Watching the Warmakers is based in Brighton, England.
Our aim is to support activists in educating themselves in the
issues
which confront those struggling for peace and justice.
Over the years we have produced a number of information sheets to suppport our discussions. These are available below.
In April 2010 we had a meeting with David Wearing on possibilities for a progessive foreign policy. These are the five key changes he advocates. You can read David's talk on British foreign policy here.
In February 2009 we had a meeting on the media and prepared this sheet on the media and Israel as background. We also produced an annotated news story as an example of how distortion works.
Kenya - background information
Some basic information on the Kenya outlining how British colonial rule laid the seeds for the current crisis. Prepared as background for the Forum held on Kenya in February 2008.
Uzbekistan - background information
Some basic information on the economy and strategic situation of Uzbekistan written as background to the Forum held in July 2005. Since the paper was written the situation has changed as Uzbekistan has asked the US to stop using its base there.
For a good analysis of what this means check out a more recent article by our speaker Craig Murray. We also recommend his site.
Sudan - background information
A potted history of Sudan written as background to the Forum held on Sudan in August 2004.
Written in early 2003 this sheet spelled out the importance of oil as a motivation for the war. While the argument has moved on the sheet may still be of some interest as background. It gives a brief breakdown of other Western interventions in the Middle East since 1945, for example.
A much more up to date analysis, produced by a number of British NGOs in November 2005 is available here. It points out that, depending on the price of oil 'production sharing agreements' (effectively privatisation) will cost the Iraqi people between $74 billion and $194 billion.
Prime Minister Allawi - a biography
A brief biography of Iyad Allawi. It covers his early years in the Baath Party, his years in London working to suppress dissidents for Saddam Hussein, and his later career as a CIA asset.
Click on the name of the information sheet you are interested in to download it. The sheets are Adobe Acrobat PDF files - you will need the Adobe Acrobat reader to use them. Click here to get it.