CAMERON AND OBAMA: THE WAR WILL GO ON FOR YEARS

Growing public opposition to war here and in the US is starting to have an
impact on the politicians. But whatever the spin this week by Obama and
Cameron, the reality is the war in Afghanistan will continue for at least
another four years, with ever escalating loss of Afghan civilian and military
lives. Thousands are going to die in a war that has no credible purpose or
viable "exit strategy", outside of an increasingly desperate search for a way
to get out without the US and its allies having to admit defeat.

Since the father who asked three weeks ago if the death of his son in
Afghanistan was a price worth paying — and was answered instantly by a serving
soldier with an emphatic "no" — another six British military families will be
asking the same question. (SEE http://bit.ly/jiEjbe)

Obama’s much heralded troop withdrawal of 10,000 troops this year and another
20,000 in 2012, will still leave 70,000 in place, which is almost twice the
number deployed when Obama took office, to say nothing of the estimated 100,000
US mercenaries in the country. (SEE War continues after minor troop withdrawal:
http://bit.ly/kZYrYZ )

David Cameron has stated categorically that the 9,500 British combat troops
will leave Afghanistan by 2015, only to be contradicted by his generals saying
Britain should stay "until the conditions are right" for withdrawal.

The task of the anti-war movement is to demand that our political leaders
reflect the overwhelming majorities both in Britain and the US who oppose the
war in Afghanistan and want all troops to come home now.

This is why in October, on the tenth anniversary of the start of the war in
Afghanistan, there will be major demonstrations in Britain and America calling
for the immediate withdrawal of all foreign troops.

In the US, plans are already well advanced for an occupation on 6 October of
Freedom Plaza in Washington, with thousands now signing the pledge to be there.
(SEE http://bit.ly/lY3ZZL )

In Britain we will be holding an Anti-War Mass Assembly on 8 October, bringing
together military veterans, school students, musicians, trade unionists,
writers, academics, politicians, campaigners, and military families, in an
occupation of Trafalgar Square. (Sign up for the Facebook event here:
http://on.fb.me/kNS6K5 )