One Is Not A Bogus Number
By Linda Zoblotsky
31 October, 2005
Countercurrents.orgDear Michelle,
I am a supporter for Kucinich for President, 2008 and Cindy Sheehan has been the most effective voice for the peace movement calling on The President to bring the troops home, not only from Iraq, but Afghanistan.
Although we come from perspectives, I do agree with you that “2000” is a bogus number. 2,000 is the number of U.S. military deaths that the Pentagon chooses to release. The Pentagon only counts death by bombs and gunfire. The Pentagon does not count heart attacks, strokes and illness leading to the death of our men and women serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.
2,000 is a bogus number, because the number of Iraqi and Afghan women and children dead is much higher. These innocent people died from the U.S. weapons of mass destruction, including depleted uranium used in U.S. weaponry which is killing indiscriminately on both sides of the battle field.
The number of men and women injured in battle is higher than 2,000 and each one of their injuries, physical and mental should count for something, medical care, care for their families and assistance for re-employment, after they have been discharged.
One is not a bogus number. Cindy lost one son. Her son died and no matter how you and I view the war in Iraq, 1 young and beloved son is too many to loose.
Take a moment Michelle, to think about the Iraqi and Afghani people voting under U.S. occupation for governments clearly propped up by the U.S. occupation and weapons of mass destruction. Take a moment to think about these men and women braving U.S. checkpoints to get to the polls and our men and women battle scarred from not knowing exactly who the enemy is and killing men and women at these checkpoints. Is this pro-life?
Do you know who the enemy is? Do you think we should kill each and every one of them, women and children included? Do you think we should buy oil form them? Do you think every American man, woman and child wishes to fight this war in your name? Do you know that 5% of Americans are involved in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan? Do you know any of the 5%? Would you send a condolence card to a Mother, grieving her lost son in Iraq or Afghanistan with your article?
Some of those Mothers are Gold Star Mothers, in solidarity with Cindy Sheehan because “2000” is a bogus number. Is “91” a bogus number? The 91 Senators who stood proud with John McCain and supported his anti-torture amendments? Is One a bogus number. One is a lonely number, pardon my reference to the song, but One is the number of American Presidents who has skewed priorities, supporting a bill to strengthen the rules to enable the CIA to use more torture in the “war on terror”. One is a bogus number for one man to claim political capital, when millions around the world oppose the war against a country that did not attack us.
We support our government by asking Congress to take a stand and stop robbing the national treasury in the name of “the war on terror”. We are not bogus when we call for SMART SECURITY, protecting our nation within our borders. How many conservatives ask how we can defend the borders of Iraq and yet we can’t defend our borders in the U.S.?
We do not support this President’s policies and for those of us who march, light a candle, write letters to the editor, write a letter to you, the war is not in our name.
We support our troops and we want them home ALIVE and WELL. That isn’t bogus.
Peace, Linda Zoblotsky of Dallas, Texas
