verbena-19

American Deserter Condemns War in Iraq / CIA Aircraft Linked to Newfoundland / More HPN News

American deserter condemns war in Iraq
American soldier Patrick Hart is seeking refugee status in Canada. After more than nine years in the United States Armed Forces, including time served in Bosnia and Kuwait, the 31-year-old left. "I don't have a problem with war, but I do with an illegal one that rapes a country of its resources. I just didn't want to be a part of the scandal,"
…
Between 1965 and 1973 more than 50,000 Americans made their way to Canada also refusing to participate in the Vietnam War.

Lee Zaslofsky, the co-ordinator of War Resisters Support Campaign, was among them. He came to Canada in 1970. Now, his local collective of grassroots organizations provides practical resources such as food, money, shelter and clothing to refugees such as Hart; and campaigns through petitions and public presentations for government change.

Draft dodgers were supported by prime minister of the time, Pierre Trudeau, who said, "Those who make a conscientious judgment that they must not participate in this war... have my complete sympathy, and indeed our political approach has been to give them access to Canada. Canada should be a refuge from militarism."
Zaslofsky wants a return to that type of federal policy. The War Resisters petition asks the Canadian government to allow U.S. war objectors to find sanctuary here. About 23,000 signatures have been gathered and are in the hands of British Columbia MP Bill Siksay (who is the NDP's citizenship and immigration critic.
"This is the most practical way for Canadians to resist the war," said Lee.
The Oakville Beaver

For information about the war resisters support campaign see:
http://www.resisters.ca/



War Needs An Enemy

“Patriotism may indeed be, as Dr. Johnson said, “the last refuge of a scoundrel,” but it’s also the tyrant’s first resort. People afraid of outsiders are easily manipulated. The warrior caste, supposedly society’s protectors, often become protection racketeers. In times of war or crisis, power is easily stolen from the many by the few on a promise of security. The more elusive or imaginary the foe, the better for manufacturing consent. The Inquisition did a roaring trade against the Devil. And the twentieth century’s struggle between capitalism and communism had all the hallmarks of the old religious wars. Was defending either system really worth the risk of blowing up the world?

Now we are losing hard-won freedoms on the pretext of a worldwide “war on terror,” as if terrorism were something new. … The Muslim fanatic is proving a worthy replacement for the heretic, the anarchist, and especially the Red Menace so helpful to military budgets throughout the Cold War.”

Excerpt from A Short History of Progress
by Ronald Wright, House of Anansi Press, 2004.


What did he say? (Some more Bush malapropisms):


“ I think we agree, the past is over.”

“ There’s no question that the minute I got elected, the storm clouds on the horizon were getting nearly directly overhead.”

“If this were a dictatorship, it’d be a heck of a lot easier...just as long as I’m the dictator...”

“September the 4th, 2001, I stood in the ruins of the Twin Towers. It’s a day I will never forget.”

“We have no desire to dominate, no ambitions of empire.”

“…a free Iraq will be a major defeat in the cause of freedom.”

“We’re making the right decisions to bring the solution to an end.”

“In a changing world, we want more people to have control over your own life.”

“ Our enemies are innovative and resourceful, and so are we. They never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and our people, and neither do we.”

“ I have made good judgments in the past. I have made good judgments in the future.”

“People that are really very weird can get into sensitive positions and have a tremendous impact on history.”

“ I just want you to know that, when we talk about war, we’re really talking about peace.” --- George W. Bush

…

CIA aircraft linked to Newfoundland
© London Free Press

Sun, November 20, 2005

The private aircraft's flight raises new questions about Canada's role in the fight against terrorism.

By JIM BRONSKILL, CP

OTTAWA -- Records show a privately owned airplane that has been linked to an alleged CIA front flew from Newfoundland to the United States on Friday, raising new questions about Canada's role in the fight against terrorism.

Flight data obtained by CP reveals the 40-seat turboprop plane travelled from St. John's, Nfld., to New Hampshire and finally on to its home base in North Carolina.

The U.S. Central Intelligence Agency has come under scrutiny in recent months over its apparent use of civilian aircraft to ferry terrorism suspects around the globe.
…
A spokesperson for Nav Canada, which operates Canada's civil air navigation service, refused to confirm whether the plane landed in St. John's. He told La Presse information about private flights was confidential.

The flight data records obtained yesterday by CP indicate the N196D turboprop left St. John's on Friday for Manchester, N.H., then carried on to Johnston County Airport in Smithfield, N.C.

The airport has been identified as an alleged hub for covert American air operations.

http://www.borrull.org/e/noticia.php?id=54128


Planes linked to alleged CIA fronts landed at Canadian airports
November 21, 2005
OTTAWA --At least six airplanes linked to alleged CIA front companies have landed at Canadian airports in the last six months, records show.
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Flight data obtained Monday by The Canadian Press indicate the airports, including three in Newfoundland, have been used as stopover points for the aircraft on several occasions.
The latest information surfaced as the Bloc Quebecois called on the government to press the United States for answers about the possible presence of foreign intelligence agents.
…
Public Safety Minister Anne McLellan said she had "no reports or information regarding the allegations" that arose on the weekend. She added there was no "information nor any reason to believe that such an aircraft was involved" in transporting terrorist suspects.
From: The Boston Globe

Police stop truck carrying missile launchers on Toronto-area highway
The shipment of army vehicles was scheduled to arrive Thursday in Montreal. But after being reported stolen, it was instead pulled over travelling westbound -the opposite direction of its destination - on a major Ontario highway.
YahooNews


New resource on migrants; new web page on refugees and detention

KAIROS is pleased to present God’s people: A People on the Move. This ten-part fact sheet series addresses hot current topics related to globalization and migration. Highlights include Refugee Rights/Migrant Rights; Canada and Human Displacement; Seasonal Agricultural Workers; Live-in Caregivers; and Living without Status. Each fact sheet includes an easy to read introduction to an issue, a bible study guide, and action ideas. The kit also includes a backgrounder for facilitators and an ecumenical worship outline. Price: $6.00

To order a complete kit, call 1-877-403-8933 X 221 or email: orders@kairoscanada
or
use our website order form at http://www.kairoscanada.org/e/resources/orders.asp
Individual fact sheets may be downloaded free of charge from the KAIROS website: see http://www.kairoscanada.org/e/refugees/links.asp
KAIROS has also added a new section to our website, featuring KAIROS’ work on detention issues: http://www.kairoscanada.org/e/refugees/detention/index.asp
Here you will find:
• up-to-date analysis on detention issues in Canada
• a detailed submission to the UN Human Rights Committee on detention and other concerns related to the civil and political rights of refugees in Canada
• a World Council of Churches statement on global detention concerns.
To keep up to date on new developments in the work of KAIROS’ Refugee and Migration Program, sign up for the monthly e-bulletin On the Move. Send an email to Tanya Chute Molina, Refugee and Migration Program Coordinator, at: tchute@kairoscanada.org


Security certificates
This fall, the hunger strikes of two security certificate detainees drew new media attention to one of the most problematic aspects of Canadian immigration law. Five Muslim men currently face the threat of deportation to countries where they are at risk of torture – following the issuing of “security certificates” naming them as threats to national security. Under the security certificate process, neither detainees nor their lawyers have access to the details of the allegations brought against them, making it extremely difficult to mount a credible defense.
In September, KAIROS wrote a letter to Prime Minister Paul Martin calling for security certificates to be abolished and replaced with a process which conforms to international standards for fair trials. Consider writing your own letter to the Prime Minister. Consult the Amnesty International website for background information and letter writing suggestions


DRUGS: IRAQ BECOMES A DRUGS TRANSIT POINT
Vienna, 12 May (AKI) - Iraq is emerging as a transit point for drugs originating in Afghanistan and entering Jordan en route to final destinations in Asia and Europe
…
"Whether it is due to war or [natural] disasters - weakening of border controls and security infrastructure make countries into convenient logistic and transit points, not only for international terrorists and militants but also for drug traffickers."
www.adniki.com/(adnkronos international)



Stressed US troops in Iraq 'turning to drugs'

Two years into the occupation of Iraq the menace of drug abuse appears to be afflicting American troops.
…
Since the overthrow of Saddam's regime the borders that have been so porous for insurgents have been equally open for heroin and hash smugglers from Afghanistan and Iran providing a cheap market for troops. With colleagues being killed or wounded on a daily basis, some US soldiers have turned to drugs to escape the horrors of fighting insurgents.
www.telegraph.co.uk/news

IRAQ: Traumatised young Iraqis turn increasingly to hard drugs

Many consumers of heroin and cocaine say they have been traumatised by the increasing cycle of political violence in Iraq as Islamic insurgents step up their fight against the US-led coalition which invaded the country in 2003 to depose former president Saddam Hussein.
And drug pushers told IRIN they had found a lucrative market amongst soldiers in the US-led occupation forces. They report strong demand from Italian troops in particular.
Many of the foreign troops ask their counterparts in the Iraqi security forces to buy on the street for them, they added."
AlertNet.org

posted by Annamarie at 5:01 PM