Sparta: On June 11, the Northwest NJ Peace sponsored "The Human Cost of War". Speaker Michael McPhearson was a former Field Artillery Captain during Desert Shield/Desert Storm, has a son in the military and is now a member of Veterans for Peace and publisher of Cpeace.com.
Mr. McPhearson showed a film produced in Iraq when he was a part of a December 2003 nine-member peace delegation. The film highlighted an Iraqi family, whose son and two friends became "collateral damage" during the American invasion. Their son, a casualty of a missile was permanently blinded, is expected to lose his leg and received many other injuries. In the film, Al-Hakim, a leading Iraqi cleric who was President of the governing council in December 2003 stated "we want them to leave as soon as possible as soldiers, but come back as friends." Another sentiment expressed by a labor party leader was "the US soldiers destroyed out normal life. We want them to leave, the question is not now or later."
Mr. McPhearson commented that he was surprised at the overall lack of anger he experienced, saying, "I don't think we'd be as hospitable."
Summarizing the situation he said, "while most are happy to be rid of Saddam and many thank the U.S., they are at the same time unhappy with the current state of affairs and want immediate changes. Security is high on the list of priorities." "The fear of crime is matched only by the fear of U.S. soldiers." "Our troops are trained soldiers, not police officers. They do not know how to treat the civilian population. They routinely use more force than necessary. They shoot before thinking -- because they are trained soldiers, not peacekeepers -- and innocent people are hurt or die, including children."
During an extended question and answer period, Mr. McPhearson described his personal experiences as a soldier and a father of a soldier, saying most soldiers "understand what the political situation is. They have various opinions and understand the various motives" of going to war. However, as soldiers each "has a job to do." Mr. McPhearson took exception to the question that it was un-American to protest during hostilities stating it was not only the right, but the obligation of each American to ensure our government acts appropriately. "People who do not allow discussion don't understand what being a patriot is."
Prior to the presentation, Sharon Pontier, member of the Northwest New Jersey Peace Fellowship read the names, rank age and hometown of American servicemen killed in Iraq since Memorial Day. This is an ongoing recognition of a major cost of war and memorial to those who have made the ultimate sacrifice in the name of our country.