68 Organizations Denounce the Passage of the ‘Proposal for Agreement of the Dispatch to Afghanistan’ by the Government Cabinet Meeting.

* Photo by Koh Sung-Jin, Tongil News (same article below)Dec. 8, 2009

The yellow papers say. “Oppose Dispatch, Stop the Occupation”
The red board says, “ Oppose the Re-Dispatch to Afghanistan: For the humanity rather than false national interests”(University Students’ Sharing Culture).”

* Image source: Yonhap News, Dec. 8, 2009


* Image source: Korea Times, Dec. 8, 2009

68 Organizations Denounce the Passage of the ‘Proposal for Agreement of the Dispatch to Afghanistan’ by the Government Cabinet Meeting.

Tongil News, Dec. 8, 2009,
Koh, Sung-Jin reporter (kolong81@tongilnews.com)

* Below is unofficial translation of the most parts of the article above.

The Civilian Alliance Against the Redeployment of Troops to Afghanistan, composed of 68 organizations, strongly denounced the South Korean government’s decision to carry the proposal for the agreement of the dispatch to Afghanistan, through the government cabinet meeting, in the press interview at 1pm, Dec. 8, at the building of People’s Solidarity for Participatory Democracy (PSPD), Seoul.

The organizations announced through its press interview statement that said, “We strongly denounce the government decision that is anti-democratic and anti-peace, which unilaterally drives for the re-dispatch to Afghanistan, while not only ignoring the public opinion opposing the re-dispatch but also totally reversing down the [former government's] agreement with its people in 2007 that the [South Korea] would not re-dispatch to Afghanistan.”

The organizations told that“ We have announced that the dispatch to Afghanistan is not for the “reconstruction” but for the support for the occupation. […]. They criticized the government, saying that “Still. The government is deceiving people, saying again that the deployed troops are not combat troops but the reconstruction team helping the provincial reconstruction”.

Following it, the organizations saying. “ Then, why the government composes the 500 of the PRT (Provincial Reconstruction Team) with the special combat troops, arming them with heavy weapons, and even dispatch the fighter helicopter for the first time since the Vietnam war?”, heightened their voice that “Even though the government tries to persuade people, emphasizing the need of re-dispatch to Afghanistan by all means, it can not hide the truth that it is the dispatch to support the massacre war”.

Lee Tae-Ho, Secretary for Cooperation, PSPD saying that [the government] “did not include the PRT in the proposal” told that “We can not but highly concern about [its proposal], in the sense that the government, repeating its claim that the PRT is not the multi-national force but the civilian agents, announced that it would not need the agreement by the National Assembly, on the matter of the dispatch of the PRT in the future, as well.”

Saying that, “While the government is abnormally operating the PRT, the PRT is the ISAF itself, in Afghanistan”, he pinpointed out that “ Does it fit to the general [principal] of the international society the government says, that it does not need the agreement by the National Assembly to dispatch the troops, under the [false] cause of protection of the PRT?”

Saying that ”While other countries are planning to withdraw, [the South Korean] government broke up the existing custom to get the agreement for dispatch [by the National Assembly], every year, and it defined the dispatch term of two years and six months”, he appealed that “Obviously, it is the subject for the hearing [by the national Assembly]. The National Assembly must pinpoint out, in detail, regarding the issue of the dispatch to Afghanistan, which is [by the decision of the government] obstinate and irresponsible, reversing down the agreement with the people by [the former government].”

[…]

* Related blogs

Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Text Fwd:[Statement] We Denounce the Passage of the Proposal for the Agreement of Dispatch to Afghanistan by the Cabinet Meeting.

Monday, Nov. 30, 2009
Text Fwd: [Statement] Is the Lee Myung Bak Government, By All Means, to Submit the Proposal for the Agreement for the Dispatch, to the National Assembly?
(Unofficial translation)

Blog Collection: No Korean Troops in Afghanistan


* Related articles

Yonhap News
S. Korea finalizes plan for troop deployment to Afghanistan
Dec. 8, 2009

Korea Times
360 Troops, Police Officers to Be Dispatched to Afghanistan
By Jung Sung-ki, 12-08-2009

Joongang Ilbo (Informed by StopNATO, with the title of 'Afghanistan: NATO To Get First Contingent Of South Korean Troops')
Government details plan to send troops to Afghanistan
Up to 350 soldiers will guard Korean aid workers
By Yoo Jee-ho, December 9, 2009
“We must reach a participation agreement with ISAF, and I attended a
conference with foreign ministers of ISAF members last week to consult with NATO
representatives. The ISAF is taking steps to bring us on board and we expect to
become a member within the next couple of weeks.”

Text Fwd:[Statement] We Denounce the Passage of the Proposal for the Agreement of Dispatch to Afghanistan by the Cabinet Meeting.

• Below is the unofficial translation of the statement loaded in the site, Left 21

[아프가니스탄 재파병 반대 시민사회단체 연석회의 성명서]
2009년 12월 8일

[Statement by the Civilian Alliance
Against the Redeployment of Troops to Afghanistan]
Dec. 8, 2009

아프가니스탄 파병 동의안 국무회의 통과 규탄한다.

We Denounce the Passage of the Proposal for the Agreement of Dispatch to Afghanistan by the Cabinet Meeting.


오늘(8일) 국무회의에서 ‘국군부대의 아프가니스탄 파견 동의안’이 통과됐다. 우리는 재파병에 반대하는 국민 여론을 무시할 뿐 아니라, 지난 2007년 아프가니스탄에 재파병하지 않겠다는 국민과의 합의를 완전히 뒤집고 일방적으로 아프간에 재파병을 추진하는 이명박 정부의 비민주적이며 반(反)평화적인 결정을 강력히 규탄한다.

Today, on Dec. 8, 2009, the ‘Proposal for the Agreement of the South Korean Troop Dispatch to Afghanistan’ was passed by the cabinet meeting. We strongly denounce the Lee Myung Bak government’s decision to drive for the re-dispatch to Afghanistan, which is anti-democratic and anti-peace, and that is not only ignoring the public opinion to oppose the re-dispatch but also totally reversing down [the former government’s] decision that it would not re-dispatch to Afghanistan.

설상가상으로 국민의 안위를 걱정해야 마땅할 대통령이 재파병이 부를 재앙을 외면한 채 “국민이 필요 이상의 걱정을 하고 있다”고 했다. 그러나 무엇이 “필요 이상의 걱정”이란 말인가? 국민들은 2007년 아프가니스탄 파병 정책 때문에 윤장호 하사를 잃었고, 그해 여름에는 23명의 선교사들이 피랍됐을 뿐 아니라 2명이 목숨을 잃었다. 또, ‘테러와의 전쟁’에 동참한 대가로 한국이 테러 대상 국가가 된 지 오래다. 자이툰 부대가 “기름밭 위에 있다”며 피 묻은 이라크 인들의 석유에 눈독을 드리더니 이제는 국민 생명은 안중에도 없고, 아프가니스탄인들을 학살하면서 무엇을 얻으려는 것인가?

Furthermore, the President who must concern about the safety and well-fare of people, while ignoring the disaster that the re-dispatch would bring, told that “The people are concerning about, more than they need.” However, what is the “concerning about, more than need”. The people lost the staff sergeant, Yoon Jang-Ho in 2007, for the policy of dispatch to Afghanistan, and two people lost their lives [by being killed] when the 23 [Christian] missionaries were abducted in summer, same year. It has been long time that the South Korea has become the target of terror, for her involvement in the ‘war on terror’, as well. While the Zaitoon troop unit saying, “We are on the oil field”, the South Korea has coveted the Iraq oil tainted by the Iraqis’ blood, now the government with no concern of the lives of its people, what does it aim for, killing the Afghans?

그동안 우리는 아프가니스탄 파병이 ‘재건’이 아니라 점령 지원임을 분명히 밝혀 왔다. 미국 의회 내에서조차 아프가니스탄 ‘재건’은 실패했다는 것이 공공연한 사실이다. ‘재건’ 사업은 부패로 얼룩져 복마전이 된 지 오래다. 그런데도 정부는 국민을 속이며 또다시 “파병되는 군이 전투병이 아니라 지역 재건을 돕는 재건팀”이라고 우기고 있다.

For a time being, we have announced that the dispatch to Afghanistan is not ‘reconstruction’ but the support for occupation. Even in the United States Congress, it is the open fact that the ‘reconstruction’ of Afghanistan has failed. It has been long that the ‘reconstruction’ business, smeared with corruption, has become an abode of demons, Still then, the government, deceiving its people, again asserts that “The dispatched is not the combat troops but the reconstruction team that helps the provincial reconstruction.”

그렇다면 정부는 왜 500여 명으로 구성된 지역재건팀(PRT)을 특전사로 구성하고, 이들을 중화기로 무장한 채, 베트남 전쟁 이후 최초로 전투 헬기까지 함께 보내는가? 정부가 아무리 아프간 재파병 필요성을 강변하며 국민을 설득하려 해도 결국 학살 전쟁을 뒷받침할 파병이라는 진실을 가릴 수는 없다. 또한 아프간 철군을 약속했던 국민과의 합의를 일방적으로 파기한 정치적 책임 또한 절대 피해 갈 수 없을 것이다.

Then, why the government send the Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT), composed of 500, with the special combat troop, arming it with heavy weapons, and even together with the combat helicopters? Even thought the government, forcefully asserting the need of the re-dispatch to Afghanistan, tries to persuade its people, by all means, it can never hide the truth that it is the dispatch to support the massacre war. Nor it can avoid its political responsibility that it unilaterally abandoned [the former government’s] promise to its people of the withdrawal from Afghanistan.

우리는 이명박 정부에 엄중히 경고한다. 이명박 정부는 즉각 아프간 재파병 추진을 중단하라. 지역재건팀(PRT)도 경찰도 이를 보호할 경계 병력도 모두 명백하게 국민과의 약속을 어긴 아프간 재파병이라는 점에서 절대 정당화될 수 없다. 국회는 이러한 아프간 재파병을 손쉽게 찬성해서도 묵과해서도 안 될 것이다. 아프가니스탄 재파병에 반대하는 제 시민사회단체들은 아프가니스탄 재파병을 저지하기 위해 강력히 투쟁할 것이다. 끝

We severely warn against the Lee Myung Bak government. Lee Myung-Bak government, immediately stop the re-dispatch to Afghanistan. Any of the PRT, police, and the security troops to protect the two can never be justified, in the sense that it is the re-dispatch to Afghanistan, which clearly violated the promise with people. The National Assembly must neither easily be in favor of [the proposal] nor be silent with it. All the civil organizations opposing the re-dispatch to Afghanistan will strongly and firmly fight to stop the re-dispatch to Afghanistan.


2009년 12월 8일

Dec, 8, 2009

아프가니스탄 재파병 반대 시민사회단체 연석회의

Civilian Alliance Against the Redeployment of Troops to Afghanistan,
South Korea


* Related blog:
http://nobasestorieskorea.blogspot.com/2009/12/68-organizations-denounce-passage-of.html
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
68 Organizations Denounce the Passage of the ‘Proposal for Agreement of the Dispatch to Afghanistan’ by the Government Cabinet Meeting.

Text Fwd: [Statement] Is the Lee Government, By All Means, to Submit the Proposal for the Agreement for the Dispatch, to the National Assembly?

* Below is the unofficial translation of the statement by the Civilian Alliance Against the Redeployment of Troops to Afghanistan, composed of 68 organizations in South Korea, on Nov. 30, 2009.


[성명]이명박 정부는 기어이 국회에 파병동의안을 제출하려는 것인가?
2009년 11월 30일

[Statement] Is the Lee Myung Bak Government, By All Means, to Submit the Proposal for the Agreement for the Dispatch, to the National Assembly?
Nov. 30, 2009

이명박 정부는 다음 주 국무회의를 거쳐 12월 국회에 파병동의안을 제출하기로제출하기로 했다. 재파병을 결정한 직후 정부는 신속하게 국회 동의안까지 제출할 심산이다. 그러나 국민의국민의 과반 수 이상이 재파병에 반대하는데도 “불통” 정부는 한나라당이 다수인 국회에 파병 동의안을파병 동의안을 제출해 기어이 학살 전쟁에 군대를 재파병하겠다는 것인가?

The Lee Myung Bak government has decided to submit the proposal for the agreement for the dispatch, to the National Assembly, in December, after the passage by the cabinet meeting next week. The government, right after its decision to re-dispatch to Afghanistan, is intending to promptly submit the proposal for the agreement to the National Assembly, as well. However, while more than half of the [South Korean] people oppose the re-dispatch, is the “no understanding” government, by all means, willing to re-deploy the troops for the massacre war, by submitting the proposal for the agreement for the dispatch, to the National Assembly where the majority is the Grand National Party (* the conservative right wing party)?

우리는 재파병에 반대하는 국민 여론을 무시할 뿐 아니라, 지난 2007년 아프가니스탄에 재파병하지 않겠다는 국민과의 합의를 완전히완전히 뒤집고 일방적으로 아프간에 재파병을 추진하는 정부의 비민주적이며 반(反)평화적인 결정을 강력히 규탄한다.

We strongly denounce the government decision that is anti-democratic and anti-peace, which unilaterally drives for the re-dispatch to Afghanistan, while not only ignoring the public opinion opposing the re-dispatch but also totally reversing down the [former government’s] agreement with its people in 2007 that [South Korea] would not re-dispatch to Afghanistan.

지난 11월 12일 정부는정부는 국민 몰래 아프가니스탄 현지로 정부합동실사단을 파견했다. 실사단 파견 직전까지만 해도 외통부외통부 장관 유명환은 “이달 중 파견하기 쉽지 않을 것 같다”며 시치미를 땠다. 실사단은실사단은 아프가니스탄에서 무엇을 했는가? 점령군인 미군, 나토군의 지휘를 받는 국제안보지원군(ISAF), 부정선거로 당선한 카르자이카르자이 정부 인사들을 만나 아프가니스탄 현지의 사정을 알고 돌아왔다고 했다. 그러나그러나 대다수 아프가니스탄인들이 점령에 반대하고 있다는 사실은 왜 말하지 않는가? 이미 점령에점령에 반대하는 탈레반 세력이 아프가니스탄의 80퍼센트를 장악하고 있다.

Last November 12th, the government dispatched the joint research and investigation team to Afghanistan, without informing to people. Even right before the dispatch of [it], Ryu Myung-Hwan, the Ministry of the Foreign Affairs and Trade Department feigned it, saying that “It will not likely to dispatch [the joint research and investigation team] within this month.” What did the joint research and investigation team do in Afghanistan? They say that they did meet the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) ordered by the NATO, and the honoraries of the Karzai government who were elected by the illegal votes. But why do they not tell the fact that most Afghans oppose against the occupation? Already the Taliban who oppose against the occupation has grasped 80% of Afghanistan.

실사단은 파병 예정지로 손꼽히는 파르완 주(州)가 “가장 안전한안전한 지역 중 하나”라며 또다시 국민을 속이고 있다. 그러나 파르완 주(州)는 지난 3년3년 동안 탈레반이 상시적으로 출몰하는 지역으로 이미 탈레반이 장악한 지역에 속한다. 1주일에1주일에 한 번 이상 탈레반이 공격하는 지역이자 아프가니스탄에서 “미군의 무덤”으로 불리는 지역이다. 게다가게다가 2007년 윤장호 하사가 파르완 주(州)에 있는 바그람 기지 앞에서 경비를 서다 폭탄폭탄 공격으로 사망하지 않았는가?

The joint research and investigation team is again deceiving people, saying that the Parwan state that has been pointed out as a planned area for the dispatch is “one of the most safe regions” However, the Parwan state is where the Taliban has routinely appeared for last three years and already belongs to the region that the Taliban has occupied. It is the region where the Taliban attacks more than once a week and is called the “Tomb of the United States Forces” in Afghanistan. Furthermore, wasn’t the staff sergeant, Yoon Jang-Ho killed by the bomb attack, while he was standing as a security, in front of the Bagram air force base in 2007, was he?

폭력과 인권유린으로인권유린으로 악명 높은 바그람 기지 근처로 군대를 파병하겠다는 것도 위험한 발상이지만, 미군들이미군들이 많으니 안전하다는 외통부의 설명은 이 정부가 얼마나 국민 목숨을 하찮게 여기는지 보여보여 준다. 테러의 주된 표적이 미군과 미군기지이기 때문에 미군 사망자 수가 급증하고 있다.있다. 미군 곁으로 파병하겠다는 것은 자살행위나 다름없다.

It is a very dangerous idea to dispatch the troops to near the Bagram AFB infamous for violation and abuse of human rights but the explanation by the Foreign Affairs and Trade Department, that the area is safe because there is a lot of the United States force, shows how the current government takes the lives of people worthlessly. The causality rate of the United States forces is increasing because the main target of terror is the United States force and its bases. It is nothing but the suicide act to dispatch the troops to the area beside which the United States force is staying.

정부가 아무리 아프간 재파병 필요성을 강변하며 국민을 설득하려 해도 결국결국 학살 전쟁을 뒷받침할 파병이라는 진실을 가릴 수는 없다. 또한 아프간 철군을 약속했던약속했던 국민과의 합의를 일방적으로 파기한 정치적 책임 또한 절대 피해 갈 수수 없을 것이다.

Even though the government tries to persuade people, emphasizing the need of re-dispatch to Afghanistan by all means, it can never hide the truth that it is the dispatch to support the massacre war. Also, it can never avoid its political responsibility that it unilaterally abandoned its agreement with people with whom [the former government] had promised the troop withdrawal from Afghanistan.

우리는 이명박 정부에정부에 엄중히 경고한다. 이명박 정부는 즉각 아프간 재파병 추진을 중단하라. PRT도 경찰도경찰도 이를 보호할 경계병력도 모두 명백하게 국민과의 약속을 어긴 아프간 재파병이라는 점에서 절대절대 정당화될 수 없다. 국회는 이러한 아프간 재파병을 손쉽게 찬성해서도 묵과해서도 안 될될 것이다.

We severely warn against the Lee Myung Bak government. Lee Myung bak government, immediately stop the drive for the re-dispatch to Afghanistan! In the sense that the PRT, the police, the security force to protect the two are all meant to re-dispatch to Afghanistan, which clearly violates the promise with people, they can never be justified. The National Assembly of Republic of Korea must be neither easily in favor of it nor silent of its opinion.

아프가니스탄 재파병에 반대하는반대하는 제 시민사회단체들은 아프가니스탄 재파병을 저지하기 위해 강력히 투쟁할 것이다. 정 부는 최근 이와 관련한 기자회견 및 촛불문화제에서 과도하게 진압하며 탄압을 해 왔다. 정부의 그 어떤 탄압도 우리의 반전평화 열망을 봉쇄하지는 못할 것이다. 우리는 아프간 재파병을 반대하는 다양한 반전평화 행동들을 더욱 더 적극적으로 펼쳐나갈 것이다. 아프간 재파병을 중단하라. 끝

The civil social organizations opposing the re-dispatch to Afghanistan will strongly fight to stop the re-dispatch to Afghanistan. The government, related to that matter, has severely cracked down and oppressed the people in press interview and candle light culture event. No oppression can block our aspiration for anti-war and peace. We will more actively drive our various activities for peace and anti-war, opposing dispatch to Afghanistan. Stop the re-dispatch to Afghanistan!

Nov. 30, 2009

아프가니스탄 재파병 반대 시민사회단체 연석회의
The Civilian Alliance Against the Redeployment of Troops to Afghanistan

반전평화연대(준), 이명박 심판! 민주주의 민중생종권 쟁취 공동투쟁본부, 건강사회를위한약사회, 건강사회를위한치과의사회, 경계를넘어, 국제노동자교류센터, 기독교사회선교연대회의, 나눔문화, 남북공동선언실천연대, 노동건강연대, 노동인권회관, 녹색연합, 농민약국, 다함께, 대학생나눔문화, 대학생다함께, 동성애자인권연대, 문화연대, 미친교육반대청소년인권보장청소년연대, 민가협양심수후원회, 민주주의자주통일대학대표자협의회(건), 민주노동당, 민족자주평화통일중앙회의, 민주노동자전국회의, 민주화운동가족협의회, 민족문제연구소, 민족민주열사희생자추모(기념)단체연대회의, 보건의료단체연합, 불교평화연대, (사)민족화합운동연합, 사월혁명회, (사)전국민주화운동유가족협의회, 사회당, 사회진보연대, 우리마당, 우리민족연방제통일추진회의, 예수살기, 615공동선언실천청년학생연대, 21세기한국대학생연합, 2005년파병철회단식동지회, 인도주의실천의사협의회, 자본의위기전가에맞서싸우는공동투쟁본부, 전국농민회총연맹, 전국민족민주유가족협의회, 민주공무원노동조합, 전국민주노동조합총연맹, 전국빈민연합, 전국여성농민회총연합, 전국여성연대, 전국학생행진, 전쟁없는세상, 조국통일범민족연합남측본부, 진보신당, 참여연대, 참된의료실현을위한청년한의사회, 통일광장, 팔레스타인평화연대, 평화네트워크, 평화와통일을여는사람들, 평화여성회, 평화의친구들, 평화재향군인회, 한국대학총학생회연합, 한국노동사회연구소, 한국진보연대, 한국청년단체연합(준), 한국청년연합, 한국카톨릭농민회(21일 현재 67개 단체)

Text Fwd: S. Korea obliged to play a bigger role in Afghanistan: minister

* Yonhap News
2009/11/06 16:00 KST
S. Korea obliged to play a bigger role in Afghanistan: minister
By Tony Chang

SEOUL, Nov. 6 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's recent decision to send military troops to Afghanistan was made as part of the country's obligations as a responsible member of the international community, Seoul's foreign minister said Friday.

Seoul announced its decision last week to send an independent "Provincial Reconstruction Team" (PRT) to the war-torn Central Asian country, with officials forecasting the team will be composed of about 50 civilian reconstruction workers and 300 security forces.

The South Korean government separately plans to increase the number of aid workers belonging to a U.S. PRT located at an Air Force Base in Bagram, north of Kabul, from 24 to 85 early next year, the officials said.

"The decision to expand aid for Afghanistan is in line with our country's diplomatic policy. We're now required to play an important role in international society, particularly in consideration of our status as one of the world's 10 largest economies and a key member of the Group of 20 Summit," Yu said during an interpellation at the National Assembly.

South Korea withdrew 200 troops from Afghanistan in 2007 but has been under pressure to make more contributions there. Around 67,000 U.S. soldiers and about 40,000 troops from 40 other countries are stationed there, either supporting reconstruction efforts or fighting against the Taliban.

Yu also said that South Korea "should prepare for sacrifices" when asked by a lawmaker about the potential threats South Korean troops may face.

In 2007, Taliban insurgents kidnapped 23 South Korean church workers, mostly in their 20s, in Afghanistan. Two were killed, while the others were released after lengthy negotiations between the South Korean government and the captors.

The PRT will be run separately from the U.S. PRT in Bagram, Seoul officials said, adding South Korea is working to build a large hospital and job-training center inside the base.

The South Korean government is expected to send a fact-finding team sometime after November to decide how many soldiers will be sent and where they will be based.

odissy@yna.co.kr

Text Fwd: SUPPORT FOR AFGHANISTAN FALLS BUT PERMANENT BASES BEING BUILT

Bruce Gagnon blog
Saturday, August 08, 2009
SUPPORT FOR AFGHANISTAN FALLS BUT PERMANENT BASES BEING BUILT

A new CNN/Opinion Research Corp. poll has found that 54% of Americans say they oppose the US war in Afghanistan, up six points from May. Only 41% now stand in support of the war.

"Afghanistan is almost certainly the Obama policy that Republicans like the most," CNN Polling Director Keating Holland said. "Nearly two-thirds of Republicans support the war in Afghanistan. Three-quarters of Democrats oppose the war."

This is of course very good news. But the flip side of the coin is that, just like in Iraq, the US has no intention of leaving Afghanistan. New permanent bases are being built in Afghanistan - for example a $17 million troop barracks (above) at Bagram Air Base.

Columnist David Wood writes, "Eight years after American forces scattered the Taliban and effectively conquered Afghanistan, the United States is embarked on a frenzied $220 million building campaign at this sprawling and still expanding military air base. Just to meet the base's demand for fresh concrete, it has two of its own cement factories working full time."

"Today, Bagram sports a Burger King and Pizza Hut, five mess halls, and living quarters for 20,000 people (so far), office spaces for the command, Joint Task Force-82, and for dozens of other headquarters and agencies. A well-stocked PX sells everything from potato chips to vacuum cleaners."

"Bagram's air facilities, its supersized runway, parking aprons, cargo handling machines and maintenance bays are sized for the stream of intercontinental and local cargo aircraft, aero-medical evacuation planes, bombers, strike fighters, unmanned drone aircraft and cargo and attack helicopters that roar in and out of here day and night."

It appears that what the American people want, an end to the war in Afghanistan, will just have to wait. The corporate dominated US government has other plans in mind. I know what you are thinking, how can we afford to keep permanent US bases in Iraq and Afghanistan while our economy collapses back here at home? Who will pay for all of this?

The answer it seems is you, your children, and your grandchildren. The US government will continue to run up massive debt and we all will be paying for it. We will also see more cutbacks in social spending as the politicians attempt to balance the budget - on our backs.

Please remember, the Pentagon has determined that America's role in the world under corporate globalization will be "security export" and that is just what we are doing in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Pakistan today. We are exporting war and violence and we are rather good at it.

Don't be fooled that a new president will turn things around for us. He won't. He is doing the bidding of the military industrial complex. The citizenry has to provide the leadership now. We have to demand a halt to endless war and conversion of the war machine. If we don't then we will just get more of the same.

Your kids and grand kids might end up sleeping in these new barracks at Bagram...it might be the only job available under our "security export" economy.