CANADIAN POLITICS/ANTI-MILITARISM:

NO MORE MURDER OF AFGHAN CIVILIANS BY CANADIAN BOMBERS:

The following appeal is from the anti-militarist group Cease Fire.

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Stop Canadian Air Strikes‏
The military wants to send our CF-18 fighter bombers to Afghanistan.

Tell Prime Minister Harper that we do not want this major escalation of our combat role.

Action Alert:
Stop CF-18 warplanes from being deployed to Afghanistan
Send your letter to Stephen Harper right away



As you may have heard on the news, up to 100 Afghan civilians are feared dead as a result of U.S. air strikes.

Now, I am writing to alert you of a potential major escalation of Canada’s war in Afghanistan: Canadian fighter-bomber warplanes.

The military is engaging in a lobbying campaign to have a squadron of our CF-18 Hornet fighter bombers deployed to Afghanistan.

The planes would be used to attack suspected insurgents and to fight with Canadian and U.S. troops engaged in search and destroy missions. But they will also kill untold numbers of Afghan civilians in these attacks.

The deployment of CF-18 fighter bombers would be a major increase in our combat role in Afghanistan, and should be opposed by Canadians. Please send your letter to Prime Minister Harper right away.

Bombing runs by similar warplanes used by the United States and other Western forces have killed hundreds of civilians, including women and children. As well, U.S. pilots have already killed five Canadian soldiers.

According to the United Nations, 530 Afghan civilians were killed by U.S. and NATO air strikes in 2008, a 65 per cent increase over 2007. Experts all agree that the growing number of civilians killed by air strikes is eroding Afghan support for foreign troops.

Canadian warplanes should never be part of these deadly bombing and strafing runs in Afghanistan. How many deaths of innocent Afghans would be on our hands?
We need to push back against the military lobby by sending a strong signal to the Harper government, and the military, that we do not want Canadian CF-18 fighter bombers sent to Afghanistan.

Thank you for doing what you can to end Canada’s war in Afghanistan.
In peace,
Steven Staples,
Ceasefire.ca

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THE LETTER:

Please go to THIS LINK to send the following letter to the Canadian government.

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Dear Prime Minister Harper,
I oppose the deployment of CF-18 fighter bombers to Afghanistan.

Air strikes are the leading cause of civilian deaths from NATO military operations. Canada cannot claim to be defending Afghan women and children while coalition air strikes killed more than 500 civilians in 2008, according to the United Nations.

I urge you to state clearly that Canada will not deploy CF-18 fighter-bombers to Afghanistan. Furthermore, your government should support a diplomatic end to the conflict, and bring Canadian troops home as soon as possible.

I look forward to your reply.
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Monsieur le Premier ministre,
Je m’oppose au déploiement des chasseurs bombardiers CF-18 en Afghanistan.

De toutes les opérations militaires de l’OTAN, les frappes aériennes sont celles qui font le plus de victimes parmi les civils. Le Canada ne peut pas prétendre défendre les femmes et les enfants afghans alors que, selon les Nations Unies, les frappes de la coalition ont fait plus de 500 victimes chez les civils en 2008.

Je vous demande avec instance de déclarer clairement que le Canada ne déploiera pas de chasseurs bombardiers CF-18 en Afghanistan. De plus, votre gouvernement devrait aider à trouver une issue diplomatique au conflit, et rapatrier nos soldats dès que possible.

Espérant avoir une réponse de vous, je vous prie, Monsieur le Premier ministre, d’agréer mes salutations respectueuses.