Monday 21 May 2012

Nato summit leaders should have been forced to watch the moving protest of the former troops chucking their medals away

 

"No amount of medals, ribbons, or flags can cover the amount of human suffering caused by this war."

"I have only one word, and it is shame."

"This is for the people of Iraq and Afghanistan."

"Mostly, I'm sorry. I'm sorry to all of you. I am sorry…"

In the shadow of the Nato summit, under the watchful eyes of a phalanx of full-black-clad riot police, dozens of former servicemen and women in uniform, veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, threw away their medals, with apologies. It was one of the most moving experiences many of us had witnessed in our lives. It is hard to describe in words. I couldn't get the lump out of my throat. Out of the corner of my eye, I caught a woman next to me crying. Their words, their voices, crackling under the emotion of their courageous act, breaking under the weight of the pain, the trauma, their anger, sadness, and hope – theirs was a heroic and beautiful act, a moving ceremony. It was a privilege to be there with these women and men who served in our wars.

Operation Iraqi Freedom medal. Tossed. Global War on Terror medal. Thrown. National Defense medal. Pitched. Marine Corps Good Conduct medal. Flung. Navy and Marine Corps medal. Chucked.

Most of the reporting of the demonstrations that met the summit will focus on the minor violence, on the few clashes between protesters and police, on the blood, on everything that happened after the peaceful march was over. In our sad world of spectacle, the pushing and shoving will be all that gets our attention. It is a pity.

Because what was truly remarkable today was the American servicewomen and men tossing their medals back at Nato. In a mixture of sadness, shame, anger, and pride, of trauma, sorrow, and pain, some looking back at their time in Iraq and Afghanistan, some healing from PTSD, others chanting Occupy slogans, these men and women showed a type of courage that the Nato leaders should have been forced to watch. Tragically, our leaders were busy posing for photo ops. They should have been forced to listen to these courageous men and women, to their veterans. It is their loss, ultimately.

Many of these men and women urged us to do something to set straight the havoc that we have wreaked in these various occupations. Some mentioned a memorial for the tens of thousands of civilians killed in Afghanistan or more than 100,000 civilians killed in Iraq. Others offered their apologies. Still others shared their pain, their torments, their nightmares. All of them spoke truth. Perhaps that was their greatest gift of peace.

If only the Nato leaders had listened.

These courageous women and men, these veterans brought to a close a remarkably peaceful anti-Nato march with more than 10,000 protesters – supported by so many more who chanted with them along the route.

"I am returning my medal today because I want to live by my conscience, rather than be a prisoner of it."

"I apologise to the Iraqi and Afghani people for destroying your countries."

"I don't want these anymore."

Afghan President Hamid Karzai has pardoned a rape victim who was jailed for adultery, after she apparently agreed to marry her attacker.

The woman, named as Gulnaz, gave birth in prison to a daughter who has been kept in jail with her.

Read more @ BBC News

Taliban imposter: Nato chiefs paid 'commander' a fortune for his secrets... but in reality he was just a shopkeeper

It sounds like the plot from a spy novel or James Bond film.

But Nato chiefs in Afghanistan have been severely embarrassed by a shopkeeper who fooled them into thinking he was a ­Taliban commander during secret peace negotiations.

Astonishingly, the ruse went on for two months, during which time the ‘contact’ was paid a substantial sum of money.

Read more @ Daily Mail

Children safer in Kabul than in Glasgow, says Nato spokesman

Nato's leading civilian representative in Afghanistan, Mark Sedwill, makes comments in CBBC Newswround interview

Children in Kabul are safer than those in London and Glasgow despite the danger of unexploded bombs in the Afghan capital, according to Nato's leading civilian representative there.

Mark Sedwill said Kabul was also safer for children than New York.

Read more @ The Guardian

[video:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=84T8iXRz_9c]

Now there's a hero we can believe in.

A group of US soldiers murdered a number of Afghan civilians and took body parts as trophies, documents released by military officials allege.

The charging sheets relate to allegations that five US soldiers were involved in the murders of civilians in January, February and May of this year.

A further seven servicemen are accused of a conspiracy to cover up the crimes.

Read more @ BBC News

After fighting for 20 years in Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Bosnia and Somalia – Yemen is the country the mujahideen now call home

Hamza answered the call of jihad 20 years ago, when he was 16. He left his family home in Jeddah and headed to Afghanistan to join the long line of jihadis fighting the "apostate" Soviet-backed government.

Read more @ The Guardian

<drupal-media data-entity-type="media" data-entity-uuid="e6c75a50-4d70-4282-bbd6-e7e4e04e834e"></drupal-media>

Fox urges ban on Taliban video game

Defence Secretary Liam Fox has urged shops to ban a computer game where players can act as the Taliban and kill British troops.

Dr Fox said he was "disgusted" that Medal of Honor allowed people to recreate attacks on Nato forces.

An updated version of the popular game, due to be released in October, is based on the struggle between allied special forces and the Taliban - with players being allowed to choose which side they want to represent.

A clip on the YouTube website shows a Taliban soldier fighting in southern Helmand province, where UK forces are based.

Read more @ Yahoo News