Soldier Joe Glenton ‘spoke out for many’ (From York Press)

Soldier Joe Glenton ‘spoke out for many’

10:31am Tuesday 9th March 2010 in Letters By Reader's letter

York’s brave Joe Glenton has faced trouble and now prison to oppose the war in Afghanistan (Anti-war soldier sent to prison, The Press, March 6).

So let’s remember the message in his public letter to Gordon Brown last July (stopwar.org.uk/content/view/1390/27/), that our Government has handed over British troops, with their courage and loyalty, for use by the Americans in an unjust war which serves only American ends, and is bringing harm to both Britain and Afghanistan.

Sadly, Joe’s error was to believe that Gordon Brown might listen, even for a moment.

Alas, both Labour and Conservative leaderships are unquestioningly committed to putting British forces at America’s disposal, like an American Foreign Legion.

And few backbench MPs resist this. Too many appear self-serving careerists, who would never challenge the party line over a principle.

Eight years of Afghan war now – but the fighting’s actually spreading and America has now begun raiding Pakistan.

What can we do? We’ve an election coming – but neither Brown nor Cameron will allow their prime loyalty to America to be questioned.

Joe Glenton is now paying a heavy price for expressing the worries of many British people far better than our elected politicians. Thank you, Joe.

Charles Patmore, Hull Road, York.