Media Isn't Being Honest About Obama's Demands

Why not tell us the truth about the SOFA (Status of Forces Agreement) which Barack Obama demands and Hamid Karzai has declined to sign?

(RICHMOND) - Why is it so hard for our news media to tell the truth?

Newscasters keep reporting that Afghanistan’s President Karzai is holding up the agreement to let U.S. forces stay in Afghanistan after 2014.

Why not tell us the truth about the SOFA (Status of Forces Agreement) which Barack Obama demands and Hamid Karzai has declined to sign?

Under this agreement, Afghanistan would have to surrender its right to prosecute American soldiers for any crimes against Afghans – including rape, home invasion and murder. In other words, the Afghans would have to trust us to prosecute Americans for crimes they commit against Afghans. In addition the Afghans would have to give up the right to restrict American night raids into Afghan homes.

According to Secretary of State John Kerry, “That’s the way it is everywhere else in the world.” If that were true it would hardly comfort citizens of countries hosting American troops, But in fact Kerry’s statement is false! Look at our agreements with Japan, South Korea and various European countries.

I’m no fan of Karzai or Obama or Obama’s wars. And I have no desire for American troops to stay in Afghanistan (or Iraq, or Pakistan, or Yemen, etc.) But why won’t our media simply tell us what Obama is really demanding?

Rod Driver

Richmond

Rod Driver studied engineering and mathematics at the University of Minnesota, receiving a Ph.D. in mathematics in 1960. He worked at Sandia Laboratories in Albuquerque for six years before taking a teaching position at the University of Rhode Island for 30 years. Rod says he became a 'peacenik' in 1951 (thanks to a few weeks on Pariss Island). He became particularly active in opposition to U.S. wars in Indochina and U.S. involvement in overthrowing governments and supporting dictators in Latin America and Iran. As the Vietnam war was winding down Rod began paying attention to the abuse of Palestinians - enabled with U.S. weapons and dollars, which has never stopped. Rod is the founder and president of the non-profit Justice First Foundation.

In Rhode Island Rod was an elected delegate to the state constitutional convention of 1986, Then he was elected a state representative for 10 years. At this time he is not in office. You can write to Rod Driver at this address: rod@roddriver.com