No End In Sight

I must take a break from dating stories to tell you I just rented the DVD “No End In Sight,” which was nominated for an Academy Award this year for Best Documentary, and can’t recommend it highly enough. As the documentary’s web site says, it “examines the manner in which the principal errors of U.S. policy – the use of insufficient troop levels, allowing the looting of Baghdad, the purging of professionals from the Iraqi government, and the disbanding of the Iraqi military – largely created the insurgency and chaos that engulf Iraq today.” It’s available on Netflix, at Blockbuster, etc. (http://www.noendinsightmovie.com/)

And it was five years ago today that, despite massive protests by Americans and the majority of the world’s people, the U.S. invaded Iraq. 3,990 members of the American military have since been killed there. 29,395 have been wounded. (http://www.antiwar.com/casualties/)

At least 82,249 to 89,760 Iraqi CIVILIANS have died violently. This is an estimate – the real number is undoubtedly higher. (http://www.iraqbodycount.com)

After September 11th, President Bush “ordered his then top anti-terrorism adviser, Richard Clarke, to look for a link between Iraq and the attacks, despite being told there didn't seem to be one.” (http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/03/19/60minutes/main607356.shtml)

The National Commission on Terrorist Attacks upon the United States found no credible evidence of a link between Iraq and al-Qaeda in attacks against the U.S.; IRAQ HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH SEPTEMBER 11th (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/5223932/)

In Afghanistan – where the Taliban regime decimated a beautiful country as they provided support and safe harbor to Osama bin Laden and al-Qaeda, who WERE responsible for September 11th -- 487 American troops have been killed (http://icasualties.org/oef/). Afghanistan doesn’t seem to get as much media coverage as Iraq, but if you’re interested in catching up on how things are going there (one-sentence summary: not so great), the Washington Post recently ran an article (on 2/11/08) by Peter Baker, entitled “Conflicting Assessments of War in Afghanistan” (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/10/AR2008021002437_pf.html). The New York Times also ran a much longer story by Elizabeth Rubin in its magazine section on 2/24/08 called “Battle Company is Out There,” which is definitely worth reading. (http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/24/magazine/24afghanistan-t.html?ref=magazine)

Lastly, a prayer:

Loving God, Welcome into your arms the victims of violence and terrorism. Comfort their families and all who grieve for them. Help us in our fear and uncertainty, And bless us with the knowledge that we are secure in your love. Strengthen all those who work for peace, And may the peace the world cannot give reign in our hearts.
-Anonymous (source: http://www.beliefnet.com)

Every single person lost has multiple people still grieving for them.