We're coming up on 5 years of US war in Iraq. Some days I am painfully aware of the war, the destruction and devastation it causes. There is such hardship for families whose loved ones have had their lives disrupted, perhaps, had expected their loved one to return home only to be re-activated, re-mobilized or re-deployed without their consent. And there is death. And on some days, I'm not so aware.

But as we come to this anniversary, my email box fills with reminders. There is a big demonstration scheduled to take place in Washington DC. And there are many local events for those of us who can't be in DC.

In looking for information about different demonstrations about against the war, I went to the Peace Action website. You can find links to what is happening in your area (there are demos in all 50 states) at the Five Years Too Many website. The demonstrations are mostly being held on March 19.

I also found a link to the Iraq Coalition Casualty Count. The little bit of information I looked at there was saddening and overwhelming. The data is collected from a wide variety of sources and categorized so that you can find information with many different criteria. Some of the deaths reported have links to more information about the person who was killed. In clicking on one list of names with people from different countries, I was struck by the difference in reporting by country.

Here's an example of the report of the death of an American soldier by the Department of Defense:

DoD Identifies Army Casualty

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Spc. Keisha M. Morgan, 25, of Washington, D.C., died Feb. 22 in Baghdad, Iraq, of a non-combat related cause. She was assigned to the Division Special Troops Battalion, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Hood, Texas.

The circumstances are under investigation.

For further information media may contact the Fort Hood public affairs office at (254) 287-9993; after hours (254) 291-2591.

The death of several British soldiers was announced this way:

It is with very great sadness and regret that the Ministry of Defence has confirmed the names of five British personnel killed following the crash of a Lynx helicopter in Basra City on Saturday 6 May 2006.

They are Wing Commander John Coxen RAF; Lieutenant Commander Darren Chapman RN; Flight Lieutenant Sarah-Jayne Mulvihill RAF; Captain David Dobson AAC and Marine Paul Collins.

The posting went on to have pretty complete obituaries of those who had died. Some of the British listings contained messages from commanding officers and even families, and most had pictures of all who had died, many not in uniform.

Seeing the different listings from the US and the UK made me think how the US has totally dehumanized everyone connected to this war. Those who were killed aren't thought of as real people with people who care about them. They are only names and numbers to report.

War may be about many things. It may be about politics, or oil, power. But ultimately, it is about people. People who are killing and being killed.

I plan to be at the demonstration on Boston Common on March 19. What are your plans?

COMMENTS

Ending theWars

Submitted by SusanRose on Sun, 2008-03-09 10:35.

The only way we are going to stop this war(s) is to hold the Bush administration accountable for how we got into it (including the reason we were attacked on 9/11), the lack of equipment, strategy and exit plan. There can be no doubt the invasion of Iraq was motivated by the Oil which lies beneath (not WMD's and certainly humanitarian reasons- more deaths,unjustified imprisonment and Torture)
WE must hold this administration criminally liable for the reckless endangerment of the US- Previous Business practices that brought AQ to our shore,further actions which insite others around the world increasing the likelihood of high recruitment and attacks,and the intentional undermning of our mIlitary to provide access to our resources by Private Corps (halliburton, KBR, Blackwater).It is our Right and Thus our respojsiblity to let our State Public Servant s be on notice- Fight to end this war or you are out, with the possiblity of legal action against you for Dereliciton of Duty. Let\'s pu tsome Teeth on our ethics- the Bush admin should be currrently facing charges of Treason, War Crimes & Crimes against Humanity- along withtheir Corp sponsors. I've put my 'Public Servants' on notice already, regarding th ewar and numerous other areas that they have shown failed to provide the Oversight deemed by the Founding Fathers as their Responsibility while holding office. Want to see the war end and Gov't & corp officials start 'flying right' Prosecute and convict at least Cheney