5 years in Iraq

Spring break has ended and we are back to reality. Over break, I was watching the local news and was informed that it was the fifth year anniversary of the Iraq war. In San Francisco, there was a major protest that took place, including people chaining themselves to buildings, arrests and other situations.

Today when I was on a local news website, I saw that the 4,0000th U.S soldier was killed in Iraq. According the NBC 11, posted link, there were four U.S soldiers that were killed in Baghdad due to a roadside bomb.

With this current statistic, I just want to take the time and have everyone give thanks to those who are over there fighting and those who have lost their lives for the U.S. I am not a supporter of the war and had a friend who went to Iraq, and see first hand what the war does to people. I just hope, that sooner than later, we will be able to withdraw from the war.

Also, over the break, I was able to watch Hilary Clinton and Barack Obama talk with young veterans on MTV. Each presidential candidate sat with about 8 veterans in their twenties and discuss issues with veterans and the war. There was one veteran that stated how after he came back from the war he was homeless. Not only did he have to suffer through having no home, but his drivers license expired. He was told that he could go to the DMV and get it taken care of, free of charge, since he was fighting in the war. However, when he went to the Manhattan DMV, the lady working said he would have to pay forty-five dollars and he said he did not have the money with him. He told the lady that he was in Iraq, fighting the war, hoping this would release him of his payment. Unfortunately, the lady turned to him and said, "I don't care what war you were in. You weren't fighting for me, you were fighting for Bush." He continued to say that not one person in the DMV building, who heard her say this, stuck up for him. I knew that veterans did have problems once they came back to the U.S civilization, but not as crucial as this. I just hope that whoever becomes the next president is not only able to end the war, but also to help those veterans in need.