Iraq Follow

EVERY DAY brings more horror for the Iraqi people. US soldiers killed 18 year old Farah Fadhil two weeks ago when they threw a grenade through her window. Her legs were shredded, her hands burnt and punctured by strips of metal. She had been walking to her window to try to plead with soldiers who were spraying bullets at her apartment.

"WE WANT as many CWU members on the demonstration as possible. We don't need more British troops sent to Iraq. We need more Iraqis running their own country." Billy Hayes, general secretary of the postal workers' CWU union

TONY BLAIR will go if the anger over his lies and the war on Iraq comes together with the deep bitterness about people's lives in Britain. And that no longer seems a remote possibility. Blair's popularity and satisfaction with the government are both plummeting. The ebbing of support recalls nothing so much as the death throes of Tory leaders Thatcher and Major.

The occupation of Iraq has turned into a disaster for George Bush as well as for the people of that country. And disaster for Bush can be catastrophic for Blair. Just four months ago Bush made a special, triumphant "mission accomplished" television address and Blair went to Basra to congratulate British troops. On Sunday Bush made another broadcast, this time to claim that Iraq was the "centre" of a global "fight against terrorism" in which the very future of "civilisation" was at stake.

THE RIFT between the unions and Tony Blair's government came into full view at the TUC conference this week. Union leaders and delegates representing over seven million workers tore into every core New Labour policy-from the occupation of Iraq to foundation hospitals, top-up student fees and the anti-union laws. Calls for action over the pensions crisis moved to centre stage.

SUPPORT FOR the occupation of Iraq is melting away.

DAVID KAY heads the Iraq Survey Group, which will soon produce another report on weapons of mass destruction. Kay's background shows how "impartial" that report will be. Under President Reagan, Kay was a chief scientist for the Pentagon, as well as serving as a section chief for the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Administration of the UN) from 1983 until 1991.

WHEN US forces captured Baghdad many people drew the conclusion that they were all-powerful. That was certainly the view of those around George Bush, who thought their military victory in Iraq would allow them to tell any other power what to do. It was also a conclusion accepted by some on the left. Every day that passes shows how wrong that view is, and points to US weakness, not strength.

'We will call him to account next week' THE revelations about the lies and cover-ups over the war on Iraq are exposing the rot at the heart of New Labour. Blair and his circle distorted what even his closest advisers were telling them was the truth in order to launch a war for oil and US power. Now it's time to call Blair to account for his war crimes. Next week, on Saturday 30 August, the Stop the War Coalition is holding a People's Assembly to charge Blair.

WEAPONS EXPERT Dr Kelly wasn't even against war with Iraq. Like other "intelligence" officers, he grew angry at the way the government exaggerated weapons claims. The Hutton inquiry heard how two senior intelligence officers had taken the unusual step of formally protesting over the way the government was using their reports.

Tony Blair and his key lieutenants knew full well that they were lying to justify war with Iraq. They knew that Saddam Hussein was "no threat", but deliberately lied to try and persuade people to back war.

AUGUST IS traditionally part of the "Silly Season" when the press scrabbles to find serious news to fill its pages. This year things have been very different. The Hutton inquiry into the death of the scientist David Kelly has ensured that Iraq and the scandal over weapons of mass destruction have remained in the media spotlight.