South Asians, peace activists to protest U.S. military aggression on Iraq invasion’s 9th Anniversary

(From the Midwest Antiwar Mobilization,
www.chicagomassaction.org)

 

Pakistani community leaders host action on one-week anniversary of civilian massacre in Kandahar, as opposition grows to US occupation of Afghanistan, policy in Iraq, fears of attack on Iran.

 

Chicago’s South Asian community will host peace activists from across metro Chicago to mark the 9th anniversary of the U.S. invasion of Iraq — where U.S. troops remain stationed by the thousands — and the one-week anniversary of a devastating assault on Afghani civilians that left more than a dozen children, women and men dead. The protesters’ demand: an end to ongoing U.S. military aggression abroad, including the growing threat of military attack on Iran. The action begins at 3PM, Sunday, March 18 on Devon Avenue and Hoyne Street in the heart of Chicago’s Pakistani community.

The U.S. spends as much on war as the rest of the world combined, while social services that range from mental health services and libraries to public transportation are being slashed because of budget shortfalls at the local level. U.S. military expenditures include include spending on security costs in Iraq, where the U.S. government fields the largest embassy in its stable — and is ramping up its covert operations and special forces operations to replace its drawdown of troops (Baltimore Sun: http://bit.ly/AyLe7Y).

Last week’s devastating assault by US military personnel on civilian populations in Kandahar comes at a time when the U.S. and Israel are threatening war on Iran — in part by recycling many of the lies used to justify the war on Iraq. Annual drone strikes in the tribal areas of Pakistan have tripled since Obama became president, killing thousands, and have expanded to Yemen and Somalia.

At the same time, the U.S. government has remained silent about human rights abuses in countries with which it is allied, while condemning human rights abuses by governments it opposes. In U.S.-allied Kuwait, immigrants – the overwhelming majority of the population – have virtually no rights. In U.S.-allied Saudi Arabia, women have few rights and gays are subject to execution, yet millions of dollars in U.S. arms flow to these nations each year.

Cosponsors of Sunday’s action include: Pakistan Federation of America, Pakhtun Jirga, Pakistan United Parade Committee, Midwest Anti-War Mobilization, Chicago Coalition Against War & Racism, CANG8: Coalition Against the NATO/G8 War & Poverty Agenda, Chicago World Can’t Wait, The Urbane Radical, Chicago Area Peace Action, Chicago Area CodePink and the Gay Liberation Network.