Jim McIlroy, Brisbane
Opposition to Prime Minister John Howard's decision to send an additional 450 troops to Iraq was the main theme of a speak-out sponsored by the Stop the War Collective (STWC) on the steps of King George Square on March 4.
"Howard tries to justify sending 450 more troops in order to 'strengthen democracy in Iraq'. The people of Iraq don't want them there. The majority of Australians don't want to send more troops either. Surely, the democratic move would be to bring all the troops home, not send more", James Pyke, from the socialist youth organisation Resistance, told the crowd.
Other speakers condemned the Australian government's involvement in the occupation of Iraq, pointing out that the "coalition of the willing" was now fraying at the edges and more countries were pulling their forces out of Iraq, while Howard was trying to prop up the US-led occupation by sending in more troops.
The action will be followed by the March 20 peace rally and international day of action, sponsored by the STWC and Rally for Peace and Nuclear Disarmament. The demands of the rally are: "End the occupation of Iraq! Bring the troops home! No US bases! No joint exercises!"
Rallies will take place around Australia. See the advertisement on this page for details.
From Green Left Weekly, March 9, 2005.
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