How Many More Must Die? Go to Memorial Bridge After 2000th Troop Death
How Many More Must Die? Go to Memorial Bridge After 2000th Troop Death
(for more see http://www.dawndc.net)
All too soon, the number of US troops dead in Iraq will stand at 2000.
Military Families Speak Out have called for actions when that regrettable
moment comes to pass. The DC Anti-War Network (DAWN), in support of this
call to action, and in strong support of the idea that the deaths of the
100,000, 150,000?, 200,000? dead Iraqis be remembered as well, call on us
all to take action when that sad moment happens. Please go to the
Memorial Bridge, between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National
Cemetery (which is the nearest metro), and meet on the Virginia side of
the bridge (south corner) at 6PM the evening following the announcement of
the 2,000th death (if the death is announced before 9AM that day, the
action will be that evening; if it is announced after 9AM, it will be the
following evening – we will let you know). Many will be wearing black.
We also will be providing signs.
“How many more must die before you take action?” That is the theme
guiding our particular action. As we struggled with how we should prepare
for this action, we noted how sick it made us feel inside that we were
planning for an action for the 2,000th US soldier to die knowing full well
that some of those soldiers are still alive. Unfortunately, US policies
in Iraq guarantee that the 2,000th death will be a reality, and so we are
forced into the most cynical position of planning for an action while some
who will be dead live right now. Furthermore, besides those 2,000 deaths,
the figures at the time of this call’s posting show 15,120 US troops
wounded, countless others returned home as casualties due to sickness or
other reasons. Furthermore, this says nothing about the numbers of Iraqis
killed. Since April 28 of this year, 5,610 Iraqis have died as a result
of this war, and that counts only those who have been verified through
primary sources, a number we must reasonably believe is well below the
actual number. It’s been a year since the Lancet medical journal
estimated that more than 100,000 Iraqis had died in Iraq as a result of
the war, and so we have no idea how many have died since then. What’s
more, how many Iraqis have been wounded? How many are sick? How many
lives have been shattered? We know that whether we consider the number of
US troops dead or wounded, or the total number dead or wounded, the number
is far too high. This war was wrong to start with, based on lies and
misinformation, is wrong today as the death toll mounts, and will be wrong
tomorrow. How many more must die before we can tolerate this no more?
How many more must die before you take action?
Please join us as we ask that question to motorists crossing the Memorial
Bridge, and more importantly, please join us after this action ends. We
need to convince people not to stand idly by as perpetual war rages on.
We must take heart that the majority of people believe that this war was a
mistake, but it won’t be enough until that majority stands with us in
perpetual action. The Senate voted 97-0 this month for another $50
billion for Iraq war funding, even after 300,000 people took to the
streets on September 24. These senators cannot be counted on to take on
the Bush Administration. They also cannot be counted on to take action if
we show up for one mass action and then go home. If they are going to
listen, our action must be sustained. It really is up to us!
posted by Jim Macdonald @ 8:30 AM
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