"What is the point of those wars," asked a 40 ish muscular man with long thick brown hair and a full brown beard as he walked up and read the sign.
"People are dying for nothing," he continued, as he scrunched his face in frustration, the anger ringing in his voice. "I was against those wars before they started them. Now he [President Obama] sends 30,000 more troops! For what?
He then fell silent, as he calmed himself. A moment later, he shook my hand and added, "Please keep it up man," in reference to the vigil.
Last night's vigil received strong support in often blasted horn honks, along with waves and even a two fingered peace sign or two.
But in Iraq yesterday, 37 Iraqis were killed and 66 more were severely injured. The most deadly attack happened in Baquba, where three suicide bombers struck. The first bomber blew up his car near an army complex followed by a second bomber who blew up his vehicle a few hundred yards away, alongside government offices.
As the victims were rushed to a hospital, a third suicide bomber blew himself up in the hospital. In all, 33 Iraqis were killed and 55 more were severely injured.
Today, a series of explosions rocked Baghdad, killing 20 Iraqis and wounding many more. If you think post traumatic stress disorder is hard on soldiers, imagine what it is like for Iraqi children, none of whom can feel safe and many of whom have lost family members and/or their friends and neighbors
Meanwhile, thousands of miles away, last night's vigil was joined by a 65 year old woman who occasionally participates.
"I don't understand it," she said of the wars. "Congress sometimes speaks of ending them but they don't do anything. Barack Obama inherited these wars." But he too has done nothing to end them, continuing the Iraq war despite his promises to end it and escalating the Afghan war.
"Everything is falling down around us," she continued, now speaking of the U.S. "We have no money coming in because people can't afford to pay their income taxes, can't afford their property taxes, Social Security is getting hit. You need people paying into it," she added as she discussed the downward spiral of the economy.
"These people [the unemployed] have been waiting months to see if their unemployment benefits would be extended. They can't find jobs.
"[People] can't afford to buy houses and many can't afford to keep their houses. I live on apartment row and in every building around me, there is at least one unit for rent." And she pointed out the numerous empty rental units all around the vigil.
Soon we changed the subject to her 40 year old daughter going back to college and we discussed other pleasant topics. When the vigil ended, I thanked her for joining and we cordially parted company.
Dear reader, these wars will eventually end as most do, in a negotiated settlement. As the invader and occupier, the U.S. can call for a cease fire and negotiate with the combatants and the governments it keeps in place and end the fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Hopefully, it will do this sooner than later and then bring its soldiers home safely to their families, as the people of Iraq and Afghanistan determine for themselves the form of government they want.
Dick
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