I write this with tears in my eyes. Who could imagine an American woman who has never been to Pakistan holding a demonstration for Pakistanis. This is called good–the epitome of goodness–the opposite of evil.
It is people like Cindy Lee Miller Sheehan who make America great. Its not the F-22s, and the Tomahawk, missiles– it is the inherent goodness of Americans that make this a beacon of freedom and liberty around the world. Even though the Foreign Policy stinks, it is the silent heros like Litsa, Madelyn Hoffman, Gordon, Frankie, and millions like Susan who hold candlelight vigils around America–”fighting” for the victims of aggression and war.
How many countries in the world can you name which is holding vigils against the drone bombings?
ISLAMABAD – An American national and anti-war activist, Cindy Lee Miller Sheehan, has announced to stage a sit-in in front of CIA headquarters in Langley, Virginia, on January 16 to protest against the growing drone attacks in Pakistan. In an exclusive interview to TheNation from Texas, USA, on Thursday, Cindy Lee Miller said, “We strongly condemn the killings of our brothers and sisters in Pakistan and everywhere.”
“We oppose the CIA’s covert operations everywhere and want to highlight this problem and educate people that the people of these regions (Pakistan’s tribal regions) have every legitimate right to live as being enjoyed by the people who are dropping bombs on them.”
Cindy Lee Miller Sheehan (born on July 10, 1957) is an American anti-war activist whose son was killed during his service in Iraq on April 4, 2004. She attracted national and international media attention in August 2005 for her extended anti-war protest at a makeshift camp outside President George W. Bush’s Texas ranch – a stand, which drew both passionate support and angry criticism.
She said, “We don’t support the US military bombings in Iraq and Afghanistan and believe that these extra-legal and extra-judicial assassinations of innocent men, women and children are reprehensible.”
“The government of Pakistan also has to stop collaborating with the CIA on this abominable programme,” she said.
It is pertinent to note that Cindy is expected to pay a visit to Pakistan in coming weeks as she has been invited by peace activists of Pakistan to receive an award against her contributions to peace in the world.
“I have been invited to Peshawar by peace activists in Bajaur Agency to receive an award and visit the refugee camps to highlight the humanitarian disaster that is being created by this collaboration between the governments of the US and Pakistan”.
She further said, “If I am able to make this trip, I am planning on making a film to show here in the States to create a movement to stop these actions.”
When asked to confirm that she intends to lead the masses on January 16 in a protest against US drone attacks inside Pakistan, Cindy replied, “ Yes, I will be leading the masses in Langley, Virginia, against CIA drone attacks inside Pakistan. It will be the first protest of its kind in Langley against the drone strikes.
“Everyone of these dead non-combatants represents an alienated family, a new revenge feud, and more recruits for a militant movement that has grown exponentially even as drone strikes have increased.” She said quoting – David Kilcullen (Counterinsurgency Expert).
She told this correspondent that On January 16, 2010 from 1pm to 4pm activists will descend upon the home of the CIA to protest drone attacks.
“The primary and proven case against drone attacks is that they pose a public danger that can only be deemed as indiscriminate bombing,” Cindy said.
Revealing the plan of this upcoming historic protest, she said that activists will demand that the United States and its allies adhere to the protection of civilians (non-combatants) in international armed conflicts in accordance with the multiple existing conventions, protocols and customary international laws.
It is this spirit of goodness that brought around the Civil rights movement in America and it is these forces of good which will end the war in the Middle East, and South Asia.
Every Pakistan should say thank you to Cindy and other angels of mercy like her.
To contact Cindy Sheehan, phone 626-833-0105 626-833-0105 or 480-663-8118 480-663-8118; Cindy [at] meetwiththemothers.org)
The other people I mentioned are all part of our team:–Litsa (has held many many many events—has visited Palestine and held many fund raisers to re-build Palestinian houses), and Gordon and Frankie (working in teams they protest all over the nation against war), Madelyn Hoffman, Bob Donaldson, and Susan Berkowitz (she has been holding a candlelight vigil for years–since the war in Afghanistan started) and many many other GOOD Americans.
These are the good Americans…in MY America…you must get to know them–next time you visit us, we will introduce you to the REAL American…not the ones you see on TV.
Cindy Sheehan dubs 2010 ‘year of resistance,’ announces upcoming actions
The following was sent as an email to Cindy Sheehan supporters:
Three events over the holidays have caused me great consternation and they proved to me that I am not so cynical and jaded that my government can’t still shock me, if anything
Of course, the first event has to be the “Crotch Bomber.” The Crotch Bomber story poses more questions than answers and, of course, Muttalabad has already been tried, convicted and virtually executed by our media who have formulated an open and shut case against him without questioning any details except for “lax” security at airports and possible intelligence “failures.” Credible eye-witnesses have said from the beginning that Abdulmutallab was ushered through the system at Schilpol airport in Amsterdam (an airport I have flown through twice in the last month), by a “sharp dressed man”-but the problem is apparently that we have not been subjected to perverted full-body scans every time we fly. So what is the U.S. regime’s answer to this incident: give more military aid to the unstable regime of Yemen to fight “terrorism” in revenge for Abdulmutallabs’s failed attempt (which was apparent revenge for U.S. drones killing dozens of innocent Yemeni’s just days before) AND subject air travelers to either the full body scan, or full body search.
The next event that has me worried is the fact that eight CIA agents were just the victim of a suicide attacker in Knost Province, Afghanistan. The attacker was also an agent and one of the eight dead. What motivated this attack? Did he attack the CIA because it’s an agency that is the model of peace and democracy all over the world? No, despite what the toady media and Obama say-the CIA is a hated agency involved in assassinations and coups all over the world (giving us the map and blowback we see today) for decades and the CIA has also been drone-bombing the crap out of Pakistan.
A recent report stated that 700 civilians have been killed by those bombs, and only “five” suspected Al-Qaeda-if we can even believe that figure–the liars are the ones telling us this. So what’s the word about these killings coming from the Robber Class? The word is “revenge,” even though the assassinations were also revenge for something extra-legal and morally reprehensible that the CIA is doing.
The third incident is the U.S. military’s execution of eight school children in Kunar, Afghanistan. According to reports, the U.S. military flew in helicopters from Kabul to Kunar and entered a house, rousting out eight children (seven from the same family), handcuffing some, then dragging them out and summarily executing them. Have you heard of this “Haditha” or “My Lai” incident from your Robber Class “news” channels? I didn’t think so.
As far as I am concerned, each one of the people involved in this horrific incident must be punished to the fullest extent of the law: from the soldiers who flew the helicopters, to the shooters, to the one (McChrystal?) who authorized this atrocity!
How do we stop this constant cycle of violence that is perpetrated, fomented and encouraged by the U.S. Empire? We have to realize that the people of Yemen have the same existential imperative as do the 300 travlers aboard the flight from Amsterdam to Detroit!
We have to fully internalize that those 700 slaughtered people of Pakistan had as much right to life as the seven CIA operatives!
If we put ourselves in the home of the family where eight children were executed and try to visualize how we would feel if the occupying Empire broke into our home and killed every child that we had and how terrorizing and devastating that would be, then maybe, just maybe, AND FINALLY, we would rise up against our own violent government?
I have dubbed 2010 the YEAR OF RESISTANCE and we must sacrifice some of our creature comforts for peace-not just peace here at home, but most of all, peace abroad!
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2010 ACTIONS TO BE INVOLVED IN:
(co)-SPONSORED BY PEACE OF THE ACTION COALITION:
January 13: CIA DRONE BRIEFING AND TEACH-IN
Cindy Sheehan, Ray McGovern, David Rovics
(Cindy’s new book debut: Myth America: 20 Greatest Myths of the Robber Class and the Case for Revolution)
WHERE: BUS BOYS AND POETS
2021 14th St NW
Washington, DC 20009
(202) 387-7638 (202) 387-7638
TIME: 7-10
INFORMATION, Q & A, BOOK SIGNINGS AND FUN!
DONATIONS WILL BE TAKEN TO COVER EXPENSES!
JANUARY 16TH: PROTEST CIA DRONE BOMBINGS AT CIA HQ IN LANGLEY, VA
WHERE: CIA HQ
TIME: 1PM TO 4PM
MORE INFO GO TO:
NO MURDEROUS DRONES
(Subtract Col. Ann Wright as speaker and add Pakistani-American and co-founder of the Crawford Peace House: Hadi Jawad)
JANUARY 17TH: ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING FOR PEACE OF THE ACTION:
Please join us for a planning meeting regarding the building of Peace of the Action. The planning has started already, but we still need your help! Below you will find logistical information.
Time: 3:00pm
Date: 1/17/09
Location: St Stephens Church 16th and Newton NW (Closest metro Colombia Heights )
Light snacks and drinks will be provided
Every person is an organizer, Every person can make real change
MARCH 13TH-UNTIL THE TROOPS START TO COME HOME:
PEACE OF THE ACTION
with Camp OUT NOW on the lawn of the Washington Monument
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MARCH 20TH: MARCH ON THE PENTAGON
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JUNE 26-27: RESIST G20 SUMMIT IN TORONTO
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SPONSORED (or co-sponsored) BY WORLD CAN’T WAIT
ONGOING:
January-May 2010: We Are Not Your Soldiers Tour. Iraq & Afghanistan veterans giving students the reality or the US wars of occupation, and why they should resist the military recruiters in the schools. wearenotyoursoliders.org 347 385 2195 347 385 2195
January-May 2010: Stand Up for Women’s Right to Abortion and Birth Control! Campus tour featuring abortion providers & activists. 718 825 9119 718 825 9119
Thursday, January 7, 2010 Washington, DC: Support Bagram Detainees for Habeas Rights
United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit 333 Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington @ 3rd Street NW.
Hearing begins at 9:30 a.m. Vigil by the CUNY Law Students for Justice at Bagram begins 8:30am Hearing in Ceremonial Courtroom (Room 20) There will be a rally/vigil after the hearing
More information: bagramjustice@gmail.com and the International Justice Network representing 3 men detained without charges in Bagram
Monday January 11 through Friday January 22: Witness Against Torture fast to close Guantanamo.
Monday, January 11: 10-11am – Witness Against Torture Vigil with Guantanamo lawyers and Center for Constitutional Rights @ the White House. 11am procession to the National Press Club. 12 pm Vigil continues during press conference at National Press Club.
7:00 pm: Evening Gathering @ Georgetown University Law School: Guantanamo, Torture, Accountability and Organizing in the Obama age.
World Can’t Wait calls for people everywhere to mark the 8th anniversary of Guantanamo with street protests and showings of the film Outside the Law: Stories of Guantanamo. Write for details on getting the film to show. There will be protest events in the San Francisco Bay Area and Chicago January 11-22. Watch worldcantwait.net for details.
Tuesday January 12, Protest Torture Lawyer John Yoo as classes open, UC Berkeley
For continuous, important coverage of John Yoo, the torture memos, and the US torture state, seeFireJohnYoo.org.
Saturday January 16, Langley VA Protest CIA Drone Attacks
NO MURDEROUS CIA DRONES!
1:00pm – 4:00pm CIA Headquarters (Langley, Virginia)
It was recently announced that the White House gave the CIA permission to increase its drone bombings in Pakistan of which to date over 1/3rd of the deaths are civilian. The CIA is a profoundly violent and corrupt organization and, while we don’t think the Military should be using manned, or unmanned aerial vehicles, we think the drone bombings from CIA robots are particularly despicable. Cindy Sheeahn,Cynthia McKinney, Ann Wright, Debra Sweet, Bruce Gagnon speaking.
Monday January 18 Vigil for Fahad Hashmi outside Metropolitan Correctional Center, Lower Manhattan
6:00-7:00 pm 150 Park Row at Pearl Street (one block east of Foley Square)
US citizen Fahad Hasmi has been detained in solitary confinement under harsh SAM regulations
Weekly presentation with special guests from Broadway and Off-Broadway. Sponsor: Theaters Against War 206-312-2201 206-312-2201 thawaction@yahoo.com
Friday January 22, Washington DC Roe v Wade Anniversary Pro-Choice Presence at Supreme Court
The anti-abortion “March for Life” annually fills the Mall and focuses on the Supreme Court, usually without much opposition. This year we’re calling on people to be in front of the Court from early morning, to be sure support for women’s lives and access to abortion & birth control is represented. lina@worldcantwait.net
Saturday January 23 San Francisco Day of Action for Reproductive Justice v. Right Wing Anti-Abortion Rally
10 am Justin Herman Plaza Music Concourse near Embarcadero BART Station. Sponsored by Bay Area Coalition for Our Reproductive Rights & World Can’t Wait 415 864 5153 415 864 5153
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SPONSORED BY DAVID SWANSON:
Daybreak book tour
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IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST?
GO TO THESE WEBSITES FOR INFO ABOUT EVENTS:
PORTLAND, OR
JANUARY 16TH: POULSBO, WA