Support Our Troops

There is nothing contradictory or unpatriotic to protest against unjust war while British troops are fighting abroad. To oppose unjust war, to oppose the misuse of our troops's loyalty and courage, is one of the most patriotic acts we can do.

War on Iraq is a moral and legal crime. It was crime last month before bullets were fired; it was a crime last week as the UN was ignored; it was a crime at the start of this week before the first bomber took off; and as British bombs and missiles slam into Baghdad right now, it still remains a crime. That is why we oppose this war.

Those who say we should now stay quiet and support our boys want to silence our dissent. If we look the other way now, if we refuse to see this crime, if we refuse to identify its victims and its perpetrators, if we refuse to condemn these Parliamentary donkeys who send our lions into battle, we will make the next war more likely.

But as we increase our condemnations of Bush and Blair for their utter recklessness and disregard for peace, we should also remember to support our troops. We should support our troops by intensifying our opposition to this war. We should support our troops by building larger demonstrations, by involving more members of the community, by inspiring greater acts of civil disobedience, by forming anti-war groups within every community organisation - the schools, colleges, workplaces.

This is how we should reply to the call to end our opposition and support our troops.

We should support our troops by demanding they be brought home - now.

We should support our troops by stopping our reckless Government from sending these brave young kids on stupid, needless, foreign adventures.

We should support our troops not having to kill people in Iraq.

We should support our troops not being ordered into an unjust war by a Government ignoring the wish of the UK people, the Pope, the UN, and millions of others.

We should support our troops not having to witness terrible destruction and suffering within Iraq and having to live with those nightmares for years to come.

We should support our troops not having to come home with Gulf War syndrome and having their plight ignored by the Government.

We should support our troops by having them return to their deeply anxious and concerned families.

Support our troops, bring them home.

Support our troops, intensify our opposition.