The Iraqi War Is Now Obama’s War
by Chuck Zlatkin Chelsea Neighbors United to End the War · June 1, 2009

By Chuck Zlatkin

Last week at Chelsea Stands Up Against The War a woman named Winnie stopped by. She told us that she has seen us a number of times before but she just had to stop this time. She was born here and is Kenyan. Her younger brother joined the military because he wanted to be able to go to college. He was killed last year after just six months in Iraq. Winnie felt that her brother was killed for no reason because there was no reason for the U.S. to be in Iraq. Her younger brother should be “falling in love and getting married. He was supposed to have fathered children and enjoyed his life.” There are too many stories like Winnie’s.

This month at least 20 American troops have been killed in Iraq, the most in a month since September of 2008. There has also been an
increase in attacks on Iraqi civilians. It is thought that Iraqi insurgents are reforming in anticipation of June 30th when American combat troops are supposed to leave Iraqi cities. The U.S. is changing the definition of what institutes both an Iraq city and a combat troop. The prevailing wisdom of the pundits and administration flacks is that Americans are concerned about the economy, and that wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are not foremost
in the minds of most Americans.

Democrats and Republicans both voted billions in funding to continue the war, but eliminated funds for closing Guantanamo. Robert Gates and General David Petraeus continue to play important roles for President Obama while seventy-six American troops have been killed in