fought across the Globe. Withdrawing from one theater or any others is not going to stop the killing it never has nor ever will.
This is not a conflict which has appeared from nowhere it has been going on since the seventh century. The fact is the world has shrunk artificial boundaries drawn on maps mean nothing. Conflict can no longer be avoided due to the logistics of distance and supply.
As with any insurgency you cannot withdraw from the field into bunkers. Denial of freedom of movement and support has to be right in the face of the insurgents in what they claim as their own territory otherwise you lose in the long run.
Being in the front line and confronting the clear hypocrisy, absurdity and brutality of war does not mean walking away is going to resolve anything it will make it worse.
Why is that? Because the textual template of the Taliban, Al-Qaeda, Iranian elite, etc cannot stand without the imposition of terror against other – internal and external. The existence of other societal systems are simply an anathema to these people because such systems show what they are preaching is utter nonsense. As it has from the beginning. Irrational behavior is the norm driven by the text itself, pick it up and read it.
Change the text you stop the terror otherwise it requires a holding pattern as we have now until sanity prevails and religious freedom for text which vilifies other and condemns other to grevious harm ceases.
Under such text you cannot have the moderate without the extremist. An illusion exists that this conflict is US, Britain etc inspired. This war has been going on for centuries, even before the US existed, and will continue until either the believers that other are ‘mischievous’, ‘fools’, ‘deaf, dumb, and blind’ etc and justifiably destined for ‘grevious harm’ are either wiped out or the text is amended.
It is the text stupid!
Sounds like a good initiative by Standfast.
I think there is real potential with a bit more lead up time (maybe a month)
…maybe around the anniversary of the invasion of Afghanistan……
to have a campaign eg.leafleting directed at high school students in the area (at schools, train stations etc) around Gallipoli Barracks/Enoggera (there are thousands of ’em!)..to publicise a teach-in like Standfast are doing at the gates of the Barracks (it is a good big space to gather in down there near the gates)
I guess that all depends on energy and resourecs. In the context of the Greens getting their debate in parliament…th war also maybe more on the general radar of public consciousness
In Dalston/London we continue with a weekly vigil outside the Army Showrrom that is desigened to target kids for future recruitment
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2010/08/457238.html
Last week we chatted with an army guy who is heading back to Afghanistan
He was under no illusions…said the war is all about controlling resources and power politics