April 3rd: Canada out of Kandahar! Join BLEM in Welcoming Defense Minister Gordon O'Connor to Montréal

CALL FOR DISRUPTION: ANTI-IMPERIALIST ACTION!

On April 3, 2007, Canadian defense minister Gordon O'Connor will be at the Queen Elizabeth Hotel in Montreal to present a speech called "Rebuilding Afghanistan and Protecting Our Future". He will be speaking about Canada's role as part of an international coalition in "helping the Afghani people and their government build a stable and democratic society."

Join Block the Empire to show our opposition to Canada's military involvement and imperialist ways, here and abroad!

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TUESDAY, APRIL 3
11:00am – 2:00pm
Queen Elizabeth Hotel
900 boul. René-Lévesque Ouest
(metro Bonaventure)
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Five years ago, the US began the occupation of Afghanistan with Canadian support. Since then, Canada has deployed its soldiers to occupy and kill under the false claim of democracy and human rights. Canada justifies its intervention in Afghanistan under the "responsibility to protect". This is nothing more than a 21st century version of the racist “white man’s burden”. The same countries then declare that the countries they have just occupied need the charity and aid of their governments, NGOs, and “development agencies,” while foreign companies benefit from the ruins created by Western bombs under the pretext of "rebuilding."

Major-General Andrew Leslie stated that the Afghan mission is projected to last 20 years. He also claimed that “there are things worth dying for, there are things worth killing for." He added that "Every time you kill an angry young man overseas, you're creating 15 more who will come after you". With this reasoning, it sounds like Canadian soldiers will be in Afghanistan for many many years, that they will be required to kill, and that every time they kill, they will create more people who wish to kill them, thus requiring more soldiers for what seems like a perpetual cycle of killing.

Liberation of the women of Afghanistan is another argument used to justify the occupation of Afghanistan. However, this seems contradictory coming from governments who have recently cut back spending on social programs that benefit women and working parents, and from countries where women are still beaten for demonstrating in the streets.

While O'Connor, his imperialist pals and corporate connections are all schmoosing inside one of Montreal's most posh hotels, we are calling for people to take to the streets, take creative action, and challenge yet another attempt to cover up and distort the brutal reality of the occupation of Afghanistan. We encourage individuals to form affinity groups, act autonomously, or join Block the Empire in front of the Queen Elizabeth Hotel, from 11:00am – 2pm!

CANADA OUT OF KANDAHAR!
BLOCK THE EMPIRE!

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For more info: bloquezlempire@resist.ca / 514-848-7583
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Details on O'Connor's visit:
Tuesday April 3 from 12-2 pm
(speech followed by questions from audience)
Registration begins at 11.30
Fairmont Queen Elizabeth - Grand Salon
900 boul. René-Lévesque Ouest (metro Bonaventure)