Showing posts with label AFGHANISTAN. Show all posts
Showing posts with label AFGHANISTAN. Show all posts
Saturday, October 10, 2009
* All Out To Oppose Obama's Aghan War (And Iraq And Pakistan Too!) On October 17th-The Streets Are Not For Dreaming Now!
Click on title to link to information about next weekend's (October 17, 2009)th) scheduled anti-war activities from the "United For Justice With Peace" web site. As usual I will make the disclaimer that I almost totally disagree with every strategic and tactical move this organization makes. However, we need to get to the streets now so this is the activity that we have to participate in-under our own anti-imperialist, anti-militarist, anti-capitalist banners. Simply put- "Obama-Immediate Withdrawal Of All U.S./Allied Troops From Afghanistan (And Iraq and Pakistan Too!)"
Friday, September 04, 2009
*It 's McChrystal Clear- U.S. Afghan Troop Escalation Coming- From Knee-Deep To Waist-Deep In "The Big Poppy"
Click on title to link to National Public Radio's report on September 1, 2009 of the musings of Afghan top commander, General Stanley McChrystal, about (another) future troop escalation in Afghanistan. Well,boys and girls, the time for Obamian illusions is over. It is time to settle up. The streets are not for dreaming now. Get the poster boards, the old bed sheets, magic markers, paint and cell phones ready. "Obama-Immediate Unconditional Withdrawal Of All U.S./Allied Troops From Afghanistan ((Iraq And Pakistan Too!)"
Every once in a while (more frequently than I would like) old Pete Seeger's song about his World War II adventures that served as a parable for President Lyndon Johnson and his constant Vietnam escalations, "Waist Deep In The Big Muddy" just seems appropriate. This is one of those occasions. Just switch "Big Poppy" for "Big Muddy" and you will have it just about right.
"Waist Deep In The Big Muddy"-Pete Seeger
It was back in nineteen forty-two,
I was a member of a good platoon.
We were on maneuvers in-a Loozianna,
One night by the light of the moon.
The captain told us to ford a river,
That's how it all begun.
We were -- knee deep in the Big Muddy,
But the big fool said to push on.
The Sergeant said, "Sir, are you sure,
This is the best way back to the base?"
"Sergeant, go on! I forded this river
'Bout a mile above this place.
It'll be a little soggy but just keep slogging.
We'll soon be on dry ground."
We were -- waist deep in the Big Muddy
And the big fool said to push on.
The Sergeant said, "Sir, with all this equipment
No man will be able to swim."
"Sergeant, don't be a Nervous Nellie,"
The Captain said to him.
"All we need is a little determination;
Men, follow me, I'll lead on."
We were -- neck deep in the Big Muddy
And the big fool said to push on.
All at once, the moon clouded over,
We heard a gurgling cry.
A few seconds later, the captain's helmet
Was all that floated by.
The Sergeant said, "Turn around men!
I'm in charge from now on."
And we just made it out of the Big Muddy
With the captain dead and gone.
We stripped and dived and found his body
Stuck in the old quicksand.
I guess he didn't know that the water was deeper
Than the place he'd once before been.
Another stream had joined the Big Muddy
'Bout a half mile from where we'd gone.
We were lucky to escape from the Big Muddy
When the big fool said to push on.
Well, I'm not going to point any moral;
I'll leave that for yourself
Maybe you're still walking, you're still talking
You'd like to keep your health.
But every time I read the papers
That old feeling comes on;
We're -- waist deep in the Big Muddy
And the big fool says to push on.
Waist deep in the Big Muddy
And the big fool says to push on.
Waist deep in the Big Muddy
And the big fool says to push on.
Waist deep! Neck deep! Soon even a
Tall man'll be over his head, we're
Waist deep in the Big Muddy!
And the big fool says to push on!
Every once in a while (more frequently than I would like) old Pete Seeger's song about his World War II adventures that served as a parable for President Lyndon Johnson and his constant Vietnam escalations, "Waist Deep In The Big Muddy" just seems appropriate. This is one of those occasions. Just switch "Big Poppy" for "Big Muddy" and you will have it just about right.
"Waist Deep In The Big Muddy"-Pete Seeger
It was back in nineteen forty-two,
I was a member of a good platoon.
We were on maneuvers in-a Loozianna,
One night by the light of the moon.
The captain told us to ford a river,
That's how it all begun.
We were -- knee deep in the Big Muddy,
But the big fool said to push on.
The Sergeant said, "Sir, are you sure,
This is the best way back to the base?"
"Sergeant, go on! I forded this river
'Bout a mile above this place.
It'll be a little soggy but just keep slogging.
We'll soon be on dry ground."
We were -- waist deep in the Big Muddy
And the big fool said to push on.
The Sergeant said, "Sir, with all this equipment
No man will be able to swim."
"Sergeant, don't be a Nervous Nellie,"
The Captain said to him.
"All we need is a little determination;
Men, follow me, I'll lead on."
We were -- neck deep in the Big Muddy
And the big fool said to push on.
All at once, the moon clouded over,
We heard a gurgling cry.
A few seconds later, the captain's helmet
Was all that floated by.
The Sergeant said, "Turn around men!
I'm in charge from now on."
And we just made it out of the Big Muddy
With the captain dead and gone.
We stripped and dived and found his body
Stuck in the old quicksand.
I guess he didn't know that the water was deeper
Than the place he'd once before been.
Another stream had joined the Big Muddy
'Bout a half mile from where we'd gone.
We were lucky to escape from the Big Muddy
When the big fool said to push on.
Well, I'm not going to point any moral;
I'll leave that for yourself
Maybe you're still walking, you're still talking
You'd like to keep your health.
But every time I read the papers
That old feeling comes on;
We're -- waist deep in the Big Muddy
And the big fool says to push on.
Waist deep in the Big Muddy
And the big fool says to push on.
Waist deep in the Big Muddy
And the big fool says to push on.
Waist deep! Neck deep! Soon even a
Tall man'll be over his head, we're
Waist deep in the Big Muddy!
And the big fool says to push on!
Sunday, August 30, 2009
*A Candid Assessment Of The Afghan Debacle By One Of Their Own-Joint Chief Chairman Mullen's View-Ouch !
Click on title to link to recent interview with Joint Chief Of Staff Chairman Mullen for "the real deal" on the situation in Afghanistan (Brian Bender, "Boston Globe", August 26, 2009). Of course, this information has become increasingly apparent for about a year now. Moreover, as an underling to Commander-in-Chief Obama Mullen will salute and say "What next, sir? We have a better idea in every way- Obama, sir (optional),Immediate Unconditional Withdrawal Of All U.S./Alled Troops!
Tuesday, December 05, 2006
U.S./NATO TROOPS OUT OF AFGHANISTAN!
COMMENTARY
END THE FIVE YEAR OCCUPATION NOW!
As mentioned elsewhere in all the recent hoopla over Iraq Study Group reports, Pentagon Middle East strategy reassessments, Secretary of War Rumford’s resignation, the Robert Gates confirmation hearings for that same post and, to many commentators, the seemingly mythical results of the midterm 2006 elections the situation in Afghanistan has received short shrift. That is short-sighted and this writer himself has not written nearly enough about the recurring destruction of that benighted land. He stands chastised. After all this land is where the latest round of American imperialist adventures got its start.
The situation in Afghanistan, moreover, holds importance for anti-war activists in its own right. One of the arguments put forth by many, including leading Democratic Party politicians, is that as a result of the Bush Administration’s bungling of the Iraq occupation the question of troop reinforcement in Afghanistan has fallen through the cracks. Thus, the argument goes, a ‘graceful withdrawal’ from Iraq will free up troops to attempt to salvage the increasingly dire situation in Afghanistan. I, for one, say NO. As unsuccessful as we of the anti-war movement have been in our attempts to get immediate United States withdrawal from Iraq there is no way that those efforts should be used as a screen for troop escalation in Afghanistan.
Even a cursory look at the situation in Afghanistan brings this writer to one conclusion- this is Iraq on a smaller and more drawn out level. In short, another quagmire. The American puppet Karzai government’s writ runs no farther than Kabul, if that. It exists exclusively at the sufferance of the United States government, and no where else. The sectarian fighting among the tribal warlords interspersed with the reemergence of the Taliban makes that quagmire description quite apt. The first time around in Afghanistan the Bush Administration in the aura of the immediate post 9/11 period had tremendous popular support for its revenge invasion. Believe me; one could count the number of publicly demonstrating opponents to that invasion, at least in America, by the handful. This time around let us make no such mistake. As always- Immediate, Unconditional Withdrawal of U.S./Allied Troops(Are there any left but the British?) from Iraq! But also-U.S./Nato Troops out of Afghanistan!
THIS IS PART OF A SERIES OF ARTICLES OF COMMENTARY ON THE 2006-2008 ELECTION CYCLE UNDER THE HEADLINE- FORGET THE DONKEYS, ELEPHANTS, GREENS-BUILD A WORKERS PARTY!
END THE FIVE YEAR OCCUPATION NOW!
As mentioned elsewhere in all the recent hoopla over Iraq Study Group reports, Pentagon Middle East strategy reassessments, Secretary of War Rumford’s resignation, the Robert Gates confirmation hearings for that same post and, to many commentators, the seemingly mythical results of the midterm 2006 elections the situation in Afghanistan has received short shrift. That is short-sighted and this writer himself has not written nearly enough about the recurring destruction of that benighted land. He stands chastised. After all this land is where the latest round of American imperialist adventures got its start.
The situation in Afghanistan, moreover, holds importance for anti-war activists in its own right. One of the arguments put forth by many, including leading Democratic Party politicians, is that as a result of the Bush Administration’s bungling of the Iraq occupation the question of troop reinforcement in Afghanistan has fallen through the cracks. Thus, the argument goes, a ‘graceful withdrawal’ from Iraq will free up troops to attempt to salvage the increasingly dire situation in Afghanistan. I, for one, say NO. As unsuccessful as we of the anti-war movement have been in our attempts to get immediate United States withdrawal from Iraq there is no way that those efforts should be used as a screen for troop escalation in Afghanistan.
Even a cursory look at the situation in Afghanistan brings this writer to one conclusion- this is Iraq on a smaller and more drawn out level. In short, another quagmire. The American puppet Karzai government’s writ runs no farther than Kabul, if that. It exists exclusively at the sufferance of the United States government, and no where else. The sectarian fighting among the tribal warlords interspersed with the reemergence of the Taliban makes that quagmire description quite apt. The first time around in Afghanistan the Bush Administration in the aura of the immediate post 9/11 period had tremendous popular support for its revenge invasion. Believe me; one could count the number of publicly demonstrating opponents to that invasion, at least in America, by the handful. This time around let us make no such mistake. As always- Immediate, Unconditional Withdrawal of U.S./Allied Troops(Are there any left but the British?) from Iraq! But also-U.S./Nato Troops out of Afghanistan!
THIS IS PART OF A SERIES OF ARTICLES OF COMMENTARY ON THE 2006-2008 ELECTION CYCLE UNDER THE HEADLINE- FORGET THE DONKEYS, ELEPHANTS, GREENS-BUILD A WORKERS PARTY!
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