Why isn’t this footage on CNN or MSNBC? Why can’t the American public have easy access to it? Those are questions we should be asking ourselves as we watch the powerful images of Abdullah Khan, a refugee from Afghanistan’s Helmland province forced to seek shelter in an IDP camp outside Kabul.
Innocent people who lost loved ones and limbs, homes and all possessions during recent US airstrikes are now living in tents, unable to provide food or water for themselves or their children. It’s no wonder Khan, who lost two or three family members himself, resents the US military presence so deeply. “Americans don’t do us any good,” he says. “When the Americans came these atrocities happened. When the Americans were not here, things were calm; there was the same earth and sky. When the Russians came, they bombarded us, and also now the Americans are bombarding us. What benefit did the Americans bring us?”
This exclusive footage is from the soon-to-be-released fourth segment of Rethink Afghanistan, which focuses on civilian casualties. Brave New Foundation is releasing it in the hopes that others use it to raise awareness about the dire situation on the ground in Afghanistan right now, but thus far, it appears the corporate media is not doing their job in covering this war accurately. When US airstrikes killed up to 143 civilians in Farah province last month — an attack that was the direct result of military error — FireDogLake blogger Siun discovered CNN was merely repeating the Department of Defense’s spin on the story.
I guarantee if footage like this ever found its way onto major news networks, public opinion about the war in Afghanistan would be dramatically different. Congress wouldn’t be on the verge of approving $96.7 billion in supplemental wartime funding, the President and military leaders wouldn’t be able to call for tens of thousands more troops so easily, and there would be a public outcry for the Pentagon to provide an exit strategy.
UPDATE: CNN’s Rick Sanchez had a tweet today saying he would post the tweets of others on air. So if you’re reading this, tweet Sanchez (@ricksanchezcnn) and ask why this footage isn’t on the air.
You can also help make sure a wider audience sees this video with a few clicks on the following networking sites: digg, current, stumbleupon, and reddit.
This blog and this whole site gives me a glimpse of hope that not all americans are idiots.
Now, all we need is to get those people to speek their mind.
This is an effective campain. What makes this site unique is that a lot of links are made here from other sites. I have seen items here lifted and entered on sites with huge traffic e.g The Real News Network and Information Clearing House where the comments are applenty.
I dont quite understand why so few comment here. I think folks are apprehensive… a bit like the dancefloor I quess were all are waiting for others to get it started. I remember reading a surprising report that the no.1 fear of Americans was public speaking, they like to think of themselves as brash but that is just a mischaracterisation, not enough extroverts in the U.S it seams.
Before this site was modernised recently there was a ticker on the upper left that indicated that there was a couple of thousand readers here at any one time… folks are watching even if they are not writing.
I quess were all are waiting for others to get it started. I remember reading a surprising report that the no.1 fear of Americans was public speaking, they like to think of themselves as brash but that is just a mischaracterisation, not enough extroverts in the U.S it seems.
I quess were all are waiting for others to get it started. I remember reading a surprising report that the no.1 fear of Americans was public speaking, they like to think of themselves as brash but that is just a mischaracterisation, not enough extroverts in the U.S it seems.