Despite reservations about ceding further media control to the less-than-lovely Rupert Murdoch, one of our glamorous activists Martha has kindly arranged for us to have a presence on Myspace. This is designed to help us reach a teen/twenties audience who -- as our street campaigning shows us -- are keen to join various democratic movements challenging the old imperial use of military power. And you can't do that these days if you're not on the web! So, don your sunglasses and visit us here:

www.myspace.com/leam_cov_stopthewar

Our march in London, for which we were accompanied by Coventry Stop the War, was well-attended and peaceful as usual. Reports on the numbers that attended depend on who you ask - we think in the order of low tens of thousands is probably about right. Pictures are here for anyone interested - look out for the super-cute triplets against trident!

The message delivered by the excellent rally at the end was spot on: the protest wholeheartedly rejected Blair's subservience to US power and calls for more troops to be withdrawn from Iraq. It's true that this can't happen in a vacuum, which is why the American-led demonisation of Iran needs to stop immediately, so that Tehran can be brought into defusing the situation in Baghdad and elsewhere in Iraq. Some would have it that this would strengthen the hand of a nuclear Iran, but given that the Western cheerleading of the destruction of Lebanon inadvertently gave extra regional power to Iran, it is difficult to see how that neo-conservative approach can be said to have succeeded (or how it might succeed in the future).

Have a look at this video - "Tony Blair" seems to have changed his mind and has decided that Iraq was a bad idea after all... and he's even singing an anti-war song to prove it. Shouldn't we the electorate congratulate him by buying his single?

Despite the total failure of the aggressive Blair-Bush policy in Iraq, the US is stepping up a gear and seeking domestic funding to make its foreign policy problems worse. Bush is determined not to be seen to change his mind, despite all the evidence pointing to the fact that he should, while Blair meanwhile is under serious domestic pressure not to meet any American demands to increase British commitment in the failed Iraq that the West helped to create.

On Saturday 24th February, the Stop the War Coalition is offering a fresh opportunity to the British public to take part in a national demonstration in London, which as usual for this time of year marks another anniversary of the invasion of Iraq in 2003. The event will form a strong protest against the UK-USA "war at any cost" policy, as well as an opportunity to remind the media about Blair's real, disastrous legacy, and a good standpoint from which to restart the debate on the proposed renewal of the Trident nuclear missile system.

Andy Pettit, chair of the Coventry Stop the War Coalition was interviewed today by BBC Coventry and Warwickshire, about the war in Iraq, and in the short allotted time he was able to get across an excellent view of the appalling situation there. This comes hot on the heels of comments made by the head of the army, General Sir Richard Dannatt, who recently said that the presence of our troops "exacerbates" security issues in the country, and that we should withdraw "sometime soon" (story here).

An estimated 655,000 Iraqis have died since 2003 who might still be alive but for the US-led invasion, according to a survey by a US university. The research compares mortality rates before and after the invasion from 47 randomly chosen areas in Iraq. The figure is considerably higher than estimates by official sources or the number of deaths reported in the media, and is vigorously disputed by supporters of the war in Iraq, including US President George Bush.

John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health (JHBSPH) estimate that the mortality rates have more than doubled since the invasion to overthrow Saddam Hussein, causing an average of 500 deaths a day. In the past, Mr Bush has put the civilian death toll in Iraq at 30,000, and hours after details of the latest research were published he dismissed JHBSPH's methodology as "pretty well discredited".

On 28-29 October 2006, there will be a weekend of action marking the second anniversary of the assault on Fallujah. On the 28th: "Peace journey" from the UK military nerve centre, Northwood to central London (meet Northwood tube, 11am); on the 29th, a 24-hour peace camp in Parliament Square. Organised by Mass Action Group and supported by CND. For more information, call 0845 458 2564, or see this article.

Oxford peace activists Philip Pritchard and Toby Olditch entered RAF Fairford and attempted to disarm USAF B-52 bombers early on 18th March 2003. Members of Leamington StW supported them and other activists after their initial arrest and remand to Gloucester Prison. The decision to take this peaceful direct action was an expression of their absolute frustration that all previous international pressure and efforts to prevent the prosecution of an illegal and unjustified war had come to nothing.

There have been many hearings in this case, and the legal defences that remain are that they acted to prevent the conduct of war crimes, out of necessity to prevent loss of life, and with lawful excuse to protect the property of innocent Iraqis.

Public support events will take place outside the court on the first and last days of the trial with a presence each day. The trial is to be held over October 2nd to 13th 2006, at Bristol Crown Court. The theme for the trial is waging peace - send the organisers a picture of your hand, with your peace wager written/drawn/painted on it - something you've done or plan to do to promote peace.

Further details are available at www.b52two.org.

Up to a million cluster bomblets discharged by Israel in its conflict with Hezbollah remain unexploded in southern Lebanon, the UN has said. The UN's mine disposal agency says about 40% of the cluster bombs fired or dropped by Israel failed to detonate - three times the UN's previous estimate. It says the problem could delay the return home of about 200,000 displaced people by up to two years. The devices have killed 14 people in south Lebanon since the August truce.

The manager of the UN's mine removal centre in south Lebanon, Chris Clark, said Israel had failed to provide useful information of its cluster bomb strikes, which could help with the clearance operation. Last month, the UN's humanitarian chief, Jan Egeland, accused Israel of "completely immoral" use of cluster bombs in the conflict.

This will be a very quick post, as we've not had time to sort out the digital media yet (yep, we're still recovering from 6+ hours travelling). Our coaches left for Manchester pretty much as planned, and we got to the city in time to catch the main speeches before the demo. Progress around the area was slow, mainly because of the sheer mass of people, but nevertheless the atmosphere was great, the banners were colourful, and the weather was unexpectedly beautiful.

Truly it can be said that a loud protest shout went out to Blair yesterday, and a promise of the same to anyone who dares to replicate his atrocious foreign policy. Our less than illustrious war leader is exiting stage left, not with an impressive bang, with a police-guarded whimper. Legacy? Hah!

A handful of photos and videos will follow... in the meantime, these are pretty good .

We will be congregating from 8:45 on Saturday morning outside All Saints Church, on The Parade, as previously advised. Payment will be taken from people as they board, and we should have some change available should it be needed. We are looking for a prompt set-off at 9:10, as we have a stop to make in Coventry before heading off to Manchester. So if everyone can be there in good time, it will be much appreciated.

The coaches for Leamington and Coventry are now all booked. Be quick if you would like to come along, as we are most unlikely now to order further coaches, and remaining spaces are limited. For anyone making there own way there, see you there! More info is available from Stop the War as usual. Leamington enquiriers are welcome to call Jon, on 07903 859011, and those wishing to get in touch with the Coventry group are asked to call Andy, on 07732 030231.

Friday update: a few places left, call now if you want to join us! And please do - the blind and cavalier Western policy towards Lebanon and Palestine, and our unwinnable and damaging wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, are increasing international tension, promoting radical causes, prompting governments to reduce our democratic space, and making European and American homelands more vulnerable to terrorism. We the people will stand up to this modern imperialism.

Pete Jackson from the Coventry group has organised a Leamington Stop the War meeting in Leamington for the 13 September, ie this Wednesday, starting at 7:30pm, in Bath Place Community Centre. This is a free public meeting and all are very welcome to attend.

Pete has been lucky enough to secure as a guest speaker Lynda Holmes, who is both a representative of Military Families Against the War, and the mother of a serving soldier. Furthermore, Andy Pettit, who is a long-time anti-war activist and the convenor of Coventry Stop the War Coalition, will also come to speak to the audience.

Our group intends to help build a demonstration outside the Labour Party Conference on Saturday, 23 September, from 1pm in Albert Square. A sense of national anticipation has really been growing for this event, which will stand as an important protest against the illegal war in Iraq, against the cavalier loyalty Blair has demonstrated for Bush, and against the failure of the UK government to oppose Israeli war crimes in Lebanon. If you go to just one anti-war event in the remainder of 2006, this has to be it.

Leamington StW will have a stall in the town centre this Saturday (9th September), from noon onwards. We will be accepting donations as usual - thanks to all previous donators - and of course we shall be promoting the Manchester demonstration on the 23rd of this month. A coach is being booked for that morning and we will be reserving seats at our stall, or via this website. We also intend to have a stall next Saturday (16th) regardless of the weather, though the location could be further afield in Kenilworth or Warwick. More details to follow!