"My son is in Afghanistan right now," said a 45 ish woman softly from a gray SUV. "Thank you for doing that." "We will hope he returns safely," I replied, as she nodded her head in agreement and appeared to be holding back tears.
Her comment was a part of a well supported vigil, which was joined by a 51 year old woman while it was being set up. When she left, a 50 ish couple who often participate, joined the vigil. And shortly after they left, a 52 year old Englishman who sometimes participates, did last night as well.
Within a few minutes of his leaving, John Fortier, a Korean War veteran who conducts a peace vigil every Friday at a nearby location, joined and remained for the rest of the vigil.
But in Iraq and Afghanistan, the wars raged on. On Monday morning in Baghdad, two suicide bombers blew up their cars outside the Trade Bank of Iraq, just west of the U.S.'s Green Zone. The ear splitting blasts hit with such enormous force, they launched cars like missiles into the sky, some of them crashing on to the roofs of neighboring buildings.
The Bank's three story glass exterior was shattered raining its shards down on to the street below. What an instant before had been people working in offices, walking on sidewalks or driving in traffic was now pandemonium. In what remained of the offices, chairs, desks and paper were scattered in all directions, now plainly visible from the street below.
When the plumes of black smoke cleared and the ambulance and police sirens and the cries for help finally fell eerily silent, 27 people were dead and 55 more were severely injured. Many of the victims were people who lived or worked close by and were trapped by circumstance in what was widely believed to be a heavily secured zone.
One mother ran to the scene and cried out for her son. A police officer tried to calm her and handed his cell phone to her, assuring her he had her son on the phone from the hospital. She managed to smile as she heard the voice over the phone. But a moment later, she burst into tears once again for it was not her son. She then threw herself over a mangled, bloody body lying close by.
This was the worst of several deadly incidents in Iraq this week. With the possible exception of the Green Zone and U.S. military bases, it appears no place is safe there.
While in Afghanistan on Monday, Richard Holbrooke, the U.S. envoy to Afghanistan and Pakistan went to Marjah, an Afghan town the U.S. military recently captured in heavy fighting and presumably secured, so he could assess the U.S. progress in its Afghan War.
His helicopter, which also included Karl Eikenberry, the U.S. ambassador to Afghanistan among its passengers came under fire. Even after it landed, the gunfire could be heard in the background for another 20 minutes.
Afterwards, when Mr. Holbrooke was whisked back to his helicopter in a heavily armored convoy an explosion rocked the ground around them, as dust and debris were thrown into the air.
While in Washington yesterday, Gen. Stanley McChrystal, commander of the U.S. forces in Afghanistan was relieved of his duties because he and some of his staff spoke of President Obama and other senior government officials with contempt in a Rolling Stone magazine interview.
But thousands of miles away at last night's vigil there were plenty of horn honks of support, including those from a bus driver as he heartily waved.
I hope President Obama will soon see the errors of his ways and call for a cease fire in both nations, negotiate settlements, withdraw the U.S. troops and allow the people of both nations to make their own decisions.
Nine years of war in Afghanistan and over seven years of war in Iraq have caused incredible suffering to the men, women and children of both nations and to the American and allied troops and their families.
And for what? It is draining the moral and financial foundation of America and continued warfare will lead to demands for revenge from some of those most victimized by the bloodshed. Meanwhile, we will light our candles in memory of all those who have paid so severe a price in these wars and we hope for peace soon.
Dick
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