Peace and Justice Post

by Richard Falk, Foreign Policy Journal, November 22, 2011

“The language marches in step with the executioners. Therefore we must get a new language.” —Tomas Tranströmer, Night Duty

Marjorie Cohn, a respected progressive commentator on the use and abuse of international law during the past decade, notes with justifiable horror the willingness of Republican candidates for president to endorse torture as an acceptable instrument of counterterrorism. [Cohn, “US Presidential Elections: GOP Candidates Advocate Torture,” Nov. 19, 2011] Rick Perry, one leading Republican presidential contender who is now governor of Texas, put his support for torture in typically crude language: “This is war. That’s what happens in war.” The most direct endorsement was made by Herman Cain, a businessman who repeatedly demonstrates his scant knowledge of foreign policy issues, said with sprightly ignorance of waterboarding during a recent TV debate among the Republican candidates, “I don’t see it as torture. I see it as enhanced interrogation technique.”. . .

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Well, the situation is as horrible as the time of the revolution against Mubarak. There is a blood shed in Tahrir square and other squares across the whole country. Here is the whole story:

As you might have been following, the SCAF (Supreme Council of Armed Forces), who got in charge after Mubarak stepped down, have been doing their best to restore the old regime, and to do some simple reforms instead of a real revolution. So, they were doing all kinds of military trials for protesters, they didn’t change the security forces leaders and mentality, they didn’t do cleansing of the judgemental system,..etc. Rage inside protesters kept rising. And above all that, they promised to give the authority to an elected government (parliament and president) in six months (starting in March). 8 months have passed, and then, lately they announced that the presidential elections would be after drafting the constitution, which would be after the parliament elections (that should start in 10 days, and last till March!!!!). So, according to that new plan, the presidential elections would take place in March, 2013 at least, and they will be in authority till then. They also changed the current temporary constitution to have all the authority (so for instance the coming elected parliament will not be able to form a government, or change the current one,..etc). Also, they drafted some “above constitutional rules” that included some articles allowing them to not share the army’s budget with the parliament or anyone, and prevent anyone whosoever to question/interrogate any SCAF member,…etc, and many other similar articles.

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A  War Crimes Tribunal in the Malaysian capital has begun its hearing against George W. Bush and Tony Blair, charging the former officials for the invasion of Iraq and Afghanistan, Press TV reports.

The tribunal will determine whether the former US president and British prime minister committed war crimes and violated international law during the invasion of Afghanistan and Iraq.

The Kuala Lumpur War Crimes Tribunal is an initiative by Malaysia’s former Premier Mahathir Mohamad, who staunchly opposes US-led military adventures in various troubled regions.

The hearing comes after two years of in-depth investigation, including testimonials from Iraqi war victims by the Kuala Lumpur War Crimes Commission.

According to the Kuala Lumpur War Commission, both Bush and Blair had participated in the formulation of executive orders and directives to exclude the applicability of all international conventions and laws.

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The first question in last Saturday night’s Republican debate on foreign policy dealt with Iran, and a newly published report by the International Atomic Energy Agency. The report, which raised renewed concern about the “possible existence of undeclared nuclear facilities and material in Iran,” struck a darker tone than previous assessments. But it was carefully hedged. On the debate platform, however, any ambiguity was lost. One of the moderators said that the I.A.E.A. report had provided “additional credible evidence that Iran is pursuing a nuclear weapon” and asked what various candidates, upon winning the Presidency, would do to stop Iran. Herman Cain said he would assist those who are trying to overthrow the government. Newt Gingrich said he would coördinate with the Israeli government and maximize covert operations to block the Iranian weapons program. Mitt Romney called the state of Iran’s nuclear program Obama’s “greatest failing, from a foreign-policy standpoint” and added, “Look, one thing you can know … and that is if we reëlect Barack Obama Iran will have a nuclear weapon.” The Iranian bomb was a sure thing Saturday night.

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Reuters, Nov 20, 2011

(Reuters) – Around 1,000 people, mostly students, took to the streets in eastern Afghanistan on Sunday to protest against plans for a long-term partnership deal with the United States, which they fear could lead to an extended presence of U.S. troops.

Afghan political and community leaders endorsed the idea of a strategic partnership, with some caveats, after a 2,000-strong national gathering, or loya jirga, which ended on Saturday.

The demonstrators gathered just outside the capital of eastern Nangarhar province and burnt an effigy of U.S. President Barack Obama as they protested against the prospect of U.S. troops remaining in Afghanistan.

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Security forces are expelled from the square by anti-SCAF protesters following two days of battles that many are calling the ’19th and 20th days’ of Egypt’s ongoing revolution

Yassin Gaber,   Ahram Online,   Monday 21 Nov 2011

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Gallery

Related

• Video: Police violently attempts to break up sit-in Sunday

• Recap: Calm prevails in Tahrir after night of bloody battles, truce holds into morning

• Updated: 22 dead as a result of Tahrir Clashes: Ministry of Health

Following a deadly standoff in Cairo’s Tahrir Square at sunset, thousands of protesters regained their ground, successfully expelling the military police and soldiers – dressed in riot gear and wielding bludgeons and electroshock weapons – who stood before rows of Central Security Forces (CSF) firing barrage after barrage of tear gas. The streets of downtown Cairo were filled with fleeing protesters, weaving their way through burning trees and thick clouds of the toxic gas.

When the square was finally reclaimed, at least three protesters had been reported killed, with a fourth death later reported from a makeshift field hospital.

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Socialist Worker, Nov 19, 2011
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An international appeal for solidarity has gone out today as tens of thousands of Egyptians face brutal repression in the streets of Cairo. Riot police and army forces attacked protestors after mass demonstrations calling for an end to the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces’ military rule.

The Egyptian Federation of Independent Trade Unions issued a call on Saturday 19 November to its 1.4 million members in affiliated unions to join the protests in Tahrir Square. The protestors are fighting for the future of the revolution.

Solidarity protests have already been called in Britain, Ireland, Canada, Sweden and Germany.

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by Fidel Castro, Dissident Voice,  November 19th, 2011

In order to give an idea of the potential of the USSR in its efforts to maintain parity with the United States in this sphere, we only need to point out that when its disintegration occurred in 1991, in Byelorussia there were 81 nuclear warheads, in Kazakhstan 1400 and in the Ukraine approximately 5000; all these went over to the Russian Federation, the only state capable of sustaining its immense cost, in order to maintain independence.

By virtue of the START and SORT treaties on the reduction of offensive weapons signed by the two great nuclear powers, the number of these was reduced to several thousand.

In 2010, a new treaty of this kind was signed by the two powers.

Since then the greatest efforts have been dedicated to improving direction, scope and precision and to the deception of adversary defence. Huge amounts of money have been invested in the military sphere.

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Part One

by Fidel Castro, Dissident Voice,  November 16th, 2011

No sane person, especially someone who has had access to the elementary knowledge acquired in primary school, would agree that our species, especially those who are children, teenagers or youth, should be deprived of the right to live, today, tomorrow and forever. Never have human beings, throughout their eventful history, as persons endowed with intelligence, ever heard of an experience like that.

I feel the duty to convey to those taking the trouble to read these Reflections the opinion that all of us, with no exception, are obliged to create awareness about the risks that humankind are running in an inexorable manner, towards a final and total catastrophe as the consequence of irresponsible decisions made by politicians who fate, rather than talent or merit, has placed the destiny of humankind in their hands.

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Saber-rattling for the sake of Big Labor and Big Oil

Declaring the US is “here to stay,” President Obama made his Asian trip the occasion for a renewed assertion of US hegemony in the region, announcing a new agreement with Australia that would see thousands of US marines stationed at a base in Australia. Dispelling any doubt about who or what this garrison is meant to guard against, the One declared China must “play by the rules.”

Who sets those rules? Washington does, of course. Which raises the question: what are the rules, anyway?

Actually, there’s only one: Washington is always right — even when it’s wrong, and you may apply it in any situation, no matter the specifics.

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