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Subscribe to RSSA group of 32 American anti-drone activists will join a march to Pakistan's tribal areas, where U.S. strikes have killed thousands of people over the last eight years. NBC News Amna Nawaz spoke to some of them.
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — Dozens of anti-drone activists have traveled to Pakistan to join a march to the country's tribal areas, where more than 300 strikes have killed thousands of people in the last eight years.
The 32 members of Code Pink have ignored a State Department travel warning to take part in Pakistani presidential candidate Imran Khan's "peace rally" to the remote area bordering Afghanistan, where the vast majority of the nearly 350 US drone strikes in Pakistan have occurred.
"People are taking great risks to come here," said Medea Banjamin, co-director of Code Pink. "It shows the depth of conviction that we have to say that 'I don't want my government killing innocent people in my name and I'm going to put my body on the line to try to stop it.' "
In Pakistan's largest city, 'Old Glory' is flammable and profitable
Khan, a former cricket star, is leading a convoy of thousands — including political supporters, local community members and journalists — into the troubled, restricted region to highlight the impact of drone strikes in Pakistan.
The rally will be the first of its kind to the tribal areas.
U.S. officials call the drone strikes an essential element of their attacks on al-Qaida militants and their affiliates in countries such as Pakistan, even as those strikes ignite local anger and fray diplomatic relations.
For many Pakistanis, 'USA' means 'drones'
In August, the Pakstani Taliban threatened to kill Khan if he held the march. "If he comes, our suicide bombers will target him," Taliban spokesman Ahsanullah Ahsan told The Associated Press.
Khan, who is the founder of the Pakistan Movement for Justice party, has gained momentum over the last year after more than a decade in politics. He is perhaps the most famous person in Pakistan because he led the country's cricket team to victory in the 1992 World Cup.
More Pakistan coverage from NBC News
Despite the danger, the Code Pink members said it was important to show solidarity with the Pakistani people.
"A lot of anti-Americanism is actually created due to the drone war," activist Chelsea Faria told NBC News. "It's making us a lot less safe."
San Francisco-based Dianne Budd said people were being forced to spend "24/7 under the threat at any moment of death by drones." She added: "It's almost trivial what we're doing, compared to how they're living."
The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.
Arshad Arbab / EPA
Images of daily life, political pursuits, religious rites and deadly violence.
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Leave a Comment:
Un-freaking-believable.
These people should be treated as traitors to the US and be barred to re enter the US Or imprisoned in gitmo with the rest of the anti American criminals.
I couldn't agree more. that would be the best thing ever for america, either with us or get the hell out.
This is news ? Turkey and Syria about to go at it and be a 'spark' that might start ww3. And, this is news.
Just in from Reuters:
ISTANBUL/BEIRUT (Reuters) - Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan said on Friday his country was "not far" from war with Syria following cross-border attacks this week - words which highlighted the danger that the uprising against Syrian President Bashar al-Asaad will drag in its neighbors.
Please send the nearest drone to that location and drop the biggest bomb you can find and solve 2 problems with one big boom. Morons!
Please stay in pakistan with the rest of the people that hate America and do us a favor.
Now talk about people not adding to the economy. Don't you people have jobs to get to?
Well maybe they can make our soldiers some snikerdoodels
while they are their
Why aren't they protesting al Qaeda and other extremist groups killing innocent Americans, like in embassies and other places in that part of the world??
Have fun in Pakistan, they love Americans over there...especially American women.
Idiots.
this....this will not end well for anyone
Embed with the enemy....prepare to die....regardless of your intent.
I can only hope they took Big Bird with them.
Off with their Heads...
Looks like Jane Fonda revisited. They go there and apoligize like Obama has done, makes us all look weak in the eyes of the world. Makes you wonder how they really feel about our troops that are over there fighting their fight. Maybe they could just stay there and really get the full experience over time then tell us how wonderful that is.
Airheads! Reminds me of Jane Fonda going to North Viet Nam. An act of treason. I sincerely hope they don't expect sympathy if the Taliban kidnaps them. The Taliban would be doing everyone a favor by lopping off their heads. Fortunately the protests are in Pakistan and it is their problem and not ours. The protesters will just end up as pawns in the Taliban propaganda game. With some luck they will never come back to the United States!
If I have the choice of saving AMERICAN lives by using drones I would do it every time. I wonder if the military knows these people's itinerary?
They do, and once they leave the country they should cancel their passports and put them on the No Fly List.......
I hope their husbands took out a good insurance policy
It was their husbands' idea. LOL
You bet TFNJ
Beer, football and party all the time they are gone!
Why not start a "rent an american" website for Pakistani militants? For $50/day they can rent an American to follow them around. Guaranteed drone protection or your money back*.
* refund only provided to original payer
Dear Pakistan,
Please keep them.
Sincerely, the United States
Dammit Jimmy Hendricks told you not to eat the orange acid
Exactly my thoughts, Bob.
Wasn't the purple the one to beware?
@TFNJ
No, the purple one is what he dropped in his eyes. Purple Haze. He wrote a song about it.
@TFNJ
He warned against the orange acid. If Bob would have said "Purple Haze", then, 75% of the folks in here would have thought he was talking about pot. There is a strain now called Purple Haze,,,lol
I always thought Purple Haze was the purple acid. Never knew. Now I need to rethink everything I daydreamed about while listening to the song. LOL
Lately things they don't seem the same..
But the purple mesculin was potent!
Want to know how long I've been out of the picture? A friend at a party broke out some pot, and I immediately started looking for a record album cover to remove the seeds.
Well by the expression on her face he may be on purple mesculin
Those are dialated pupils. It could be from years and years of dropping the purple tiny pills.
They are ignoring a State Department travel warning, so there should be no whining to the government if they get captured and/or killed. It's like signing a waiver, you could say. Those idiots.
Drone strikes have been the most effective means of weeding out enemies of the State. These protesters are the same kinds of fools that want military bases closed in their city because a jet may crash into their neighborhood. It's called collateral damage and its the cost of preserving American freedom.
I'm proud of them! they are making us look good in the world! PEOPLE LIKE THEM MAKE THIS WORLD A BETTER PLACE TO LIVE! and to all those ppl who r being so negative sitting behind their screens.. u r all hater who can not do s**t because it takes alot to do wat these ppl r doin! unlike u guys n the ones hiding behind the drones these ppl are on the front line promoting PEACE
The US govt should remove their US citizenship and the state dept should revoke their passports immediately. These idiots did not even consider why can happen. Guess who they'll need to bail them out if they get kidnapped or shot? And of course, they'll the US govt in the end.
Any bets some of these folks get taken as hostages by the taliban and the rest of them scream for US forces to rescue them?
I can't F--king believe it...at a time when we are trying to bring all of our troops home, some dumb broads "Code Pink" travel over there to promote peace my ass...if they get stuck, captured, taken hostage, I hope they have a back up plan, because OUR American military (not theirs) is busy.
~~~Pink is for Breast Cancer awareness month (October)..real women warriors!!!!
Air Force Veteran and mother of a Combat Soldier
Don't be calling the US for military assistance when your ass is getting blown up!
@sumner31
I could just see these people getting captured by the Taliban. Then we hit the Taliban with a drone strike. Then, Pakistan claims they were all spies. Yeah, our military is probably working out the azmuth as we speak.