3308 and counting...

As of today there have been 3308 U.S. military fatalities in Iraq, a number confirmed by the Department of Defense. It's been hard to get my head around that number. Then someone helped me.

On Saturday afternoon, we were on our usual stroll with the Very Large Dog, when we came upon this sight:



This display was installed at Green Lake Park by a non-partisan group called Arlington Northwest Memorial. There's a marker for every service-person who has died to date, with their name, age, and in many cases, how they were killed. It is enough to stop you in your tracks. It certainly stopped me. People were wandering respectfully in and out of the "cemetery" which went on around a sweeping curve, literally as far as our eyes could see.


I just pray that we won't see an even bigger display next year...

Iraq Veterans Memorial Launch

I'm proud to share in today's launch of the Iraq Veterans Memorial, conceived and produced by the Brave New foundation. Here is their statement about the Memorial:

"This memorial was conceived as a place to honor the service members who lost their lives over the past four years during the Iraq War. By watching the videos, you will have the opportunity to learn about these heroes from those who knew them best -- their family, friends, and fellow servicemembers. Each man and woman represented in the memorial had attributes and qualities that made them unique, but they all have one thing in common - they were truly loved and are deeply missed. Sincerely,
Jim Miller and the team at Brave New Foundation"

Along with 500 other bloggers, I ask you to take a moment now, click the arrow below, and watch these videos.

Are the Democrats coming through?

Can it be true? The Dems have a plan to withdraw the troops... not nearly soon enough, but at least it's a plan. I'm vaguely encouraged and need to learn more. Read about it at CNN.com.

I know bad things will happen - very bad things - to the Iraqis who have worked with the U.S. And we managed to destroy the fabric that holds the country together - even basic services for daily living, like electricity and water, which we seem unable to restore. But I want the troops home. No more legless, armless 20-year olds. No more closed head injuries that change young people's lives forever.

Coming Soon: Iraq Veterans Memorial Video

This is a preview - an announcement - and a request.

The fourth anniversary of the start of the Iraq conflict is March 19th. Four years. Over 3,200 U.S. servicemen and women dead. Thousands more wounded. Uncounted Iraqi civilians killed and injured as well.

Here's a way to remember and honor all those U.S. servicemen and women who have been killed in Iraq. Take a moment and watch the preview (just click on the arrow to view the YouTube video preview):



On March 17, people all over the world will simultaneously upload the Iraq Veterans Memorial video to their web sites and blogs. If you're a vet, or loved a vet who was killed, visit Iraq Veterans Memorial to find out how to share your story.

Be well.

Diplomacy. Not.

The other day I said I was going to call my Congress-people daily about the Iraq war. I realized later — of course — that calling every single day would be a good way to be labelled a "flake" and have people pay no attention to me at all. New plan: I'm following legislation as closely as I can, and calling when I have specific questions.

Today, I called Senator Maria Cantwell. Her staffer was very polite, and said that Sen. Cantwell is opposed to the President's plan for escalation (good news), and that she is looking toward a diplomatic solution. I asked for more details about the "diplomatic solution" but the office is making no formal statements at this time. Also no comments on the various Iraq-related bills being proposed by other senators.

A statement on Sen. Cantwell's web site says:

"The president’s statement tonight hangs our Iraq policy moving forward on 20,000 troops to stabilize Baghdad. Our strategy must be to significantly change the course by holding Iraqis to sooner timetables on taking security control, passing an oil law, and making the other political compromises necessary to ease disagreements among Sunnis, Shiites and Kurds.” (posted on January 10th, 2007).

I don't undestand how we will ever "do diplomacy" in a country that neither likes nor respects us. It's as though we took a baseball bat to a hornet's nest, and now we want the hornets to sit still and quit being so angry. (Way too simple, but you get my point.)

The thing is: while we're doing all this talking, people are dying. Even more people are returning home maimed — whether their homes are in Baghdad or Boston.

Last week, Danny Westneat, one our local columnists, wrote about some protesters who have finally given up their protest, due to lack of participation. Read it here It was heart-wrenching to read. The kids and I have actually saluted that ever-dwindling group of protesters while walking the Very Large Dog. Now they're gone. What does that say?

If there are so many of us who care about the war — ending it, that is — that we actually succeeded in overturning the balance of power in Congress, why have things seemingly come to a standstill? What should we be doing? Any ideas out there?

(Gratitude... oh, gosh. It's hard today. But: it's not snowing. It's not raining. And I think some crocuses are coming up in my front yard.)

Sad. Mad. Doing something about it.

Last night my husband looked up from the newspaper and said, "What would our country do if 65 university students were killed? Why is this on page 10?"

The San Francisco Chronicle, as well as many other newspapers (including our own Seattle Times - on page 10), reported that twin car bombs killed at least 65 students at Iraq's Al-Mustansirya University on Tuesday. Most of the students were women. I'm so sad. I'm so angry.

There are at least three stunning things about this news.

First, that universities in Iraq are even open during the fighting and chaos that we've created. Classes are being cancelled, and many students are giving up, but there are still students who brave actual, physical danger to go to class and pursue a college education. Picture that on a college campus here at home. Go ahead, try to picture it. I'll wait.

Second, that most of the people killed were women. Because that means that in a place many of my countrymen mistakenly think of as "backward," women are actively participating in university education.

Third, that 65 -- SIXTY FIVE!! -- students died that day as a result of car bombings, which are a result of un-rest, which is a result of de-stabilization caused by something that my government is doing -- without my permission -- in my name.

So I'm sad and angry, and I've been thinking about what one small person can do about this.

I considered flying to Washington for the march on January 27th. Family issues dictate my staying home, but if you can go, GO! (Check it out at United for Peace

So today I'm committing to call my Congresspeople to ask them what they are going to do about the war. I'm going to call daily. I'll be polite. I'm an inquiring constituent. I donated money to their campaigns, made phone calls, and voted for them so that we could do more than just "send a message." I voted for them so that we could end the war.

I'll keep you posted.

I'm grateful today for free long distance. And I'm grateful for each and every one of the lives that has been lost in the violence in Iraq.