This weekend marked the anniversary of the invasion of Iraq. To mark the war, which has lasted seven years and cost many lives, Iraq Veterans Against the War, IVAW, held an anniversary forum on March 19, at Fifth and K Sts. in Washington. IVAW wasn’t alone; about 80 other veterans’ advocacy groups helped organize protests.
Called “Different Shades of Militarization: an Iraq anniversary forum,” the event focused on the experiences of the Iraqis during seven years of United States presence. The group wanted to address how militarization and the U.S. military in particular affects oppressed populations, according to the group’s Web site, www.ivaw.org. The forum coincided with an immigration march held the same day in the capital. Forum participants discussed the experiences of Latino immigrants in D.C. and how police treat people in black communities.
Partial troop withdrawal may be around the corner and IVAW considered the impact this could have on social and community affairs in Iraq. The IVAW wants complete withdrawal of troops from Iraq, reparations for the Iraqi people, and improved health benefits for veterans.
The United States and coalition forces invaded Iraq on March 20, 2003 after relations between Saddam Hussein and the U.N. deteriorated. U.N. lead weapons inspectors were not allowed in. President George W. Bush and members of his administration said intelligence reports indicated that weapons of mass destruction were being produced. Those reports were later challenged. Congress passed a resolution authorizing deployment of troops to Iraq in 2002.
By May 2003 Hussein’s regime had been toppled. He went into hiding but was captured by American soldiers on Dec. 13, 2003. He was convicted of crimes against humanity and executed on Dec. 30, 2006.
The death toll continued year after year with Iraqi civilians suffering many thousands of casualties, both from bombs and targeted kidnappings and murders. Insurgents have come from other countries, and old internal ethnic and religious conflicts have intensified. U.S. troop casualties peaked in 2007 at 902 and decreased to 149 in 2009, and only 16 have been counted for this year so far. However, the toll continues to rise every year in Afghanistan, where coalition efforts have focused.
The total number of deaths for coalition forces in Iraq is 4,704, according to icasualty.org. The number of those wounded is much higher. Improvised explosive devices, or IEDs, have caused many brain injuries for service members. Substandard care through the Veteran’s Administration has been criticized.
Called “Different Shades of Militarization: an Iraq anniversary forum,” the event focused on the experiences of the Iraqis during seven years of United States presence. The group wanted to address how militarization and the U.S. military in particular affects oppressed populations, according to the group’s Web site, www.ivaw.org. The forum coincided with an immigration march held the same day in the capital. Forum participants discussed the experiences of Latino immigrants in D.C. and how police treat people in black communities.
Partial troop withdrawal may be around the corner and IVAW considered the impact this could have on social and community affairs in Iraq. The IVAW wants complete withdrawal of troops from Iraq, reparations for the Iraqi people, and improved health benefits for veterans.
The United States and coalition forces invaded Iraq on March 20, 2003 after relations between Saddam Hussein and the U.N. deteriorated. U.N. lead weapons inspectors were not allowed in. President George W. Bush and members of his administration said intelligence reports indicated that weapons of mass destruction were being produced. Those reports were later challenged. Congress passed a resolution authorizing deployment of troops to Iraq in 2002.
By May 2003 Hussein’s regime had been toppled. He went into hiding but was captured by American soldiers on Dec. 13, 2003. He was convicted of crimes against humanity and executed on Dec. 30, 2006.
The death toll continued year after year with Iraqi civilians suffering many thousands of casualties, both from bombs and targeted kidnappings and murders. Insurgents have come from other countries, and old internal ethnic and religious conflicts have intensified. U.S. troop casualties peaked in 2007 at 902 and decreased to 149 in 2009, and only 16 have been counted for this year so far. However, the toll continues to rise every year in Afghanistan, where coalition efforts have focused.
The total number of deaths for coalition forces in Iraq is 4,704, according to icasualty.org. The number of those wounded is much higher. Improvised explosive devices, or IEDs, have caused many brain injuries for service members. Substandard care through the Veteran’s Administration has been criticized.
