[Peace-discussion] FW: Former Student of Medea Benjamin Responds: Our Peace Movement Does Have A Strategy About Afghanistan
henry duke
henryduke2004@yahoo.com
Wed, 30 Jul 2008 11:12:44 -0700
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I. Response to Medea Benjamin
II. Press release last year referencing the greater
relative US military surge in Afghanistan compared to Iraq
III. OC Peace Action Resolution regarding Afghanistan
I.
Thank you Medea for raising this question. We know and must appreciate the
vast diversity of strategies, viewpoints, and politics regarding the
so-called peace movement. You say here "troops out now" is not appropriate,
and yet you worry about the growing quagmire and the inevitable decline of
womyn's rights there. You remark your disdain for knee-jerk slogans.
We must take responsibility for our positions. You came to the SF Green
Party Plenary and said we should not nominate anyone like Ralph Nader that
would threaten Kerry who wanted 40,000 more troops in Iraq - You are a
leader in the peace movement.
Then you became a spokesperson for the Progressive Democrats of America and
here take effort to paint Hillary as pro-Iraq war while labeling Barrack
against the war even though he has voted for every single increase in war
funding since the alleged democratic party mandate against the war in 2006.
And while it is true that some of us - I am quite sure you did -- protested
the Clinton sanctions and bombing against Iraq, how embarrassing was it to
us to have certain peace movement leading personalities like you taking a
later opportunity to get photographed in direct action with banners asking
Bush to give sanctions a chance against Iraq. [Was that what you mean by a
knee-jerk slogan?]
Furthermore how embarrassing is it to have certain of us oppose the invasion
of Iraq on principle, only to hear certain peace movement leading
personalities take opportunities later to argue that our US troops were not
given enough bodies, bombs, or armor to win the war against Iraq. [I saw and
heard this at the University of California, Irvine, while you were
delivering a womyn's studies sponsored talk on the war, and here there was
not only the sincerity of "if only our troops were supported with more
bodies, more armor, etc in Iraq" there was the awkward gushing for senator
Feingold who had voted recently in the Judicial committee yes to approve one
of the most anti-womyn Supreme Court justices in anybodies memory.
In short, unlike Dennis Kucinich and Cynthia McKinney who voted shortly
after 9/11 to authorize the US invasion and occupation of Afghanistan, many
of us in at least one part of the peace movement opposed US violent
intervention then and now as what it is: terror.
Our analysis, our thought out and developed slogans, based on the history of
Western and Russian intervention in Afghanistan.
Last summer COndado De Orange (CODO) Verde / OC Greens and OC Peace Action
celebrated with the local Afghani Community Afghanistan Independence Day, we
then proceeded to hold what Sonali Kohaltkar called the first anti-war
demonstration specifically about Afghanistan on October 6th the eve of the
6th year anniversary of the US invasion to call for #1) ending the US and
NATO occupation of Afghanistan, and #2) war crimes tribunals and reparation
trials to be held shortly thereafter to determine the quality and degree of
US culpability and responsibility for our further destruction of
Afghanistan, and the means toward accomplishing these redevelopment schemes
outside of a code-pink/State Department/ UN or other discredited way of
making reparation and re-building.
The false dichotomy of US and western people taking responsibility for
helpless native savages using terrorism, invasion, and bombing, versus
deputizing our invading forces as peacekeepers to protect womyn's rights is
hopelessly flawed.
The first position of US people truly committed to peace, justice, and human
rights is to block our country from using violence to impose our solutions
to other countries problems. One need only look to who funded the mujahedeen
which originated the Taliban to see the US culpability here. In regards to
the Taliban support from Pakistan, one need only look to how many visits
Negroponte has made to Pakistan towards guaranteeing US military and terror
support to whatever government arises there out of the ashes of the US ally
Musharaff once Washington no longer finds him convenient to deliver weapons
of mass destruction into the area.
In order for healing and a renewed advance of human and women rights in
Afghanistan, the US and NATO must leave. We in the US and Europe must be
clear about this.
It is not false that the longer the US and Barrack Obama insist on military
defeat of Afghanistan, only stronger will grow the Taliban. The victory for
human rights and against terrorism supporters in Afghanistan will begin when
the people of the US finally charge, capture, and imprison the war planners
who openly advocated violation of international law in Afghanistan. Get
Cheney and Rumsfeld, get the US and NATO out, and the healing can begin.
And we take hope from the broader Peace Movement meeting in Cleveland Ohio
one month ago that they changed their name from National Assembly to End the
Iraq War to National Assembly to End the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars and
Occupation.
Again, your questions are good Medea, please understand our position that
womyn's rights, development, and rebuilding will not be easy, but they will
be indefinitely impossible and deferred while our government sits atop a
foreign land, and occupation that should never have started. The Afghanis
have the right to self determination, their womyn will be safer only to the
degree our country ceases and desists from a brutal occupation, and then we
will have to find non-tainted allies trusted by Afghanis to help distribute
the reparations owed to those peoples and that nation.cam
II.
OC PEACE Action/ COndado De Orange (CODO) VERDE / OC Greens
www.codoverde.org <http://www.codoverde.org/>
Saturday, October 6th, 2007
Contacts:
Henry Duke, Media Spokesperson, 714 235 6083 henryduke2004@yahoo.com
Antonio Vera, Coalition Coordinator, 714 585 2836 civilianunrest@aim.com
Santa Ana, CA -- On Saturday October 6th, the eve of the 6th year of the US
War against Afghanistan, greater Orange County residents will converge at
the chief Armed Forces Recruiting Station of the county capitol to protest
the six year anniversary of the US Intervention, bombing, invasion, and
occupation of Afghanistan.
Sonali Kolhatkar, Pacifica Radio Broadcaster of the weekday program
Uprising, supporting the Orange County call to action, said, ""The US has
proven to the Afghan people that its policies have only resulted in
continued violence, poverty, and fundamentalism. It's time that Americans
wake up to this reality and realize that the Afghanistan war is just as
inhumane and disastrous as the war in Iraq."
Concerned workers, professionals, veterans, religious community, military
families, students, and youth in line for conscription or recruitment, chose
the day because of a dangerously repeated error in the media being promoted
by leading privately and over-funded presidential candidates who have
already opted out of public funded campaigns - the danger being the claim
that Iraq is a bad war but that Afghanistan is a good or just war.
Henry Duke, organizer and close family member of WTC tower evacuator said,
"Invading Afghanistan and then Iraq was fatally flawed and an awfully easy
thing to do politically. Meanwhile an opportunity to prioritize the more
difficult problem of intelligence gathering and asset building by funding
cultural exchange, funding schools and scholarships, and helping build
economies, clinics and hospitals - slow, tedious, but far more effective -
was skipped. It may be more difficult but we want solutions that build
security, not politically easy reactions that drop bombs on people or openly
usurp whatever sovereignty those historically ravaged areas are in the
process of developing. The recent approval of 30 billion US tax dollars as a
gift to Israel is yet another problem that makes true security and
resolution of problems which need political and negotiated solutions over
violent terror-imposed ones even further away."
Regarding the increasing quagmire and deficit funding of the war in
Afghanistan, Antonio Vera, OC Peace Action Principle Investigator pointed
out: "Just look at the official CRS Congressional Report released two months
ago on July 16th, 2007: Congressional budget authority for the War in
Afghanistan between 2006 and 2007 went up from FY2006 at 18.9 billion US
dollars to FY2007 36.9 billion US dollars -- a 95 percent increase!!!
Meanwhile the ballyhooed Iraq surge of 101.7 to 135.2 billion dollars
represented a 3 fold less increase of 33 percent."
The October 6th Coalition advocates a safer American Foreign Policy based on
support for democracy abroad and human value-based domestic policies and are
speaking out about why America can't just say we need to get out of Iraq and
not get out of Afghanistan. Concerned for Public safety and security,
California public health physician Henry Duke and National Green Party Peace
Action Committee Delegate from California asserts "We need to turn from the
failed and extremist policies pushed through with fear-mongering, lies,
deception, to enrich a few - all facilitated by an intimidated PBS and NPR
alongside private-money-motivated media and their Democratic and Republican
party talking heads, to policies lead by rational research, debated at
public not private expense, and decided democratically based on rational
assessment and human values, not extremist pandering to panic and fear,
based ultimately on free market anarchy, where the highest bidder and not
the wisest proposal wins.
October 6th Coalition Organizations
OC Peace Action OC Catholic Worker, Santa Ana Food Not Bombs
OC Peace Action, OC Greens / COndado De Orange (CODO) Verde, OC Progressive
Democrats of America OC Patrick Henry Democratic Club ANSWER Coalition - Los
Angeles, Youth and Student ANSWER Orange Coast Lincoln Republicans, Orange
County Alliance on Immigrant Rights (OCAIR), Mexican American Political
Association (MAPA), Centro Cultural de Mexico - Santa Ana, Chican@s Unidos
III.
Draft Proposal/ Call to Action to form Ad Hoc National Committee in
Solidarity with Afghanistan to Commemorate the 7th Year Anniversary of the
US Congress Authorized US Invasion, Bombing, and Occupation of that country.
As the 8th year of the US congressional authorized invasion approaches with
the highest death rates ever for US allied foreign occupation forces.
Whereas the Geneva Conventions on War Article 48 states: "The Parties to the
conflict shall at all times distinguish between the civilian population and
combatants."
Whereas the Geneva Conventions on War Article 50 adds: "The presence within
the civilian population of individuals who do not come within the definition
of civilian does not deprive the population of its civilian character."
Whereas the official CRS Congressional Report released last July 16th, 2007
demonstrated that Congressional budget authority for the War in Afghanistan
between 2006 and 2007 went up from FY2006 18.9 billion US dollars to FY2007
36.9 billion US dollars -- a 95 percent increase while the Iraq surge,
overlapping the same time period went from 101.7 to 135.2 billion dollars,
represented a 3 fold less increase of 33 percent;
Whereas US/Nato fatalities in the Afghanistan theater have surpassed US
deaths in Iraq for the past two months and achieved their highest level
since the congressional authorized invasion in 2001 this past month June,
2008;
Whereas the president of the US, and the presumptive nominees of the
corporate parties have enthused about the need to augment the current surge
in Afghanistan;
And, Whereas the United States and NATO aerial bombing in Afghanistan is
clearly violating Articles 48 and 50 of the Geneva Conventions on War and
hence the parties are guilty of war crimes; with civilian casualties
conservatively in the tens to hundreds of thousands and US Military Ally
Deaths in the thousands;
Be it resolved that the Committee in Solidarity with Afghanistan calls upon
as many organs and individuals of our sister and fraternal friends in the
Peace, Justice, liberation, and, anti-terrorist movements to organize
actions, teach-ins, and media events on or around October 7th, the 7th year
anniversary of the US Congressional Authorized War against Afghanistan.
And be it further resolved, that we of the National Committee in Solidarity
with Afghanistan call for:
1) A complete withdrawal of US and NATO armed forces out of Afghanistan,
2) Investigation into war crimes leading to trials and sentences for the
planners of the war, and
3) reparations to be determined by a US and NATO - independent international
body, to be distributed by local states and Afghanie organizations well
known to be part of an illegal and immoral counter-insurgency so that
Afghanistan can begin to rebuild and heal from the foreign-imported violence
which has driven local forces away from democracy, human rights, and back
towards the US-armed Taliban.
Original draft by Henry, Co-Chair Orange County Greens / CODO VERDE;
Director, OC Peace Action
Hank
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_____
> Urgent: The Peace Movement Needs a Strategy for
> Afghanistan!
>
> By Medea Benjamin
> Common Dreams
> July 24, 2008
>
> http://www..commondr
<http://www.commondreams.org/archive/2008/07/24/10574/>
eams.org/archive/2008/07/24/10574/
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<p class=3DMsoNormal =
style=3D'mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
margin-left:.75in;text-indent:-.5in'><font size=3D2 color=3Dnavy =
face=3DArial><span
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>I.</span></font><=
font
size=3D1 color=3Dnavy><span =
style=3D'font-size:7.0pt;color:navy'> =
&=
nbsp;
</span></font><font size=3D2 color=3Dnavy face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Response to Medea =
Benjamin<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal =
style=3D'mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
margin-left:.75in;text-indent:-.5in'><font size=3D2 color=3Dnavy =
face=3DArial><span
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>II.</span></font>=
<font
size=3D1 color=3Dnavy><span =
style=3D'font-size:7.0pt;color:navy'> =
</span></font><font size=3D2 color=3Dnavy face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial;color:navy'>Press release last year referencing the =
greater
relative <st1:country-region w:st=3D"on">US</st1:country-region> =
military surge
in <st1:country-region w:st=3D"on">Afghanistan</st1:country-region> =
compared to <st1:place
w:st=3D"on"><st1:country-region =
w:st=3D"on">Iraq</st1:country-region></st1:place><o:p></o:p></span></font=
></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal =
style=3D'mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
margin-left:.75in;text-indent:-.5in'><font size=3D2 color=3Dnavy =
face=3DArial><span
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>III.</span></font=
><font
size=3D1 color=3Dnavy><span =
style=3D'font-size:7.0pt;color:navy'> =
</span></font><font size=3D2 color=3Dnavy face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial;color:navy'>OC Peace Action Resolution regarding =
<st1:place
w:st=3D"on"><st1:country-region =
w:st=3D"on">Afghanistan</st1:country-region></st1:place><o:p></o:p></span=
></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal =
style=3D'mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><b><font
size=3D4 color=3Dnavy face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:14.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:navy;font-weight:bold'>I.</span></font></b><font size=3D2 =
color=3Dnavy
face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'> =
<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal =
style=3D'mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><font
size=3D2 color=3Dnavy face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:navy'>Thank you Medea for raising this question. We know and must
appreciate the vast diversity of strategies, viewpoints, and politics =
regarding
the so-called peace movement. You say here “troops out now” =
is not
appropriate, and yet you worry about the growing quagmire and the =
inevitable
decline of womyn’s rights there. You remark your disdain for =
knee-jerk
slogans.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal =
style=3D'mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><font
size=3D2 color=3Dnavy face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:navy'>We must take responsibility for our positions. You came to =
the SF
Green Party Plenary and said we should not nominate anyone like Ralph =
Nader that
would threaten Kerry who wanted 40,000 more troops in <st1:place =
w:st=3D"on"><st1:country-region
w:st=3D"on">Iraq</st1:country-region></st1:place> – You are a =
leader in
the peace movement.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal =
style=3D'mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><font
size=3D2 color=3Dnavy face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:navy'>Then you became a spokesperson for the Progressive Democrats =
of
America and here take effort to paint Hillary as pro-Iraq war while =
labeling
Barrack against the war even though he has voted for every single =
increase in
war funding since the alleged democratic party mandate against the war =
in 2006.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal =
style=3D'mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><font
size=3D2 color=3Dnavy face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:navy'>And while it is true that some of us – I am quite sure =
you
did -- protested the <st1:City w:st=3D"on">Clinton</st1:City> sanctions =
and
bombing against <st1:country-region =
w:st=3D"on">Iraq</st1:country-region>, how
embarrassing was it to us to have certain peace movement leading =
personalities
like you taking a later opportunity to get photographed in direct action =
with
banners asking Bush to give sanctions a chance against <st1:place =
w:st=3D"on"><st1:country-region
w:st=3D"on">Iraq</st1:country-region></st1:place>. [Was that what you =
mean by a
knee-jerk slogan?]<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal =
style=3D'mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><font
size=3D2 color=3Dnavy face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:navy'>Furthermore how embarrassing is it to have certain of us =
oppose the
invasion of Iraq on principle, only to hear certain peace movement =
leading
personalities take opportunities later to argue that our US troops were =
not
given enough bodies, bombs, or armor to win the war against Iraq. [I saw =
and
heard this at the University of California, Irvine, while you were =
delivering a
womyn’s studies sponsored talk on the war, and here there was not =
only
the sincerity of “if only our troops were supported with more =
bodies,
more armor, etc in Iraq” there was the awkward gushing for senator
Feingold who had voted recently in the Judicial committee yes to approve =
one of
the most anti-womyn Supreme Court justices in anybodies =
memory.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal =
style=3D'mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><font
size=3D2 color=3Dnavy face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:navy'>In short, unlike Dennis Kucinich and Cynthia McKinney who =
voted
shortly after 9/11 to authorize the <st1:country-region =
w:st=3D"on">US</st1:country-region>
invasion and occupation of <st1:country-region =
w:st=3D"on">Afghanistan</st1:country-region>,
many of us in at least one part of the peace movement opposed <st1:place =
w:st=3D"on"><st1:country-region
w:st=3D"on">US</st1:country-region></st1:place> violent intervention =
then and
now as what it is: terror.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal =
style=3D'mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><b><u><font
size=3D2 color=3Dnavy face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:navy;font-weight:bold'>Our analysis, our thought out and developed
slogans, based on the history of Western and Russian intervention in =
<st1:place
w:st=3D"on"><st1:country-region =
w:st=3D"on">Afghanistan</st1:country-region></st1:place>.<o:p></o:p></spa=
n></font></u></b></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal =
style=3D'mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><font
size=3D2 color=3Dnavy face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:navy'>Last summer COndado De Orange (CODO) Verde / OC Greens and =
OC Peace
Action celebrated with the local Afghani Community Afghanistan =
Independence
Day, we then proceeded to hold what Sonali Kohaltkar called the first =
anti-war
demonstration specifically about Afghanistan on October 6<sup>th</sup> =
the eve
of the 6<sup>th</sup> year anniversary of the US invasion to call for =
#1)
ending the US and NATO occupation of Afghanistan, and #2) war crimes =
tribunals
and reparation trials to be held shortly thereafter to determine the =
quality
and degree of US culpability and responsibility for our further =
destruction of
Afghanistan, and the means toward accomplishing these redevelopment =
schemes
outside of a code-pink/State Department/ UN or other discredited way of =
making
reparation and re-building.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal =
style=3D'mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><font
size=3D2 color=3Dnavy face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:navy'>The false dichotomy of US and western people taking =
responsibility
for helpless native savages using terrorism, invasion, and bombing, =
versus
deputizing our invading forces as peacekeepers to protect womyn’s =
rights
is hopelessly flawed.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal =
style=3D'mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><font
size=3D2 color=3Dnavy face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:navy'>The first position of US people truly committed to peace, =
justice,
and human rights is to block our country from using violence to impose =
our
solutions to other countries problems. One need only look to who funded =
the
mujahedeen which originated the Taliban to see the <st1:place =
w:st=3D"on"><st1:country-region
w:st=3D"on">US</st1:country-region></st1:place> culpability here. In =
regards to
the Taliban support from <st1:country-region =
w:st=3D"on">Pakistan</st1:country-region>,
one need only look to how many visits Negroponte has made to =
<st1:country-region
w:st=3D"on">Pakistan</st1:country-region> towards guaranteeing US =
military and
terror support to whatever government arises there out of the ashes of =
the <st1:country-region
w:st=3D"on">US</st1:country-region> ally Musharaff once <st1:place =
w:st=3D"on"><st1:State
w:st=3D"on">Washington</st1:State></st1:place> no longer finds him =
convenient to
deliver weapons of mass destruction into the =
area.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal =
style=3D'mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><font
size=3D2 color=3Dnavy face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:navy'>In order for healing and a renewed advance of human and =
women
rights in <st1:country-region =
w:st=3D"on">Afghanistan</st1:country-region>, the <st1:place
w:st=3D"on"><st1:country-region =
w:st=3D"on">US</st1:country-region></st1:place> and
NATO must leave. We in the <st1:country-region =
w:st=3D"on">US</st1:country-region>
and <st1:place w:st=3D"on">Europe</st1:place> must be clear about =
this.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal =
style=3D'mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><font
size=3D2 color=3Dnavy face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:navy'>It is not false that the longer the <st1:country-region =
w:st=3D"on">US</st1:country-region>
and Barrack Obama insist on military defeat of <st1:place =
w:st=3D"on"><st1:country-region
w:st=3D"on">Afghanistan</st1:country-region></st1:place>, only stronger =
will
grow the Taliban. The victory for human rights and against terrorism =
supporters
in <st1:country-region w:st=3D"on">Afghanistan</st1:country-region> will =
begin
when the people of the <st1:country-region =
w:st=3D"on">US</st1:country-region>
finally charge, capture, and imprison the war planners who openly =
advocated
violation of international law in <st1:place =
w:st=3D"on"><st1:country-region
w:st=3D"on">Afghanistan</st1:country-region></st1:place>. Get Cheney =
and
Rumsfeld, get the <st1:place w:st=3D"on"><st1:country-region =
w:st=3D"on">US</st1:country-region></st1:place>
and NATO out, and the healing can begin.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal =
style=3D'mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><font
size=3D2 color=3Dnavy face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:navy'>And we take hope from the broader Peace Movement meeting in =
<st1:City
w:st=3D"on">Cleveland</st1:City> <st1:State w:st=3D"on">Ohio</st1:State> =
one month
ago that they changed their name from National Assembly to End the Iraq =
War to
National Assembly to End the <st1:place w:st=3D"on"><st1:country-region =
w:st=3D"on">Iraq</st1:country-region></st1:place>
and Afghanistan Wars and Occupation.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal =
style=3D'mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><font
size=3D2 color=3Dnavy face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:navy'>Again, your questions are good Medea, please understand our
position that womyn’s rights, development, and rebuilding will not =
be
easy, but they will be indefinitely impossible and deferred while our
government sits atop a foreign land, and occupation that should never =
have
started. The Afghanis have the right to self determination, their womyn =
will be
safer only to the degree our country ceases and desists from a brutal
occupation, and then we will have to find non-tainted allies trusted by
Afghanis to help distribute the reparations owed to those peoples and =
that
nation.cam<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal =
style=3D'mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><font
size=3D2 color=3Dnavy face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;
color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal =
style=3D'mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><b><font
size=3D4 color=3Dnavy face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:14.0pt;
color:navy;font-weight:bold'>II.</span></font></b><b><font size=3D4 =
color=3Dblack><span
style=3D'font-size:14.0pt;color:black;font-weight:bold'> =
<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal =
style=3D'mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><font
size=3D4 color=3Dblack face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:13.0pt;
color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal =
style=3D'mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><font
size=3D4 color=3Dblack face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:13.0pt;
color:black'>OC PEACE Action/ COndado De Orange (CODO) =
VERDE</span></font><font
size=3D4 color=3Dnavy><span style=3D'font-size:13.0pt;color:navy'> / OC =
Greens</span></font><font
size=3D4 color=3Dblack><span style=3D'font-size:13.0pt;color:black'><br>
www.codoverde.org <<a href=3D"http://www.codoverde.org/"
title=3D"blocked::http://www.codoverde.org/ http://www.codoverde.org/=
">http://www.codoverde.org/</a>><br>
<br>
Saturday, October 6th, 2007<br>
<br>
Contacts:<br>
Henry Duke, Media Spokesperson, 714 235 6083 henryduke2004@yahoo.com<br>
<br>
Antonio Vera, Coalition Coordinator, 714 585 2836 =
civilianunrest@aim.com<br>
<br>
Santa Ana, CA -- On Saturday October 6th, the eve of the 6th year of the =
US War
against Afghanistan, greater Orange County residents will converge at =
the chief
Armed Forces Recruiting Station of the county capitol to protest the six =
year
anniversary of the US Intervention, bombing, invasion, and occupation of
Afghanistan.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal =
style=3D'mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><font
size=3D4 color=3Dblack face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:13.0pt;
color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal =
style=3D'mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:12.0pt'><font
size=3D2 color=3Dblack face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;
color:black'>Sonali Kolhatkar, Pacifica Radio Broadcaster of the weekday
program Uprising, supporting the <st1:place w:st=3D"on"><st1:PlaceName =
w:st=3D"on">Orange</st1:PlaceName>
<st1:PlaceType w:st=3D"on">County</st1:PlaceType></st1:place> call to =
action, said,
“"The US has proven to the Afghan people that its policies =
have only
resulted in continued violence, poverty, and fundamentalism. It's time =
that
Americans wake up to this reality and rea<st1:PersonName =
w:st=3D"on">liz</st1:PersonName>e
that the <st1:country-region =
w:st=3D"on">Afghanistan</st1:country-region> war is
just as inhumane and disastrous as the war in <st1:place =
w:st=3D"on"><st1:country-region
=
w:st=3D"on">Iraq</st1:country-region></st1:place>."<o:p></o:p></span=
></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal =
style=3D'mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:12.0pt'><font
size=3D2 color=3Dblack face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;
color:black'>Concerned workers, professionals, veterans, religious =
community,
military families, students, and youth in line for conscription or =
recruitment,
chose the day because of a dangerously repeated error in the media being
promoted by leading privately and over-funded presidential candidates =
who have
already opted out of public funded campaigns - the danger being the =
claim that
Iraq is a bad war but that Afghanistan is a good or just =
war.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal =
style=3D'mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:12.0pt'><font
size=3D2 color=3Dblack face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;
color:black'>Henry Duke, organizer and close family member of WTC tower
evacuator said, "Invading Afghanistan and then <st1:place =
w:st=3D"on"><st1:country-region
w:st=3D"on">Iraq</st1:country-region></st1:place> was fatally flawed =
and an
awfully easy thing to do politically. Meanwhile an opportunity to =
prioritize
the more difficult problem of intelligence gathering and asset building =
by
funding cultural exchange, funding schools and scholarships, and helping =
build
economies, clinics and hospitals - slow, tedious, but far more effective =
- was
skipped. It may be more difficult but we want solutions that build =
security,
not politically easy reactions that drop bombs on people or openly usurp
whatever sovereignty those historically ravaged areas are in the process =
of
developing. The recent approval of 30 billion <st1:country-region =
w:st=3D"on">US</st1:country-region>
tax dollars as a gift to <st1:place w:st=3D"on"><st1:country-region =
w:st=3D"on">Israel</st1:country-region></st1:place>
is yet another problem that makes true security and resolution of =
problems
which need political and negotiated solutions over violent =
terror-imposed ones
even further away."<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal =
style=3D'mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:12.0pt'><font
size=3D2 color=3Dblack face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;
color:black'>Regarding the increasing quagmire and deficit funding of =
the war
in Afghanistan, Antonio Vera, OC Peace Action Principle Investigator =
pointed
out: "Just look at the official CRS Congressional Report released =
two
months ago on July 16th, 2007: Congressional budget authority for the =
War in
Afghanistan between 2006 and 2007 went up from FY2006 at 18.9 billion US
dollars to FY2007 36.9 billion US dollars -- a 95 percent =
increase!!!
Meanwhile the ballyhooed <st1:place w:st=3D"on"><st1:country-region =
w:st=3D"on">Iraq</st1:country-region></st1:place>
surge of 101.7 to 135.2 billion dollars represented a 3 fold less =
increase of
33 percent.”<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal =
style=3D'mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:12.0pt'><font
size=3D2 color=3Dblack face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;
color:black'>The October 6th Coalition advocates a safer American =
Foreign
Policy based on support for democracy abroad and human value-based =
domestic
policies and are speaking out about why America can't just say we need =
to get
out of Iraq and not get out of Afghanistan. Concerned for Public safety =
and
security, California public health physician Henry Duke and National =
Green
Party Peace Action Committee Delegate from California asserts "We =
need to
turn from the failed and extremist policies pushed through with =
fear-mongering,
lies, deception, to enrich a few – all facilitated by an =
intimidated PBS
and NPR alongside private-money-motivated media and their Democratic and
Republican party talking heads, to policies lead by rational research, =
debated
at public not private expense, and decided democratically based on =
rational
assessment and human values, not extremist pandering to panic and fear, =
based
ultimately on free market anarchy, where the highest bidder and not the =
wisest
proposal wins.<br>
<br>
October 6th Coalition Organizations<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal =
style=3D'mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><b><font
size=3D2 color=3Dblack face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;
color:black;font-weight:bold'>OC Peace Action OC Catholic Worker, =
<st1:place
w:st=3D"on"><st1:City w:st=3D"on">Santa Ana</st1:City></st1:place> Food =
Not Bombs<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal =
style=3D'mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><b><font
size=3D2 color=3Dblack face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:11.0pt;
color:black;font-weight:bold'>OC Peace Action, OC Greens / COndado De =
Orange
(CODO) Verde, OC Progressive Democrats of America OC Patrick Henry =
Democratic
Club ANSWER Coalition - Los Angeles, Youth and Student ANSWER =
Orange
Coast Lincoln Republicans, Orange County Alliance on Immigrant Rights =
(OCAIR),
Mexican American Political Association (MAPA), Centro Cultural de Mexico
– Santa Ana, Chican@s Unidos<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>
<p><font size=3D2 color=3Dnavy face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;
color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p><b><font size=3D4 color=3Dnavy face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
14.0pt;color:navy;font-weight:bold'>III.<o:p></o:p></span></font></b></p>=
<p><font size=3D2 color=3Dblack face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Courier New";color:black'>Draft Proposal/ Call to =
Action</span></font><font
color=3Dblack face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-family:Arial;color:black'> </span></font><font
size=3D2 color=3Dblack face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:
"Courier New";color:black'>to form Ad Hoc National Committee in =
Solidarity with
<st1:place w:st=3D"on"><st1:country-region =
w:st=3D"on">Afghanistan</st1:country-region></st1:place></span></font><fo=
nt
color=3Dblack face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-family:Arial;color:black'> </span></font><font
size=3D2 color=3Dblack face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:
"Courier New";color:black'>to Commemorate the 7th Year Anniversary of =
the US
Congress Authorized US Invasion, Bombing, and Occupation =
of</span></font><font
color=3Dblack face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-family:Arial;color:black'> </span></font><font
size=3D2 color=3Dblack face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:
"Courier New";color:black'>that country.</span></font><font =
color=3Dblack
face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-family:Arial;color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><font size=3D2 color=3Dblack face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Courier New";color:black'>As the 8<sup>th</sup> year of the =
<st1:place
w:st=3D"on"><st1:country-region =
w:st=3D"on">US</st1:country-region></st1:place>
congressional authorized invasion approaches with the highest death =
rates ever
for US allied foreign occupation forces…</span></font><font =
color=3Dblack
face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-family:Arial;color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal =
style=3D'mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><font
size=3D3 color=3Dblack face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;
color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p><b><i><u><font size=3D3 color=3Dblack face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:"Courier =
New";color:black;font-weight:bold;font-style:italic'>Whereas</span></font=
></u></i></b><font
size=3D2 color=3Dblack face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:
"Courier New";color:black'> the Geneva Conventions on War Article 48 =
states:
"The Parties to the conflict shall at all times distinguish between =
the
civilian population and combatants."</span></font><font =
color=3Dblack
face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-family:Arial;color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><b><i><u><font size=3D3 color=3Dblack face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:"Courier =
New";color:black;font-weight:bold;font-style:italic'>Whereas</span></font=
></u></i></b><font
size=3D2 color=3Dblack face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:
"Courier New";color:black'> the Geneva Conventions on War Article 50 =
adds:
"The presence within the civilian population of individuals who do =
not
come within the definition of civilian does not deprive the population =
of its
civilian character." </span></font><font color=3Dblack =
face=3DArial><span
style=3D'font-family:Arial;color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><b><i><u><font size=3D3 color=3Dblack face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:"Courier =
New";color:black;font-weight:bold;font-style:italic'>Whereas</span></font=
></u></i></b><font
size=3D2 color=3Dblack face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:
"Courier New";color:black'> the official CRS Congressional Report =
released last
July 16th, 2007 demonstrated that Congressional budget authority for the =
War in
Afghanistan between 2006 and 2007 went up from FY2006 18.9 billion US =
dollars
to FY2007 36.9 billion US dollars -- a 95 percent increase while the =
Iraq
surge, overlapping the same time period went from 101.7 to 135.2 billion
dollars, represented a 3 fold less increase of 33 =
percent;</span></font><font
color=3Dblack face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-family:Arial;color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><b><i><u><font size=3D3 color=3Dblack face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:"Courier =
New";color:black;font-weight:bold;font-style:italic'>Whereas</span></font=
></u></i></b><font
size=3D2 color=3Dblack face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:
"Courier New";color:black'> US/Nato fatalities in the Afghanistan =
theater have
surpassed US deaths in Iraq for the past two months and achieved their =
highest
level since the congressional authorized invasion in 2001 this past =
month June,
2008;</span></font><font color=3Dblack face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-family:Arial;
color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><b><i><u><font size=3D3 color=3Dblack face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:"Courier =
New";color:black;font-weight:bold;font-style:italic'>Whereas</span></font=
></u></i></b><font
size=3D2 color=3Dblack face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:
"Courier New";color:black'> the president of the <st1:country-region =
w:st=3D"on">US</st1:country-region>,
and the presumptive nominees of the corporate parties have enthused =
about the
need to augment the current surge in <st1:place =
w:st=3D"on"><st1:country-region
=
w:st=3D"on">Afghanistan</st1:country-region></st1:place>;</span></font><f=
ont
color=3Dblack face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-family:Arial;color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><font size=3D2 color=3Dblack face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Courier New";color:black'>And,</span></font><b><i><u><font
color=3Dblack face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-family:Arial;color:black;font-weight:
bold;font-style:italic'> </span></font></u></i></b><b><i><u><font =
color=3Dblack
face=3D"Courier New"><span style=3D'font-family:"Courier =
New";color:black;
font-weight:bold;font-style:italic'>Whereas</span></font></u></i></b><fon=
t
size=3D2 color=3Dblack face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:
"Courier New";color:black'> the United States and NATO aerial bombing in
Afghanistan is clearly violating Articles 48 and 50 of the Geneva =
Conventions
on War and hence the parties are guilty of war crimes; with civilian =
casualties
conservatively in the tens to hundreds of thousands and US Military Ally =
Deaths
in the thousands;</span></font><font color=3Dblack face=3DArial><span
style=3D'font-family:Arial;color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><b><i><u><font size=3D3 color=3Dblack face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:"Courier =
New";color:black;font-weight:bold;font-style:italic'>Be
it resolved</span></font></u></i></b><font size=3D2 color=3Dblack =
face=3D"Courier New"><span
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier New";color:black'> that =
the</span></font><font
color=3Dblack face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-family:Arial;color:black'> </span></font><font
size=3D2 color=3Dblack face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:
"Courier New";color:black'>Committee in Solidarity with =
<st1:country-region
w:st=3D"on">Afghanistan</st1:country-region> calls upon as many organs =
and
individuals of our sister and fraternal friends in the Peace, =
Justice,</span></font><font
color=3Dblack face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-family:Arial;color:black'> </span></font><font
size=3D2 color=3Dblack face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:
"Courier New";color:black'>liberation, and, anti-terrorist movements to
organize actions, teach-ins, and media events on or around October 7th, =
the</span></font><font
color=3Dblack face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-family:Arial;color:black'> </span></font><font
size=3D2 color=3Dblack face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:
"Courier New";color:black'>7th year anniversary of the US Congressional
Authorized War against <st1:place w:st=3D"on"><st1:country-region =
w:st=3D"on">Afghanistan</st1:country-region></st1:place>.</span></font><f=
ont
color=3Dblack face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-family:Arial;color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><b><i><u><font size=3D3 color=3Dblack face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:"Courier =
New";color:black;font-weight:bold;font-style:italic'>And
be it further resolved, that</span></font></u></i></b><b><i><u><font
color=3Dblack face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-family:Arial;color:black;font-weight:
bold;font-style:italic'> </span></font></u></i></b><b><i><u><font =
color=3Dblack
face=3D"Courier New"><span style=3D'font-family:"Courier =
New";color:black;
font-weight:bold;font-style:italic'>we of the National Committee in =
Solidarity
with <st1:place w:st=3D"on"><st1:country-region =
w:st=3D"on">Afghanistan</st1:country-region></st1:place></span></font></u=
></i></b><b><i><u><font
color=3Dblack face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-family:Arial;color:black;font-weight:
bold;font-style:italic'> </span></font></u></i></b><b><i><u><font =
color=3Dblack
face=3D"Courier New"><span style=3D'font-family:"Courier =
New";color:black;
font-weight:bold;font-style:italic'>call =
for:</span></font></u></i></b><font
color=3Dblack face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-family:Arial;color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><b><font size=3D3 color=3Dblack face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Courier =
New";color:black;font-weight:bold'>1)</span></font></b><font
size=3D2 color=3Dblack face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:
"Courier New";color:black'> A complete withdrawal of US and NATO armed =
forces
out of <st1:place w:st=3D"on"><st1:country-region =
w:st=3D"on">Afghanistan</st1:country-region></st1:place>,</span></font><f=
ont
color=3Dblack face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-family:Arial;color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><b><font size=3D3 color=3Dblack face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Courier =
New";color:black;font-weight:bold'>2)</span></font></b><font
size=3D2 color=3Dblack face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:
"Courier New";color:black'> Investigation into war =
crimes</span></font><font
color=3Dblack face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-family:Arial;color:black'> </span></font><font
size=3D2 color=3Dblack face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:
"Courier New";color:black'>leading to trials and =
sentences</span></font><font
color=3Dblack face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-family:Arial;color:black'> </span></font><font
size=3D2 color=3Dblack face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:
"Courier New";color:black'>for the planners of the war, =
and</span></font><font
color=3Dblack face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-family:Arial;color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><b><font size=3D3 color=3Dblack face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Courier =
New";color:black;font-weight:bold'>3)</span></font></b><font
size=3D2 color=3Dblack face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:
"Courier New";color:black'> reparations to be determined by a US and =
NATO
– independent international body, to be distributed by local =
states and
Afghanie</span></font><font color=3Dblack face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-family:
Arial;color:black'> </span></font><font size=3D2 color=3Dblack =
face=3D"Courier New"><span
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Courier =
New";color:black'>organizations
well known to be part of an illegal and immoral =
counter-insurgency</span></font><font
color=3Dblack face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-family:Arial;color:black'> </span></font><font
size=3D2 color=3Dblack face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:
"Courier New";color:black'>so that Afghanistan can begin to rebuild and =
heal
from the foreign-imported violence which has driven local forces away =
from
democracy, human rights, and back towards the US-armed =
Taliban.</span></font><font
color=3Dblack face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-family:Arial;color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal =
style=3D'mso-margin-top-alt:auto;margin-bottom:12.0pt'><font
size=3D3 color=3Dblack face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;
color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p><font size=3D2 color=3Dblack face=3D"Courier New"><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Courier New";color:black'>Original draft by Henry, Co-Chair =
Orange
County Greens / CODO VERDE; Director, OC Peace Action</span></font><font
color=3Dblack face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-family:Arial;color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><font size=3D2 color=3Dnavy face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;
color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p><font size=3D2 color=3Dnavy face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;
color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p><font size=3D2 color=3Dnavy face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;
color:navy'>Hank<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><font size=3D2 color=3Dnavy face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;
color:navy'>CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: This communication with its contents =
may
contain confidential and/ or legally privileged information. It is =
solely for the
use of the intended recipient (s) . Unauthorized interception, review, =
use or
disclosure is prohibited and may violate applicable laws including =
Electronic
Communication Privacy Act. If you are not the intended recipient, please
contact the sender and destroy all copies of the =
communication.</span></font><font
size=3D2 color=3Dblack face=3DArial><span =
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Arial;
color:black'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<div class=3DMsoNormal align=3Dcenter style=3D'text-align:center'><font =
size=3D3
color=3Dblack face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;color:black'>
<hr size=3D2 width=3D"100%" align=3Dcenter tabIndex=3D-1>
</span></font></div>
<p style=3D'margin-bottom:12.0pt'><font size=3D3 color=3Dblack =
face=3D"Times New Roman"><span
style=3D'font-size:12.0pt;color:black'>> Urgent: The Peace Movement =
Needs a
Strategy for<br>
> <st1:place w:st=3D"on"><st1:country-region =
w:st=3D"on">Afghanistan</st1:country-region></st1:place>!<br>
> <br>
> By Medea Benjamin <br>
> Common Dreams <br>
> July 24, 2008<br>
> <br>
> <a href=3D"http://www.commondreams.org/archive/2008/07/24/10574/"
title=3D"blocked::http://www.commondreams.org/archive/2008/07/24/10574/&#=
10;http://www.commondreams.org/archive/2008/07/24/10574/">http://www..com=
mondr<wbr
title=3D"blocked::http://www.commondreams.org/archive/2008/07/24/10574/">=
eams.org/<wbr
title=3D"blocked::http://www.commondreams.org/archive/2008/07/24/10574/">=
archive/2008/<wbr
title=3D"blocked::http://www.commondreams.org/archive/2008/07/24/10574/">=
07/24/10574/</a></span></font><font
size=3D2><span style=3D'font-size:10.0pt'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=3DMsoNormal><font size=3D3 face=3D"Times New Roman"><span =
style=3D'font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
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