Finding Hope in the Rubble of Rage

FINDING HOPE IN THE RUBBLE OF OUTRAGE

Many residents of Damariscotta traveled to Bowdoin College November 1st
to attend a lecture by Dahr Jamail, an independent journalist
who has made four trips to Iraq. Accompanied by
an interpreter, he blended into their culture to record that war
torn country. His discussion was peppered with staggering
statistics and information. His photographs showed images of battle scarred
hospitals depleted of even the most basic supplies to care for the
ill and wounded overwhelming their services. Too many patients
were innocent civilians, particularly children. We learned
that white phosphorous, a form of napalm, has been used in
US airstrikes, that the cancer rate for children in Bagdad has
increased 26%, and that so much depleted uranium has been spread
throughout the country by American bombs that the radiation residue is
more than that left by both atomic bombs dropped on Japan. The
investigating U.S. official is himself dying of cancer from his exposure and
many returning veterans develop problems.

The audience was hushed to silence broken only by falling tears as we watched
"Caught in the Crossfire", the 18 minute film he showed of the American attack,
well named Phantom Fury, on Falluja. The outrage in the room was palpable, as the
knowledge of the violence unleashed on that city of 250,000 people in the
name of the American people became the truth and shame that all who
watched must now grapple with. 60% of their once beautiful city
was completely destroyed, most of their homes uninhabitable,
50,000 residents now living in tent cities in the desert outskirts.
What may have started with an insurgent stronghold has now
enraged the population. The problem has increased ten fold as civilians
have become furious freedom fighters, angered by the loss of their
city. American troops have attacked Falluja 6 times without
lasting success.

This weekend Operation Steel Curtain unleashed the awesome power of
American military force on Husayba, a town of 30,000 on the Syrian
border, another deadly assault that could do more to expand war in
the Middle East and alienate the people, than solve it. We know
little about what is really going on in Iraq because the media is
unable to go very far afield from the dubious safety of the well
protected Palestine Hotel in Bagdad, itself recently hit by devious
bombers clever enough to penetrate the perimeter of safety.

We all know the litany of distress we now struggle with, the outrage we all feel
no matter what our affiliations. This week's USA/CNN/GALLUP poll shows that
63% of Americans want the U.S. to get out of Iraq. There is momentum building for
change. Some cry that it's not enough or the right kind, but I search
for hope wherever I can find it....... so my TOP TEN list of hopeful signs this week:

1. Peace protests by hundreds of thousands of people all across America, increasingly
including high school and college students. Hundreds were held last Wednesday, and
sadly went unreported in the press.
2. The call this week by the United Methodist
Church, of which both
Bush and Cheney are members, for an end to the
Iraq War.
3. House Resolution #505, The Inquiry into the
White House Iraq
Group, proposed by Dennis Kucinich, demanding
congressional inquiry into the build-up to war.
In four days, support has grown from 9 to 63
co-sponsors, including our Representative Tom
Allen.
4. House Resolution #4232, The End the War in
Iraq Act of 2005, proposed Friday by Jim McGovern of
Massachusetts, a 27 year veteran of the CIA. It would allow
Defense Dept. funds to be used only for the safe and orderly
withdrawal of all troops, for consultations regarding
international forces, and for financial assistance and equipment
for either Iraqi or international security forces. It would not
prohibit or restrict funds for reconstruction.
5. The indictment of Scooter Libby, which although likely to drag
on over months and years, may yet expose the truth behind the lies.
6. The courage of "Give Em Hell" Harry Reid who, despite the
controversy over who slapped whom, at least drew attention to the
Republican stonewalling, resulting in the restart of the Phase II
investigation to begin next week.
7. USA Today/CNN/Gallup polls released this week show that 63% of
Americans want the U.S. out of Iraq. Bush's approval rating is a
record low 35%, Cheney's a dismal 19%.
8. The rising call for Impeachment. According to a Zogby
International poll taken this week, Americans favor Impeachment of
the President 53% to 42%.
9. The support for John McCain's anti-torture legislation. The
president says he will veto it, no matter what, that the CIA needs
to be able to use torture. Congress says they will override his veto.
10. A UK Parliamentary inquiry into Tony Blair's conduct in the
run-up to war, with special focus on the failure to plan for the
aftermath.

I don't take any pleasure from these sad signs of hope. I consider
myself a patriot, and except for those who violate our established
standards of conduct, I will always support those heroic troops who
do their duty to our country. My great, great grandfather won the
Congressional Medal of Honor. My father, uncle and grandfather all
went to West Point. My uncle was a 4 star general in the Vietnam
War, my grandfather wore 3 stars in WWII. I consider myself a
veteran of the Vietnam War, who as a young wife of a Navy jet pilot
was left behind with an infant to wait for the dreaded phone call
for two 8 month deployments and 200 combat missions. My family just
bade good-bye to a young husband and father who left his bride of a
West Point wedding the summer before last and 3 month old daughter
to go to Iraq for the third time. He'll be gone 14 months.

Dahr Jamail asked everyone in his audience to make a commitment to do
something to end the Iraq War. I rant. I hope my words inspire readers to
find their own commitment. It will take every single one of our voices, however
we choose to raise them, to soothe our outrage and find the peace we so desperately
crave. Barbara Carr New Harbor, Maine 677-2859