A Thought for Christmas

In this joyous holiday season I just wanted to share a thought with all good Christians out there in what Gore Vidal likes to call (over and over and over again) "Freedom's Land":

The Lancet, the most respected medical publication in the world, has recently completed a study on post-invasion fatalities in Iraq. Their study has the following finding:

"We estimate that as of July, 2006, there have been 654 965 (392 979–942 636) excess Iraqi deaths as a consequence of the war, which corresponds to 2·5% of the population in the study area. Of post-invasion deaths, 601 027 (426 369–793 663) were due to violence, the most common cause being gunfire."

That's nearly 655,000 dead -- or more than double the number of deaths that caused the United States to brand Saddam Hussein a mass murderer. That's enough dead bodies to fill up Yankee Stadium to capacity 12 times.

And that's as a result of a war we started. A war that was unprovoked and undeclared. A war that has turned public opinion against this country and tarnished its reputation in the eyes of the world. A war that has turned us into an aggressor nation -- the kind of nation that throughout history we have fought wars against.

So think about those 655,000 dead bodies while you're having your Christmas dinner tonight.

And have a Merry Christmas!

Tom Moran