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[Sam_b]

In case anyone's unaware, tomorrow morning there's going to be a big procession down Union Street at about 10:30am. There'll also be a rally at the Castlegate from 11.

What would be really useful if if people could come and support the Stop The War stall, hand out leaflets, and the like. The more people that can come the better. The military bigwigs need reminded that this illegal war is costing the lives of thousands of soldiers and civilians, including one Aberdeen soldier. So its vitally important people come out on Saturday and support the troops by demanding they are SENT HOME!

Cheers.

[Frosty Jack]

To be fair, it's not the 'military bigwigs' you need to tell...
As far as I know this parade is to mark the granting of the Freedom of the City to the Gordon Highlanders, in recognition of their service in many conflicts, not just this 'illegal' one. I don't see how protesting at this is going to make any difference. Wrong target, surely?...

[Alkaline]

Originally Posted by Frosty Jack

To be fair, it's not the 'military bigwigs' you need to tell...
As far as I know this parade is to mark the granting of the Freedom of the City to the Gordon Highlanders, in recognition of their service in many conflicts, not just this 'illegal' one. I don't see how protesting at this is going to make any difference. Wrong target, surely?...

I agree. I hate anti-war bandwagon jumpers. These guys just do their jobs and they deserve credit for it.

[Tubthumper]

It's all very well having "Stop The War" protests if you believe in them, but what gets my goat is the fact that some of these protestors think that's really a case of getting all the soldiers on a plane and flying them back home.

We can't just pull all of the soldiers out of Iraq because it just doesn't work like that. There has to be strategies put in place when the military believes the Iraqi security forces are able to fend for themselves. Surely pulling out too early is just as bad as starting what some see as an illegal war.

[JaseyBoi]

Surely every war is deemed illegal or wrong?
Surely by saying bring all our troops home now is making them redundant?
And finaly Surely if the troops didnt want to be out there they wouldnt have joined an armed force?

[Camie]

Originally Posted by JaseyBoi

Surely every war is deemed illegal or wrong?
Surely by saying bring all our troops home now is making them redundant?
And finaly Surely if the troops didnt want to be out there they wouldnt have joined an armed force?

Most troops are out ther because that they believe their duty is to serve their country. There is certain protocal for war but I'm sure someone with more sense than me can explain that and no bringing the troops home will not make them redundant.

[Hogisbald]

Originally Posted by Tubthumper

Surely pulling out too early is just as bad as starting what some see as an illegal war.

Why not pull out now? Saddam is gone, the country has gone to shit even more (lower life expectancy etc) Why bother with Iraq at all?

Originally Posted by Hog

Why not pull out now? Saddam is gone, the country has gone to shit even more (lower life expectancy etc) Why bother with Iraq at all?

"oil that is, black gold, Texas tea"

[Tubthumper]

Oil would be one reason, true. They have to make sure that it's secured and that the insurgents don't start blowing up more oil fields.

The other reason being that the troops have to finish the job. You can't just invade a country then bugger off. Well, you can, but both the US and UK military are trying to make Iraq a much more peaceful place, which I admit will take a hell of a long time. Afghanistan now has a UN peacekeeping mission which will probably be extended to Iraq in a few years time when Britain starts to pull out.

[Dave]

Originally Posted by Hog

Why not pull out now? Saddam is gone, the country has gone to shit even more (lower life expectancy etc) Why bother with Iraq at all?

Because if we pulled out now the democratically elected Iraqi government would be overthrown within a week, Saddam would be out of his jail cell and more powerful than ever before, and other countries would take the US's lack of resolve as a cue to invade Israel.

Not to mention that the coalition forces are there at the invitation of the Iraqi government. They'll leave when they're asked to leave.

As for the protest at the parade tomorrow, it's not going to do the Stop The War people any favours whatsoever. Wrong time, wrong message. It's only going to offend and infuriate the veterans and families present.