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NATO headquarters (photo: Utenriksdept)
Heads of states and heads of governments from the member countries of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) are scheduled to be in Chicago for a major summit. The summit is the first NATO summit to be hosted in an American city other than Washington, DC. It has already received attention because “dignitaries” attending will be deliberating over what to do next to effectively wind down the war in Afghanistan, which will likely involve some kind of long term troop occupation even if some US and coalition forces are withdrawn.
Protesters in Chicago have spent many months planning demonstrations and events to call attention to what they call the “war and poverty agenda” of NATO. I will be attending a press conference this morning to hear about all the plans groups in and around Chicago have. There are also groups like Courage to Resist, CODEPINK and World Can’t Wait that are going to be having actions.
Technically, only one demonstration and march has been approved by the city of Chicago. Mayor Rahm Emanuel and the city pulled the permit for the nurses union’s rally and march on the Friday before the summit. They disingenuously claimed this had to be done because guitarist and musician Tom Morello would be playing a concert for protesters. The city knew this was planned but used it as a pretext to deny protesters their right to assemble. So, the only permitted rally and march that I know of at the moment is being put on by the Coalition Against the NATO/G8 War and Poverty Agenda (CANG8). [You might recall NATO and the G8 were going to come to Chicago until President Obama decided in March to have the G8 leaders come to Camp David instead.]
There will undoubtedly be more than one major demonstration. The key will be how close any group of protesters will be able to get to McCormick Place, where the summit is to be held.
Here are a few stories around the NATO summit making headlines:
—Mayor Rahm Emanuel, who hates activists, defends the decision to pull the nurses union’s permit; nurses plan to federal lawsuit
—NATO representatives agree to publicly debate lead organizers from Chicago’s main protest group against NATO
—Occupy Chicago’s “People’s Summit” is happening this weekend: May 12 (Details here.)
—Milwaukee police from Wisconsin will be helping Chicago police with security
—Aerospace manufacturer and US defense contractor Boeing to face protest during NATO summit. Company installed 10-foot tall security fence just over a week before the summit. The company claims it is not to protect against protesters but is for a “construction project.”
—The Nation‘s editors weigh-in on the upcoming NATO summit and ask, “Why is NATO necessary?”
—Ahead of the summit, newly-elected French president Francois Hollande pledges to withdraw all French troops from Afghanistan
—NATO general says US lawmakers are wrong that Taliban is gaining steam in Afghanistan
And, here is a recently released video of Chicago police threatening protesters:
15 Comments
**“dignitaries” attending will be deliberating over what to do next to effectively wind down the war in Afghanistan**
Chicago attendees won’t be deliberating anything, they will be there to glorify and rubber-stamp the US plan for the continued US occupation of Afghanistan. And why not? It doesn’t cost them anything. They’re mostly in Europe, far away, and Afghanistan’s neighbors won’t be there.
The alternative would be for Obama to copy LBJ and refuse to stand for the next election over a failed war policy, and he won’t do that.
Thanks for keeping us up to date on this, Kevin. Should be good times with Chicago’s finest. “We’ll beat your white ass.” Glad to know that hasn’t changed since 1968. At least there was a laugh line: “If you find any money while you’re searching that car, let us know, we’re broke,” says the evil Chicago Occupier.
Yeah. I wonder if they will give them drugs like Minneapolis police.
On a more serious note, I am just waiting for a raid on some home where protesters are staying. There will be bogus preemptive arrests.
Oh, for sure. I wouldn’t be surprised if they are even able to pre-empt another domestic terror attack or two. We can’t let a major protest go by without at least one video of the bomb squad robot blowing up a backpack.
Wasn’t that a recording of a pre-emptive stop because the cops thought they could extort information about upcoming events/plans? of these individuals at Occupy Chicago???? Stopped on suspicion of going to Occupy Chicago?? Is that illegal future thoughts? Was that a stop to prevent a pre-crime?? Is Occupy Chicago or contemplation of Occupy Chicago an illegal activity??
The NATO treaty has been a very good thing for ALL the NATO members, except, possibly, us.
As far as “coalition members” are concered, doesn’t that consist of 3 Belgians, 9 Italians, 64 Brits, and a couple of guys from either Bosnia or Herzogovinia???
Talking about committing a crime is “conspiracy”. Thinking about talking about a crime is “conspiracy to commit conspiracy”.
Your comment is ‘conspiracy to theorize conspiracizing’.
The NSA is watching.
0_o
Governor Schwarzenegger got cross-wise with California’s nurses once, much to his regret. Emanuel may need a nurse when they finish with him.
**NATO general says US lawmakers (Republicans) are wrong that Taliban is gaining steam in Afghanistan**
Republicans?
British Army Lt. Gen. Adrian Bradshaw, deputy commander of NATO forces in Afghanistan, was referring to Republican Rep. Mike Rogers of Michigan and Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California.
Bradshaw: “The line taken by the congressmen is contrary to everything we’re seeing in our reporting.”
I suspect that Di-Fi doesn’t relish being called a congressman by a stuffy British General, especially given that the British have been repeatedly unsuccessful in Afghanistan. (And Iraq.)
LMFAO!
Kevin?? I am coming from Rochester via Amtrak. Will you hold my bail $$ for me? Just in case?? LOL
Sandy Fessler
Got to keep the readers on their toes. Will fix. Thanks.
Do President Obama’s daughters know that their father is blowing off the legs of Pakistani children?
Perhaps they have Facebook pages and we could tell them. They should know, you’re right. The criminal acts of parents shouldn’t kept from their children.