George W. Bush is coming to Australia in October to promote his never-ending war and free trade agenda - and Socialist Alliance will be helping to organise and build the biggest possible protests against the world’s leading warmonger.
The Bush-Blair-Howard war on Iraq was illegal and immoral. The present military occupation of Iraq by the Coalition of the Killing is no less so. Bush’s visit demands a response – one that says clearly and loudly: End the occupation of Iraq! Self-determination for the Iraqi people!
Bush will be visiting Canberra and Sydney immediately after the APEC summit on October 21 in Bangkok. His visit coincides with a round of trade negotiations planned for October 27 in Canberra. Howard hopes to secure a Free Trade Agreement with the United States, his trophy for supporting the US-led war on Iraq.
So our message is equally for Howard. To him and his criminal government we say: Money for health and education, not war! Bring the troops home now! No Free Trade Agreement!
The Bush-Howard cosy-up in Australia presents an invaluable opportunity to re-mobilise the anti-war movement here. It was just seven months ago that a million people took to the streets to say “No war on Iraq”. They were backed by the majority of Australians, who saw through the cloak of lies about supposed weapons of mass destruction and the so-called war on terror.
Socialist Alliance joins its voice with all the local peace groups and anti-war coalitions calling on everyone who marched against Howard and Bush in February to do so again. We urge every organisation and individual who opposes the US government’s drive to war and global economic domination to get involved in organising and come along to the protests in October.
Buses are being organised to bring people to Canberra and Sydney for the protests on the days – still to be confirmed – that Bush is in town. Your local Socialist Alliance branch can give you the details and keep you in touch with developments.
In other cities, anti-war activists are organising protest actions on or around October 25, both as part the nationwide week of action against Bush’s visit and in solidarity with a US anti-war movement march on the Pentagon in Washington DC. The US march, organised by the two biggest anti-war coalitions in the US, ANSWER and United for Peace and Justice, is also demanding the immediate withdrawal of the occupying forces.
Our world is not for sale or destruction: Troops out of Iraq! No FTA!