“Operation Enduring Freedom” is the official name used by the U.S. government for its war on Afghanistan (2001-present).

A Disturbing Fact 

Renowned Hollywood movie stars continue to support the US-NATO military adventure which has led to countless civilian deaths in the Middle East, North Africa and Central Asia.

It is worth noting that only three weeks before the September 11 attacks, which provided the justification for the invasion of Afghanistan,  Angelina Jolie visited the Jalozai Afghan refugee camp in Pakistan. A few days later, United Nations’ refugee agency UNHCR appointed her as a ‘Goodwill Ambassador’. From June 2011, Ms.  Jolie has played a major role in the propaganda war against Syria by making six visits to Syrian refugee camps in Turkey, Jordan, Lebanon and the occupied Iraq.

*       *       *

Above: cover of People, 24 December 2001     [I]

On October 7th, 2001 a US-led coalition launched the invasion of Afghanistan. NATO’s Incirlik Airbase [1] in Turkey was one of the bases used in this invasion. Two months later, five Hollywood stars paid a visit to NATO’s Incirlik Airbase to show their appreciation for U.S. troops overseas. Immediately after the Los Angeles premiere, the cast members of the “Ocean’s Eleven” film left for Turkey on a Warner Bros. chartered Boeing 757 for a special screening for the U.S. military personnel.

ABC News published the following report ahead of their visit:

Overseas troops will get a Hollywood surprise from Brad Pitt, Julia Roberts, George Clooney, and the other stars of the casino caper [film] Ocean’s Eleven.

“We’re going there and eat with them and sleep there with them and bring them a Christmas present. We’re going to give them a hug from everybody in America because they are out on the front lines fighting this war for us, … and we want them to know how we’re behind them and how we care.  […]

We were talking about doing a premiere in Rome or Paris and I said, ‘I’ve got a great idea. We’ve got troops over there in harm’s way. Why don’t we go over there and show it to them?’ ” Weintraub said.

“George [Bush] jumped up and said ‘great’ and everyone came on board.”  [II]

“Ocean’s Eleven” cast members pose with U.S. troops at NATO’s Incirlik Airbase, Turkey,
7 December 2001. From left centre, standing, are Julia Roberts, Andy Garcia, director Steven
Soderbergh, producer Jerry Weintraub and, kneeling, Matt Damon and George Clooney,
and Brad Pitt, standing. Most of them are wearing leather flight jackets of the United States Air
Forces in Europe (USAFE).

Actress Julia Roberts poses with a wounded soldier at the military hospital in NATO’s Incirlik
Airbase, Turkey, 7 December 2001

Actress Julia Roberts sits in the cockpit of an F-15 fighter jet, NATO’s Incirlik Airbase, Turkey,
7 December 2001

Actor Brad Pitt [2] sits in the cockpit of a UK Royal Air Force (RAF) GR3A Jaguar fighter jet,
NATO’s Incirlik Airbase, Turkey, 7 December 2001

Actors George Clooney, Andy Garcia, Brad Pitt and Matt Damon tour the 39th Air Base Wing of
the United States Air Forces (USAF) at NATO’s Incirlik Airbase, Turkey, 7 December 2001.
Incirlik Airbase hosts the largest US nuclear arsenal outside the United States: some 90
thermo-nuclear B61 bombs.  [3]

Notes

[1]  Established in 1955, NATO’s Incirlik Airbase has been playing a significant role in most of the US-led wars since the end of the Cold War:  Iraq (1991), Yugoslavia (1999), Afghanistan (2001), Iraq (2003) and Libya (2011). Furthermore, it is currently being used as a command centre of NATO-led covert operations against Syria. Incirlik Airbase will most probably assume a key role in the event of a NATO war against Syria and Iran.

[2]  It is interesting to note that only three weeks before the September 11 attacks, which provided the justification for the invasion of Afghanistan, Brad Pitt’s current partner actress Angelina Jolie visited the Jalozai Afghan refugee camp in Pakistan. A few days later, United Nations’ refugee agency UNHCR appointed her as a ‘Goodwill Ambassador’. From June 2011, Miss Jolie has played a major role in the propaganda war against Syria by making six visits to Syrian refugee camps in Turkey, Jordan, Lebanon and the occupied Iraq.

[3]  Turkey has been hosting U.S. nuclear weapons for 50 years and thus violating the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (1970) for 42 years.

sources:

[1]  Send in the troupers

Braving cold, mud and (mostly) no room service, showbiz’s top brass toast America’s real stars

People, 24 December 2001

http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20136081,00.html

[2]  ‘Ocean’s Eleven’ stars to visit troops in Turkey

ABC News, 21 November 2001

http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/story?id=101347&page=1#.UNgkuqz6Y3I

from the archives:

Britain’s sports stars at the service of war propaganda

by Cem Ertür, San Francisco Bay Area Independent Media Center, 11 November 2011

http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2011/11/11/18698944.php