We are realists... We dream the impossible - Che FIRE Free the 5 Cuban Heroes Held in US Jails THIS TIME 10,000 PEOPLE CALL FOR CANADA OUT OF AFGHANISTAN! Canadian soldier in Kandahar . May 8 2006. Roadside bomb in Kandahar. May 8 2006. 10,000signatures One Million March in Los Angeles For Immigrant Rights! Stop Racist Immigration Laws! Volume 3 Issue 3 www.firethistime.net 75 ¢ In Bookstores FIRE THIS TIME Volume 3 Issue 3 By Nita Palmer disillusioned with the officials who run their country and grassroots support for the insurgency is Afghanistan has now been growing as a result.” (April 17, occupied by Canada, the US, and 2006). The deteriorating quality other NATO countries for more of life, the rampant corruption, and than four long years. In Canada, the lack of any real “democracy” we have watched as a new era of in Afghanistan exposes the reality war and occupation unfolds before that the government of Canada our eyes, with the government of does not support the needs of the Canada playing a leading role in Afghan people there. They support the era through the occupation a corrupt government that steals the of Afghanistan. As parliament few meagre pennies that the people confirms “Canada’s commitment” of the country have, lining their to the occupation through a two- own pockets with it and directing year extension of the current the money into largely foreign- troop deployment there, we must owned investment that regular ask what this mission means for people in Afghanistan never see a the people of Afghanistan. Has penny of. quality of life improved for people in Afghanistan? Do people in Afghans bear the double burden of Afghanistan now live in a free and fighting not only against occupying democratic society? Roadside bomb in Kandahar. forces, but also against the corrupt May 17 2006. and repressive government of their Corruption as bad as occupation country. In many ways, people in Afghanistan feel the effects of The answer to the above questions occupation most directly through is a resounding ‘no’. Directly, the corruption and exploitation the occupation has caused the carried out by their government. deaths and suffering of countless Afghanistan However, their fight cannot Afghans through its bombs and be solely against a repressive guns, a soaring opium trade, and government in their country. It also a plummeting life expectancy. must be against the occupation, However, the occupation has also as the occupying forces are not caused a broader, deeper, and Canada’s Iraq only a direct threat to people in more widespread dysfunction Afghanistan in their daily lives, in Afghanistan that leads to the they are also a support system for deaths and suffering of countless the repressive government that is Afghans: corruption. For people the average salary for even a well- funded primarily by money being corruption is fully supported by exploiting people in Afghanistan. in Afghanistan, corruption that paid government officer is only $60 invested in the country, which they occupying forces in Afghanistan, permeates through society poses USD per month – not enough to direct or actually control. Many as the occupiers profit from the What way to go? barriers to accessing basic needs, pay half of a month’s rent in Kabul. top officials have been accused of investment. As well, they are such as food and shelter. It Even those individuals privileged receiving payments from foreign the primary supporters of this No matter the claims of the increases the exploitation of people enough to hold a good job in companies, or funnelling money government, which does not occupying forces, people in in Afghanistan from exploitation Afghanistan can barely afford to into investment projects such represent people in Afghanistan. Afghanistan do not now live in by imperialist occupation to survive. They hold enough power as the Kabul City Centre Mall, Likewise, the elites of Afghanistan a free and democratic, or even exploitation by Afghanistan’s own to be able to supplement their which brings profits to foreign continue to collaborate with marginally improved society. The corrupt government, supported by income with bribes and the like investors and the Afghan elite, but imperialism, and continue to rampant corruption in Afghanistan the imperialist forces. – although it is at the expense of not to poor and working people. direct reconstruction money into today, which widens the chasm others. The problem of corruption Mariam Rawi, representative of investment projects that benefit between the elites and the poor and Essentially, corruption occurs on in Afghanistan does not begin with the Revolutionary Association only the interests of the Afghan working class, truly shows whose two levels: within high-ranking those with lower-level government of the Women of Afghanistan ruling class and imperialism. interest this occupation is in: the government officials and others jobs, however. Corruption from (RAWA) noted, “this [corruption] imperialist ruling class of Canada who possess a significant amount higher levels of authority is felt is happening in a country that has The government of Canada and and as well as their well-supported of political and economic control at its greatest at the bottom rungs received $12Billion dollars in occupation of Afghanistan partners – the corrupt ruling class over the country, and within lower- of the social ladder, where poor aid while another 10 billion were of Afghanistan. For regular people While the government of Canada level government offices, such and working people are forced to pledged at the recent London in Afghanistan, “freedom and maintains its guise of “building as the judiciary and the police. shell out their few pennies of food conference. Even a fraction of this democracy” means the freedom to democracy” in Afghanistan, it is In these lower levels, corruption money in order to pay a bribe. aid has not been used for the benefit build a government and a society becoming more and more clear that typically takes the form of bribes and welfare of our people, but that truly represents their interests the “democracy” that the Canadian demanded of people before they Poverty and corruption: Two filled the pockets of the warlords – not the interest of imperialism military is supporting there is a can have documents officially sides of the same coin and high rank officials” (April 27, or of the ruling and elite class of farce. The so-called democracy of signed, appear in court, or even get 2006). Afghanistan. The only way to do What causes much of the poverty the Afghan government is robbing work. this is for people in Afghanistan of Afghan people? What causes from the poor and giving to the rich, This corruption is in addition to have control of their land, their Eid Mohammad, a twelve-year- government officers to threaten and supporting investments in which to the fact that much of the resources, and their country – in old boy who sells spinach on the to take bribes from people in order 50% of the profit goes to foreign so-called “aid money” that is other words, an immediate end to street, said “I pay 6 dollars [a day] to earn enough to survive? It is company owners, and 50% of the invested in Afghanistan is invested the occupation. to policemen so that I can stay corruption on a higher level, within through organizations such as the profit goes to Afghan business here. If not, they trample over the government’s top positions and Afghanistan Investment Support owners. People in Afghanistan CANADA OUT OF the vegetables.” Mohammad also within the elite of Afghanistan. Agency (AISA), a private-sector do not support the government AFGHANISTAN NOW! observed that the police “beat the support agency that encourages that has been installed by the STOP THE CANADIAN WAR While 80% of Afghanistan’s 31 people who do not pay up.” This foreign investment in Afghanistan, occupation forces, and as a recent DRIVE! million people live in poverty, level of corruption, though, comes which does not see any benefit for article from the Al Jazeera news BRING THE TROOPS HOME a small handful live in luxury, as little surprise in a country where regular people in Afghanistan. This agency noted “Many Afghans are NOW! Canadian soldier during raid on Kandahar Canadian patrol outside Kabul. Canadian soldier in Kandahar. village. May 17 2006. August 2005. April 2006. FIRE THIS TIME Volume 3 Issue 3 the war in Iraq, as opposition added to the commitment As the Canadian war drive increases, well as from the of the Canadian elite to this war drive and as people in Afghanistan continue People in Canada Say: Canadian military’s means that the government of Canada to suffer, we must call for Canada Out d e p l o y m e n t will only grow less apt to consulting of Afghanistan Now! However, we must of ships to the people in Canada about missions like also have an opportunity to discuss what Persian Gulf to the occupation of Afghanistan. Of late, the occupation of Afghanistan means for support the war, we have seen this through recent actions people in Afghanistan, and for ordinary BRINGS THE TROOPS and the RCMP’s designed to suppress discussion among working people in Canada. Thus, we deployment of people in Canada – such as calling the must call for an Independent Public officers to Jordan vote on the lengthening of the current Inquiry into the Canadian War Drive in to train over 32,000 mission in Afghanistan at the last Afghanistan, so that we can add tens of HOME NOW Iraqi police. minute. In this way, people in Canada thousands more voices to the demand can’t voice our opposition even by the for Canada Out of Afghanistan! and an Another front minimal means we have until after the end to the suffering that is costing the MAWO Petition Drive Against Canada’s War that the ruling vote.