March on the Pentagon, March 17

Oh how I wish I could take part in this. I'll be there in spirit. I hope more and more people will start to speak out against the madness that is the so called "War on Terror," and the debacle of the Iraq Invasion. The button in the left column says, "Corporate Interests plus the Pentagon equals Death." May as well say, "Corporate Greed plus corrupt government equals death and the mockery of democracy and freedom."

"Why we are marching on the Pentagon"

We, active-duty service men and women, and families with loved ones who have served or are serving in Iraq, and veterans of past and present wars, support the March on the Pentagon on March 17, 2007 to say: "Stop the War -- Bring the Troops Home Now." On that day, the Iraq war will become the second longest in U.S. history, after only the Vietnam war. The war is an unmitigated disaster for the people of Iraq and the people of the United States. Hundreds of thousands of Iraqis have been killed and Iraq society torn apart. More than 3,100 U.S. soldiers have died and "non-mortal casualties" are nearing 55,000. The cost of the war is now over $8 billion per month, $280 million per day, $12 million per hour. All of this death, suffering and loss for a war justified by lies and deception.

Despite overwhelming public opposition, expressed through the November elections and in countless opinion polls, the Bush Administration and the Pentagon have decided to escalate the war. Escalation will only mean a deepening spiral of death, destruction and wasted resources. We call for the troops to come home, not be redeployed for some other military adventure and for the war funding to be used to provide accessible education, job training and comprehensive health care.

A growing number of families with loved ones in Iraq are now questioning the reasons they are there. Every death or life-changing injury devastates a family, friends and the community they come from. Every redeployment means months more of worry. For veterans of previous wars there are disproportionate numbers of suicides, homelessness, and untreated illnesses. Is there any reason to think that the veterans of the current war won't face the same fate? We are outraged that Bush, who talks endlessly about “supporting the troops,” has proposed cutting funds for the Veterans Administration in his new budget

It is for these reasons that active duty service members, their families and veterans can and must play a vital role in ending this unjust war. Join us at the Pentagon on Saturday, March 17!