iraq war

Remembering Tomas Young and his fight for peace

There were 8,920,000 military veterans in the United States as of last June, according to the Department of Veterans Affairs. Sometime last Sunday or Monday, hours before Veterans Day began, that number dropped by one, when Tomas Young died at home in Seattle, with his wife by his side. He was one of many soldiers who were sent to Iraq and were grievously injured there.

The public may know more about Tomas Young than about most veterans, thanks to the remarkable documentary Body of War, directed and produced by legendary talk-show host Phil Donahue and filmmaker Ellen Spiro. His journey, his struggle and now his death follow an arc along the tragic U.S. wars and occupations in this post-9/11 world.

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Harper tries to intimidate us into perpetual war

Stephen Harper insisted last week that we will not be intimidated by terrorism. He then did everything he could to ensure we will be intimidated by terrorism.

I've always been confused by the assertion that we won't be intimidated by terrorism. Has anyone ever suggested that we should be intimidated by terrorism, that because a man ran into the Parliament buildings brandishing a rifle, we should abandon parliamentary democracy?

Obviously not.

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Will Canada disengage from its increasingly militarized culture?

Matthew Behrens provides insightful reflections about the violent events that happened in Ottawa on Wednesday Oct 22.

Related rabble.ca story:

Reflections on a violent day in Ottawa

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Reflections on a violent day in Ottawa

I often find it hard to feel empathy for Prime Minister Stephen Harper. But when I saw the grim picture of him talking on the phone following the end of his confinement in the locked down House of Commons yesterday, I sensed in him a vulnerability he rarely exhibits. Harper, like his fellow MPs, Parliamentary staff, media, visitors and children in the downstairs daycare, had likely hunkered down behind locked doors, no doubt traumatized by uncertainty when an armed gunman entered the building. Because no one knew who the gunman was after, all were potential targets.

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iraq war Harper government islamaphobia Syria Militarization ISIS gunman War Memorial shooting attack on Parliament hill ottawa shooting

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The ongoing War on Terror: What's it really about?

Image: Jared Rodriguez / t r u t h o u t/flickr

The War on Terror is never-ending. But is it really about a war on ISIL or their barbaric methods or a recapture of what is left of the Middle East after two disastrous wars?

Related rabble.ca story:

From 2001 to today: The never-ending War on Terror

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Middle East iraq war Guantanamo war on terror U.S. foreign policy afghan war obama administration Afghan detainees ISIS

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From 2001 to today: The never-ending War on Terror

On October 6, 2014, a U.S. judge decided to make information public about the horrific force-feeding of Abu Wa'el Dhiab, a Guantanamo detainee.

The news didn't make the headlines on CNN or Fox news. The treatment was not denounced over and over by every big or small Muslim organization, as they have done when it comes to the treatment of minorities and journalists by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL). In some media outlets, the news was portrayed as a victory for transparency and government accountability.

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Middle East iraq war Guantanamo war on terror U.S. foreign policy afghan war obama administration Afghan detainees ISIS

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Going to war without support from the Official Opposition

The Conservative majority approve military support for the U.S.-led coalition, currently bombing the Islamic State group in Iraq and Syria. NDP, Liberals, Bloc and Green members are against it.

Related rabble.ca story:

Partisan military intervention: A first for Canada

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Partisan military intervention: A first for Canada

Canada is going to war. That we know, and not enough more.

In voicing support for military intervention in Iraq and possibly Syria, the House of Commons divided along partisan lines. The Conservative majority approve military support for the U.S.-led coalition, currently bombing the Islamic State group in Iraq and Syria. New Democrats, Liberals, Bloc and Green members are against it.

In the past, Canada has not sent military into a war zone without support from the Official Opposition party in the House of Commons. In World Wars I and II, Korea, all UN missions, the first Iraq war (1993), Afghanistan, and Libya, Canadian military action had bipartisan support.

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iraq war imperialism Harper government military industrial complex military spending war-mongering military intervention arms control ISIS

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Going to war in Iraq to defend a legacy of utter failure

Karl Nerenberg

| October 6, 2014

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Prime Minister Harper used few words on Friday afternoon to justify Canada taking a combat role in Iraq, and, possibly, Syria.

The nub of his appeal to Canadian public opinion was:

"This intervention is necessary to ensure regional and global security ... The evidence of the necessity of this is none better than the fact that the mission has been launched by President Obama, the leader who had withdrawn American troops and proudly ended the war in Iraq."

There you have it.

If the U.S. "President of Peace" says this war is necessary, it must be necessary.

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Harper prepares Canada for another war

Following a cabinet meeting later this week, Stephen Harper will announce Canada taking an active combat role in the American-led coalition currently bombing the Islamic State (IS) group-held territory in Syria and Iraq. Until now, the Canadian military role has been limited to providing advisory personnel to Iraq Kurdish forces. In addition, Canada has been supplying humanitarian aid.

Harper is expected to announce that CF-18 fighters and refuelling aircraft will join the American bombing team.

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iraq war Harper government Syria Al-Qaeda war-mongering Assad ISIS Islamic State

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iraq war

Remembering Tomas Young and his fight for peace

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Harper tries to intimidate us into perpetual war

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Will Canada disengage from its increasingly militarized culture?

Related rabble.ca story:

Reflections on a violent day in Ottawa

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The ongoing War on Terror: What's it really about?

Related rabble.ca story:

From 2001 to today: The never-ending War on Terror

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Going to war without support from the Official Opposition

Related rabble.ca story:

Partisan military intervention: A first for Canada

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Harper prepares Canada for another war

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