Reason #11 To Fly A Peace Globe ~ Afghanistan

There are more than thirty ongoing violent conflicts waging right now around the globe. The United Nations defines Major Wars as military conflict inflicting 1,000 battlefield deaths per year. Wikipedia expands that definition to include wars that cause destruction and humanitarian crisis of outstanding severity." Ongoing civil wars fueled by racial, ethnic, or religious differences come with a new twist that distinguishes them from wars in previous generations - civilian casualties. During World War I non-combatants made up less than 5% of casualties. Today, the number is a staggering 75% civilians killed or wounded.
Less than thirty days from now we will engage in another BlogBlast For Peace. By my research and estimation, there are at LEAST 30 very good reasons to fly a peace globe. To begin your activism. To increase our awareness of the suffering of others. To talk about peace. To write about peace. To be part of a larger voice for peace. To invoke peace. To pray for peace. To focus on peace.
To wage peace.

Need a reason to fly a globe?
Here's Reason #10

Civil War in Afghanistan
Background: There has been ongoing conflict since 1978 in Afghanistan. There have been several phases of the same war. The Soviet Army withdrew in 1989 but the Afghan Civil War continues. The current war, which began in 2001, was an invasive response by the United States and The United Kingdom to the 2001 September 11th attacks in the United States and is the focus of this article.

Between 7,300 - 14,000 civilians have been killed.

Where?Most of the fighting is near the border of Pakistan in the southern part of the country. Afghanistan borders Iran to the west and China to the northeast.

Who is fighting?

U.S. and British troops, the Afghan National Army (57,000 active troops being trained by coalition forces) against the Taliban, an organization closely aligned with the terrorist group Al-Qaeda.

Why are they fighting? It began as an effort to capture Osama bin Laden, destroy Al-Qaeda and restore stability to the people in the region. Removal of the oppressive Taliban regime was paramount to the success of the mission. The United Islamic Front for the Salvation of Afghanistan (aka the Northern Alliance) assisted by the U.S. Special Forces and British Armed Forces were successful in reclaiming most of Afghanistan from the Taliban. The U.S. and the UK led aerial bombing missions, the first in the city of Kabul on October 7, 2001 as did NATO troops.

The mission is called Operation Enduring Freedom - a joint Afghan and U.S./UK operation - a large part of The War On Terror. It is important to point out that also contributing to the stability of Afghanistan are forty different nations sending about 47,000 military and civilian personnel (from Canada, US , European countries, Australia, New Zealand, Aerbaijan, Jordan, Turkey, Singapore) . They are known as the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) -. Al-Qaeda's terrorist work has been hindered but not stopped. The government inside Afghanistan is fragile at best with periods of increased insurgent activity since the war began.

Women in the "vote" line in Afghanistan. Democracy? Is it possible? Will it ever be?
Look at the fifth woman in line. Her face is full of fear.
And this child.......is not much younger than my own baby boy. Except he has a safe, warm bed with plenty to eat and toys to play with. She is a refugee in a violent world. And not even old enough to ask why.

WHY? I am appalled by the needless suffering in my world.

If words are powerful, then this matters.

Come on. Join the Revolution.
How To Get Your Peace Globe

Images: Department of Defense, Public Domain