PINKtank

With 1000 US soldiers dead in Afghanistan, Time to Revive the Anti-war Agenda

by Medea Benjamin U.S. Corporal Gregory S. Stultz, 22, of Brazil, Indiana, died on February 19, 2010 while supporting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. According to icasualties.org, Stultz’s death marks the grim milestone of 1,000 American soldiers killed in Operation Enduring Freedom. This week has also been a grim one for civilian casualties as a result [...]

Who are the Taliban? A talk from Anand Gopal (part II)

Here’s part two of a summary of a fascinating talk last week in L.A. by journalist Anand Gopal at the Brave New Foundation studio, connected through his help on the BNF film, “Rethink Afghanistan,” attended by a few CODEPINKers. The first part of the summary is here. When the U.S. first invaded Afghanistan, [...]

If “violence is a dead end,” why are we paying for it?

In President Obama’s much-praised, criticized and analyzed speech in Cairo, he condescended at one point to lecture the Palestinians on their use of violence, contrasting it with the nonviolent strategy and tactics of African-American for their civil rights: “Palestinians must abandon violence. Resistance through violence and killing is wrong and does not succeed. For centuries, black [...]

Worldwide Spending on Weapons Hits All-Time High – Tell Congress, ENOUGH!

Worldwide military spending on arms hit an all-time high last year, according to a new report.  In 2008, over $1.4 TRILLION was spent on weapons in 2008.  The United States is responsible for 42% of the spending, which is more than the next 14 countries combined. Not coincidentally, the US Congress continues to debate Obama’s Supplemental bill [...]

Mourn the Dead, and Fight Like Hell for the Living

In the kitchen the other night, I was thinking about my nephew, the Marine lieutenant, and suddenly these words flashed through my mind: “I want him to come to my funeral. I don’t want to go to his funeral.” A few years ago, when my family gathered for my father’s funeral, the only thing that comforted [...]

Official release: CODEPINK denounces Obama plan for Afghanistan