MFSO letters to Editors

	Letters to Editors by Military Family Members
	Michaud’s courage Bangor Daily News April 17, 2007 On June 1, 1950, during a dark time in American history, U.S. Sen. Margaret Chase Smith of Maine issued her famous statement of conscience in which she said, "It is high time for the United States Senate and its members to do some soul-searching — for us to weigh our consciences — on the manner in which we are performing our duty to the people of America." Recently Congressman Mike Michaud of Maine searched his soul and issued his own statement of conscience by his refusal to vote for the continued funding of the immoral, illegal and very unnecessary war in Iraq. Congressman Michaud is a true representative of the Maine people because an overwhelming majority of Mainers think the war in Iraq was never worth starting, and they want the killing and the waste of money stopped now. Mainers of all political persuasions should thank him for his courageous vote. Gerald Oleson
	Remember Iraqis killed by U.S.-led occupation Kennebec Journal April 26, 2007 By Dexter Kamilewicz Richard Perl, known as the "architect of the Iraq war," asserted in his own film that one of the reasons for the invasion of Iraq was Saddam Hussein's murder of 400,000 Iraqis. This week, many Americans were overcome with grief over the 32 shooting deaths at Virginia Tech. The day after the Virginia Tech memorial, at least 160 civilians died in and around Baghdad, killings that have been occurring at the rate of 1,600 a week with no memorial service in sight. According to the United Nations, more than 1,000,000 civilians (500,000 of whom were children) died during the U.S. embargo of Iraq. The British Medical Journal Lancet's study on Iraqi war deaths concluded that about 650,000 Iraqis died between March 2003 and October 2006. Do we ignore the Iraqi deaths in favor of American deaths out of ignorance or cold-heartedness? The latest Iraqi war death count of American soldiers is hovering at 3,300, over 100 times as many who died at Virginia Tech. In the coming weeks, will Tom Allen, Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins again vote to fund the military budget for Iraq and the deaths caused by the occupation of Iraq? If they vote to fund Iraq, then we will have a real problem because, by Perl's count, we will be supporting a war that has murdered more people than Saddam Hussein. Oh well, Memorial Day is coming. Dexter J. Kamilewicz Orr's Island

	Paper slights those who serve in Iraq Portland press herald April 27, 2007 I belong to an organization of Maine military families who have become increasingly concerned about the safety and mission of our loved ones in service. Four of our members have received word that their sons are to be redeployed. One son is already serving his fourth tour of duty in Iraq. Some are under "stop loss" and cannot leave the military even when they have faithfully completed their service. I recently submitted a column to the Portland Press Herald on the subject of our concerns. After a few weeks, I was told the column would not be published because preference was given to "Maine-related issues." The day before, and a few days later, Maine flags were at half staff because of deceased Maine soldiers. I guess the column about a couple traveling to New Zealand, tasting wines and discovering black flies was "more directly Maine-related." The occupation of Iraq continues to cost Maine in lives and money. Portland taxpayers' share alone is well over $50 million so far. A newspaper must safeguard the public's right to know about these serious issues, and be sensitive to the great personal and economic price Maine people are paying. Carole Whelan Military Families Speak Out Hope
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