three years in

This is (approximately) the third anniversary of the United States's invasion of Iraq. What a terrible, terrible waste.

From United for Peace and Justice:
The human cost of the U.S. war in Iraq is staggering:

Over 2,300 U.S. military men and women have lost their lives in Iraq.

Over 30,000 -- and possibly as many as 100,000 -- Iraqi civilians have been killed since the invasion.

Over 16,500 U.S. military men and women have been wounded in combat.

Over 4,000 U.S. military men and women have been seriously maimed in combat.

Over 4,000 Iraqi police and military men and women have been killed.

The war in Iraq has already cost the United States $251 billion.

The estimated long-term bill for Iraq will exceed $1 trillion.

The infrastructure of Iraq has been devastated with no rebuilding in sight.

The Iraq war has created "a training and recruitment ground (for terrorists), and an opportunity for terrorists to enhance their technical skills." (source: U.S. National Intelligence Council), and led to "accelerated recruitment" for Al Qaeda (source: International Institute for Strategic Studies)
Actions and demonstrations are planned all over the world this weekend, including a few blocks from me in Mississauga. I hope you'll join with other peace-minded people in saying no to war.

For something simple you can do from home, click here to sign a petition calling on Congress to stop funding this immoral war.

I have one request. If you feel signing a petition is worthless and choose not to do it, I don't need to know. I'm aware of the challenges we face, the deaf ears of Congress and who profits from this war. I still believe in the value of raising our voices in protest. If it's all we have, we'd better use it. Your mileage may vary, but I'd rather not argue about it. Thanks in advance for respecting this.

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