It’s now eighteen years since 9/11. In that time more than a million have died as a result of the military action pursued by the US, Britain and it’s allies in the Middle East, North Africa and Afghanistan. Many more have been maimed and injured and perhaps 20 million have been displaced from their homes to become refugees. The latest twist in this grotesque saga is playing out in North West Syria.

The so-called ‘war on terror’ has devastated whole regions, wrecking lives and scarring the future of a whole generation; after 18 years the world is a much more dangerous place.

On occasion the UK Government’s actions have been curtailed by the strength of the anti-war movement.   But throughout this period Britain has been a loyal ally of the US.   Britain is still engaged in bombing in Iraq and Syria. You may have noticed a reference on the news that when the US troops withdrew from Rojava so did British soldiers. Soldiers we were told were not there!

Throughout the last 18 years British arms companies, supported and subsidised by the Westminster Government have made massive profits from fuelling war around the world.   Scotland has around 30% of the economic activity associated with this trade in death. And the Scottish government adds its own contribution to the subsidy that the companies receive. The Ferret reports that companies selling arms to Turkey have received £15 million in grants from Scottish Enterprise since 2007.

Boris Johnson’s response to the crisis of the British state is to cuddle closer still to the USA. On their part the US need British support to maintain their hold on NATO.

The NATO alliance claims it’s a partnership for security. On the contrary it serves the strategic interests of the US and the Western elites.

On the 3rd and 4th of December NATO will mark its 70th anniversary with a Heads of State Summit in London. With Donald Trump, Boris Johnson and Recep Tayyip Erdoğan set to attend this gathering of the world’s largest nuclear-armed military alliance.

Stop the War is working with other anti-war groups to ensure that there is large-scale opposition in London as they meet together with solidarity protests in Scotland. NATO membership is incompatible with a radical vision of a different Scotland.

There will be protests at midday on Tuesday 3rd December on solidarity with the protests in London:
Edinburgh – at the East End of Princes Street

Glasgow – venue to be confi Continue reading “Protest against the NATO summit”