Protesters Accuse NATO generals of war crimes

There follow two articles on the Anti-Nato protests in Victoria. The first article notes there were protests about the types of weapons used. I am not sure of any details about that. One would think that the bombing policy itself led by Bomber McNeil in Afghanistan would be protested. The second article has a quite different tone. The protest point mentioned in it has to do with the relevance of NATO. You would think its relevance is obvious. It is a helpmate to US and other nations foreign policy objectives in particular when the US won't do thing for them.
There is no question that NATO was involved in war crimes in the attacks against Serbia. Journalists were deliberately attacked, infrastructure upon which civilians depended was similarly attacked.

Protesters accuse NATO generals of war crimes

Louise Dickson
CanWest News Service


Sunday, September 09, 2007


VICTORIA -- About 200 noisy protesters delivered a symbolic summons Saturday to North Atlantic Treaty Organization generals as the officials discussed military strategy behind police fences at a downtown Victoria hotel.

The group accused NATO's military committee of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes.

Lt.-Col. Tony White, public information officer for NATO's military committee, said he had received and read the protesters' document and would pass it to NATO's legal team in Brussels, when he returns in a few days.

"It will be not ignored," said White.

Organizers had warned police they would fight back if officers tried to clear them from the Grand Pacific Hotel where the high level meetings are being held by generals from the international military alliance, but a noon rally was peaceful.

The coalition of local peace groups chanted "NATO killers" as they marched, followed by calls of "Bring Down the Generals."

Although a few military men looked on from their waterfront balconies, no one came down to address the crowd.

Jodi Wood joined the rally to protest Canada's involvement in NATO.

"We're a democratic nation and I think we should have a right as a civilian society to make the decision to pull Canada out of what is basically world terrorism," said Wood.

Marla Renn, an education student at Simon Fraser University, came to protest what she called the atrocities being committed by NATO in Afghanistan.

"There's an untold amount of civilian deaths and brutality for women over there. We're making things harder and worse over there," said Renn.

Many protesters accused NATO of using prohibited weapons such as cluster bombs, white phosphorous and depleted uranium to kill and maim innocent civilians.

Raging Granny Fran Thoburn found pictures online of babies deformed by depleted uranium and had them laminated on posters.

"We need to get our heads out of the sand and realize we are killing and maiming total populations," Thoburn said.

Members of the military committee were surprised by the protest's focus on illegal weapons, said White.

After consulting with senior officers, White told the media NATO is not using cluster munitions or depleted uranium in Afghanistan.

"Depleted uranium was an issue in Kosovo and Bosnia several years ago. Some nations were using it, but there was no proof it harmed people," said White.

He also addressed the question of whether or not NATO is still relevant after existing for almost 60 years.

"I think it's relevant, because the United Nations, which represents the international community, is the one asking us to go to Afghanistan and Darfur," said White. "We're not imposing ourselves on other countries."

In the past five years, the demands on NATO have been increasing, said White.

"The international community sees NATO as a very responsible and professional force that is highly successful," said White.

"You have to go to Afghanistan to see the progress. The (gross domestic product ) is up 14 per cent. Young girls are in school. Afghanistan is much better off than it was two years ago. If they listen to our soldiers, they'll know we're doing a lot more good than bad."

The protest included a nude male cyclist towing two Scottish terriers in a yellow trailer. The man made it on to the lawn of the provincial legislature before being dressed in a pair of bright blue boxer shorts and placed in the back of the police car.

Victoria Times Colonist

Victoria anti-NATO demo ends peacefully
Last Updated: Saturday, September 8, 2007 | 4:58 PM PT
CBC News
NATO military leaders met in Victoria on Saturday afternoon as a small but vocal crowd of protesters denounced the organization.

The protest, dubbed a No to NATO rally, attracted about 300 people. They objected to the military leaders meeting in "my backyard," to Canada's role in Afghanistan and to NATO's change from a defensive alliance, its original purpose.

A Victoria police officer threads heavy wire through a temporary fence in front of the Hotel Grand Pacific Friday before the NATO meetings.
(Deddeda Stemler/Canadian Press) "We're saying it no longer has any rationale for its existence, the way it's being used these days," said Phil Lyons, a spokesman for a coalition of peace groups.

Police patrolled the peaceful protest, which started under sunny skies at about 1 p.m. PT. It ended several hours later with a party-like atmosphere, CBC reporter Chris Brown said.

The NATO meeting brought together 26 generals to discuss the organization's current and future operations.

The Victoria military meeting is taking place in the midst of a growing tension over the increasing violence in Afghanistan. It's on the agenda, but it's not the main item, with the focus this weekend being larger than any single war zone, spokesman Lt.-Col. Tony White said.



Talks about NATO's 'future operations'

"The discussions are going to be very strategic. It's going to be about how does NATO prepare itself and have the right capabilities for today, but more importantly, for future operations."

Gen. Ray Henault, chairman of NATO's military committee and former chief of Canada's defence staff, said the alliance has not received formal notice from the federal government that it intends to end its combat commitment in Afghanistan.

Opposition leaders have demanded Prime Minister Stephen Harper formally announce Canada will end its combat mission in the country in February 2009.

Henault said the alliance anticipates there will be changes but has not begun the formal process of scouting out replacement nations.