Iraq War Anniversary

Today the Iraq War has turned 5 years old. Demanding a cold-hearted evaluation of this periord from the Bush administration is, of course, wasting one’s time. And even though dates are mere symbols, if only because we need to evaluate our actions periodically the occasion calls for a recount of how horrendous this war has been. Not only has it been the second most expensive war in US history, the death toll on Iraq is absolutely brutal. There has been a good deal of controversy over these numbers, but the Financial Times’ own studies speak of hundred thousand Iraqis! When much fewer Americans die it seems to us like a Greek tragedy; and rightfully so. When people die in Iraq for some reason it doesn’t feel as bad. But we should never lose sight of the fact that we are talking about a few hundred thousand human beings that have been killed in the name of God knows what. We are talking about families torn apart, kids getting orphan, let alone all the grief for those who will no longer be with them. I think it is no exaggeration to call the situation in Iraq a humanitarian catastrophe. Unhappy birthday Iraq War.