Siun

This week – once again – a US air strike killed a large number of Afghan civilians. The numbers are indefinite, somewhere between 76 and 90; the precise details still being filled in by various investigations. But again, again … bombs fell and famiies were destroyed.

Spending Saturday morning at the farmer’s market is a neighborhood tradition in my part of Chicago. We stroll over, often with dogs in hand and spend an hour or two picking out the best tomatoes or talking to the folks who bring “fire peaches” from Michigan or sampling the honey from the local cooperative. But this week, the peace was shattered by sonic booms.

The next big thing is the air war against Iraq and Afghanistan.

Killings of civilians do not go unnoticed in Iraq.

The Washington Post informs us today that George and pal Maliki have given up on getting a Status of Forces Agreement finalized, replacing it with a Memo of Understanding. Apparently, Maliki couldn't find a way to get Parliamentary approval for any agreement that leaves US forces in Iraq without a deadline - but the deadline and resulting withdrawal remain ambiguous. Meanwhile, our welcome in Afghanistan grows ever thinner thanks to US air strikes on civilians.

Reports and denials that Israeli fighter jets are using US bases in Iraq to practice for an attack on Iran are worrying - add in the report in the Sunday Times of London that Bush has “amber lighted” an Israeli attack and hints that an attack while Obama is visiting Israel might be of use to both Israel and the Republicans ... jitters galore.

This week US forces censored an award winning photojournalist – continuing the efforts to make sure we do not see the real results of our actions in Iraq. Zoriah was embedded with a Marine unit and by sheer chance was a block away with one unit when another was caught up in a suicide bombing in Anbar - his words and photos tell what happened next.

In October of 2007, US forces handed over control of Karbala governate to Iraq. On Friday, US forces conducted a dawn raid in the town of Janaja – killing one civilian – with no notice or coordination with Iraqi local, national or military officials. Janaja is a town “populated mostly by members of the Mailiki tribe.” On the same day, the Senate approved the latest Supplemental - providing more funds for more such raids into mid 2009.

This week the House once again passed an Iraq Supplemental with no deadlines for an end to the occupation and the military court in hearing the latest Haditha Massacre case dismissed all charges against Lt. Col. Jeffrey Chessani after the military prosecutors apparently tainted the case. The people of Iraq will not forget - will we?

Today is World Refugee Day. Yesterday the House passed an Iraq Supplemental with no deadlines for withdrawal and with funding for the occupation into next year. Every day in Iraq, the Iraqi Red Crescent workers put their lives on the line to bring food, water, and medical care to their fellow Iraqis. Donations to their work are one great way to show our opposition to the continued occupation.