Out Now!

Readers of this site know that I am unreservedly for an "Out Now!" position. Although I have always felt that "things would get better" (i.e., fewer people dying, among other things) once the Americans left, my position isn't predicated on that. "Coalition" forces are in Iraq (and Afghanistan too) illegally, were sent there for illegitimate reasons, and should get the hell out, immediately; two wrongs do not make a right. However, for those people who take the "well, we can't leave until we 'stabilize' the situation, because if we do, things will go to hell" position, I wonder how you (they) feel about the latest report:

Iraq Puts Civilian Toll at 12,000
Insurgency Claiming About 20 People a Day

20 people a day over a period of 18 months. If you think things could get worse than that, you must really be a pessimist.

Incidentally, that 12,000 doesn't even tell the whole story, since, apart from American (and other coalition) soldiers who have also been killed (not to mention seriously wounded), the 12,000 figure includes only Iraqis killed by insurgents (according to the Iraqi government). It does not include any Iraqis killed by Americans, whether it be in major actions like the assault of Fallujah, or the minor actions which occur on a daily basis (e.g., Nicola Calipari). Isn't it curious that the Iraqi government is able to estimate the number of Iraqis killed by the resistance, but claims not to have a clue as to how many Iraqis have been killed by the Americans?

It is long past time for American (and other) troops to get out of Iraq and stop pretending they are there "by invitation". If you agree, you need to mark September 24 on your calendar. ANSWER, United for Peace and Justice, and the Troops Out Now Coalition have all called for major demonstrations that day in Washington, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and other cities. While at the moment there are issues of unity, and these groups may actually be holding separate demonstrations, it is still certain that September 24 will be the date of massive demonstrations across the country. Get involved now to help build a demonstration in your city or bring people to the nearest big city, and plan to be there on September 24. We owe it to the American troops and the Iraqi people.