Marjorie Cohn | End the Occupation of Iraq - and Afghanistan

t r u t h o u t | 07.29

Marjorie Cohn | End the Occupation of Iraq - and Afghanistan

http://www.truthout.org/article/end-occupation-iraq-and-afghanistan

Truthout contributor Marjorie Cohn writes: "In light of stepped-up violence in
Afghanistan and for political reasons - following Obama's lead - Bush will be
moving troops from Iraq to Afghanistan. Although the US invasion of Afghanistan
was as illegal as the invasion of Iraq, many Americans see it as a justifiable
response to the attacks of September 11, 2001, and the casualties in that war
have been lower than those in Iraq - so far. Practically no one in the United
States is currently questioning the legality or propriety of US military
involvement in Afghanistan. The cover of Time magazine calls it 'The Right
War....' The invasion of Afghanistan was not legitimate self-defense under
article 51 of the Charter because the attacks on 9/11 were criminal attacks, not
'armed attacks' by another country. Afghanistan did not attack the United
States.... Those who conspired to hijack airplanes and kill thousands of people
on 9/11 are guilty of crimes against humanity. They must be identified and
brought to justice in accordance with the law. But retaliation by invading
Afghanistan is not the answer and will only lead to the deaths of more of our
troops and Afghans."




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