Vol. 72/No. 29      July 21, 2008

Washington has increased bombing strikes from fighter jets and Predator drones in Pakistan’s border regions. It has stepped up coordinated actions against Taliban-backed militias as well. These actions have drawn Islamabad more deeply into the fighting and shattered its attempt to negotiate “peace agreements” with Taliban supporters. Some of Pakistan’s rulers see such agreements as necessary to maintain stability along its border where opposition to its collaboration with U.S. imperialism is high.

The U.S. rulers are ratcheting up the war in Afghanistan and Pakistan with little opposition. This bipartisan course has the enthusiastic backing of the Democrats and Republicans.

Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama says, “It’s time to refocus our attention on the war we have to win in Afghanistan. It’s time to go after the al-Qaeda leadership where it actually exists.”

But there is no “we” in this war. U.S. workers and farmers have no interest in pursuing the imperialist aggression begun in Afghanistan in 2001 to remove a regime that was unwilling to do Washington’s bidding. Nor do we have any interest in the continued occupation of Iraq by U.S. and “coalition” forces.

Republican John McCain argues that Iraq is the “central front” in the “war on terrorism” and says NATO countries, plus the Afghani and Pakistani military, should do more of the fighting in Afghanistan until Washington can free up more troops from Iraq.

Working people in this country need to demand the immediate unconditional withdrawal of all U.S. and other forces in Afghanistan and Iraq. Not one person, not one penny for Washington’s wars!
 
 
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U.S., Pakistan widen war in Afghanistan border area  
 
 
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