After Holding Back, Peace Groups Prepare to Confront Obama on Afghan War Escalation

Interview with Medea Benjamin, co-founder of Code Pink Women for Peace and Global Exchange, conducted by Scott Harris

As Afghanistan attempts to put the best face on their Aug. 20 presidential election, tainted by widespread charges of fraud and vote rigging on behalf of Afghanistan's incumbent President Hamid Karzai, Gen. Stanley McChrystal, the U.S. commander in Afghanistan has issued a report on the progress of the eight-year war. Gen. McChrystal, after releasing his report to the Pentagon, said in a statement that, "The situation in Afghanistan is serious, but success is achievable and demands a revised implementation strategy, commitment and resolve, and increased unity of effort."

August has been the most deadly month yet for U.S. forces fighting in Afghanistan, with 51 dead. A total of 800 U.S. servicemen and women have been killed since the American invasion and overthrow of the Islamic fundamentalist Taliban government in October 2001 following the Sept. 11th terrorist attacks. Since taking office President Obama has sent an additional 21,000 U.S. troops to Afghanistan for a total of 68,000 in country. But there is speculation that thousands more troops may soon be deployed.

According to a new CNN/Opinion Research poll released on Sept. 1, "fifty-seven percent of Americans surveyed say they oppose the U.S. war in Afghanistan, with 42 percent supporting the military mission. The percentage of those in opposition to the war is up 11 points since April." Between The Lines Scott Harris spoke with Medea Benjamin, co-founder of the group Code Pink Women for Peace, who discusses the role of the peace movement in relation to what appears to be a deepening quagmire for the U.S. in Afghanistan.

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"Between The Lines" is a half-hour syndicated radio news magazine that each week features a summary of under-reported news stories and interviews with activists and journalists who offer progressive perspectives on international, national and regional political, economic and social issues. Because "Between The Lines" is independent of all publications, media networks or political parties, we are able to bring a diversity of voices to the airwaves generally ignored or marginalized by the major media. For more information on this week's topics and to check out our text archive listing topics and guests presented in previous programs visit: www.btlonline.org
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"Between the Lines," WPKN 89.5 FM's weekly radio news magazine can be heard Tuesdays at 5:30 p.m. ET; Wednesdays at 8 a.m. ET and Saturdays at 2 p.m. ET (Wednesday's show airs at 7:30 a.m. ET during fundraising months of April and October).
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***********************************

"Between The Lines" is a half-hour syndicated radio news magazine that each week features a summary of under-reported news stories and interviews with activists and journalists who offer progressive perspectives on international, national and regional political, economic and social issues. Because "Between The Lines" is independent of all publications, media networks or political parties, we are able to bring a diversity of voices to the airwaves generally ignored or marginalized by the major media. For more information on this week's topics and to check out our text archive listing topics and guests presented in previous programs visit: www.btlonline.org
*
"Between the Lines," WPKN 89.5 FM's weekly radio news magazine can be heard Tuesdays at 5:30 p.m. ET; Wednesdays at 8 a.m. ET and Saturdays at 2 p.m. ET (Wednesday's show airs at 7:30 a.m. ET during fundraising months of April and October).
*
For an email subscription of "Between The Lines Weekly Summary" which features a RealAudio link to the week's program for Between The Lines, send an email to btlsummary-subscribe (at) lists.riseup.net
*
For an email subscription of "Between The Lines Q&A" which features a RealAudio link and weekly transcript to one of the interviews featured on Between The Lines, send an email to btlqa-subscribe (at) lists.riseup.net
*
betweenthelines (at) snet.net
*
www.squeakywheel.net/
*
Distributed by Squeaky Wheel Productions
©2009 Between The Lines. All Rights Reserved.