[IPSM] Occupation anywhere ... Resistance everywhere! Join the BLOCK THE EMPIRE anti-imperialist contingent on October 28! (Montreal)

[Jaggi Singh]

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Fri, 29 Sep 2006 19:32:20 -0700 (PDT)
From: bloquezlempiremontreal at resist.ca

[Please post and forward ...]

OCCUPATION ANYWHERE ... RESISTANCE EVERYWHERE!
5 YEARS IN AFGHANISTAN ... 500+ YEARS ON TURTLE ISLAND

Join the BLOCK THE EMPIRE anti-imperialist contingent on October 28, part
of a worldwide day of action against the occupation of Afghanistan.

::::::::::::::::::::
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 28th
NOON
Parc Norman Bethune
corner of de Maisonneuve and Guy
(metro Guy-Concordia)
::::::::::::::::::::

The BLOCK THE EMPIRE anti-imperialist contingent will be a
"child-friendly" march.

We will be joining and supporting the Échec à la guerre demonstration; we
begin marching at 12:30pm (sharp).

We march in opposition to war at home and abroad, and against US/Canadian
imperialism.

We are denouncing war and occupation, and supporting grassroots resistance:
Palestine ... Lebanon ... Iraq ... Iran ... Bolivia ... Mapuche territory
... Oaxaca/Atenco/Chiapas ... Philippines ... Haiti ...  Six Nations ...
Kahnawake ... Kanehsatake ... Nitassinan ... Turtle Island ...
everywhere!.

Organized by Block the Empire! Montreal
INFO: 514-848-7583 -- bloquezlempiremontreal at resist.ca
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Block the Empire invites local activists and groups to get involved in
organizing for the anti-imperialist contingent on October 28:

--> You can attend our open meeting next WEDNESDAY, October 4 at 6:30pm at
1500 de Maisonneuve West, #204. Childcare is available on request
(514-848-7583).

--> We are also looking for graphic artists to help us develop visual
materials -- banners, placards, stencils, etc -- for the march on October
28. If you can help, get in touch.

--> If your organization endorses the anti-imperialist contingent, please
let us know.

--> Finally, to get publicity materials to help mobilize -- flyers and
posters -- just get in touch.

INFO: 514-848-7583 -- bloquezlempiremontreal at resist.ca
-----


[The text below is from a Block the Empire flyer distributed during Afghan
President Hamid Karzai’s visit to Montreal on September 23, 2006.]

Canada profits from war and occupation
Solidarity, not charity
CANADA OUT OF AFGHANISTAN!

Afghan President Hamid Karzai is paying a “working visit” to Montreal this
September 23. His visit includes staged meetings with so-called
“development” NGOs, the Montreal Council on Foreign Relations (whose
supporters include notorious Montreal-based war profiteers like
SNC-Lavalin, Bombardier, Pratt & Whitney and Bell Helicopter), as well as
the Canada-Afghanistan Business Council.

Karzai, propelled into power by the United States and protected by US
armed forces, comes to Canada on the invitation of Prime Minister Steven
Harper. His visit is part of an aggressive public relations effort to
build support for Canada’s presence in Afghanistan, a presence justified
as part of the so-called “war on terror” and our “responsibility to
protect” failed states.

In an effort dubbed “3-D” – defence, diplomacy, and development – Canada
has engaged soldiers, diplomats and development industry bureaucrats in
what will be a long-term occupation of Afghanistan, along with other NATO
countries.

In October 2001, US-led forces began bombing Afghanistan, an aggressive
war that has continued to this day. Western bombs destroyed large sectors
of Afghanistan, and Afghan civilians have been collectively punished for
crimes they had no part in. As this destructive and racist effort
continues, Western corporations and “development” agencies move in; they
shamelessly call this “reconstruction”. Karzai is their cover, like other
puppets have been useful idiots for colonialism and imperialism in the
past.

Bush and Harper propose a false choice between their soldiers or the
Taliban. “Taliban” has become a propaganda term to dismiss any local
resistance to foreign occupation.  True social justice comes from direct
solidarity with ordinary Afghani people and their grassroots institutions,
not from accepting the false choices provided by the fundamentalist Bush
and his puppet Harper.

Canada’s presence in Afghanistan cannot be isolated from the wider
situation in the Middle East, both historically and contemporarily.
Western powers, led by the US, have consistently, and murderously,
undermined social justice movements, to ensure regimes that will allow
easy access in to American troops, and easy access out of key resources
like oil and natural gas. When Taliban-like forces or dictators suit
Western interests, they are supported; when they make useful enemies, they
become terrorists. The “War on Terror” is a clear pretext for increased
Western economic and military domination in the Middle East.

The “responsibility to protect”, Canada’s own contribution to American
imperialism, is the justification for Canada’s destructive involvement in
Afghanistan, Haiti and elsewhere. This concept is nothing more than the
21st century’s version of the “white man’s burden”, letting Western
economic and military forces create conditions for impoverishment, and
then declaring “failed states” that need the charity of our governments,
corporations and NGOs.

The role of the Canadian military, government, corporations and
development NGOs in Afghanistan is hypocritical, racist, self-serving and
destructive. Instead of shallow pretexts like fighting a “war on terror”
or the “responsibility to protect”, we propose genuine solidarity between
peoples, to fight together for social justice and dignity. We are
demanding the immediate withdrawal of all troops, including Canadian
troops, from Afghanistan. And we denounce the complicity of Canadian
corporations and NGOs.

Block the Empire! Montreal
info: bloquezlempiremontreal at resist.ca


[boxed text]

THE “LOGIC” OF MAJOR-GENERAL ANDREW LESLIE

Major-General Andrew Leslie is Canada’s military commander in Afghanistan.
Commenting in the summer of 2005 on Canada’s increasing military presence
in Afghanistan, General Leslie stated: “Afghanistan is a 20-year venture.
There are things worth fighting for. There are things worth dying for.
There are things worth killing for."

In the same speech, he stated: "Every time you kill an angry young man
overseas, you're creating 15 more who will come after you."

Let’s break down the general’s logic:

1.	Canadian troops will be in Afghanistan for 20 years
2.	Canadian troops will be killing people.
3.	Every time we kill people more people will want to kill us.

Sounds like a plan for disaster, mainly for the people of Afghanistan. No
wonder that “reconstruction” and “development” are being used as cover for
Canada’s “killing”; and no wonder Canada’s military is being used as cover
for American-led imperialism in the Middle East.

[boxed text]