A Just War or Not?
Email: contact@mfaw.org.uk
Subject : Military Families Against the War Please sign our new petition
Dear Friend
Thank you for signing the petition calling for the release of Malcolm Kendall-Smith. We plan to hand this in soon.
We are appealing for your support for a new petition
Family members of those killed in Iraq have joined forces with mothers, fathers and partners of those currently serving in Iraq in a new campaign to bring the troops home.
Central to this campaign is a petition to Tony Blair : Prime Minister - Bring the troops home
Please take a moment to sign online:
http://www.petitiononline.com/mfawmay/petition.html
Download the petition from our website:
http://www.mfaw.org.uk/mfaw020606.pdf
Flight Lieutenant Malcolm Kendall-Smith was given an eight month sentence for refusing to serve in Iraq and ordered to pay £20,000 costs. Stop the War has organised A Night of Conscience on 28 June 2006 to help raise funds to pay these costs.
Tony Benn will be joined at St James Church, Piccadilly, by comedians Mark Thomas and Mark Steel, composer Michael Nyman, actress Janet Suzman, playwrights David Edgar and Caryl Churchill, film director Ken Loach, fashion designer Vivienne Westwood, singer Ed Harcourt and many others from film, music, stage, television and politics.
A LETTER FROM BLAIR & OUR REPLY
We have received a reply from Tony Blair. Reg Keys has written a response which we would like to make the basis of a response from MFAW. Both letters are included below. Please let us know what you think - send us your own responses and contributions for us to include on the web site.
We want as many military families as possible to add their names to the letter.
In sharp contrast to Blair's unwillingness to meet us, Prince Charles has invited all the families of military killed in Iraq to meet him at Highgrove House on 29th June. We hope that this will cause great embarrassment for Blair by drawing attention to the fact that he still refuses to meet the families of those killed in the war.
THE PRIME MINISTER
22 May 2006
Dear Military families
Thank you for your letter in which you request a meeting to discuss your views. I have, in the past, met families who have lost loved ones in Iraq and other military operations involving UK forces. I know that Adam Ingram, has met a number of your group in recent months on an individual basis and that John Reid has met the families of the six Royal Military Policemen who were killed at al Majarr al Kabir. I can promise that the points raised in those meetings are being followed up actively.
In your letter you accuse me of lying in order to take us into war with Iraq. I would like to make clear that this is simply not true. A number of inquiries, including the Hutton and Butler reports, found that no-one in Government lied or fabricated intelligence. I know many people continue to disagree with the Government's policies towards Iraq and ordering our forces to take action in Iraq was one of the most difficult decisions I have ever had to make, but I genuinely believe it was the right decision.
I do recognise the very real sacrifices being made by those involved in operations in Iraq and my deepest sympathies go out to all those who have lost loved ones in Iraq. But we must stand alongside the Iraqi people and support them in their quest to establish democracy and in their fight against terrorism.
I strongly believe that the Iraqi people do want democracy rather than the tyranny they suffered for so long. The Iraqi Government has stated that they want us to stay in Iraq until they can deliver security themselves and we will not shrink from this commitment.
I know our Armed Forces and their families have made sacrifices and I am immensely proud of them. I hope you will believe me when I say that I am sure that all those who have been killed in Iraq died defending their country and making the world safer for all of us. Once again, I offer my deepest sympathies to all those who have lost loved ones in Iraq.
Yours sincerely,
Tony Blair
(REG KEYS
29th May 2006
Dear Prime Minister,
Thank you for your letter of the 22nd May 2006 in response to a request to meet with Military Families who have lost loved ones in Iraq.
Contrary to what you suggest in your letter there has never been a formal collective meeting with yourself and bereaved families wishing to attend. You briefly meet with a few family members at the St. Paul’s memorial service, hardly the atmosphere for an objective meeting. Adam Ingram may also have met with a few members and yourself and President Bush with only hand picked families.
John Reid met with myself and other RMP families purely to brief us on the ongoing murder case in Iraq not to discuss the Iraq issue of going to war in which our loved ones paid the ultimate price.
Mr. Blair this was an invasion and occupation, one of option not necessity. You betrayed the trust of 111 service personnel as Iraq never possessed WMD. Had no links with Al Qaeda or any involvement with 911 and posed no threat to Great Britain whatsoever.
This was contrary to all your pre war rhetoric and propaganda.
Our forces deployed to Iraq short of one vital piece of equipment – the truth.
Prime Minister you betrayed those poor souls’ Oath of Allegiance and exploited their patriotism.
Your letter states these personnel died defending their country. My son did not die defending his country as Iraq had no intention to attack us. My son died serving his country of which I am immensely proud.
Regarding your war on terror all you have succeeded in doing is to
open up another terrorist front in Iraq as its borders are now porous and Iraq spirals into civil war. You claim that the Hutton and Butler reports exonerated your actions but it is now widely recognised that the reports have no credibility.
When cabinet members blunder you remove them from post. Iraq has been a catastrophic political blunder and a clear strategic failure that has cost tens of thousands of innocent lives and billions of pounds. Perhaps now is the time for you to do the honorable thing.
Stop looking at Iraq through your ‘rose tinted’ spectacles within the safety of the Green Zone and join British Forces on a patrol in Basra. There you will see British Troops spat at, stoned, fired upon, petrol bombed and blown up and dismembered.
Hopefully then your common sense will return and replace an inflated ego.
Prime Minister you took us to war on a falsehood of WMD. To impose democracy was never the remit of this war. As in February 2003 you stated Saddam could stay in power if he gave up his WMD capability ( which he never had ).
The very least an honorable man would do in your position is to apologise and resign perhaps before your own peers remove you.
Yours sincerely,
R.T.Keys
Father of the late Lcpl. Tom Keys RMP murdered Al Majarr al Kabir 2003
ARMED FORCES BILL - GO TO IRAQ OR FACE LIFE IMPRISONMENT
The numbers of soldiers going AWOL has trebled since the start of the Iraq war. Around 900 young men and women are currently in hiding like criminals because they don't want to take part in a criminal war in Iraq. A new law could see them jailed for life.
Section 8 of the Armed Forces Bill now going through Parliament introduces a new tougher definition of desertion: soldiers who go AWOL to avoid serving in a military occupation of a foreign country or territory can be imprisoned for life.
A mother with a serving son wrote in her letter to Blair:
"Do you really think that our servicemen & women should be placed in the same category as murderers, rapists, paedophiles & the like? These people enlisted to protect their country & you would treat them thus?"
From MFAW Blog: http://www.mfaw.org.uk/hickey
An attempt to amend section 8 was defeated in the House of Commons. To read the debate please see this webpage:
http://www.theyworkforyou.com/debates/?id=2006-05-22b.1204.9
HERCULES SAFETY CAMPAIGN
The families and friends of those killed in the Jan 2005 Hercules crash have launched a campaign to have a vital safety device fitted to the entire Hercules Fleet now. Had explosive suppressant technology been fitted to the XV179 the 10 passengers and crew could have survived. As you probably know the Herc can carry over 120 people, with half the fleet being in the air at any one time.
Sarah Chapman, whose brother Bob died in the crash has set up a petition to Des Browne: Install explosive-suppressant foam devices in the ENTIRE Hercules fleet NOW.
Please sign the petition, it can be found here:
http://www.petitiononline.com/XV179/petition.html
The website has a facility for you to leave comments of support. It can be found at:
http://www.mfaw.org.uk/blogs
Subject : Military Families Against the War Please sign our new petition
Dear Friend
Thank you for signing the petition calling for the release of Malcolm Kendall-Smith. We plan to hand this in soon.
We are appealing for your support for a new petition
Family members of those killed in Iraq have joined forces with mothers, fathers and partners of those currently serving in Iraq in a new campaign to bring the troops home.
Central to this campaign is a petition to Tony Blair : Prime Minister - Bring the troops home
Please take a moment to sign online:
http://www.petitiononline.com/mfawmay/petition.html
Download the petition from our website:
http://www.mfaw.org.uk/mfaw020606.pdf
Flight Lieutenant Malcolm Kendall-Smith was given an eight month sentence for refusing to serve in Iraq and ordered to pay £20,000 costs. Stop the War has organised A Night of Conscience on 28 June 2006 to help raise funds to pay these costs.
Tony Benn will be joined at St James Church, Piccadilly, by comedians Mark Thomas and Mark Steel, composer Michael Nyman, actress Janet Suzman, playwrights David Edgar and Caryl Churchill, film director Ken Loach, fashion designer Vivienne Westwood, singer Ed Harcourt and many others from film, music, stage, television and politics.
A LETTER FROM BLAIR & OUR REPLY
We have received a reply from Tony Blair. Reg Keys has written a response which we would like to make the basis of a response from MFAW. Both letters are included below. Please let us know what you think - send us your own responses and contributions for us to include on the web site.
We want as many military families as possible to add their names to the letter.
In sharp contrast to Blair's unwillingness to meet us, Prince Charles has invited all the families of military killed in Iraq to meet him at Highgrove House on 29th June. We hope that this will cause great embarrassment for Blair by drawing attention to the fact that he still refuses to meet the families of those killed in the war.
THE PRIME MINISTER
22 May 2006
Dear Military families
Thank you for your letter in which you request a meeting to discuss your views. I have, in the past, met families who have lost loved ones in Iraq and other military operations involving UK forces. I know that Adam Ingram, has met a number of your group in recent months on an individual basis and that John Reid has met the families of the six Royal Military Policemen who were killed at al Majarr al Kabir. I can promise that the points raised in those meetings are being followed up actively.
In your letter you accuse me of lying in order to take us into war with Iraq. I would like to make clear that this is simply not true. A number of inquiries, including the Hutton and Butler reports, found that no-one in Government lied or fabricated intelligence. I know many people continue to disagree with the Government's policies towards Iraq and ordering our forces to take action in Iraq was one of the most difficult decisions I have ever had to make, but I genuinely believe it was the right decision.
I do recognise the very real sacrifices being made by those involved in operations in Iraq and my deepest sympathies go out to all those who have lost loved ones in Iraq. But we must stand alongside the Iraqi people and support them in their quest to establish democracy and in their fight against terrorism.
I strongly believe that the Iraqi people do want democracy rather than the tyranny they suffered for so long. The Iraqi Government has stated that they want us to stay in Iraq until they can deliver security themselves and we will not shrink from this commitment.
I know our Armed Forces and their families have made sacrifices and I am immensely proud of them. I hope you will believe me when I say that I am sure that all those who have been killed in Iraq died defending their country and making the world safer for all of us. Once again, I offer my deepest sympathies to all those who have lost loved ones in Iraq.
Yours sincerely,
Tony Blair
(REG KEYS
29th May 2006
Dear Prime Minister,
Thank you for your letter of the 22nd May 2006 in response to a request to meet with Military Families who have lost loved ones in Iraq.
Contrary to what you suggest in your letter there has never been a formal collective meeting with yourself and bereaved families wishing to attend. You briefly meet with a few family members at the St. Paul’s memorial service, hardly the atmosphere for an objective meeting. Adam Ingram may also have met with a few members and yourself and President Bush with only hand picked families.
John Reid met with myself and other RMP families purely to brief us on the ongoing murder case in Iraq not to discuss the Iraq issue of going to war in which our loved ones paid the ultimate price.
Mr. Blair this was an invasion and occupation, one of option not necessity. You betrayed the trust of 111 service personnel as Iraq never possessed WMD. Had no links with Al Qaeda or any involvement with 911 and posed no threat to Great Britain whatsoever.
This was contrary to all your pre war rhetoric and propaganda.
Our forces deployed to Iraq short of one vital piece of equipment – the truth.
Prime Minister you betrayed those poor souls’ Oath of Allegiance and exploited their patriotism.
Your letter states these personnel died defending their country. My son did not die defending his country as Iraq had no intention to attack us. My son died serving his country of which I am immensely proud.
Regarding your war on terror all you have succeeded in doing is to
open up another terrorist front in Iraq as its borders are now porous and Iraq spirals into civil war. You claim that the Hutton and Butler reports exonerated your actions but it is now widely recognised that the reports have no credibility.
When cabinet members blunder you remove them from post. Iraq has been a catastrophic political blunder and a clear strategic failure that has cost tens of thousands of innocent lives and billions of pounds. Perhaps now is the time for you to do the honorable thing.
Stop looking at Iraq through your ‘rose tinted’ spectacles within the safety of the Green Zone and join British Forces on a patrol in Basra. There you will see British Troops spat at, stoned, fired upon, petrol bombed and blown up and dismembered.
Hopefully then your common sense will return and replace an inflated ego.
Prime Minister you took us to war on a falsehood of WMD. To impose democracy was never the remit of this war. As in February 2003 you stated Saddam could stay in power if he gave up his WMD capability ( which he never had ).
The very least an honorable man would do in your position is to apologise and resign perhaps before your own peers remove you.
Yours sincerely,
R.T.Keys
Father of the late Lcpl. Tom Keys RMP murdered Al Majarr al Kabir 2003
ARMED FORCES BILL - GO TO IRAQ OR FACE LIFE IMPRISONMENT
The numbers of soldiers going AWOL has trebled since the start of the Iraq war. Around 900 young men and women are currently in hiding like criminals because they don't want to take part in a criminal war in Iraq. A new law could see them jailed for life.
Section 8 of the Armed Forces Bill now going through Parliament introduces a new tougher definition of desertion: soldiers who go AWOL to avoid serving in a military occupation of a foreign country or territory can be imprisoned for life.
A mother with a serving son wrote in her letter to Blair:
"Do you really think that our servicemen & women should be placed in the same category as murderers, rapists, paedophiles & the like? These people enlisted to protect their country & you would treat them thus?"
From MFAW Blog: http://www.mfaw.org.uk/hickey
An attempt to amend section 8 was defeated in the House of Commons. To read the debate please see this webpage:
http://www.theyworkforyou.com/debates/?id=2006-05-22b.1204.9
HERCULES SAFETY CAMPAIGN
The families and friends of those killed in the Jan 2005 Hercules crash have launched a campaign to have a vital safety device fitted to the entire Hercules Fleet now. Had explosive suppressant technology been fitted to the XV179 the 10 passengers and crew could have survived. As you probably know the Herc can carry over 120 people, with half the fleet being in the air at any one time.
Sarah Chapman, whose brother Bob died in the crash has set up a petition to Des Browne: Install explosive-suppressant foam devices in the ENTIRE Hercules fleet NOW.
Please sign the petition, it can be found here:
http://www.petitiononline.com/XV179/petition.html
The website has a facility for you to leave comments of support. It can be found at:
http://www.mfaw.org.uk/blogs
posted by Lesley McDade at 1:58 am
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