Five years ago, on March 20, 2003, the U.S. military invaded Iraq. While politicians such as presidential candidate Senator John McCain and Vice-President Dick Cheney tell Americans that the continued presence of U.S. troops are needed in Iraq, Iraqis live in utter hell in a country plagued by violence.

As of March 11, 2008 there were 1,185,800 Iraqi deaths due to the U.S. invasion. According to Refugee International, one in five Iraqis has been displaced. Over 2.4 million left Iraq with about 1.5 million living in Syria, and over one million living in Jordan, Iran, Egypt, Lebanon, Turkey and the Gulf States.

Presently 140,000 U.S. troops occupy Iraq. Although the Bush administration defends the invasion and occupation of Iraq, some American soldiers are telling their stories about the time they spent in Iraq. Last week an event took place called Winter Soldier II in Washington D.C. For three days 400 soldiers gave their testimonies about time spent in Iraq and Afghanistan. 

One young man said he that while on the road to Baghdad, Marines defecated into Meals Ready to Eat (MREs) bags and threw them at civilians. The same young man described how his unit forced an Iraqi man to destroy all of the birth records of Fallujah.

Another young man described the training he received on how to communicate with detainees. According to him, detainees were subjected to mock executions, and simulated explosions. During a firefight he refused to help a wounded Iraqi man because he had been told some Iraqi civilians fake being wounded.

Last week a group of Iraqi tribal leaders, former politicians, and intellectuals appealed to the United Nations to take control of Iraq in order to help U.S. troops leave.

A group of Iraqi tribal leaders, former politicians, and intellectuals appealed Wednesday to the United Nations (UN) to take control of Iraq in a move they say would help U.S. troops leave the beleaguered country.

“We believe that the only opportunity left for Iraq to be saved from a dark, but not inevitable future, is to engage the international community represented by the United Nations,” the letter to the UN said. “Such a step will allow the American troops to leave and the occupation to be brought to its end.”

Take Action

Everyone can do something to help end the occupation of Iraq, even if they are not able to attend a protest rally. As the sixth year of occuation begins, step up the pressure on the Congress. Write your Senators and Representatives. Tell them it is time to end the occupation of Iraq.

Are you creative? Do you write, draw/paint, or make music? Check out internet magazine the Freelance Articular’s online event called Peace March 20, where creative artists everywhere are encouraged to express their desire for peace.