These wars must end!

The human cost of occupation

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These wars must end!
by Ardeshir Ommani
20-Apr-2011
 

Today it is an undeniable fact that the overwhelming majority of the peoples of Afghanistan and South Asia, through their protests and militant struggles, have urgently demanded that the U.S. along with its “coalition of the willing”, after ten years of occupation, killings and devastation, withdraw its forces from their homeland immediately.

Every passing day of US-EU military occupation of that country inflames the rage of hatred in the hearts of Afghan and Pakistan patriotic forces against the empire’s foreign policy makers and strengthens their resolve to fight back and neutralize the invading armies of the western hemisphere.

It is also equally certain that the prolongation of the wars of aggression in three if not four theatres of war – Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Libya – by Washington, London and Paris would also increase the number of fatalities of the invading armies.

Although the Obama Administration, the U.S. Defense (or in fact War) Department and the intelligence-corporate media each one in its own design try to bury the U.S. military casualties under mountains of obscenely-entertaining advertisements, hyped up crime-ridden news reports and the ample coverage of the selfish and superficial games performed by the heads of the two parties on essential social programs, the truth of the tragic fate of many young Americans, with working class origins, springs out.

2010 ranked as the highest year for NATO-Pentagon fatalities in Afghanistan since the war began ten years ago!  No less than 711 NATO servicemen died in this year.  But not every war casualty falls in the active theatre of the war.  Some become victims after they return to the US of A.

Consider the sad case of the 28 year-old ex-Marine corporal Hunter who had earned a purple heart after taking a sniper’s bullet in his left wrist but still was returned to combat in Afghanistan.  In the wake of his return to the U.S., he lobbied for Veterans on the steps of the U.S. Congress, road-biked with injured veterans and in the aftermath of earthquakes in Chile and Haiti, he joined the humanitarian efforts in those countries.  Then, three weeks ago, on March 31, Corporal Hunt bolted himself in his Houston apartment and using his own gun, committed suicide.  He became another casualty of the wars that are waged to fatten the bank accounts of the war industries, which this past year of economic difficulties for millions of workers around the world saw record profit margins!

In another encounter, an Afghan freedom fighter who had joined the Afghan’s national army just a month earlier and wearing his new military uniform entered the military base near the city of Jalalabad, in eastern Afghanistan at 7:30 AM and detonated a bomb that killed five NATO officers and four Afghan soldiers.  This incident which took place on April 16 represented the biggest recent killing of NATO troops from a single attack.

On the same day, April 16, five International Security Assistance Force service members lost their lives following an armed attack by a team of Afghan resistance forces in the eastern region of the country.  A day before, on April 15, the police chief of Afghanistan’s southern Kandahar Province, Khan Mohammad Mojahid, lost his life following an attack on his headquarters. During the same military engagement two other police officers were wounded.

On April 13, three days earlier, Specialist Donald L. Nichols, 21 years old, of Shell Rock, Iowa, was killed in Laghman Province, following a military operation and attack by Afghan partisans using improved explosive devices. 

Attacks and fatalities similar to those mentioned above are too many to name in this short article.  But it is important to see that the balance of forces in the U.S. war in Afghanistan is turning consistently against the U.S. occupation forces and this reality has been admitted by the top U.S. military commanders that the wars on the borders of China and the former Soviet Republic are not winnable.

The fact is that the U.S. armed forces and the “coalition of the willing” by occupying a foreign country and raising the level of their exposure have made the forces a natural and easy target for the resistance forces who know the topography of their country like the back of their hands. Also it is public knowledge, at least in the rest of the world that the European members of NATO already have decided to withdraw their armed forces from Afghanistan for good.  The world, except Washington, is cognizant of the fact that no amount of indiscriminate shelling and killing of civilians would bring the people of Afghanistan to their knees.

In that country the losses of U.S. personnel stands at 1533, UK 363, other members of the alliance including Canada is 512 and the sum total reaches 2408.

In Iraq, another target of U.S. wars, the losses of U.S. troops stands at 4447, UK 179, other countries 139 and the total climbs to 4769.

Summing up the waste of lives engineered by Washington in the two countries adds up to 7,177.  Knowing that the ratio of wounded to dead is generally 10 to 1, the number of western troops wounded in both wars reaches about 70,000 human beings lives destroyed. 

Let’s not forget that the U.S. foreign policy in the mid-east and south-Asia has undoubtedly inflicted a tremendous human cost on the people in the occupied lands.

These wars must end!

AUTHOR
Ardeshir Ommani is an Iranian-born writer, political economist and president of the American Iranian Friendship Committee (AIFC) www.iranaifc.com in the USA. He can be reached at: Ardeshiromm@optonline.net

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Escape

Free Mason

by Escape on

  'Endless War' and 'Unwinnable war''...

This is completely psychological.


Kaveh V

You're promoting NO friendship

by Kaveh V on

 

So much personal bias wrapped in a bleeding-heart-humanitarian package. And so much ignorance of the realities in Afghanestan. Everyone from Farsi speaking Afghans to former northern alliance, to Karzai and his government are scared to death of premature departure of the US and allied forces that could give rise to Taliban resurgence, and a bloodbath. Not to mention the security consequences on the Iranian border with another Taliban resurgence.

What disgusts me the most is to have a self proclaimed "president of American Iranian friendship committee" who pretends to represent ME as an Iranian-American with this type of bias.

 


Freemasons Exposed

To Escape!!!

by Freemasons Exposed on

It is quite sad to see that there are air heads like you who follow the hyped theme of the fake "War on Terrorisim" which it self is a unwinable war, as it has no real enemy or friends. Sep 11 was a catalyst fro these endless wars just ike the burning of the Richtarch (german parliment in 1933) gave the Nazis full control of Germany!!!, bet they didnt teach you that in your elementry school!!!

At the end of the day wars are about killing fellow human beings!!!

the fact of the matter is that from your comment it is evident that you are a product of Militerized Industerial Complex and sadest part is you dont even know you have been brain washed by the ellite through the mind controlling mass media.

Wake up and see what these endless wars are about, they are not about you, me or even the defence if the USA, what they are about is increaseing power for the same people who propell propoganda through the main news channells, Holliwood and SEX obssesed music industry.

you are the victim and stop being a tool for other peoples agendas.

SEEK THE TRUTH AND IT WILL SET YOU FREE!!!!!!!!!!!


Roozbeh_Gilani

"an undeniable fact that the overwhelming majority ..."

by Roozbeh_Gilani on

So cock sure you are sir, to make such definitive statements on behalf of the "overwheming majority" of people of Afganistan, middle East and south Asia! Almost as cock sure of "Doctor" ahmadinezhad when he tells us that he is loved by "overwheming majority" of Iranians

Now did you personaly speak to this "overwhelming majority" before writing this yet another "masterpiece" of propaganda (sorry, blog) or did you just talk  to Haj agha  at the etelaat ministry of the islamist regime of Iran?  

"Personal business must yield to collective interest."


Escape

They will end with a Dead Taliban

by Escape on

  Today it is an undeniable fact that the overwhelming majority of the peoples of Afghanistan and South Asia, through their protests and militant struggles, have urgently demanded that the U.S. along with its “coalition of the willing”, after ten years of occupation, killings and devastation, withdraw its forces from their homeland immediately.

No it is not so evident as you suggest.How many millions are in Afghanistan and just what is the largest protest? Or the largest number of troops brought forth by the Taliban? You're wrong and you support these sickos.

Every passing day of US-EU military occupation of that country inflames the rage of hatred in the hearts of Afghan and Pakistan patriotic forces against the empire’s foreign policy makers and strengthens their resolve to fight back and neutralize the invading armies of the western hemisphere.

Is that why they are doing so well hiding in the Mountains?Fight back with what? We've broke many of their connections to weapons and poppy fields this winter and we will continue to do so.You will see them dry up real soon..

It is also equally certain that the prolongation of the wars of aggression in three if not four theatres of war – Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Libya – by Washington, London and Paris would also increase the number of fatalities of the invading armies.

And the number of fatalities by the Taliban is what? War is more than just a word,there are causes and results,both of which have no meaning to you apparently.

 Although the Obama Administration, the U.S. Defense (or in fact War)

 Yes 'Friend' I am sure you would like to see the U.S. Defenseless but you can keep dreaming..

Department and the intelligence-corporate media each one in its own design try to bury the U.S. military casualties under mountains of obscenely-entertaining advertisements, hyped up crime-ridden news reports and the ample coverage of the selfish and superficial games performed by the heads of the two parties on essential social programs, the truth of the tragic fate of many young Americans, with working class origins, springs out.

What is your point? We're trying to cover up Death's? Prove it.

2010 ranked as the highest year for NATO-Pentagon fatalities in Afghanistan since the war began ten years ago!  No less than 711 NATO servicemen died in this year.  But not every war casualty falls in the active theatre of the war.  Some become victims after they return to the US of A.

It's also the highest year for service people in Afghanistan.When you compare the numbers its so easily shown that you are out to fool people...For the Taliban...But it is this fact of the surge alone that shoots down your cause.Literally.

Consider the sad case of the 28 year-old ex-Marine corporal Hunter who had earned a purple heart after taking a sniper’s bullet in his left wrist but still was returned to combat in Afghanistan.  In the wake of his return to the U.S., he lobbied for Veterans on the steps of the U.S. Congress, road-biked with injured veterans and in the aftermath of earthquakes in Chile and Haiti, he joined the humanitarian efforts in those countries.  Then, three weeks ago, on March 31, Corporal Hunt bolted himself in his Houston apartment and using his own gun, committed suicide.  He became another casualty of the wars that are waged to fatten the bank accounts of the war industries, which this past year of economic difficulties for millions of workers around the world saw record profit margins!

No he was a casuality of suicide.And yes while there is a war going on people who manufacture things used in war do profit.

In another encounter, an Afghan freedom fighter who had joined the Afghan’s national army just a month earlier and wearing his new military uniform entered the military base near the city of Jalalabad, in eastern Afghanistan at 7:30 AM and detonated a bomb that killed five NATO officers and four Afghan soldiers.  This incident which took place on April 16 represented the biggest recent killing of NATO troops from a single attack.

Let me get this straight,you consider this person a Afghan 'Freedom' Fighter,one who fights for the Taliban..One who fights for Sharia,Freedom in this case only means freedom for those abiding Muslims.. He was such a brave Taliban man too,it takes such guts to blow yourself up,what a original idea as well.By the way this paragraph mentions Afghan soldiers,how do you fit the idea of Afghan soldiers into the rest of your premise of resistance in Afghanistan? The Afghan army cannot even recruit everyone who wishes to join..This just doesn't fit but that doesn't matter when you are a propagandist.You take a small minority and portray them as the entire population of Afghanistan..This is why I am responding you..

Attacks and fatalities similar to those mentioned above are too many to name in this short article.  But it is important to see that the balance of forces in the U.S. war in Afghanistan is turning consistently against the U.S. occupation forces and this reality has been admitted by the top U.S. military commanders that the wars on the borders of China and the former Soviet Republic are not winnable.

We are winning buddy and we will win,just like as in Iraq.Those hiding in the most remote mountains are not a threat that won't be met by the Afghan's themselves.The Terrorists will have little comeback surges but as time goes by it looks more and more like..winning...It's funny how you Nay sayers know nothing else and quickly look the other way from this reality in Iraq..

The fact is that the U.S. armed forces and the “coalition of the willing” by occupying a foreign country and raising the level of their exposure have made the forces a natural and easy target for the resistance forces who know the topography of their country like the back of their hands. Also it is public knowledge, at least in the rest of the world that the European members of NATO already have decided to withdraw their armed forces from Afghanistan for good.  The world, except Washington, is cognizant of the fact that no amount of indiscriminate shelling and killing of civilians would bring the people of Afghanistan to their knees.

We are a easy target yes...Until the First shot...Then they become the easy target don't they? Or in some cases,they bravely hide behind civilians or in Mosques.That's when you step in to defend their despicable actions of hiding behind human sheilds when you judge the death's of Human Sheilds onesidedly.They are desperate like you buddy,one eye closed and mentally incompetent to take on such a large force.


In that country the losses of U.S. personnel stands at 1533, UK 363, other members of the alliance including Canada is 512 and the sum total reaches 2408. In Iraq, another target of U.S. wars, the losses of U.S. troops stands at 4447, UK 179, other countries 139 and the total climbs to 4769. Summing up the waste of lives engineered by Washington in the two countries adds up to 7,177.  Knowing that the ratio of wounded to dead is generally 10 to 1, the number of western troops wounded in both wars reaches about 70,000 human beings lives destroyed. 

You Goal is to convince cowards,Their Goal is to kill alot more people than that,70,000 dead Westerners..War is hell but these two War's have been less of a Hell than previous wars.Plus our people sign up to do it..Their choice has nothing to do with your concern when you don't realize the job they have chosen to do.Has it ever occured to you that you propagandist's decided to progandize the losses on the other side besides just the 'innocent civilian's' the so called 'Freedom fighters' may think twice before blowing themselves up? No it didn'[t simply because you really don't care about dead people on either side or you would mention both sides.

Let’s not forget that the U.S. foreign policy in the mid-east and south-Asia has undoubtedly inflicted a tremendous human cost on the people in the occupied lands.These wars must end!

I'll remember it as soon as you remember the policy of these Taliban and Al Qeada towards America..

The wars will end as it is Iraq,it will in Afghanistan.In the long run you terrorist supporters will be exposed for what you are,simply that - SUPPORTER OF TERRORISM..


Ardeshir Ommani is an Iranian-born writer, political economist and president of the American Iranian Friendship Committee (AIFC) www.iranaifc.com in the USA. He can be reached at:

Friend of the Taliban make sure and change your name to the truth.Even though you're most likely a harmless pundit you do enough damage pyschologically.Tell me while you sit in the USA how you speak of these village victims of Taliban gangs,their beheading's for sending girls to school,their bomb plantings for anyone who walks into it..As if you would allow them to rule you..I DOUBT IT! I already know you don't mind them ruling other people or running terrorist camps and sending their brainwashed suiciders to the West...


Let's not forget who started these Wars,if that sentence even penetrates a inch....


comments

Ardeshir jan: What would

by comments on

Ardeshir jan: What would you suggest now?

(1) a few days war to topple the Iranian government with an appropriate substitute.

(2) Years and years of war by Iranian armed opposition groups killing so many Iranians.  On the other hand executing so many other Iranians by IRI.  Both sides are full, but still Iranians, which are supposed to live not die/suicide/being executed.

(3) non-violence approach, which might take more than decades.

(4) none of the above.


alx1711

Iam with you.. Occupation of

by alx1711 on

Iam with you.. Occupation of Iran by Islam and Islamics MUST End as well !!


Mash Ghasem

Aredeshir Omani, who has called for execution of all opposition

by Mash Ghasem on

in Iran , is the last person on earth who might have credibility discussing such issues. Kindly, his attention might be better  focused on law suites brought up on charges of  hate crimes; such as calling for the execution of all those opposed to IR, cheers