Global peace rallies on March 17

Dear Editor:

The Canadian Peace Alliance (CPA) and the Collectif Échec à la Guerre are organizing events to end Canadian support for the war of occupation in Afghanistan, and the Anglo/U.S. war in Iraq. Groups across the country are preparing for the event. The CPA recently sent out the following press release: "March 17 marks the fourth anniversary of the Invasion of Iraq and thousands in Canada and all over the world will march to end war in Iraq and Afghanistan. “For each stated goal for the war in Afghanistan, we have moved backward and not forward. The Taliban is stronger than ever. Freedom and security are more elusive than before the 2001 invasion. There has been more destruction than reconstruction, and women’s rights are being eroded. The prospects for the future are grim. Canada’s Senate released a report on February 12, 2007, that states ‘Anyone expecting to see the emergence in Afghanistan within the next several decades of a recognizable modern democracy capable of delivering justice and amenities to its people is dreaming in Technicolor.’ “In Iraq, after 12 years of merciless sanctions which had killed more than one million people, four years of occupation, false promises of democracy and reconstruction have only resulted in more deaths and devastation, and plunged the country into a civil war.”

The Harper Conservatives have complained to NATO allies that military forces from other countries need to take part in warmaking in Afghanistan. American, British, and Canadian forces are carrying out the bulk of these actions there. No other countries have agreed to join in, however. They are not mixing up reconstruction with destruction as these three do. The anticipated response by the Taliban and Afghans to the continued occupation of their country by foreign armies, and to seemingly endless grinding poverty, is expected to be deadly and thorough... and is to start in a few short weeks. Afghans can now get paid by the Taliban many more times what they'd receive as policemen and national soldiers, and can fight to free the country of occupiers at the same time. Our soldiers are put in the impossible position of trying to win a war for oil companies while helping rebuild infrastructure in a war zone... all while trying to stay alive and not killing civilians. Most of their political leaders -- and especially Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Rick Hillier -- have failed them. They've needlessly chosen an all-or-nothing path for our troops, and too many may end up with nothing.

The Annapolis/Digby Peace Group will hold a rally on March 17, at 1 p.m. at the lights in Annapolis Royal. Help send a message to the Harper Conservatives (and a handful of Liberal MPs): End support for the wars in Afghanistan, and Iraq. All welcome.

Hopefully,

Laurie McGowan

Mochelle, NS