Iraq War must be brought to an end

The Bush administration and Republican congressional allies have stonewalled and obstructed attempts to end the Iraq War. But momentum is turning against them as the American people and Congress look to September as a key decision point on the war -- making it our best chance yet to start bringing the troops home.

The Congressional Budget Office testified that the financial costs of the war total $413 billion. We spend $275 million daily to stay in Iraq. The cost to Illinois taxpayers alone is $24.69 billion and our 14th Congressional District has paid $1.53 billion for the war. This means our district could have had health-care coverage for 558,530 people, 24,996 schoolteachers, 177,175 college scholarships, 224,552 kids in Head Start, 2,034,276 renewable energy homes, 31,013 police.

There are 3,698 soldiers dead and approximately 700,000 military dependents left home. The VFW states, "Many homes are without their primary bread winners for long periods of time. Many military families are really struggling to make ends meet. These families of service personnel need essential home and auto repairs, groceries, prescriptions, mortgages, rent and more."

To date, 76,552 named Iraqis have been killed and 44 percent of all violent civilian deaths occurred this year. Civilian mortar attacks quadrupled from 73 to 289. Fatal suicide, car and roadside bomb attacks on civilians doubled from 712 to 1,476 this year. ABC News reports 4.2 million Iraqis have been displaced. Iraq cannot rebuild without educated professionals like teachers, doctors, architects, journalists and businessmen.

Congress must act quickly to rein in this reckless president and bring an end to this war. MoveOn.org's national grassroots network of volunteer councils is coming together across the country for a candlelight vigil to support ending the Iraq War. Join us today at 6 p.m. for a very important walk in Geneva at 3rd Street and James that ends at the courthouse with a rally.

Amy Cihak

Aurora