LOUISE NOUSRATPOUR looks at a major international initiative against US plans for new missiles in Europe.
Sunday September 2, 2007
The Morning Star
PEACE campaigners from Poland and the Czech Republic gave an inspiring account of the growing resistance to US foreign policy in eastern Europe at a CND conference in London on Saturday.
They declared solidarity with their British counterparts in an international campaign to stop plans to site US military bases in Czech Republic, Poland and Britain as part of the Pentagon's so-called National Missile Defence system.
Delegates heard that whole towns and villages in the Czech Republic were up in arms against government plans to allow a US radar base in the Trokavec village, with just 87 inhabitants.
Trokavec mayor Jan Neoral has led a strong grass-roots campaign, which has seen 85 mayors joining his Association Againt Radar.
"The government is lying to people about the dangers of radiation and playing dirty politics to win over town authorities," he told the meeting.
"Despite all this, nearly 70 per cent of the Czech population are now against the base. But the government has ignored public opinion."
The Czech Communist Party is the only party in that country opposing the US radar construction.
Ivona Novomestska of the Czech No Bases campaign noted: "This is the first time since the so-called 1989 revolution that so many people have been- politically active.
"Before, they thought anything Western was great. Today we are organising thousands-strong demonstrations against US foreign policy."
Poland's No Wars Initiative representative Filip Ilkowski said that, even in his traditionally pro-US and anti-communist country, people were questioning US conduct.
"Despite huge government and media propaganda, some 56 per cent of Poles are against US bases being sited in Poland and 80 per cent want all Polish troops withdrawn from Iraq," he reported.
CND chairwoman Kate Hudson welcomed the growing grass-roots movements in both countries as a boost to British opposition to US radar bases at Menwith Hill and Flyingdales in Yorkshire.
She said that the system was "provocative" and would enable the US to launch first-strike attacks without fear of retaliation.
"This will lead to a new cold war and ensuing arms race, which will threaten world peace," she warned.
"Britain's increasing involvement in the US military expansion will put the UK on the front line in future wars. It has already increased tensions with Russia."
The Bush administration has insisted that its missile defence is aimed at Iran, but speakers contended that it was part of a strategy to maintain the crumbling US hegemonic status in the face of emerging powers in Russia, India and China.
Campaign Iran speaker Dr Elaheh Rostami-Povey warned conference against complacency over US plans to attack Iran.
"There is talk of US President George Bush's determination to attack Iran before leaving office. The possibility of Israel attacking Iran is also very real," he warned.
Other speakers representing Sweden, Germany, Belgium and Austrialia also shared their experiences and vowed to stand up and be counted.
But there was a strong consensus about a lack of democratic process on the crucial issue of US militarisation and an arrogant disregard for public opinion by politicians.
Stop the War Coalition chairman Andrew Murray urged Britain not to "surrender to any sense of complacency because we have a new Prime Minister.
"Gordon Brown is under pressure from US to play second fiddle and we must match that pressure to force a change in foreign policy," he argued.
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