Gallows Humor

Submitted by heuer on Thu, 10/15/2009 - 7:30pm

Moazzam Begg was arrested by US and Pakistani agents in Islamabad in February, 2002. His crimes included drilling wells for drinking water and building girls’ schools in Afghanistan. For these crimes he was classified an enemy combatant. He was tortured and detained in Kandahar, Bagram and Guantanamo. During this time, his “three piece suit” consisted of leg, arm, and connecting shackles.

What is surprising in Mr. Begg’s story, is his humor. At one point, the excruciating volume of western music is turned to a Country Western review, at which the detainees express willingness to confess, with wailing and shouts, to any crime their captors imagine, if they will just stop the music.

Moazzam Begg’s book “Enemy Combatant” details his ordeal, including tortuous months of solitary confinement. As a citizen, born and raised in Birmingham, England, Moazzam recounts the horrors of prison camps from time immemorial, and the Kafkaesque nightmare of the denial of a court appearance providing evidence of crimes, and an opportunity of defense.

“Enemy Combatant” is a must read for anyone with an inkling of suspicion that us Good Guys are actually the barbarians.

Working to stop the madness, Cindy Sheehan and Col. Robert Bowman bring their first speaking tour to NC in Asheville (10/23), Statesville (10/24), Charlotte (10/25), Bolivia (Brunswick Co. 10/26) and Raleigh on Tuesday, Oct. 27, 7:00pm at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Raleigh, 3313 Wade Ave. If you are not able to attend, contributions can be sent to:

Triangle Veterans for Peace
c/o Wally Myers
3705 Edwards Mill Rd.
Raleigh, NC 27612

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Tell us more about Triangle Veterans for Peace

Submitted by James on Thu, 10/15/2009 - 8:07pm.

A few years ago we did a poll here and it seems like more than half of the regulars were veterans.

Triangle Veterans for Peace

Submitted by heuer on Thu, 10/15/2009 - 9:28pm.

Triangle VFP was chartered in 2008, with charter members ranging from WWII vet Cy King (self desribed "oldest rat in the peace barn") to Karlin Yudachek, a recent nuclear submariner. One of the signature stories from our organizing meeting came from retired Navy, Babs Freeman. She intended to join a legion chapter, but when she walked into her first meeting, and asked where the black veterans were, she was told "They have their own legion post." Babs turned on her heel and walked out. She didn't serve in an integrated Navy for 20 years, just to retire and join a segregated legion post.

Triangle VFP is working with VFP chapters in Charlotte, Western NC, and national VFP to end warfare as an instrument of national policy and to build a culture of peace in our communities.

For more information, see www.ncveteransforpeace.org.

John Heuer