Another Girl Speaks up about the Iraq War

10-year-old Eliza has written to us several times about her interest in the UN. She talks about the Iraq War from the UN's perspective.

Today, The New York Times reported that the UN issued a report that more than 34,000 Iraqi civilians were killed last year. This is the UN hand counted deaths in Iraq. That means that these are 34,000 people who WEREN'T FIGHTING. This number was three times higher than the Iraqi government had reported. The UN defended its report and said that the number may even be low because not all violent deaths are reported. (www.nytimes.com/2007/01/17/world/middleeast/17iraq.html?_r=1&ref=world&oref=slogin)

The US army was sent to Iraq to fight, and now we have killed more than 34,000 people who were not even fighting. They didn't harm us. I think this is unfair. More than just unfair, I think it is cruel. At least the people actually enlisted to fight us (and those not enlisted who do) chose to be part of the violence, even if they think differently now. It's like Padme Amidala, and character of the new trilogy of STAR WARS, said: "I call it aggressive negotiations." Before she had been trying to make a "diplomatic solution." Anikan Skywalker, another STAR WARS character, had been asking her, in the middle of a crucial battle, "You call this a diplomatic solution?" I think it's almost like that. Padme said it much more movie like, calmly and rationally, while firing her blaster. But what we should have made a diplomatic solution, we have made into aggressive negotiations.

On Jan. 27, 2007, there is going to be a peace march in Washington. I am am going, and I think it is a good thing to go or to let other people know about it. For more info, go to www.unitedforpeace.org/

-- Eliza