Candlelight Vigil No. 224, 6/16/10

"Now that they've discovered minerals in Afghanistan, said a 52 year old Englishman, "They're never going to leave. They'll send in more soldiers."

"It's all about greed," he added. "That's what happened with British Petroleum. They cut corners. It's about greed."

This is how the vigil began, with these comments from an Englishman who on occasion participates in these vigils.

"Don't forget about Afghanistan sir," said a 35 ish man as he and his wife drove up in their SUV, both of them waving. "I don't forget. At the bottom of this sign is Afghanistan as well.

"Are you former military," I asked, seeing his military style haircut and his trim muscular frame. "No sir. But I have relatives who are."

Just then there was a tap on my shoulder from a 6 foot 2, 20 ish man with curly blond hair who smiled and said, "Thank you man," as he motioned to the sign.

Moments later, a 5 foot 2, 25 year old woman wearing a green windbreaker and green sweats walked up and read the sign. Then without a word, she walked away. A few minutes later, she walked back and said, "Can anybody join you?"

"Yes," I replied. "You would be welcome." "Can I bring my own candle," she asked. "Yes," I answered with a smile.

"My sister's boyfriend is in the Navy," she stated. "And his tour of duty takes him to the Middle East. This is his 2nd tour. My ex-boyfriend is in the Marines and they are about to send him to Iraq. It's scary if you're a family member.

"I live right near here, but I never knew about this vigil. At some time, I'd like to join you out here."

As she walked off, from the opposite direction came John Fortier, a Korean War veteran who conducts a peace vigil each Friday evening at a nearby location. John was wearing a bright red, white and blue knit cap, easily visible from 50 yards away.

"I went on the Internet and looked up how many military bases we have all over the world," he said, after a warm greeting. "We have so many, it can't help but be empire building. And it has to affect all the economies [where the U.S. bases are]. I'm re-appalled if there is such a word. I'm cynical and depressed and pissed."

John described how poor Afghan people work for Americans and how their incomes, however low, inflate the local markets for fruits, vegetables and other needs. [It also makes them dependent on a U.S. paycheck.]

Meanwhile in Iraq on Sunday, gunmen in military uniforms attempted to seize the heavily secured Iraq central bank, the rough equivalent of the U.S. Federal Reserve. Among its holdings, this bank has Iraq's gold reserves, and its U.S. and Iraqi money.

The afternoon battle began when a nearby bomb rocked Baghdad, sending black billows of smoke over the city, creating a diversion. Shortly afterward, three carloads of gunmen firing automatic weapons fought their way into the bank, with the help of three suicide bombers who blew themselves up.

After a three hour battle, 26 people were killed and dozens more were wounded, but with U.S. military support, the Iraq government kept control of its bank. Among the dead were seven of an estimated 20 gunmen, but in the frenzy the others managed to blend back into the population.

While in Kandahar, Afghanistan's 2nd largest city with 450,000 people, and a major agricultural and trading center with an international airport, the U.S. invasion has been postponed because it does not have the support of the Afghan people. Why? Because they, like the rest of us, don't want to live in a war zone in which they and their families may be killed or wounded, their homes destroyed and their economy left in ruins.

Seizing and occupying Kandahar is key to the Obama "surge" plan, which creates quite a dilemma for the U.S.

But thousands of miles away, our vigil ended as John and I shook hands. I'm grateful and I think John is as well, for the support of those people who refuse to ignore the human price of these wars and who hold those who have paid that price dear in their hearts.

Dick