www.freedompress.org.uk 19 MARCH 2005 Why the wealthy vote Labour Bolivia on the brink Exclusive McLibel interview Jamaican dancehall culture INSIDE ►► page 3 page 4 page 5 page 7 NO WAR BUT THE CUSS WAR! ■ 7 ince the war against Afghanistan, SWP members on it, as well as number the Stop the War Coalition has had of assorted Trotskyists and leftists. As a presence on our streets and it has usual this has meant that a popular social helpedS build one of the largest social movement has appeared and been held movements in British history. It was back by leftie groups opposed to direct able to mobilise well over a million action and more interested in building people for the 15th February 2003 their parties. Anti-war demonstrations demonstration in Central London, but have now become little more than yet its heyday seems to be over. Despite another recruitment drive and have lost being called the Stop the War Coalition their mass public support that we saw it has failed to stop any of the wars it prior to the Iraq war. has campaigned against, although this But this is exactly the same situation is more down to UK foreign policy than that we were in after the invasion of failings of the StWC itself. Afghanistan, we have been here before, But the StWC does have its failings and the US is threatening to take further and a fear of direct action is but one of action, maybe against Iran or Syria. many. The major organisations behind After the campaign to prevent the it are the Socialist Workers Party (SWP), invasion of Afghanistan had failed, and CND, and the Muslim Association of the US started to threaten Iraq, people Britain, a reactionary Muslim organisation. started to put their energies back into Whilst the thought of the Revolutionary the fight against war, a mojith before ^ socialists* of the SWP getting close to a war began we saw the February 15 th religious organisation was absurd to us, demonstration, and on the days around it seemed like a brilliant idea to them war breaking out there were wildcat and they created RESPECT a political strikes-by school students across the party that spends most of its time trying to country. get Muslims to vote for George Galloway. So we must ask ourselves what could Since it’s conception the StWC has happen if the occupation of Iraq continues been dominated by the SWP, but from and if the US takes further military Capitalism and war really are a load of horse shit looking at the old version of the action in the Middle East, we will have Coalition’s website only a single member an opportunity to help build a movement just have to hope that the endless and go to war again we need to take issue. We need to keep saying why these of the steering committee appears to that will have mass public support, and sloganeering of the SWP et al. has not part in the anti-war movement on a wars are happening, because of the come from the SWP, if we look a bit the levels of militancy witnessed prior put people who got involved in previous grassroots and national level, but we capitalist system which thrives on war. closer, there are a number of leading to the Iraq war are likely to increase. We campaigns off. If Bush and Blair do try can’t let it become yet another single Jim M. NO ID CARDS - FOR NOW US TO ATTACK IRAN eorge W. Bush has ‘signed off’ on for a maximum ground and air invasion he Identity Cards Bill has been The Government’s current line is that to attend an appointment for a scan of plans to bomb Iran this June, of Iran ... The hawks in the Administra­ temporarily derailed after months an ID card will help in the fight against your fingerprints and iris. G according to Scott Ritter. The tion believe that it will soon become clear T of public and behind the scenes terrorism. However Privacy International The plastic card is only one part of a former UNSCOM weapons inspector that the Europeans’ negotiated approach lobbying. According to a report in The has reported that “Detailed analysis of much larger scheme. The National broke this ‘shocking’ news in a speech [to Iran] cannot succeed, and that at Independent, an unnamed Government information in the public domain in Identification Register the heart of the at the Capitol Theatre in Washington that time the Administration will act.” Minister has said that the ID Cards Bill this study has produced no evidence to system, would establish a central State last week. Bush has denied the claims. “This will not be pushed through the House establish a connection between identity population register, containing a wide Talking on America’s duty to bring notion that the United States is getting of Lords before the end of Parliament cards and successful anti-terrorism range of details of every UK citizen and an end to the illegal invasion of Iraq, ready to attack Iran is simply ridiculous. and the General Election. Phil Booth, measures.” Despite the current climate resident from 16 years. The scheme Ritter said that plans for a June attack Having said that, all options are on the N 02ID National Coordinator said, of fear used to justify the ID card, US requires every individual to be given a had been submitted to President Bush, table,” He said to laughter and a “This is a great victory, although the State Dept figures show that, in fact, unique number, the National Identity and that the President has approved smattering of applause, “you never want fight goes on. We must continue to international terrorism is at its lowest Registration Number (NIRN), and them. The purported reason for the a president to say ‘never.’ But military apply pressure until the Government for 25 years. requires individuals to submit to finger­ planned aerial bombardment is to destroy action is certainly not - it’s never the abandons its plans altogether.” The Government estimates the ID card printing and ‘other’ means of physical Iran’s alleged nuclear weapons program. president’s first choice. Diplomacy is Opposition to the controversial scheme project will cost up to £3,1 bn. In identification. The Bill establishes a large It’s no secret that Iran is the next always the president’s first - at least my has been widespread. The Conservatives November 2004 the Government number of new crimes and offences to strategic target for the Bush administra­ first choice.” It has yet to be confirmed have withdrawn support for the Bill and acknowledged that the cost of the ensure that people comply with the ID tion in their plan for ‘full spectrum whether the people of Iraq and the House of Lords is hostile toward it. scheme over ten years would be £5.5bn. requirements, and people wishing to work, dominance’. And the administration has Afghanistan agree with him. The Scottish Parliament called the We will pay for this largely out of our use the banking or health system, travel been conducting secret reconnaissance proposed identity card “an unacceptable own pockets. An ‘enhanced’ biometric or receive benefits, will be required to missions since last summer. According threat to civil liberties.” passport, which includes entry on the produce the card. to reporter, Seymour Hersh, “Defense national register, will cost around £85. No common law country in the world Department civilians, under the leadership ISSN 0016-0504 An ID card without a passport will cost has ever accepted a peacetime ID card. of Douglas Feith, have been working between £35 and £40 and there will be No European country has such a with Israeli planners and consultants to a charge for renewal of the card. comprehensive or invasive card system. develop and refine potential nuclear, Failure to obey an order to register or As one critic put it, “The jdea of chemical-weapons, and missile targets providing false information will constitute democracy is to make the Government inside Iran ... Strategists at the head­ an ‘offence’. Penalties range from £1,000 answerable to the people; ID cards make quarters of the US Central Command, Vol 66 fine to two years imprisonment. A penalty the people answerable to the Government. in Tampa, Florida, have been asked to No 6 revise the military’s war plan, providing 770016 050009 of up to £2,500 can be levied for failure Julian Gibson 2 Freedom 19th March 2 005 Home and away FREEDOM Volume 66 Number 6 News from the inside Anarchism Freedom for prisoners attend the gym, etc. Bart is keen to FBI attempt to link anarchist segregation. On 24th October last year, As many of you may know, Freedom receive anarchist publications and books. prisoner with al-Quaida Jim was beaten up by a gang of screws Anarchists work towards a society of provides free subscriptions to anyone in His address is: Bart De Geeter, JVA In what is thought to be the first in riot gear at Winchester; with his mutual aid and voluntary co-operation. prison. If you have friends or family in Diisseldorf, Ulmenstasse 95, 40476 instance of its kind, the American FBI injuries subsequently being recorded as We reject government, and all forms of prison, or regularly write to a prisoner, Diisseldorf, Germany. have tried to link an anarchist prisoner ‘minor bruising’. Jim however had visits exploitation and domination. if they are interested we will be happy with al-Quaida. Cassidy Wheeler was on the four days following the incident Freedom Press is an independent, to send them a free sample issue or sub.