*Candlelight Peace Vigil for Diplomacy with Iran Tuesday, February 21, 2012 - 6:00pm| American Friends (use as an idea to initiate your own local action) for details GO here
You may also want to visit the inspiring/informative American/Iranian Friendship Committee here and here
Be sure to see the post just below this on nomorecrusades.blogspot.com and at oneheartforpeace.blogspot.com
* Photo above is from the American Iranian Friendship Committee website
Although more about Pakistan's sovereignty - I wanted to post the following items in a timely manner -- since this is apparently the first time there's been such public statements about US use of drones in Pakistan:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.voanews.com/english/news/asia/Obama-Confirms-Drone-Strikes-in-Pakistan-138382759.htmlhttp://www.voanews.com/english/news/asia/Pakistan-Repeats-Condemnation-of-Drone-Strikes-138417439.htmlAfter Mr. Obama's remarks, Pakistan called the attacks unlawful, counterproductive and unacceptable, and a spokesman challenged the president's description of advantages they provide.On Tuesday, Press Secretary Jay Carney carefully avoided comment about secret operations, emphasizing Mr. Obama's assertion that counter-terrorism efforts are targeted, surgical and precise to minimize "unintended casualties and damage."Carney responded this way when asked if Mr. Obama had purposefully spoken about a covert program."He is the commander in chief of the armed forces of the United States, he is the president of the United States, I would point you to his comments," said Carney. "I am not going to discuss broadly or specifically supposed covert programs, I would just point you to what he said."Debate continues about how many people, including civilians, have been killed in drone attacks in Pakistan. One organization, the Washington-based New America Foundation, says between 1,700 and 2,700 people have died in the past eight years.On Tuesday, Amnesty International urged the administration to "disclose details of the legal and factual basis for the lethal use of drones in Pakistan" and clarify "the rules of engagement."This past December, another human rights organization issued a similar call. In a letter to President Obama, Human Rights Watch urged greater "public accountability" for CIA drone strikes, and it urged the administration to "clarify its legal rationale for targeted killings."