Dear CODEPINKer,

What a tragic way to start the New Year--3,000 troops dead. 3,000 precious lives, so unnecessarily lost. 3,000 families left to mourn their children, their siblings, their spouses, their parents.

It has been said that when George Bush launched this unjust war, he imagined the conflict would last no longer than 10 days, with a maximum of 100 casualties. Now we have been in Iraq longer than the US was involved in World War II, and more Americans have died in Iraq than on American soil during the attacks of 9/11. Of course the Iraqi casualties, all too often overlooked, continue to be even more staggering.

As the execution of Saddam Hussein fills the news, we are reminded that fighting violence with violence, that this cycle of revenge, will only lead to more of our soldiers dying. And we're worried that with the media focusing on Saddam's death, our 3,000th soldier death will be unduly glossed over. Let's not let that happen.

We recommend organizing or joining a vigil to mark this latest heartbreaking milestone. You can find vigil information and further suggested actions here. And join us in Washington, DC from January 27-29 when we'll bring our Women Say Pull Out NOW message to the mass mobilization. Let us use the grief in our hearts to fuel our work for peace.

If we raise our voices loud enough--in pain and outrage and hope--we can bring our troops home in 2007.

With heavy but optimistic hearts,
Dana, Farida, Gael, Gayle, Jodie, Liz, Medea, Nancy, Patricia, Rae, Samantha, and Sonia

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