Anyone headed down to Fort Benning next weekend to join the protest in Georgia? There are vans/buses from most major cities in the East and Midwest, it seems. "On November 16, 2002, thousands will converge in Georgia at the gates of the Fort Benning military base and engage in nonviolent direct action to say NO to torture, rape and murder in our names and to shut down the School of the Americas (SOA). We are grateful to our sisters and brothers throughout Latin America for their inspiration and the invitation to accompany them in their struggle for economic and social justice. The School of the Americas (SOA), a military training school for Latin American soldiers has pumped out death squad leaders and military dictators while undermining democracy throughout the Western Hemisphere. It is continuing its murderous business under its new name (Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation). While SOA graduates are engaged in activities like the attempt to overthrow the democratically elected Venezuelan government and the killing of Colombian unionists, human rights activists are facing prison for speaking out against SOA Terror. Come for the vigil and consider taking part in the direct action. This year we are happy to announce that the Indigo Girls will be joining us from the stage on Sunday as well as others from around the hemisphere." http://www.soaw.org/new/article.php?id=259
For anyone further interested in past deeds of the evil institution that is the School of the Americas I suggest reading Mark Danner's The Truth of El Mozote. This expose originated as a New Yorker article and was later published as a book. In film, I'd suggest The Panama Deception.
What does the School of the Americas have to do with El Mozote? It was a slaughter of Salvadorans by Salvadorans. And the U.S. administration openly and proudly supported those behind the slaughter to the tune of $600 million a year. I guess I don't understand why you're emphasizing such a marginal connection wit the School of the Americas.
Some were trained in the School of the Americas, but El Mozote was the work of the military, not the death squads. Yes, some military were trained in the School, too, but my point is that the School is a symptom, not the disease. We should focus our attention on U.S. policies that lead to the support of such regimes. Focusing on the Shool is focusing on the bogeyman.
I don't disagree with you here. However, the dissent has to also be focused where tax dollars are spent. The SOA is, thankfully, a rather insignificant part of the US military budget and therefore enough pressure can have it dismantled. Not one good thing has come from that institution. Believe me, I'm the first to jump on here and criticize US foreign policy and I have.
calling you an Idiot would be impolite, so i will refrain. But I will say you have no clue what your talking about. I know you didnt have anything to do w ith that film... but still. I actually served in Panama with the 1-501 101st Airborne.We were part of some the nastiest ************ in the conflict.I dont ever remember any flagrant abuses by US forces.I know of some stupid mishaps, but no abuses.I dont ever remember seeing or hearing about Panamanians being lined up by US or by Panamanian "death squads". And again, like the El salvador situation.What does this have to do with Ft Benning? You just seem to pull crap out of nowhere to try to validate your point. BTW.. I have been back to Panama numerous times since 89, Never have heard anyone ever mention "death squads" from the conflict.If anything most Panamanians shake my hand after they find out I helped overthrow Noriega.
I haven't seen the film, so I'm not sure if it alleges that US troops actually participated in death squad style killings or not. I would tend to doubt such claims, as we would have had soldier coming forward by now blowing the whistle as in My Lai. Nonetheless, the political justification for the invasion WAS total crap, and I've heard the film does a fine job of showcasing that, not to mention the corporate media's biased coverage of the conflict.
Did you click the link to the website? Did you follow the links at the bottom of each page? The website makes claims in a passive aggressive manner.. Using pictures of mass graves with captions like "After the invasion, Panamanians were horrified to uncover several mass graves." another picture shows a "dead journalist" with a caption "Was this journalist executed by U.S. troops?" On the website I found nothing about the background of the conflict.I only found claims of US atrocities (which didnt happen).The actual movie may have detailed background on it, but I would also wager that a high perentage of the "Film" is just lies and false accusations.
The SOA foments a political culture of violence and does indeed train Latin American soldiers in despicable counter-revolutionary tactics. Call me what you will, I don't give a phuck. First, watch the film and decide for yourself whether US troops engaged in war crimes. I simply pointed out that there is alternative media out there for those who wish to check the corporate infestation that is today's journalism and the interests that perspective protects.
I dont need to , since I was actually in Panama and participated in the conflict.My decision is already made, by being a participant and eyewitness.Of course the CIA probably "erased" all the "war crimes" memories when I hopped on that c-130 to leave Panama.