Afghanistan and Endless War, An Alternative
When talking about Afghanistan today, we need to always remember, and reiterate, that the Taliban (whom we were arming and dealing with until weeks before 9/11), after 9/11 made many public statements that they were willing to turn over Osama bin Laden if the U.S. provided evidence, not proof but evidence, that he was involved in the attacks of 9/11.
We opted for war instead. Twenty years of war, fame and spotlight for U.S. war leaders, wealth for America’s many war manufacturers and the solidification of their presence in our economy, the building and control of oil and gas pipelines in Central Asia, and a military foothold just that much closer to, as Kissinger called it in the 1970’s, “the soft underbelly” of the Soviet Union, that is of course now, with many “...ztands”conveniently broken off from it, just Russia. A country surrounded on almost all sides by U.S. and “NATO” military bases. But I guess they are the aggressors. I’m still trying to figure that one out...
I would encourage your readers to visit the websites of Veterans For Peace and Codepink (you will be led to many more useful sites) for a plethora of current information and analysis on Afghanistan. Additionally, Amy Goodman and
Democracy Now! have recent incredible interviews, as does Michael Moore with Medea Benjamin. Many, many U.S. veterans are speaking out, right now, about the last 20 years of war.
In the traumatic wake of 9/11 20 years ago, many, many Americans knew that war was not the answer. Millions around the world eventually took to the streets to prevent war. They were right then, and they are correct in their prescriptions for today. Listen to them for once.
The Planet can’t handle the climatic changing effects of war and militarism, and humanity can’t handle the endless murder of each other.
Two other efforts I would steer your readers to would of course be the events of our 6th annual L.A. Harbor Peace Week, as well as Codepink’s online 20th anniversary 9/11 event, “Never Forget: 20 Years of the U.S. War on Terror.” Details of each can be found at codepink.org
We offer these resources and actions in Good Faith, (a good ol’ Union bargaining phrase, no?), in the hope that Americans believein themselves-that we are so much better than this. Check it out. What does one have to lose except perhaps, one’s prejudice against peace?
Rachel Bruhnke Codepink, San Pedro