Texas Labor Against the War

20 July 2009

THE ARMY WILL INCREASE ITS SIZE BY 22,000

I think we would call this throwing good money after bad. A million other ways to spend it, but this is what the establishment chooses.

Richard Jehn / The Rag Blog

Iraq. Photo: Michael Kamber.
Gates announces temporary increase in U.S. Army
By David Morgan / July 20, 2009

Washington — U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates on Monday announced a temporary increase in the size of the U.S. Army that would boost the force by up to 22,000 troops for three years.

He told reporters at a news briefing that the increase, intended to cope with strains from the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, would raise the total strength of the Army to 569,000 soldiers.

“The Army faces a period where its ability to deploy combat units at acceptable fill rates is at risk,” Gates told reporters. “This is a temporary challenge which will peak in the coming year and abate over the course of the next three years.”

. . . full story at http://theragblog.blogspot.com/2009/07/army-will-increase-its-size-by-22000.html

Meanwhile, U.S. suffers highest monthly number of military deaths in Afghanistan ever, 30.  The total is 56 for NATO forces (defending the North Atlantic?).  Four more Americans were killed in Afghanistan on Monday, making July the deadliest month for U.S. troops since the war began in October 2001.  And the month’s not over yet.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said the surge in U.S. and allied deaths in Afghanistan this month is “regrettable and tragic,” and that the Obama administration believes it has no choice but to continue the fight. (AP)

Did she mention the Afghan people killed?  Including civilians.  Including children.  Including women–supposedly being freed by the U.S.

Tell Hillary Clinton to speak out for labor rights in Iraq.

SIGN THE PETITION

Since the invasion of Iraq in 2003, the U.S. and Iraqi governments have continued to enforce Saddam Hussein’s 1987 law that bars unions and collective bargaining in all public sector and enterprise workplaces.

Iraqi unions have organized (at great risk and with great sacrifices) but without the protection of a basic labor law, even though the Iraqi constitution requires one and Iraq is signatory to the International Labor Organization Convention on the right to organize and bargain.

Union leaders and activists have suffered harassment, beatings, detention, torture and even assassination.  Union offices have been raided and vandalized by US and Iraqi troops.  Union bank accounts and assets have been frozen.

Through all this, the U.S. government has remained silent.

U.S. Labor Against the War has posted a petition that calls upon Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, as the principal foreign policy representative of the government, to speak out for labor rights in Iraq and press the Iraqi government to respect and protect the rights of workers and unions.

Please take a moment to add your voice to the international movement in solidarity with the courageous unions and workers of Iraq.

When we strengthen labor rights in Iraq, we also strengthen our fight for labor rights right here in the U.S.

SIGN THE PETITION HERE

US Labor Against the War www.uslaboragainstwar.org