Monday, October 24, 2005
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!
