War’s Anniversary

Posted on March 19, 2004 in Accountability Occupation of Iraq War

It’s politics Friday!

One year later. Part of me feels angry because so many people didn’t listen to me: I predicted that this would happen. On the other hand, I’ve experienced a sea change regarding my feelings about the troops over there. They who signed on for an education or in the belief that they would be defending our land now find themselves in the impossible position of serving as a private army for George W. Bush, the pResident. I no longer blame them for what has happened (though those who take part in atrocities should be called to account).

I’m for remembering all the dead, American and Iraqi. I’m for turning Iraq over to the United Nations, for fair and free elections in both Iraq and the United States, for bringing our troops home to their families and friends, for picking up the tab of the destruction we have caused to families both here and there, for ensuring that our troops have decent medical coverage and ample pay. No more soldier-hating presidents.

MoveOn suggests, in part:

Thousands of our troops in Iraq have been injured, and hundreds have been killed. Countless Iraqis have also been killed.

One simple way to show our respect and gratitude for our soldiers’
service, and our hope for their safe return, is to put a candle (or a
light resembling one) in a window tomorrow night.

Our troops and their families are making incredible sacrifices. Many
reservists serving in Iraq left with as little as a week’s notice, and
have been told they’ll be there for a year, at constant risk to life and
limb. At the same time, the Bush administration has tried to short-change
soldiers, veterans, and their families on combat pay, health care,
and education funding.

One way we can help is by giving to a fund called the Armed Forces Relief
Trust, which helps military servicemembers and their families with
emergency expenses, medical bills, flights home, and education costs. If
you’d like, you can give at:

http://www.afrtrust.org/aboutcontributing.asp

Please take a few minutes to honor our troops tomorrow by putting a light
in your window. And if you can help some families in need, that’s great
too.

You can get a candle for your website here Please download the graphic to your own site.