Realities Collide at Halifax "War Conference" 11.22.09
Anthony Fenton
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During a press briefing Friday, Sen. McCain told IPS that he would be "glad to meet" with Joya, and acknowledged that "she has kindred spirits here in Canada and in the United States who share exactly her view".
A CBS poll earlier this week showed that 69 percent of U.S. citizens think the Afghan war is on the wrong track, the highest ever level of opposition that has been registered during the eight-year occupation. Despite this, McCain added that "the majority of Afghan people don't share that particular position".
Apparently unfamiliar with Joya's position toward the unpopular war, McCain said, "in the course of our conversation, I would have to also try to get from her how she views the situation in Afghanistan after all the troops are gone."
Earlier this week, Joya told IPS correspondent Chris Arsenault, in a sit-down interview, that, "The war in Afghanistan has fostered terrorism, even though the stated goal is to fight it. The biggest beneficiaries of the conflict have been extremist groups who take advantage of legitimate grievances against NATO."
"They [the occupying forces] say if troops leave, the Taliban will eat us. But they are supporting the Taliban today, supporting warlords. Both of them are eating us. To fight against one enemy is easier than two. We are between two enemies [the occupiers and the extremists]," she said, urging an immediate troop withdrawal.
....CLICK FOR FULL ATRICLE....
During a press briefing Friday, Sen. McCain told IPS that he would be "glad to meet" with Joya, and acknowledged that "she has kindred spirits here in Canada and in the United States who share exactly her view".
A CBS poll earlier this week showed that 69 percent of U.S. citizens think the Afghan war is on the wrong track, the highest ever level of opposition that has been registered during the eight-year occupation. Despite this, McCain added that "the majority of Afghan people don't share that particular position".
Apparently unfamiliar with Joya's position toward the unpopular war, McCain said, "in the course of our conversation, I would have to also try to get from her how she views the situation in Afghanistan after all the troops are gone."
Earlier this week, Joya told IPS correspondent Chris Arsenault, in a sit-down interview, that, "The war in Afghanistan has fostered terrorism, even though the stated goal is to fight it. The biggest beneficiaries of the conflict have been extremist groups who take advantage of legitimate grievances against NATO."
"They [the occupying forces] say if troops leave, the Taliban will eat us. But they are supporting the Taliban today, supporting warlords. Both of them are eating us. To fight against one enemy is easier than two. We are between two enemies [the occupiers and the extremists]," she said, urging an immediate troop withdrawal.
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- groups:
- Collective Journalism, Afghanistan News
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- tags:
- War, Afghanistan, McCain, War on Terror, 3 more
