In brief...

Afghan conflict re-ignites

FIVE UK soldiers, part of US-led coailiton forces in Afghanistan, have been killed in Helmand province in clashes with Taliban fighters.

Aside from the irony that these Islamist guerrillas were once used as a proxy army by the West against the Soviet backed Afghan regime, these deaths underline the deterorating security situation in the country.

The original mission aim of the British troops was to act as peacemakers and helping in reconstruction. Now, because of the "unexpected strength" of the Taliban, the Ministry of Defence will eventually deploy nearly 6,000 troops to try and quell the uprising.

Yet, in October 2004, Tony Blair and George Bush dismissed a renewed Taliban threat and instead trumpeted Afghanistan elections as a milestone toward a 'flourishing democracy' and an example for Iraq to follow.

Guantanamo Bay - put Bush in the dock!

ON 29 June the Supreme Court - the US's highest court - ruled that President George W Bush had exceeded his authority and violated the Geneva Conventions in ordering military war crimes trials for detainees at the infamous Guantanamo Bay prison.

Many foreign prisoners, mostly Muslims, have been held there but only ten of the 460 prisoners have been charged with any crime. About 120 have been cleared for release or release to their home countries where Bush and his administration wants them to stay in detention.

Guantanamo's constant stream of news of torture, force-feeding and other maltreatment, suicides, hunger strikes etc are bad public relations for US imperialism and its attempts to maintain its superpower authority.

Will Bush use this judgement as an excuse to close Guantanamo or will he continue to ignore the worldwide condemnation, even from his 'allies' in his war? Regardless of what this superpower capitalist politician is forced to do, the Socialist Party supports the closure of this horrific camp as well as the withdrawal of troops from Iraq.

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In The Socialist 6 July 2006:

Socialist Party NHS campaign

NHS: Not for sale!