November 2004 Postcard

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DEAR SENATOR:

Every state is losing its sons and daughters in the war on Iraq. To date, more than 1,042 Americans have been killed and at least 7,413 U.S. troops have been wounded in action, according to the Pentagon.

What’s more, these numbers do not include the nearly 17,000 service members medically evacuated from Iraq and Afghanistan who are absent from public Pentagon casualty reports, as UPI recently reported. They are not included in the reports because they suffered injuries or ailments not directly related to combat, but they are still casualties of war.

Cpl. Roberto Abad (Los Angeles, CA), Pfc. Leslie D. Jackson (Richmond, VA), Pfc. Nicholaus E. Zimmer (Columbus, OH): These are just a few of the troops who were killed in a war based on lies and misinformation. How many people has my state lost?

As Election Day nears, I encourage you to vote your conscience. Don’t send any more of our sons, daughters, nieces, nephews and neighbors to fight this costly war of choice.

FROM:

Address:

City, State, Zip:

Lance Cpl. John L. Richardson pays his respects to his fallen comrade, Cpl. Daniel R. Amaya, 24, at Camp Fallujah, April 20, 2004 (AFP photo/Sgt. Jose E. Guillen).

Results of a study by the Institute for Policy Studies and Foreign Policy in Focus released in June showed the human, security, economic and social costs of the Iraq war. In addition to military deaths, contractors and journalists have also been killed. Moreover, the war has damaged America’s standing and credibility in the world.

Economist Doug Henwood has estimated that the bill for war will add up to an average of at least $3,415 for every U.S. household. Another economist, James Galbraith, predicts that while war spending may boost the economy initially, over the long term it is likely to bring a decade of economic troubles, including an expanded trade deficit and high inflation.

Finally, the $151.1 billion expenditure for the war through this year could have paid for close to 23 million housing vouchers; health care for over 27 million uninsured Americans; salaries for nearly 3 million elementary school teachers; 678,200 new fire engines; over 20 million Head Start slots for children; or health care coverage for 82 million children.

Instead, we now find ourselves in a quagmire with too many costs and apparently no end in sight.