as he writes a summation of a candlelight vigil he holds every Wednesday for all the people who have been killed or injured in the US wars, and for their families:
"I can't tell you how much it means to me to see you out here," said a 20 ish woman from her car. "I have two friends who are soldiers over there.
"Do you have anybody over there," she asked. "I do," I replied. "I have everyone who is there." "Ohhhh," she responded warmly. And then added, "Thank you for doing this."
Meanwhile, last Friday at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, President Obama announced, "by August 31, 2010, our combat mission will end."
But as he spoke further, it turned out he will leave up to 50,000 troops there indefinitely, and they will be conducting combat missions long after August 31st to "protect U.S. interests." Mr. Obama did not say how many of the 180,000 U.S. mercenaries will also remain or for how long.
During the presidential campaign, Mr. Obama repeatedly discussed a 16 month timetable to end the war. But once in office, he quickly hedged. Now instead of ending the war, Iraq becomes his war. What his objectives are for it are anyone's guess along with how many more lives will be lost and how many more dollars will be spent there.
It is reminiscent of President Bush declaring "Mission Accomplished," in Iraq on May 1, 2003 as he stood on the deck of the USS Abraham Lincoln, during a televised address to the world. Behind him a "Mission Accomplished" banner as he declared an end to major combat operations there. That was nearly 6 years ago and there is still no end in sight.
Under the SOFA agreement with Iraq, the U.S. military is supposed to leave no later than December 31, 2011. But already, Defense Secretary Robert Gates is speaking of "a modest U.S. presence" thereafter.
What do Iraqis think of this war and of the U.S. presence? We don't know. The U.S. media doesn't ask them and the U.S. military continues to censor the film and pictures taken there.
But it is commonly believed over a million Iraqis have been killed, although no-one knows how many are widowed or orphaned. We know 4,255 U.S. troops have died there (4,116 since "Mission Accomplished") and 318 U.S. allied troops have also been killed. Well over 30,000 U.S troops have been wounded.
According to the United Nations, more than 2 million Iraqis have fled their country and 2 million more have fled within their country. This out of a pre-U.S. invasion population of 25 million.
Their economy is in shambles. The unemployment rate is over 40%, compared to 25% in America at the peak of the Great Depression. Iraqis have only sporadic electricity, little clean water or medical care, limited garbage pickup or sewage treatment and most of their public schools are closed. Their doors can be kicked in at any time by the U.S. military and they must submit to U.S. military control. This is what "Operation Iraqi Freedom" has brought them.
But during last night's vigil, the candle burned brightly and people honked or waved their support. As the vigil concluded rain drops began to fall almost as if the heavens were crying out for all those suffering so severely.
Dick
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