July 7 MAWO Forum Report

On Wednesday July 7, Mobilization Against War & Occupation (MAWO) organized a forum entitled “AFGHANISTAN: A QUAGMIRE FOR CANADA AND THE IMPERIAL POWERS”. This forum came at a time just after U.S. President Barack Obama fired U.S. General Stanley McChrystal, head of the NATO mission in Afghanistan and replaced him with General David Petraeus.

MAWO co-chair and forum MC, Andrew Barry welcomed everyone and introduced the forum to the more then 20 participants.

Beginning with a series of recent news clips and multimedia about the firing of McChrystal and the overall situation in Afghanistan, participants were engaged from the start. This was followed by the event’s main speaker, Nita Palmer, who is an executive Committee member of MAWO and writer of the new book “War & Occupation in Afghanistan: Which Way Forward?” released earlier this year by Battle of Ideas Press.

Nita opened up discussing why this change of U.S. military generals occurred and what it means for the people of Afghanistan and the anti-war movement. She followed this by outlining the effects of almost a decade of war, occupation and destruction of the Afghan people by U.S., Canada and NATO forces.

Discussion followed with participants explaining what they understood from the firing of McChrystal and Canada’s role in the occupation of Afghanistan and why peace loving people need to get involved in opposing it.

This forum was another vibrant event in MAWO’s campaign to demand: “Canada/US/NATO Out of Afghanistan Now!” and “Self-Determination for Afghanistan & All Oppressed Nations!”