War in Afghanistan: Evolving Military Marriage between Canada and the US

Tweet this

Tweet this

July 2011 and beyond, no country will have been more closely integrated with U.S. President Barack Obama and Gen. Stanley McChrystal's counterinsurgency war in Afghanistan than the Canadians. Shortly after McChrystal took over as commanding general of all NATO and U.S. troops occupying Afghanistan earlier this year, he praised the Canadian Forces for their implementation of “population-centric counterinsurgency (COIN)” in the southern part of the country.

War in Afghanistan: Evolving Military Marriage between Canada and the US

Insurgents Intercept Drone Video in King-Size Security Breach

In Iraq and Afghanistan, the U.S. military depends on an array of drones to snoop on and stalk insurgents. Now it looks as if insurgents are tapping into those same drones’ broadcasts, to see what the flying robot spies see. If true — and widespread — it’s potentially one of the most serious military security breaches in years.

Using cheap, downloadable programs like SkyGrabber, militants were apparently able to watch and record the video feed — and potentially be tipped off when U.S. and coalition forces are stalking them. The $26 software was originally designed to let users download movies and songs off of the internet. Turns out, the program lets you nab Predator drone feeds just as easily as pirated copies of The Hangover.

Insurgents Intercept Drone Video in King-Size Security Breach | Danger Room | Wired.com

A Wider and Unnecessary War

By PATRICK COCKBURN

It will be a long and unnecessary war. President Obama is sending 30,000 extra troops to Afghanistan to prove that the US can impose its will on the country and crush by military means what is still a relatively small scale insurrection.

The real reasons for escalating the conflict are very different from those declared by Mr Obama. He claims that al-Qa’ida might re-establish itself in Afghanistan under the protection of the Taliban and once again threaten the US and its allies with a repeat of 9/11. But there is no evidence that this is happening.

Patrick Cockburn: The March of Folly

Related articles by Zemanta

• No reliable Bin Laden information in years, says Robert Gates (telegraph.co.uk)

The Dark Country by Gil Shochat

The Afghan torture scandal. The Arar affair. Adscam. The Bush years. Given so many cautionary tales, why are Canadians still letting the government hide public information?

The Walrus » January/February 2010 » The Dark Country by Gil Shochat

Malalai Joya: Canada must withdraw troops from Afghanistan immediately

As an elected member of the Wolesi Jirga from Farah province, she has publicly denounced the presence of what she considers warlords and war criminals in the parliament. In May 2007, Joya was suspended from the parliament on the grounds that she had insulted fellow representatives in a television interview.

I have just completed a two-week speaking tour across Canada, bringing a message to the great people of this country: The people of Afghanistan are fed up with the occupation of their country and with the corrupt, Mafia-state of Hamid Karzai and the warlords and drug lords backed by NATO.

Malalai Joya: Canada must withdraw troops from Afghanistan immediately | The Dominion

Afghan Scandal Sullies Canada

Our leaders were warned that not jailing prisoners ourselves would lead to torture

by Eric Margolis

Canada has long been admired around the globe as a nation of high ethics, human rights and respect for law.

But Canada's sterling reputation is being seriously degraded by the spreading scandal over involvement in torture in the increasingly sordid Afghan conflict.

Afghan Scandal Sullies Canada | CommonDreams.org

Hébert: MPs out of the loop on Afghan torture?

Chantal Hébert

Under a majority Conservative government, former diplomat Richard Colvin's assertion that Canada knowingly allowed scores of Afghan civilian detainees to fall into the hands of torturers would likely have remained the stuff of informed behind-the-scenes speculation.

Until a parliamentary subcommittee stepped in to look into the matter, the government had deployed a lot of heavy legal artillery to prevent Colvin from telling his story to a more private inquiry held by the independent Military Police Complaints Commission.

Why?

Hébert: MPs out of the loop on Afghan torture? Unlikely - thestar.com

How the US Funds the Taliban

incredible warped tale of corruption and duplicity of massive proportions.

from The Nation by Aram Roston

With Pentagon cash, contractors bribe insurgents not to attack supply lines for US troops

How the US Funds the Taliban

Afghanistan Pipeline

So here we go. This pipeline was in the works even before the US invaded the country. Part of the reason for the war? Many thought so at the time, though it never really came up in the mainstream press at the time (or since). Now it's a done deal and the complexion of things change utterly. Now Canada is playing it's part in the 'great game' for Central Asian Oil. Time to move the discussion on, or should I say start a discussion about the real reasons we are over there. Read the PDF.

A Pipeline Through A Troubled Land
info@policyalternatives.ca (John Foster)