I would condemn every Labour party memeber on the march for a humbug and hypocrite ! They put New Labour into power, and they, for the most part supported the NATO war of 1999. If YOU supported that one, then how dare you show your face today ?

It is 2.50pm, the march started several hours ago, Sky TV is showing live pictures of thousands still-still(!) just leaving the Embankment with the road to parliament ahead absolutely packed. The police say only 30,000 are on the march-funny how the police and media uncritically belived the march organisers last week.

Triffid, if people who supported the last war are prepared to demonstrate against this one, isn't that what you would call progress?

If as reported only 30000 people have turned up it will have the opposite effect than the organisers planned. It will show people in power that there isn't a real and credible opposition to a war. If only 30,000 of the 2million British muslims can be bothered to turn thats not much of an opposition.

The anti war marchers are not going on about the UN, they are anti-war - no war on any mandate. I think the march may not stop the Bush/Blair marriage stomping on Iraq, but the march and the polls will show that Blair is disregarding the wishes of a chunk of the UK, who don't want him deciding that Iraqi civilians should pay the 'blood price' of our special relationship and the need for resources and control.

Got any better solutions? Should the Iraqis on the march today go home 'cos they don't stand a chance? Or should they, along with groups and concerned individuals, take the opportunity to voice dissent and show that a bunch of land owning toffs are not the only ones who can take the centre of london?

People talking of the UN on the march talk of the empowerment of the organisation, not as a pliable tool for war mongers - unlikely, yes, but not a bad aspiration. Don't rain on the parade, pal, its better than calling humbug...

Big demonstrations are good for getting loads of like minded people together but they shouldn't consider the demonstration the be all and end all of the days events. Oxford Street was nearby to Hyde Park so thousands of people could easily have gone and staged a mass blockade of of Oxford Street as well as a mass picket of Marks and Spencers, Gap and Nike. That would have been much better than just going on a march and doing nothing more than marching from A to B, listening to a few speakers then going home.

A duplicate copy of the main article here has been hidden - these are the two comments added there:

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Not in my name.
by No-Name 3:25pm Sat Sep 28 '02

It was a complete waste of time, marching and chanting didn't stop the war in Afghanistan and it won't stop the war in Iraq. The only reason France, China and Russia are hesitant is because THEY want a cut in the deal. If Putin can bomb Georgia and finish off Chechnya, Bush can topple the last brick still standing in Iraq and start on Libya, while Sharon obliterates Palestine, with UN approval of course. As I overheard a Muslim saying "look at them, they think it's a fucking carnival, while people are dying, I hope they enjoy themselves."


congratulations from AUstralia
by scot 3:20am Sun Sep 29 '02

Id like to congratulate all the people that came out today. Fro ever one person on the streets there are at least ten people at home with the same sentiments. Yes THIS protest wont stop the warmongers, but it puts in good step to building a bigger movement. Organised unionist , leftwing pollies and the general population can stop the war, and will be heartened by this massive protest. Im sure things will only get better !!!!

From across the drink in Canada we're watching with enthusiasm and solidarity this MASSIVE anti-war movement.