international affairs

IT HAD TO BE SAID:


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It was the opening salvo of a campaign to press forward a post-Cold War foreign policy of 'Pax Americana,' a world that the neo-conservatives who made up the bulk of the 25 people who signed PNAC’s statement of principles the previous June saw as a US dominion.

Birmingham 1963

Gaza 2008

There is much more here.

– PRECEDENT FOR OTHER INDIGENOUS PEOPLES? CAN RETHINKING OF “U.S.” & “CANADA” BE FAR BEHIND? [Story of the year]

According to Lakota Oyate (For a Free & Independent Lakota Nation), on December 30, 2007, the Lakotah Freedom Delegation website and contact info were hijacked by one delegation member without consent of other delegates.

It is important that we realize that in the modern world, the success and overall legitimacy of this movement will be evaluated later, perhaps decades from now. I think it is important that we all ask ourselves this question: just one month ago, wouldn't it have been considered a ludicrous statement to say that the average Lakota person isn't interested in sovereignty or real international recognition?

While I am tempted to issue some pronouncement on the validity or lack thereof regarding recent declarations of Lakotah sovereignty and secession, in all reality I must admit that there may be more rational and/or reasonable responses to the facts as we know them. Take, for example, the relative lack of any serious indigenous challenge to the Lakota Freedom Delegation; this could mean many things.

I have been in contact with someone very close to all of this. Here are the words of Canupa Gluha Mani (Duane Martin Sr.). The interview is a little over thirty minutes long but the file size is relatively small - less than 6MB. It is an MP3.

UPDATES: December 25, 2007 from Juxtaposeur

• Cante Tenza Grandmothers consulted, message released by Canupa Gluha Mani regarding purpose of Treaty Withdrawal MORE...
• Delegation representatives held meetings for over three years leading to Monday's withdrawal MORE...
• Lakota to reveal land boundaries on eve of Wounded Knee anniversary. Check back for updates!
• Lakota delivers introductory Portfolio Packet to State Department and foreign embassies READ THE PACKET...
• The Lakota Freedom Delegation acknowledges the rumors of Russian Government support. In addition, Lakota has been in contact with other Nations who are considering Lakota sovereignty.
• Press Conference Photos...SEE THE GALLERY...

Now let's think this through: five days have elapsed and if any major First Nations spokesperson or group or tribal council is standing against the Lakotah secession, they remain unheard. This is extremely auspicious inofitself. I don't think I am off base when I say that there are responsible individuals and groups amongst First Nations tribes and that, therefore, were this not something everyone concerned really wanted to work then we would have heard something by now.