AFGHANISTAN / MYTHS AND FACTS REGARDING OBAMA'S WAR

President Obama in bomber jacket

The number one myth regarding Afghanistan is that we are fighting this so-called war to keep Americans safe. The ugly fact is that we are maintaining this expensive illegal occupation in order to politically promote President Obama’s image as a war time President who is tough on terrorists and thus ensure his re-election in 2012: Allen L Roland

The number two myth about Afghanistan is that this is a war against a virtually nonexistent al-Qaeda.

The fact is that this is a nine year illegal occupation which we continue to support and justify as the leading edge of the war on terror ~ which could not be further from the truth. The so-called war in Afghanistan is now the longest war in U.S. history, and 2010 has seen the highest number of U.S. and NATO soldiers killed.

The number three myth about Afghanistan is there has been significant progress in tamping down the insurgency in Afghanistan.

· The fact, courtesy of Juan Cole, ICH, ~ “ A recent National Intelligence Estimate by 16 intelligence agencies found no progress. It warned that large swathes of the country were at risk of falling to the Taliban and that they still had safe havens in Pakistan, with the Pakistani government complicit. The UN says there were over 6000 civilian casualties of war in Afghanistan in the first 10 months of 2010, a 20% increase over the same period in 2009. Also, 701 US and NATO troops have been killed this year, compared to 521 last year, a 25% increase. There were typically over 1000 insurgent attacks per month in Afghanistan this year, often twice as many per month as in 2009, recalling the guerrilla war in Iraq in 2005.” http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article27142.htm

The number four myth about Afghanistan is the US presence in Afghanistan is justified by the September 11 attacks.

· The fact is that in Helmand and Qandahar Provinces, a poll found that 92% of male residents had never heard of 9/11.

The number five myth about Afghanistan is Afghans still want US troops in their country, despite their discontents.

· The fact is one poll found that 55% of Afghans want the US out of their country. And, the percentage of Afghans who support Taliban attacks on NATO has grown from 9% in 2009 to 27% this year! Many Afghans regard the Taliban as freedom fighters! The insurgency is actually Afghans resisting their U.S. installed corrupt Afghan president, Hamid Karzai, as well the growing United States occupying force.

The final myth about Afghanistan is the United States is in Afghanistan to fight al-Qaeda.

· The fact, again courtesy of Juan Cole, is “CIA director Leon Panetta admitted that there are only 50-100 al-Qaeda operatives in Afghanistan! The US is mainly fighting two former allies among the Mujahidin whom Ronald Reagan dubbed “freedom fighters” and the “equivalent of America’s founding fathers:” Gulbaddin Hikmatyar and his Hizb-i Islami, and Jalaluddin Haqqani and his Haqqani Network. These two organizations, which received billions from the US congress to fight the Soviets in the 1980s, are more deadly and important now than the ‘Old Taliban’ of Mulla Omar. The point is that they are just manifestations of Pashtun Muslim nationalism, and not eternal enemies of the United States (being former allies and clients and all). Hikmatyar has roundly denounced al-Qaeda.”

So when you hear President Obama attempt to justify his illegal war and occupation of Afghanistan ~ please realize that this occupation is only serving one master ~ the Military Industrial Complex and Corpocracy and that President Obama answers to them and not you or me.

President Obama has escalated thus senseless occupation in Afghanistan, requesting the Congress hike defense spending next year by two percent to $708 billion and, adds Robert Reich, “including Homeland Security, Veterans Affairs, nuclear weapons, and intelligence, the total national security bill will push $950 billion.” That’s almost a trillion dollars, folks! Think about that as you watch your gas pump prices climb closer to $4.00 dollars a gallon ~ for billions of dollars are being spent on oil to fuel this out of control Obama war machine.

Afghanistan has rightfully been called the graveyard of empires and it most certainly will be the graveyard of America’s deeply flawed and over-extended empire when the truth replaces myths regarding Obama’s War. The United States has built a self-deluding narrative and myth of global domination which the world now not only rejects but actively opposes ~ in that regard, Afghanistan will be America’s waterloo. The Wall Street Journal recently reported that, between March and October 2010, the U.N. found that southern Afghanistan remained at "very high risk," while 16 districts were upgraded to "high risk." At the same time, Areas deemed "low risk" shrank considerably. The truth is obvious, we are losing badly and it’s time to stop the myths and spin from the Obama administration.

"The weakness of power is that when power is confronted by the authority of truth, it is no match for the power of weakness that bears the mark of truth." Paul Lehman

Allen L Roland

http://allenlrolandsweblog.blogspot.com/2010/12/afghanistan-myths-and-facts-regarding.html

Freelance Alternative Press Online columnist and psychotherapist Allen L Roland is also available for comments, interviews, speaking engagements and private consultations ( allen@allenroland.com )

allen@allenroland.com is PayPal Verified

Allen L Roland is a practicing psychotherapist, author and lecturer who also shares a daily political and social commentary on his weblog and website allenroland.com He also guest hosts a monthly national radio show TRUTHTALK on www.conscioustalk.net

BAND OF BROTHERS # 3

Eight more Vietnam and Iraq veterans, all with PTSD, faced their fears and not only opened their hearts but found and began to heal themselves in only eight weeks : Allen L Roland

The first meeting of the Healing The Wounded Heart Veterans Workshop #3 was held on October 14, 2010 at 11 AM in Yountville, California

They had never met me but they had been told about me, by their adjustment counselor Sal, and were prepared for an eight week commitment to face their fears and open their hearts in the process. They knew I was a former active duty Naval aviator and that made a big difference.

All of them had some symptoms of PTSD and even TBI but all had the common symptom of a closed heart and the inability to love and receive love ~ mainly because of deep unworthiness issues that originally started in childhood and were reinforced through their military experience.

The group included two African Americans as well as a three tour female Iraq veteran ~ who used the acceptance and love of this group to find her voice and re-claim her intention and power.

I told them that this was an action based workshop and if they did their homework they would reach a place of not only another choice but would open their closed hearts in the process. They would also begin to see through different eyes ~ eyes unclouded by fear, resentment and unworthiness. I also explained through my Cycle Of Life chart how psychic pain will override Joy to the extent that most people have no idea that beneath their deepest pain and aloneness is love, joy and connectedness ~ the Unified Field.

After each session ~ part of their homework was to read each session in my book RADICAL THERAPY / SURRENDER TO LOVE AND HEAL YOURSELF IN SEVEN SESSIONS ( NOT SEVEN YEARS ) which reinforced the previous group session.

Of course, that first session I shared my own heart's journey to find a lost and alone little boy within myself who not only wanted to fly, and became a Navy Fighter pilot, but also to love as deeply as I loved my beloved grandfather before I was torn away from him at six years old. We briefly talked about the war and all of them briefly shared their heart's journey and by the end of two hours ~ they began to feel a sense of commonality. Their homework was to produce a life chart of the path of their individual heart's journey ~ which they would share with the group over the next two sessions.

James felt that initially sharing my life chart with the group was very empowering ~ “ Openly sharing of yourself is commendable and becoming one of us was relaxing and rewarding.”

The second session, a week later, they all began to share a childhood picture of themselves as well as share their life charts with the group describing their individual journeys to find love and acceptance as well as themselves. We briefly discussed their war experience but they quickly realized their deeper commonality ~ in that their lives had all been a quest to find meaning and that all of their love relationships had significant meaning regardless of how they turned out. They were already a band of brothers on a common inner journey of the heart.

Percy felt that this was the most enjoyable aspect of the workshop ~ “ I really enjoyed my band of brothers and sister ~ We got to know and really understand each other.”

Felipe felt that sharing his life chart was the most meaningful aspect of the workshop ~ “ It gave me the chance to look at my life as a whole journey “

After sharing their individual life charts two weeks later, they did the Victim /Accountability exercise and had the chance to feel the lightness of being accountable versus the heaviness of being a victim. Their homework was to take the people they had resentment towards off the hook and realize that many of them they had deeply loved and were really gifts in their lives.

Larry felt it was the most meaningful aspect of the workshop ~ "Confronting my worst fears and memories are in no way enjoyable but confronting them and putting them behind me has left room for joy to start entering my life”

They were now a band of brothers on a common journey to find themselves.

The fourth session they met the child within by means of a powerful guided visualization. Every one of them saw that long lost innocent child who told them what they needed to do to fully embrace him/her in their lives now. Their faces literally changed and became younger as they made that inner connection ~ it was like long dormant flowers suddenly blooming. I was moved almost to tears to see these Veterans suddenly claim their joy and innocence after years of self doubt and despair.

For Dave it was the most meaningful aspect of the workshop ~ “ Meeting the child and realizing it’s my turn and time now “

The inner message to each of them was emphatic and real ~ “ Let me in, Fully live your life, be courageous, Play with me, Stop worrying about things, Stop hurting so much, Listen to yourself and Love yourself ”

Their homework was to give that child a voice and hang out with him or her.

The Fifth session, one week later, was all about gratefulness and thanking the people who have been there for them their whole life ~ with the help of a guided visualization. Many of them had virtually not thanked anyone and certainly not themselves.

It was in this session that Felipe actually experienced the presence of his late beloved mother and father who told him that they were still there for him and loved him deeply ~ “ I fell back in love with my family and they love me again “

By now the Band of Brothers were inspiring each other on their common journey through fear ~ they were beyond the point of no return. Their homework was to thank at least 25 people who had touched them before the next session. We still hadn't dwelled on the war for there was no need to. They were already healing themselves by taking responsibility for love and sharing gratitude with others.

The sixth session, one week later, was the Death Exercise where the group, through a visualization, were guided in a profound death exercise which helped them to experience the degree to which the people closest to them really knew them. The exercise actually simulates your death and the resultant shock of knowing that you did not truly share yourself with the people closest to you or that very few people really knew you. Obviously, it is a strong inner stimulus to open your heart with the people closest to you ~ and that was their homework to accomplish with the five people closest to them before the next session.

Most of them enjoyed the element of the unknown that they were continually coming face to face with in these sessions, especially Percy who felt the workshop greatly improved the quality of his life ~ “My life has changed for the better, I really look at life, my life in a new way. I feel that the pain will stop as long as I continue to believe in myself. I will never say no to myself again.”

The seventh session, one week later, reinforced that we are continually being called from within to the path of the heart, but few listen and fewer still respond. It is in this session that they understand that they have all been called to the inner journey of the soul (through Love) versus the outer journey of the ego ( through Fear ). This session ended with a visualization exercise in which they realize that the most precious gift they have always wanted is themselves ~ free from being controlled by fear.

For Larry, this was the most meaningful aspect of the workshop ~ “ I lost the fear of facing my worst fears and dealing with them ~ and not letting them stand in the way of my happiness. “ To Percy, it was the same ~ “ I overcame the thought of failing and that I was not good enough. That is not true, I am good enough! “ For Ted, he felt encouraged ~ “ My vision is clearer “. James comments echoed the groups general feeling ~ “ I am able to communicate my deepest feelings more openly .“

The Homework as well as ongoing homework was to share the gift of themselves with others but in the spirit of celebration ~ not deprivation.

It was in that same spirit of celebration that we had our Eighth and final session where everyone acknowledged each others common journey through fear to the joy, love and light beneath. The resultant change in their demeanor was breathtaking. As Sal said, “ The most meaningful aspect of the workshop was the powerful session eight of integration and celebration where each participant received honest and heartfelt feedback from each other ~ I am overjoyed by witnessing the transformation of each participant”

Session #8 was especially moving for myself ~ for all of them, especially Jamie, were not only seeing and speaking through their hearts but were seeing the beauty in each one of their band of brothers.

I was also humbled by this experience and validation of my empowering work as well as the receptivity of these veterans who obviously longed to be seen from the heart and not through eyes of fear. I literally saw a light go on within each one of them when they took responsibility for love instead of running away from it.

They all had been trained many years ago to kill and I, in essence, jump started their hearts by re-training them to love and they began to heal themselves in the process by realizing that they indeed had another choice. There is no change without action and action always involves risk. The greatest risk is the full and honest expression of your deepest feelings and all of them had taken an important self healing step on that inner journey.

And we never concentrated on the war for the real war had been waged within themselves ~ and they were now victorious.

Band of Brothers #4 will start on January 13, 2011 and all the participants of #1, #2 and #3 will be there to briefly share their experience and offer support to their new brothers and sisters.

The beat goes on, the Band of Brothers continues to grow ~ and I, in turn, continue to be deeply moved by the most spiritually satisfying work of my life.

Allen L Roland

http://allenlrolandsweblog.blogspot.com/2010/12/band-of-brothers-3.html

Freelance Alternative Press Online columnist and psychotherapist Allen L Roland is also available for comments, interviews, speaking engagements and private consultations ( allen@allenroland.com )

allen@allenroland.com is PayPal Verified

Allen L Roland is a practicing psychotherapist, author and lecturer who also shares a daily political and social commentary on his weblog and website allenroland.com He also guest hosts a monthly national radio show TRUTHTALK on www.conscioustalk.net

THE KING'S SPEECH OSCAR BOUND

The King’s Speech is Oscar bound with incredible performances by Colin Firth as King George VI along with Geoffrey Rush and Helena Bonham Carter, as the queen mother. This is movie making at its best and Director Tom Hooper weaves this historic event of a King and his speech therapist into a flawlessly acted work of art: Allen L Roland

The King’s Speech has special meaning to me since I was a very young child living in Newtonville, Massachusetts with my beloved Grandfather, Joseph Allen Bryant, when King George VI made his historic speech to the British people and the world as Great Britain declared war on Nazi Germany.

I remember listening to the BBC radio broadcast of that very same speech with my grandfather and sensing that the world was changing very rapidly although I had no idea as to the true extent of the coming change.

Director tom Hooper has indelibly captured the extent of that change and its effect on the stammering Prince Albert who suddenly finds himself heir apparent with the death of his father King George V and the abdication of his older brother King Edward VIII for the love of his American divorcee, Wallis Simpson ~ all handled with delightful detail.

As a psychotherapist, I really identified with the speech therapist Lionel Logue, brilliantly played by Geoffrey Rush, who uses many unorthodox methods to loosen up a reluctant Albert, including swearing and singing, but in the end accomplished the impossible by becoming what Albert really needed ~ a fearless coach who would tell him the truth with love and compassion and eventually become a trusted and needed friend who totally believed in him.

The essence of this movie is the extraordinary friendship that develops between these two men which not only validates Logue’s work but inspires Albert to speak with force and confidence as the King of England.

Here’s the trailer ~ which barely touches the treasure within.

http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/1810124453/video

Don’t miss it ~ it’s got Oscar written all over it.

Allen L Roland

http://allenlrolandsweblog.blogspot.com/2010/12/kings-speech-oscar-bound.html

Freelance Alternative Press Online columnist and psychotherapist Allen L Roland is also available for comments, interviews, speaking engagements and private consultations ( allen@allenroland.com )

allen@allenroland.com is PayPal Verified

Allen L Roland is a practicing psychotherapist, author and lecturer who also shares a daily political and social commentary on his weblog and website allenroland.com He also guest hosts a monthly national radio show TRUTHTALK on www.conscioustalk.net

THE TRUE MEANING OF CHRISTMAS

The true meaning of Christmas is the celebration of the birth of a love that unites and binds the universe but also exists deepest within each one of us: Allen L Roland

To me, now more than ever, the true meaning of Christmas is the celebration of a never ending love. Not the love we think of in desiring or possessing someone else but rather ~ the whole sublime aspect of conscious unconditional love which seeks only the perfection of its object and is, at the deepest level, the underlying and uniting force of the Universe ~ the Unified Field .

The birth of Jesus is, in reality, the awareness of that love in human form ~ but all of us are capable of loving that deeply if we will but surrender to what is deepest within ourselves.

Interestingly enough, the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible accurately translates the word “young woman” rather than “virgin” in Mathew’s First testament prophecy about Jesus ~ “ Look, the young woman is with child and shall bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel.”

Thus, every child born should be seen as an emissary of love on a visit to a planet that is in the process of uniting to that same Unified Field of love, joy and soul consciousness.

Jesus then becomes an evolutionary forerunner for a love and state of soul consciousness that is deepest within us all ~ and a love which we all unconsciously seek in our individual quests to find and celebrate our authentic selves.

The best analogy for this love is the SUN which shines on everyone, from the lowest to greatest, and without which we and the planet could not survive.

However, perhaps this 3 minute rendition of John Lennon’s Happy Christmas is more appropriate for a world that would rather kill than love and ends with an appropriate Mahatma Ghandi quote An eye for an eye will eventually make us all blind ~ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s8jw-ifqwkM

Now connect this universal love and urge to unite with the Winter Solstice and we can see how the Sun emerging from its yearly descent is comparable to an unconditional love that never ends. If you believe in love that will be more than enough this Christmas.

Christmas is the time to honor those who have unconditionally loved us for that love still lives in our hearts.

For example, I have a permanent memory as a young child of my Grandfather playing Santa Claus one Christmas and watching with delighted joy as he slowly made his way up the snowy walkway to the front door. I could feel love leap from my heart to my grandfather and that love joined me to an unfathomable love deepest within myself.

My whole life has been a quest to feel that deeply again and share that place of delight and joy with my partner, my family, my friends, my clients and the world ~ for the true gift my grandfather gave me was the authentic, delightful and unconditional gift of himself.

I can feel and see now how my beloved granddaughters Sofia and Ellen Anna are loving me from the same deep place I loved my grandfather ~ and they are using that love, as I have, to grow and draw on as they slowly fully experience themselves and life.

As such, Christmas is the celebration of a profound love that exists not only beyond time and space but also beneath our deepest fears, aloneness and despair.

We were never meant to worship Christ, instead we are supposed to become Christ by loving as deeply as he did ~ for that love is deepest within us all.

When you embrace this love ~ you will never feel alone.

Now, here’s a special musical Christmas gift for you starting with Ray Charles

http://www.jazzonthetube.com/page/672.html

ONLY LOVE UNITES AND HEALS

Allen L Roland

http://allenlrolandsweblog.blogspot.com/2010/12/true-meaning-of-christmas.html

Freelance Alternative Press Online columnist and psychotherapist Allen L Roland is also available for comments, interviews, speaking engagements and private consultations ( allen@allenroland.com )

allen@allenroland.com is PayPal Verified

Allen L Roland is a practicing psychotherapist, author and lecturer who also shares a daily political and social commentary on his weblog and website allenroland.com He also guest hosts a monthly national radio show TRUTHTALK on www.conscioustalk.net