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Oct 29 2009 Iraq-Afghanistan: U.S. Troops dying in a wasted effort

Whether in Iraq or Afghanistan, American troops are dying and suffering for a false assumption. Social revolution cannot be imposed by external force. When the will of the people rises to the challenge then, and only then, will great change occur. To assume otherwise is to ignore the facts on the ground.

What we actually accomplish is this: we continue to inspire more and more young people to become our enemies, join violent radical groups, and plan revenge against us.

It is time for Americans to wake from the dream of an all mighty USA whose bullets and bombs can transform the world into a unified Eden of Democracy. Our violent efforts push the world away from more peaceful tomorrows.

Obama recently decided to reduce humanitarian/social/infrastructure aid to Iraq while increasing our military presence, and costs, in Afghanistan. He's got a bit of waking up to do himself. And the price we pay for his sleepwalking is the blood of our soldiers, of innocent Iraqis, of innocent Afghanis, and a growing army of people who hate us enough to use violence against us. 

Call your representatives in government today. Let them know you support rapid and complete withdrawal of U.S. forces from Iraq and Afghanistan.

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The Afghan activist and author Malalai Joya said it plainly:

"Democracy will never come to Afghanistan through the barrel of a gun,
or from the cluster bombs dropped by foreign forces. The struggle will be
long and difficult, but the values of real democracy, human rights and
women's rights will only be won by the Afghan people themselves. So do not
be fooled by this façade of democracy."

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September Eleventh Families for Peaceful Tomorrows member Terry Greene was also clear as quoted in  Brian MacQuarrie's Boston Globe piece of October 29, 2009:

Terry Greene of Cambridge had just dropped her son at school when she heard on the radio that a second tower at the World Trade Center had been hit by an airliner. At that moment, on the morning of Sept. 11, 2001, Greene knew that the tragedy in New York was no accident.

(Suzanne Kreiter for the Boston Globe)

TERRY GREENE, whose brother died in the Pennsylvania crash of United Flight 93 on Sept. 11, 2001

A short time later, Greene heard that United Flight 93 had crashed in a field in Shanksville, Pa. “My first reaction was, ‘Good, it didn’t hit another target,’ ’’ Greene recalled.

But Greene’s world soon began to dissolve when a brother called with the news that another sibling, Donald Freeman Greene, was on that plane. “I can’t really describe how dark and horrible that was,’’ Greene said.

Eight years later, as a roiling debate unfolds about US strategy in Afghanistan, Greene said she feels no need to sacrifice more American troops in a country where the 9/11 attacks were hatched.

“There has to be a way to build more bridges rather than destroy them,’’ Greene said. “I think the media assume that the families want revenge, like that’s respecting the family and the family member’s memory.’’

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Call your representatives in government today. Let them know you support rapid and complete withdrawal of U.S. forces from Iraq and Afghanistan.

Oct 26 2009 Baghdad erupts; Fear returns; Life struggles on

Here is a letter from a young man who should be thinking only of his studies, his metal music, and his social life. Instead he wakes each day to fear.

Hi, My name is Zeki, I'm okay with using my name, This is my first year in college and it seems to be so hard after the situation in baghdad gone really bad, i hope that things will be better in the next months but its just seems not to. I'm afraid of going to college ! afraid of getting killed!, many explosions are going on in baghdad these days and my college is far away from the place i live in!, that's what's going on, wish you all the best of luck, thanks.

The people who write to us from Baghdad tell us stories that have taken a serious plunge in the direction of hopelessness. 

The roller coaster of hope and despair is a hard one to ride without becoming numbed by the constant fear that pervades life, even in these 'better times'.

Some of the signs that can be read as progress are merely indicators of a depth of need hard to fathom from so far away. Our sister B has taken a job. Good news, for sure, except that she is not being paid as yet. In fact she contributes to the new orphanage that opened in her neighborhood. Run by several women who hope that funding will come from the government. Certainly the small amounts of cash we can send are not enough to keep it going.

Brother B has lost his job in Syria. He fled there when he was threatened two years ago. Threatened because he is an artist. Remember when 'they' were killing artists? It was right after they went after the bakers, then the liberal professors, then anyone who had anything to do with Americans. He wants to return to Baghdad but his family is trying to talk him out of it, thinking that he is still in danger and that his return would put them all in danger.

C's family is falling apart. His neighborhood was thoroughly mixed before the occupation. Now it is 'Sunni-Only', and pretty much run by the local militia. C's wife is a Shi'a, and she left in fear, to return to her family in a Shi'a neighborhood. She took the kids with her. Now C is left alone in his house. He is afraid to join her in her neighborhood since he's a Sunni. 'How can I live like this?'

And please don't forget to send us your check made out to Bruce Wallace. 100% of your gift will be put into the hands of those caring for the orphans and widows in one neighborhood in Baghdad.

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Bruce Wallace
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