Residents cam give views on Iraq attack (From Stroud News and Journal)

Residents cam give views on Iraq attack

A MEETING has been organised in Stroud next week to give people the chance to have their say on the possibility of an invasion of Iraq. The meeting will be held at The Space in Lansdown on Monday, September 9 at 7pm. "We hope to draw up a resolution which we can present to both our MP and the Prime Minister," said Alan Thornhill, one of the organisers. The event will be an open forum and everyone will be given a chance to speak up and air their views, whatever they may be. "It will cover questions of our own national interests and also local interest," said Mr Thornhill. "With Fairford air base so close we could make ourselves a prime target if we participate." He said he personally hoped the forum would agree that it did not want to see this country participate in an attack. "In the interests of humanity generally we don't want to see another war in the Middle East," he said. "At the moment the Prime Minister seems set against joining American president George Bush's campaign to topple Saddam Hussein. "Tony Blair needs to know that the country will not be behind him if he does go along with the attack, however reluctantly. "It seems he has helped to stay Bush's hand so far but now it's coming to the crunch," Mr Thornhill added. He said people might be surprised what small groups around the country could achieve simply by making a stand. "As democrats we've got to come out and make it clear where we stand as a population," he urged. "We have more power than we think when we come down to it."