On Wednesday, March 20, 2013, we invite you to join us as we gather to mark
the tenth anniversary of the tragic U.S. war on Iraq. This
unprovoked war of aggression led to the loss of many hundreds of
thousands—perhaps more than a million—lives. Many more were wounded physically
and psychologically.
While
the Iraqis bore the brunt of the losses, thousands of U.S. troops also
perished, tens of thousands were physically wounded and hundreds of thousands
traumatized by the horrors of war. Many here and in Iraq suffer greatly to this
day.
The
war also led directly to the dislocation of more than five million Iraqis,
forced from their homes, and made refugees in their own, or other countries.
The war brought with it the destruction of infrastructure and serious environmental
pollution. It also entailed overall economic costs to the U.S. of more than
four trillion dollars.
The
perpetrators who initiated this criminal endeavor still walk free. While
launching an aggressive war against a nation that had taken no hostile action
is clearly the highest form of war crime under the Nuremberg Principles, the
U.S. holds itself above international law. Our government consistently refuses
to allow bodies like the International Criminal Court to have jurisdiction over
American officials like Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld, Powell, Rice, etc.
The
Iraq War and related military spending contributed to the near doubling of U.S.
military spending over the last decade. And, even though U.S. forces, aside
from contractors, have been withdrawn, the Pentagon budget remains at an
elevated level, with no plan to return to the pre-war military budget levels.
Peaceworks
encourages you to join us in marking this sad anniversary with a call for peace and reconciliation, as well
as revaluation.
It
is time for the American people and our government to recognize the need to change
our role in the world. Rather than continuing in the role of dominating
superpower with a permanent war economy, we need to transform the United States
into a peaceful, cooperative nation. It’s high time we redirect the funds and
human talents currently directed into warfare into making our nation and the
planet peaceful, prosperous and sustainable.
**Event
Details:
Please
join us on Wednesday, March 20. We will hold an expanded Rush Hour Peace
Demonstration at Broadway & Providence beginning at 4:30. Participants
are encouraged to arrive any time they can between 4:30 and
5:20. We will then assemble for a short Peace Procession to the
war monuments in front of the Boone County Courthouse where we will have a
short program.
The
program will feature two speakers: Zaid Mahir, an Iraqi author and scholar who
was in his native country at the time of the war, and now lives here in CoMo,
and John Betz, Vietnam War combat veteran and president of Veterans for
Peace. There will also be time for silent reflection.
Facebook Event: Facebook users take note. You can RSVP that you're attending and also invite others to participate if you CLICK HERE.
