Look at difference between American and Al Jazeera coverage.
With a few exceptions, the US media is an extremely imperialistic enterprise that has supported the invasions and occupations since the start. Even good anti-imperialist sources can still lack the Middle East perspective. In this climate, Al Jazeera can be a breath of fresh air.
Posted by Trish
Monday, December 21, 2009
Friday, December 18, 2009
Peace Prize or War Prize -- What Message Was the Nobel Committee Really Sending?
The Nobel Committee really ought to reconsider changing the name of the coveted prize. They have given the prize not only to President Obama, entrenched in two imperialistic wars, but also to Theodore Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson, and Henry Kissinger who each had his own respective conflict(s).
As Howard Zinn notes, it's true that the Committee was giving recognition to Wilson for the League of Nations, to Roosevelt for brokering peace between Russia and Japan, and to Kissinger for signing his name to the paper that ended the Vietnam 'conflict.'
But what's also true is that there were other activists who were truly supporting international unity, who truly opposed the spread of imperialism, and who risked a hell of a lot more than carpal tunnel syndrome to end the Vietnam War. And the Committee ignored them. Just like it ignores Malalai Joya, Natalia Estemirova, and Akosua Adomako Ampofo.
Let's look beyond the fact that Obama was given the prize before he had 'done anything.' Let's look at where we are, now, today. Obama has made no significant progress on ending the war in Iraq, where more than 100,000 US troops are still deployed, and he recently approved 30,000 more troops for deployment to Afghanistan. Since they still ship those troops out with pretty heavy guns, I think it's safe to assume they're not going to be giving kittens to Afghan children while rebuilding a demolished infrastructure under the orders of the Afghan people. I think it's safe to assume they're going to escalate 'business as usual': that means killing suspected terrorists (or anyone who's not wearing an American flag and happens to be in the general area), that means using tactical defense strategies (like dropping landmines that look like toys so children will pick them up and be killed or maimed), that means yet again denying the Afghan people the right to self-determination. Obama's also spreading his wars into Pakistan, invading a sovereign nation that is supposed to be an American friend.
He still engages and aids the Israeli government in their Apartheid of the Palestinian people. You remember the Israeli government? The one that considers assassinating Palestinian activists legitimate strategy and bombed Gaza into oblivion?
At the same time, Obama responded to the police harassment of esteemed Harvard professor Henry Louis Gates, Jr. by inviting everyone over for a pint. Way to confront the racial issues that still result in police brutality every day at home.
At least 2,000 Marines are helping with the other war (another?)--the war on drugs--and they're joining in on the killing sprees that stem from the administration's willingness to legalize and stabilize the market.
What's peaceful about any that?
So, Mr. Obama, let's cut to the chase. Either give the award back, or preferably, step up to the task. Look up peace. Next to that word is justice. Give it a try.
Posted by Trish
As Howard Zinn notes, it's true that the Committee was giving recognition to Wilson for the League of Nations, to Roosevelt for brokering peace between Russia and Japan, and to Kissinger for signing his name to the paper that ended the Vietnam 'conflict.'
But what's also true is that there were other activists who were truly supporting international unity, who truly opposed the spread of imperialism, and who risked a hell of a lot more than carpal tunnel syndrome to end the Vietnam War. And the Committee ignored them. Just like it ignores Malalai Joya, Natalia Estemirova, and Akosua Adomako Ampofo.
Let's look beyond the fact that Obama was given the prize before he had 'done anything.' Let's look at where we are, now, today. Obama has made no significant progress on ending the war in Iraq, where more than 100,000 US troops are still deployed, and he recently approved 30,000 more troops for deployment to Afghanistan. Since they still ship those troops out with pretty heavy guns, I think it's safe to assume they're not going to be giving kittens to Afghan children while rebuilding a demolished infrastructure under the orders of the Afghan people. I think it's safe to assume they're going to escalate 'business as usual': that means killing suspected terrorists (or anyone who's not wearing an American flag and happens to be in the general area), that means using tactical defense strategies (like dropping landmines that look like toys so children will pick them up and be killed or maimed), that means yet again denying the Afghan people the right to self-determination. Obama's also spreading his wars into Pakistan, invading a sovereign nation that is supposed to be an American friend.
He still engages and aids the Israeli government in their Apartheid of the Palestinian people. You remember the Israeli government? The one that considers assassinating Palestinian activists legitimate strategy and bombed Gaza into oblivion?
At the same time, Obama responded to the police harassment of esteemed Harvard professor Henry Louis Gates, Jr. by inviting everyone over for a pint. Way to confront the racial issues that still result in police brutality every day at home.
At least 2,000 Marines are helping with the other war (another?)--the war on drugs--and they're joining in on the killing sprees that stem from the administration's willingness to legalize and stabilize the market.
What's peaceful about any that?
So, Mr. Obama, let's cut to the chase. Either give the award back, or preferably, step up to the task. Look up peace. Next to that word is justice. Give it a try.
Posted by Trish
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Our Demands for President Obama
1) End the occupation immediately--this is not a war on terror, this is a war on innocent civilians.
2) Obama must apologize to the Afghan and Iraqi people.
3) Obama must deliver Bush and his top staff to the International Criminal Court.
4) Obama should stop arming the warlords of Afghanistan, and not negotiate with Taliban.
5) Obama should tell Iran, Pakistan, Russia, Uzbekistan and other countries that support al-Qaeda, the Taliban and the warlords to stop.
6) The US must stop pursuing imperialist and economic interests that destroy the lives of people at home and abroad and foster a cooperative world that is not dominated by Western interests.
7) We demand that Israel end the Apartheid and grant Palestinians full and equal rights.
8) We demand that the defense budget be used to solve social problems, like providing employment and equal education to everyone.
2) Obama must apologize to the Afghan and Iraqi people.
3) Obama must deliver Bush and his top staff to the International Criminal Court.
4) Obama should stop arming the warlords of Afghanistan, and not negotiate with Taliban.
5) Obama should tell Iran, Pakistan, Russia, Uzbekistan and other countries that support al-Qaeda, the Taliban and the warlords to stop.
6) The US must stop pursuing imperialist and economic interests that destroy the lives of people at home and abroad and foster a cooperative world that is not dominated by Western interests.
7) We demand that Israel end the Apartheid and grant Palestinians full and equal rights.
8) We demand that the defense budget be used to solve social problems, like providing employment and equal education to everyone.
The Case for Self-Determination
Jeremy Scahill's "Blackwater: The Rise of the World's Most Powerful Mercenary Army" covers a lot of material in its 550 pages, but the message of the occupied people is clear: we demand self-determination.
Malalai Joya, the revolutionary Afghan activist, was clear on this topic when I heard her speak at Socialism Northeast at Columbia University, where she was the opening plenary speaker. 'Democracy,' she said 'never comes at the end of a gun.' Democracy comes through self-determination.
In the American drive to turn the largest possible profit on these wars, they have forcefully silenced those who have dared to speak out against them and expose the atrocities that the Americans commit again and again. Scahill's book cites the example of Fallujah, who have a long history of resistance against Western occupation dating back to 1920. Even though they have been continually massacred, continually portrayed in the Western mainstream media as 'bad guys,' 'Saddam lovers,' and 'terrorists,' the people of Fallujah have never stopped fighting, never stopped resisting the occupation of their city.
When the Americans dropped 'smart bombs' on Fallujah during the first Gulf War (bombs that missed their target by more than 800m, killing more than 130 people), the Americans insinuated that the deaths were acceptable because Saddam Hussein had also killed people. Apparently, the irony of comparing themselves to the totalitarian, murderous dictator was lost on them, and they flushed away any remaining reputation they had left for protecting human rights (which was virtually none, so no big deal, right?) Afterwards, the Americans accused the Iraqis of using the incident as anti-American 'propaganda.'
When American troops rolled into Fallujah in 2003, the Iraqis demanded they stay no longer than 2 days, a demand which the Americans ignore. In addition, the Americans occupied a school, which further infuriated the Iraqis, who demonstrated peacefully only to be fired upon by soldiers. 13 Iraqis were killed, 6 of them children.
The Iraqis of Fallujah marched again, shouting 'No to Saddam! No to the US!' Again they were fired upon, and this time, the occupation forces killed 4. Someone hung a banner that read 'Sooner or later, US killers, we'll kick you out.'
It's pretty clear what the people of Fallujah wanted, and despite the American occupation, they created a city council. It's also pretty clear what all the people of Iraq and Afghanistan want. They want to go home. They want the right to self-governance and self-determination.
Any time that withdrawal--immediate withdrawal--is presented to the government, military, or mercenaries (they aren't contractors; contractors build houses, they don't gun down innocent civilians), the response comes like a reflex. It will be chaos, they say. The country will disintegrate.
But this 'discourse' is imperialist bullshit. These wars are not about democracy, or liberation, or women's rights. They aren't even about terrorism. These wars have been waged at the expense of thousands of soldiers and tens, if not hundreds, of thousands of INNOCENT civilians, and all for profit. The profit of the American war machine and all those connected to it--including mercenary firms, politicians, lobbyists, and other DoD contractors. All stand to benefit from sending our children, our mothers and fathers, our brothers, sisters, spouses, and partners to die. They all stand to benefit immensely from the slaughter of innocent people. That equation is nothing short of obscene.
Even without a strong antiwar movement, 43% oppose this nation's imperialist wars. The government is scared; they should be. We do not need guns to topple it. We need people. People marching, screaming, demanding. Now is not the time to vote and hope for the best. Not with politicians who represent only two viewpoints, politicians who are intricately linked into war profiteering. These people think human life is expendable in the pursuit of profit. As a people, we cannot accept that. We must fight. For ourselves, for the people of Afghanistan, Iraq, Palestine, and Pakistan. For people struggling all over the world for their lives, for human dignity, and ultimately, for self-determination.
Posted by Trish
Malalai Joya, the revolutionary Afghan activist, was clear on this topic when I heard her speak at Socialism Northeast at Columbia University, where she was the opening plenary speaker. 'Democracy,' she said 'never comes at the end of a gun.' Democracy comes through self-determination.
In the American drive to turn the largest possible profit on these wars, they have forcefully silenced those who have dared to speak out against them and expose the atrocities that the Americans commit again and again. Scahill's book cites the example of Fallujah, who have a long history of resistance against Western occupation dating back to 1920. Even though they have been continually massacred, continually portrayed in the Western mainstream media as 'bad guys,' 'Saddam lovers,' and 'terrorists,' the people of Fallujah have never stopped fighting, never stopped resisting the occupation of their city.
When the Americans dropped 'smart bombs' on Fallujah during the first Gulf War (bombs that missed their target by more than 800m, killing more than 130 people), the Americans insinuated that the deaths were acceptable because Saddam Hussein had also killed people. Apparently, the irony of comparing themselves to the totalitarian, murderous dictator was lost on them, and they flushed away any remaining reputation they had left for protecting human rights (which was virtually none, so no big deal, right?) Afterwards, the Americans accused the Iraqis of using the incident as anti-American 'propaganda.'
When American troops rolled into Fallujah in 2003, the Iraqis demanded they stay no longer than 2 days, a demand which the Americans ignore. In addition, the Americans occupied a school, which further infuriated the Iraqis, who demonstrated peacefully only to be fired upon by soldiers. 13 Iraqis were killed, 6 of them children.
The Iraqis of Fallujah marched again, shouting 'No to Saddam! No to the US!' Again they were fired upon, and this time, the occupation forces killed 4. Someone hung a banner that read 'Sooner or later, US killers, we'll kick you out.'
It's pretty clear what the people of Fallujah wanted, and despite the American occupation, they created a city council. It's also pretty clear what all the people of Iraq and Afghanistan want. They want to go home. They want the right to self-governance and self-determination.
Any time that withdrawal--immediate withdrawal--is presented to the government, military, or mercenaries (they aren't contractors; contractors build houses, they don't gun down innocent civilians), the response comes like a reflex. It will be chaos, they say. The country will disintegrate.
But this 'discourse' is imperialist bullshit. These wars are not about democracy, or liberation, or women's rights. They aren't even about terrorism. These wars have been waged at the expense of thousands of soldiers and tens, if not hundreds, of thousands of INNOCENT civilians, and all for profit. The profit of the American war machine and all those connected to it--including mercenary firms, politicians, lobbyists, and other DoD contractors. All stand to benefit from sending our children, our mothers and fathers, our brothers, sisters, spouses, and partners to die. They all stand to benefit immensely from the slaughter of innocent people. That equation is nothing short of obscene.
Even without a strong antiwar movement, 43% oppose this nation's imperialist wars. The government is scared; they should be. We do not need guns to topple it. We need people. People marching, screaming, demanding. Now is not the time to vote and hope for the best. Not with politicians who represent only two viewpoints, politicians who are intricately linked into war profiteering. These people think human life is expendable in the pursuit of profit. As a people, we cannot accept that. We must fight. For ourselves, for the people of Afghanistan, Iraq, Palestine, and Pakistan. For people struggling all over the world for their lives, for human dignity, and ultimately, for self-determination.
Posted by Trish
Some Recent Antiwar Articles from Socialist Worker
Cathy Smith: I'm Done Defending Obama
Dahr Jamail: Going AWOL to Get Help
Lee Sustar: Obama's Turn in the Great Game
Eric Ruder: Answering Obama's Afghanistan Deceptions
Dahr Jamail: Mental Non-Health Care
Jad Abdallah: Our Money for their Military
Matthis Chiroux: We Can't Live With Endless War
Dahr Jamail: When Soldiers are Expendable
Malalai Joya: Why the US HAS TO GO
Read more at socialistworker.org
I also highly recommend Jeremy Scahill's Blackwater.
Posted by Trish
Dahr Jamail: Going AWOL to Get Help
Lee Sustar: Obama's Turn in the Great Game
Eric Ruder: Answering Obama's Afghanistan Deceptions
Dahr Jamail: Mental Non-Health Care
Jad Abdallah: Our Money for their Military
Matthis Chiroux: We Can't Live With Endless War
Dahr Jamail: When Soldiers are Expendable
Malalai Joya: Why the US HAS TO GO
Read more at socialistworker.org
I also highly recommend Jeremy Scahill's Blackwater.
Posted by Trish
Welcome to Salem AntiWar -- Not in our Name
The words 'antiwar activist' conjures up a pretty specific image to many people. Usually young, usually a hippie, usually poor, and always on the fringe of society. Those images are wrong. More than 8 years into the so-called 'war on terror' and more than 6 years after the invasion of Iraq, the antiwar movement is a lot more than 'peace-loving hippies.' We are young and old, multiracial, multi-ethnic, from all different socioeconomic backgrounds. We are leftists, liberals, and conservatives. We are libertarians and Marxists. Some of us agree on almost nothing else.
But we do agree that this war -- and all wars -- must stop now.
Welcome to the Salem AntiWar Blog, the collective effort of the women of Salem College in Winston-Salem, NC who oppose the wars. We bring you different perspectives and many different views that all come to the same conclusion.
We are not the 'fringe of society.' We are the voices screaming to be heard, and we will not be quiet.
We encourage you to read, to educate yourself, and most importantly, to join us as we tell Obama to bring the troops home now. We will let the world know, through direct and peaceful action, that we will not allow the United States to wage its bloody, imperial wars in our name.
posted by: Trish Kahle
But we do agree that this war -- and all wars -- must stop now.
Welcome to the Salem AntiWar Blog, the collective effort of the women of Salem College in Winston-Salem, NC who oppose the wars. We bring you different perspectives and many different views that all come to the same conclusion.
We are not the 'fringe of society.' We are the voices screaming to be heard, and we will not be quiet.
We encourage you to read, to educate yourself, and most importantly, to join us as we tell Obama to bring the troops home now. We will let the world know, through direct and peaceful action, that we will not allow the United States to wage its bloody, imperial wars in our name.
posted by: Trish Kahle
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