When we talk about “Real Security through International Cooperation and the Funding of Human Needs” it is sometimes hard to understand what that means in terms of our daily lives.
On my way home I often pass a family saying hello and usually exchanging brief pleasantries. Normally, the father and sometimes the mother sit on the front stoop watching the baby play.Last night, however, as I rounded the corner something was very different.All the contents of their house had been dumped haphazardly onto the sidewalk; they were not sitting on the porch but rather on the street near their clothes.They had been “put out of their house.”They could not make the rent for this month and so this family of three (with a toddler) was homeless, sitting in the dark and cold with no place to go.They had left that morning for work and daycare with a small sense of security, only to arrive that night vulnerable and in genuine danger.How is it, in the richest democracy in the world, we can put a family out?
My neighborhood is known for gang activity.I myself, have witnessed 3 shootings; none of which, thankfully, resulted in death or injury; but they were scary. I can’t imagine being a toddler on the street hearing those booming noises echo only feet away from me.I have lots of Libertarian friends who don’t believe the government could solve these problems even if it did have a billion dollars.I might agree if we ever had a chance to test the theory.The money spent on militarism represents more than 70% of our Federal budget.The money for social programs is less than 5%.Where are our priorities?Why have we, for decades, chosen bombs over people?
Again, I turn to my Libertarian friends who claim the ONLY function of a Federal government is the protection of national boarders from foreign invaders.I would like to see a more comprehensive idea of ‘foreign invaders.’ I think hunger and frost bite should be counted among the terrorists affecting our world.
It strikes me that these terrorists are potently killing people all over the world on a daily basis – and U.S. investment in militarism only compounds the problem.I lived in Kosova for a time about a year ago.The people there are so grateful to the U.S. for ending the genocide perpetuated by Milosevic.They have a picture of Bill Clinton or Gen. Wesley Clark on nearly every street; including a giant mural on Bill Clinton bvld in downtown Prishtina.Of course there is another side to this gratitude.On Bill Clinton blvd there are still apartment buildings bombed out from U.S. strikes in 1999.People are still living in homes exposed to the elements with no water or electricity.The unemployment rate is staggering and the thousands of ‘missing’ are still unaccounted for.The political status of Kosova is still in flux between a Serbian territory and an independent state. Neither Europe nor the U.S. has invested enough money and time into the rebuilding of Kosova.We saved them from genocide and then condemned them to poverty through our inaction.
There is a similar story happening all over the world:in Ethiopia & Eutria; in Pakistan & Afghanistan; in Burma & S. Korea; in Sudan, in Sri Lanka, in Palestine, in Columbia, in Morocco, in every continent.Real security, internationally, means investing in the health and well being of all humans; knowing that persons whose security needs are met will never strap a bomb to their back and then board a train.
Terrorism, both the Islamic kind and the gang kind, can only be stopped by meeting our human needs as a global community.The U.S. is in a unique position to take leadership in this endeavor, and we have historically.Although now contentious, the IMF and World Bank served their original purpose after WWII.The funding provided by these international organizations rebuilt Europe after the devastation and renewed the historic cities to their former glory.We have lost the philanthropy which launched us into a global super power.Now we face our challenges with bombs and empty promises.Ours is a path of destruction and destitution.We must regain our conscious and expand our sense of community if we are ever to realize a peaceful world.
I don’t have a lot of time to make a proper analysis of the situation in Pakistan today but I wanted to take some space here to reflect on Democracy.How is it that our President claims to have invaded Iraq to unseat a military dictator who does not believe in Democracy AND YET will support Musharraf in his bid to overrun democracy in Pakistan.
Now the unpopular Pakistani strongman has imposed a state of emergency, disbanding the Supreme Court, shutting down the media and basic freedoms, and imprisoning democratic opposition leaders and activists. The ‘Emergency” is a cover to buy the time for backroom deals to ensure Musharraf’s political survival. All the while the populist former PM, Benazir Bhutto is blockaded into her home by the military and prevented from attending the opposition rally.
Peace Action is asking you to join with other peace activists:
Call the Pakistan Embassy (202.243.6500) and tell them the international community is watching and expects the rule of law to be restored;
Contact the State Department and say “Stop sending military and security funding to Pakistan until the constitution is restored and free, fair elections are ensured.” Call 202.647.6575 and press 1 to leave your comment.
Imagine you are a parent living in a war zone.A happy life is hardly a reality but you are surviving by keeping your head low and cooperating with no one and everyone.One day you venture out of your house for an hour to pick up flour for the next month.When you return your house, and the family you left there, you find it has been completely destroyed.Your children, your spouse, your life scattered around your land like rubble.You, and your family, have become victims of air strikes.
Whether in Kosova in the 90’s, or Afghanistan & Iraq today – air strikes are deadly to civilians and they have devastating effects on infrastructure for years to come.I’ve seen it.I’ve walked, ten years after the war, through the streets in Prishtina, Kosova where bombed hospitals sit empty and unused in an area where a mammography machine would save lives from breast cancer.I’ve lived in a house held up by makeshift beams and gutted on one side because a missal exploded 5 feet from the front door in 1999.
This month we’ve had new insight into the multinational forces (MNF) responsibility for civilian causalities in Iraq and Afghanistan. October was the deadliest month for civilians in Afghanistan and air strikes played a significant part.Last Sunday 60 minutes did a report on this very issue.They found a family who was suspected of harboring terrorists and bombed to death by multinational forces.The family was never confronted or warned to get out.The villagers claim those died never had anything to do with insurgents.MNF bombed without proof – they just bombed.President Karzai came out publicly in that program condemning air strikes.Bush touts Afghanistan as a victory and an explanation of what we are doing in Iraq.And yet, “while the enemy has killed hundreds of civilians this year, a similar number of civilians have been killed by American forces. With relatively few troops there, the U.S. and NATO rely on air power. The number of civilians killed in air strikes has doubled.”Where is the victory in that?
In Iraq we have less information because the MNF refuse to be open about the civilian causalities.The United Nations Assistance Mission in Iraq recently released a report which deals with civilian causalities. I’ll simply quote the highlights of page 9.“UNAMI recorded a number of incidents in which 88 civilians were reportedly killed during air strikes conducted by MNF forces.12 They included the following: nine civilians killed in five villages in the al-Anbakiya area near Ba’quba on 11 March; two civilians killed in Dulu’iya in Salahuddin Governorate on 15 March; 16 civilians killed in Sadr City in Baghdad on 30 March; 27 civilians killed in Khaldiya, Ramadi, on 3 April…..:”the list goes on for another 30 or so lines.
If we cannot stop this war let us at least stand up for the people who suffer from it on a daily basis.I urge you to contact your representatives and tell them to work with the UN to report these atrocities.We must bring the crimes of this war to light.The only weapon we have now is shame and the best way to shame our own government is to align ourselves with an international power.
If this video tears at your insides as much as it does mine please consider taking action to stop this war. Take part in regional demonstrations happening in areas near you on Sat., OCTOBER 27th. Check out this website for more information.
In 1961, Joseph Heller’s Catch-22 gave a face to war profiteering with the character Milo – a mess officer during WWII.Milo secretly replaces the CO2 cartridges in the emergency life vests with certificates for shares in his company M&M Enterprises. Milo uses his private Air Force to contract missions from German forces, including one that results in the bombing of his battalion’s ship.Milo wheels and deals trading morals for money, committing treason in no uncertain terms but in the end he declares to a U.S. court that what is good for M&M is good for the country because everyone gets a share.One of the most hated characters in literature, Milo is still alive today in the minds of some CEOs.They know, in the current political and economic environment, you can make a killing during war.
We’ve heard about Blackwater. This private contracting firm is said to be responsible for the needless deaths of countless Iraqis, as well as numerous American employees who were ill-equipped to protect themselves in the field.The actions of Blackwater employees (who are mostly former U.S. Military) are so atrocious and well documented that the Iraqi government has demanded the U.S. find a new company to provide security for civilian diplomats and that Blackwater pay reparations to the families of its victims. The U.S. Senate will vote on legislation to hold Blackwater and other private war contractors accountable for these actions. Show your support with an email.
We’ve heard about Halliburton, Dick Cheney’s friends and colleagues who have made over 10 Billion Dollars from U.S. contracts in Iraq.Halliburton does its killing through poor workman ship and exploitation.A report by TruthOut speaks to this, “Over the last year, government auditors have issued at least nine reports criticizing Halliburton’s Iraq work, and there are multiple criminal investigations into overcharging and kickbacks involving Halliburton’s contracts. Former Halliburton employees have testified before Congress about egregious instances of over billing. Despite these concerns, the Bush Administration continues to reject the recommendations of its auditors that 15% of Halliburton’s LOGCAP reimbursements be withheld until the company can provide better substantiation for its charges.” What is particularly egregious is how the long term affects of their ignorance will not only disable Iraqi infrastructure but may hurt U.S. troops and their families for generations.Like Milo trying to serve cotton to his troops for dinner to cut costs KBR/Halliburton sees nothing wrong with allowing our troops to bath in contaminated water.
We’ve heard about these companies because their offenses have recently been covered by mainstream media (Frontline documentary series on war contractors); but, do you know how many have died because of a lawnmower company?Caterpillar, a well known construction equipment company has provided thousands of demolition machines, complete with gun turrets, to the Israeli army for the sole purpose of destroying Palestinian homes.Too many times women, children, and the elderly are bowled over inside their houses.At least 18 people, including American Rachel Corrie, have been killed by the Israeli military use of CAT bulldozers.The U.S. Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation is organizing a day of action on October 19th to heighten awareness of these destructive killing machines.
So many companies benefit from war:Bechtel, CACI and Titan.All of these companies have made billions on the blood of U.S. troops and Iraqi citizens.They claim their profit benefits our country as a whole.But they have no allegiance to the U.S.The only pledge these companies make is to the almighty dollar.You can do something.
Divest:Look into your portfolio and do research on the companies you invest in.Uniting as shareholders and participants in this economy we can send a strong message that we will not profit from this oil war.
Shareholder Activism: If you decide to keep stock in these profiteering companies, participate at shareholder meetings.Work with other shareholders to vote on resolutions that would require corporate compliance with international human rights standards.
Call Your Representative:Ask for more accountability for contracted work, demand we disband our private army, and push to bring justice to criminals who hide behind contracts.
Organize:The majority of Americans want the U.S. out of Iraq.How many of them know about war profiteering?Now is the time to deepen the debate around war, war profiteering is a good place to start.
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