rabble.ca - Afghanistan

Afghans and U.S. war veterans unite to protest NATO: 'End this inhumane war now'

rabble staff — Thu, 24 May 2012 14:37:28 -0400

Gen. John Allen, commander, U.S. Forces Afghanistan, spoke Wednesday at the Pentagon, four stars on each shoulder, his chest bedecked with medals. Allen said the NATO summit in Chicago, which left him feeling "heartened," "was a powerful signal of international support for the Afghan-led process of reconciliation."

Unlike Allen, many decorated U.S. military veterans left the streets of Chicago after the NATO summit without their medals. They marched on the paramilitarized convention center where the generals and heads of state had gathered and threw their medals at the high fence surrounding the summit. They were joined by women from Afghans for Peace, and an American mother whose son killed himself after his second deployment to Iraq.

G8 and NATO summits this weekend: 'Dear world, sorry about Harper'

derrick — Fri, 18 May 2012 13:33:05 -0400

Dear world, we are really sorry about Harper.

Stephen Harper is at Camp David today for the start of the G8 summit. The two-day meeting of leaders of some of the world's most powerful economies will be followed by a gathering in Chicago of NATO, an alliance of the world's most powerful militaries.

This a big stage for Harper, and he uses these international summits to project his preferred image of a Canada that is unapologetically aggressive and militaristic.

Activist Communiqué: Toronto protest against the NATO summit in Chicago

Krystalline Kraus — Fri, 18 May 2012 20:43:51 -0400

The deets:

Saturday May 19, 2012
1:00 p.m.
U.S. Consulate
360 University Avenue

The call out:

NATO will be holding a summit in Chicago from May 19-21to decide the future of the war in Afghanistan and the future of military alliance itself. It is expected that the summit will rubber stamp the U.S.-Afghan strategic partnership which will see foreign troops occupy the country until 2024. Stephen Harper and the Conservative government in Canada have already indicated that they may keep Canadian special forces soldiers in the country.

The whole world will be watching Chicago anti-NATO protests

rabble staff — Wed, 16 May 2012 20:35:02 -0400

This weekend, tens of thousands are expected to converge on Chicago to protest against a summit of NATO leaders. Originally, the G8 was also going to meet in Chicago this week, but that gathering of heads of the world's most powerful governments was moved to Camp David.

The war in Afghanistan will be at the top of NATO's agenda, and it will be a focus of the mass demonstrations planned outside the summit. Prominent Afghan women's rights activist and former parliamentarian Malalai Joya adds her voice in support of the anti-war protests in Chicago.

Afghanistan agreement shows that U.S. government still doesn't get it

Tariq Jeeroburkhan — Fri, 11 May 2012 17:30:46 -0400

During a midnight deal signed in Kabul last week, President Obama extended the stay of U.S. troops in Afghanistan until 2024. Regardless of the justifications used to keep troops in the foreign country, the basic point, coming from working and underclass people at home in the U.S., is still not being addressed.

While the anti-war crowd has always been opposed to the war and destruction in Afghanistan, people throughout the social and political spectrum are finally beginning to realize the simple equation that every dollar spent in Afghanistan means one less dollar spent here. And this realization is becoming more and more apparent as more people need more of those dollars here.

Activist Communiqué: Protest against the Canada-Australia military conference on Afghanistan at U of T

Krystalline Kraus — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 13:59:56 -0400

Protest against the Canada-Australia military conference on Afghanistan at U of T

On April 10, University of Toronto students and community members will protest a high-level military conference being held on campus, sponsored by the Munk School of Global Affairs. The protest will target the increasing militarization of global studies at the University, which is being promoted alongside the ceding of academic planning control to the corporate sector.

WHAT: Protest Against the Canada-Australia Military Conference on Afghanistan at U of T
WHEN: Tuesday, April 10, 1 to 3 pm
WHERE: Hart House, 7 Hart House Circle, Toronto

The terrorizing occupation of Afghanistan

M.Gregus — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 08:46:53 -0400

We may never know what drove a U.S. Army staff sergeant to head out into the Afghan night and allegedly murder at least 16 civilians in their homes, among them nine children and three women. The massacre near Belambai, in Kandahar, Afghanistan, has shocked the world and intensified the calls for an end to the longest war in U.S. history. The attack has been called tragic, which it surely is. But when Afghans attack U.S. forces, they are called "terrorists." That is, perhaps, the inconsistency at the core of U.S. policy, that democracy can be delivered through the barrel of a gun, that terrorism can be fought by terrorizing a nation.

jhr Rights Report #17: The new fight for civil and political rights

JHR — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 15:36:14 -0500

The 17th edition of the jhr Rights Report speaks to Afghans for Peace, a group of Afghans fighting for the right to self-determination in a country under occupation, and looks at how a group of young female boxers are fighting for equal rights and changing Afghan society.

*Rights Report news update* 23-year-old Saudi journalist Hamza Kashgari may face a death sentence in Saudi Arabia for three tweets deemed as blasphemy by religious authorities in the Islamic country.

Truth, lies and the Afghan war

M.Gregus — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 14:35:27 -0500

Eight youths, tending their flock of sheep in the snowy fields of Afghanistan, were exterminated last week by a NATO airstrike. They were in the Najrab district of Kapisa province in eastern Afghanistan. Most were reportedly between the ages of 6 and 14. They had sought shelter near a large boulder, and had built a fire to stay warm. At first, NATO officials claimed they were armed men. The Afghan government condemned the bombing and released photos of some of the victims. By Wednesday, NATO offered, in a press release, "deep regret to the families and loved ones of several Afghan youths who died during an air engagement in Kapisa province Feb. 8." Those eight killed were not that different in age from Lance Cpl. Osbrany Montes De Oca, 20, of North Arlington, N.J.

How can we stop Harper's foreign policy? Debating 'Canada on the World Stage'

derrick — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 12:52:25 -0500

In the past month, there are been several blockbuster stories that suggest NATO's intervention in Afghanistan is continuing to unravel. Afghans are turning their guns on their NATO trainers with increasing frequency, former top U.S. generals are openly talking about the massive body counts, and France has announced it will withdraw its "training mission" a year early in 2013. Even the U.S.

Professional sports and militarism: Tyler Shipley

ProgressiveVoices — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 13:29:54 -0500

On this week's episode of Progressive Voices, we speak with musician, freelance journalist, and political activist Tyler Shipley on the militarization of the NHL and other sports leagues in North America. The ramifications for Canadian culture and foreign policy are also discussed, followed by The Consumer Goods' song "Hockey Night in Afghanada."

Afghan women fear a setback in rights

rabble staff — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 09:29:16 -0500

The international community met in Germany this week to discuss the future of Afghanistan, as Afghan women fear for their rights and future security. Days ago, the Afghan government took an important step by including 13 women in its delegation to the Bonn II conference. However, their participation does not guarantee that the Afghan government and international community will not make concessions on women's rights in order to appease the Taliban. In the end, women struggled to be heard.

Foreign ministers from over 90 countries, including Canada and the Afghan government met in Bonn on Dec. 5th to discuss three main issues:

War radio and the militarization of Canadian culture

Behind The Numbers — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 14:22:57 -0500

"The deformed human mind is the ultimate doomsday weapon."

I was reminded of this chilling warning from the late British historian E.P. Thompson, while listening to Rex Murphy's Cross-Country Checkup on CBC Radio on Nov. 20.

Murphy was interviewing Terry Glavin, a B.C. author, about Glavin's latest book, one endorsing Canada's so-called "mission" in Afghanistan. Murphy was little less than fawning in his praise of the book's refutation of all those silly notions of imperialism.

Michael Ignatieff and the War on Terror

alex — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 18:59:19 -0400

In spite of his failures in electoral politics and disastrous judgments on foreign policy, Michael Ignatieff was a featured contributor to the Globe and Mail's special coverage marking the tenth anniversary of the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. Ignatieff's long essay conveniently elided his own contribution to the wars of aggression and encroachments on civil liberties that have marked the past decade.

Legal challenge seeking George W. Bush's arrest during B.C. visit fails

rabble staff — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 23:04:56 -0400

George W. Bush's visit to Surrey, B.C., on Thursday was met with a protest and an unsuccessful courtroom bid to have him detained for torture during his presidency.

Roughly 200 demonstrators chanted for his detainment, many waving their shoes in the air, in reference to a 2008 incident at Baghdad press conference, when Iraqi journalist Muntadhar al-Zaidi hurled a sneaker at the former president.

"We have many orphans in my country because of his war," said an Iraqi woman who would not give her name out of fear for her family in Iraq. "So many innocent women and children have been killed -- what did they do to deserve this? I want him to face prison."

U.S. Special Operations Forces expanding rapidly

redeye — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 20:53:56 -0400

U.S. Special Forces have assumed mythic proportions in the media and popular culture. Yet they are viewed less positively within the military because they operate outside of the chain of command. Conn Hallinan describes them as shadow warriors and sees them as a serious threat to democracy. Conn Hallinan writes for Foreign Policy in Focus.

To find out more about Redeye, check out our website.

On Afghanistan: A decade of war, a decade of resistance

rabble staff — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 01:11:39 -0400

Just hours after the Twin Towers fell, the first signs of an anti-war movement appeared. At candlelight vigils not far from Ground Zero, some people held placards that read: "Islam is not the enemy. War is not the answer." Like activists all over the world, they knew a war was coming, and that Arabs and Muslims would be blamed for 9/11.

On Oct. 7, 2001, the U.S. started bombing Afghanistan. Ten years later, the war continues to rage. But the last decade has not been without resistance. Indeed, the decade that began with the War on Terror has ended with the Arab Spring. As Occupy Wall Street protests spread across North America, we should ask: how much have the movements of the last 10 years helped make this moment possible?

Malalai Joya's message on the 10th anniversary of NATO's war and occupation of Afghanistan

Anita Krajnc — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 19:11:55 -0400

Former Afghan MP, human rights activist and author Malalai Joya's message on the 10th anniversary of the war and occupation of Afghanistan.

More info -- Defence Committee for Malalai Joya: http://www.malalaijoya.com/

Top 10 under-reported facts about a decade of war in Afghanistan

derrick — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 04:18:30 -0400

Over the next couple of days, anti-war protests in Canada and around the world will mark the 10th anniversary of the war in Afghanistan. Today, for example, we are holding a commemoration in Vancouver, while this Saturday a mass anti-war assembly will take place in London's Trafalgar Square.

In the U.S., activists kicking off the "Occupy DC" action inspired by "Occupy Wall Street" will make opposition to the war(s) a central part of their presence. This is really encouraging, and let's hope that this emerging movement keeps making the links between neo-liberalism and imperialism.

Police rough up anti-Cheney protesters

rabble staff — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 02:41:06 -0400

As former U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney spoke in Vancouver on Monday night -- his first visit to Canada since leaving power -- several hundred people demanded his arrest on charges of war crimes and torture, blocking both entrances to the upscale Vancouver Club by linking arms, as others staged a sit-in lasting several hours.

Police escorted speech-goers to the private book club event inside, at one point shoving an identified reporter forcefully, pushing an older man to the ground and stepping on sitting demonstrators. Similar scenes greeted Cheney the following day in Calgary.

The Pottery Barn Rule applies to Libya: We broke it, now we own it...

djclimenhaga — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 02:56:44 -0400

There must be cheers all 'round tonight, not to mention a palpable sense of relief, among the senior officers of the air forces of NATO.

After all, their six-month bombing campaign to assassinate Libya's unsavoury dictator, Col. Muammar Gaddafi, was becoming an embarrassment, an advertisement for the ineffectiveness of bombs and aircraft against even the weakest of opponents.

Remembering Layton's best moments

jesse — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 12:58:49 -0400

Today progressives across Canada and Quebec are mourning the tragic death of NDP leader Jack Layton, who died of cancer at the early age of 61. As well as leading the NDP to its recent historic election results, Layton provided a number of lessons about how opposition inside and outside Parliament can work together for peace and justice.

2003 Iraq war protests

More must be known about the Afghan detainee tortures

rabble staff — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 04:48:11 -0400

On June 22, there was a audible buzzing coming from Parliament Hill.

The press bounced off the walls, waiting for the deluge of information ordered by House of Commons speaker Peter Milliken. Last year, the Kingston MP had assembled an ad hoc committee to release thousands of pages of documents pertaining the issue of detainee abuse in Afghanistan.

The ensuing Tintamarre, to use the Acadian phrase for creating a lot of noise, was frenzied by midday, but by dinnertime coverage was all about the upcoming royal visit.

Before the story went to the great newsroom archives in the sky, some mused that these documents were boring and speculated that the other 21,000 pages that were held back are the real scandal goldmine.

Canadian media's narrative of the Afghan war suspiciously like a fairy tale

djclimenhaga — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 02:32:18 -0400

The narrative of Canada's role in the Afghan civil war as told by the country's mainstream media is designed to lead readers and viewers to two inescapable conclusions:

First, that after 10 years, Canada's involvement in the conflict has come to a definitive end.

Second, that thanks to the efforts and sacrifices of Canada's troops, at least 157 of whom have died with scores more maimed physically and mentally, the West has triumphed unconditionally in Afghanistan.

Alas, the balance of probability is high that both these yarns are baloney.

It is equally likely that the people spinning these Afghan fairy tales know very well they are not true, and that they are designed principally to serve the political needs of the country's Conservative government.

The Afghanistan misadventure and restoring Canada's international reputation

rabble staff — Sun, 03 Jul 2011 23:08:19 -0400

Why is it that our collective, social intelligence on so many critical matters falls dramatically short of our individual citizen intelligence? It is amazing that our society can function as well as it does given that we are in a state of continuous denial about so many things we do as a society. It feels like devolution to me.