Refugee Protection Division ignored evidence that U.S. military justice system fails to meet basic fairness standards by War Resisters Support Campaign | Feb. 6, 2013: TORONTO – On Friday, February 1, the Federal Court of Canada released a decision granting United Stated (US) war resister Jules Tindungan a new hearing before the
Continue readingTag: afghanistan
The Disaffected Lib: Afghan Army Losses Spike
The Afghan army held the country together for a number of years after the Soviets bailed out but it’s far from clear they’ll do as well after Western forces leave next year. The Taliban have killed 1,100 members of the Afghan security forces over the past six months, double the
Continue readingCowichan Conversations: Misguided Journalist Terry Glavin Misunderstands ‘Idle No More’
Don Maroc-Cowichan Conversations Contributor MISGUIDED VICTORIA JOURNALIST MISUNDERSTANDS IDLE NO MORE by Don Maroc Terry Glavin is a well know media commentator on all things cultural and political. He claims to be left-leaning although he doesn’t always come off that way in his books and regular column in the Ottawa
Continue readingThe Disaffected Lib: Why Do We Keep Whining About Kabul Corruption?
Yes, Afghanistan is, next to Somalia, the most corrupt nation in the world. So, what else is new? Now that we’re coming to grips with the reality that our military adventures in Afghanistan have been for naught, we seem to have taken up Afghan corruption as a diversion. The Christian
Continue readingThe Disaffected Lib: Kabul Willing to Hand Taliban Control of South and East Afghanistan
There’s apparently a deal afoot to have Pakistan negotiate an odd peace treaty/capitulation deal between Kabul and the Taliban that is said to include giving the Talibs effective control of their southern and eastern strongholds in Afghanistan. The plan envisions ending the war by 2015 through a ceasefire and negotiations
Continue readingArt Threat: Designer’s tumbleweed clears land mines
The Mine Kafon, by Afghan designer Massoud Hassani, is designed to be blown across dangerous terrain by the wind, triggering mines as it passes over them.
Continue readingSaskboy's Abandoned Stuff: Good Ol’ American Sex Scandal
The American media is very primitive, which is why it avoids complex and important issues, and instead resorts to tabloid topics like sex scandals. While their country is embroiled in an unprovoked war in Iraq, occupies Afghanistan (along with Canada), and itches to bomb Iran for oil, they’re worried more about where the wiener Petraeus […]
Continue readingThe Ranting Canadian: “The End of the War Years” by The Fallout from the…
“The End of the War Years” by The Fallout
from the album Dismantlement (Insurgence Records, 2007)
We hold our breath and we wait
for some for some good news to hear.
A scrap of faith in which to believe,
but all we get are reasons to fear.
Our son…
Cowichan Conversations: Rick Mercer Outs PM Harper Over Treatment of our Vets!
Why is it that it is our comediens who tell it like it is while PM Stephen Harper’s performance is so sadly laughable?
Continue readingRedBedHead: Obama’s Betrayals Made Romney Credible
Everybody’s biting their nails and holding their breath. What’s going to happen? Who’s going to win? The “Hollywood liberal” machine is out in full force with clever ads by luminaries like Joss Whedon of Avengers, Buffy and Firefly fame and hipster filmmaker Lena Dunham chiming in. There’s no doubt that
Continue readingDead Wild Roses: Why are we killing kids that don’t need to die? – Bill Moyers Essay
I’m struck by the casual nature of the media when it comes to reporting on imperial wars. Casualties are tallied, the right words are said, but then off we go to the next soundbite. Time for reflection and contemplation is becoming (has become) a lost art. Louder, Bigger, and Faster
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Saturday Afternoon Links
Miscellaneous material for your weekend reading. – Thomas Walkom comments on the Cons’ preference for low-wage, no-rights immigrant labour as a means of avoiding good jobs for Canadians: Theoretically, temporary work visas are supposed to be reserved for those with unique skills. But increasingly, the notion of skill has been
Continue readingThe Disaffected Lib: Living Beneath the Drones Overhead
The villagers hear them. They know the distinctive buzzing sound of the American drones patrolling overhead that the villagers call “mosquitoes.” The US missile-attacks destroy militant training compounds and cars but they also hit mosques, homes, religious schools and civilian vehicles. I witnessed the fear, stress and depression this causes
Continue readingThe Disaffected Lib: Fighting Corruption with Vitamins
Malnutrition is a huge problem in Afghanistan. One-fifth of Afghan kids are malnourished and that increases to one-third in combat zones. 60 per cent of children under five are stunted. Tens of billions of dollars of foreign aid flows into Afghanistan but much of that disappears into the gaping maw
Continue readingThe Disaffected Lib: Remember When It Was America and Pakistan Versus the Soviets?
Now America’s plans for a long-term presence in Afghanistan may be driving Pakistan into Moscow’s arms. Pakistan army chief, Ashfaq Parvez Kiani, is headed to Moscow for talks. The Pakistani military spokesman has confirmed the “historic” visit will take place on Wednesday. The spokesman said Kiani is expected to meet
Continue readingThe Disaffected Lib: Will Afghan National Army Drive NATO from Afghanistan?
NATO countries may have had their fill of their soldiers being murdered by Afghan soldiers. While most ISAF forces are scheduled to leave in 2014, NATO Sec-Gen, Anders Rasmussen, says the spate of “Green on Blue” killings could speed up their departure. “From now until the end of 2014 we
Continue readingThe Disaffected Lib: A "Green on Blue" Battle?
Has it really come to this? A U.S. Army unit has engaged in a firefight with an Afghan Army unit resulting in two dead Americans and three Afghan Army fatalities. Afghan officials say the Americans fired first. The Americans claim the gunfight broke out after two Americans were killed by
Continue readingBlast Furnace Canada Blog: Khadr: Back in the Great White North
Omar Khadr returned to Canada this past weekend to serve out the remainder of his sentence at Guantanamo Bay. Unlike the “military commission” which gave Khadr no credit for time served on the eight year sentence he received for manslaughter, the “two for one” rule in effect in Canada at
Continue readingThe Disaffected Lib: Parting Company
Has NATO cried “uncle” in Afghanistan? Apparently reacting to the ongoing spate of “green on blue” killings of Western forces by supposed Afghan allies, NATO has cut back on operations with Afghan forces. The move to curtail joint on-the-ground operations throws the coalition’s military strategy into disarray and could further
Continue readingThe Disaffected Lib: Snatching Defeat From the Jaws of Victory
It’s an old phrase, oft used but perhaps never more fittingly than to describe our war in Afghanistan where we succeeded so brilliantly in failure. We defeated ourselves. We defeated the Afghan government. We defeated the people of Afghanistan. We defeated ourselves. We were not defeated by the Taliban. Outwaiting
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