Five Years into Iraq - Only 3% of American news stories covered the $3,000,000,000,000 War in Iraq in February

Dear America,

This week marks the fifth anniversary of the war in Iraq, but you might not have seen much about it on TV recently. Just 3% of the news in February was dedicated to the war and fewer than one in three Americans know how many American troops have died in Iraq. Believe it or not, a study just released by the Pew Research Center shows that press coverage of the war is at the lowest point since the war began.
Please take a minute now to sign an open letter to the media and demand that major networks increase their coverage of the Iraq war.

The economy and the presidential campaigns are both important stories, but news of the ongoing wars shouldn't fall by the wayside. The media must demonstrate that they can walk and chew gum at the same time. Over 80% of Americans are aware that Oprah Winfrey endorsed Senator Barack Obama for president, while just 28% know how many troops have died in Iraq- even though we are rapidly approaching 4,000 casualties.

An unprecedented detachment between the American public and the men and women at war makes the media's coverage of the conflicts more vital than ever. Just because the coverage has waned doesn't mean our troops aren't facing daily dangers or major issues once they return home.

Men and women continue to serve in Iraq, though you might not realize that just from watching the news. Please sign this open letter and honor the sacrifice of those who have served in the past five years by making sure they remain in the public eye.Please sign this open letter and honor the sacrifice of those who have served in the past five years by making sure they remain in the public eye.
Thank you for your continued support.

Sincerely,

Paul Rieckhoff
Iraq Veteran
Executive Director
Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America


As an aside, the American public can easily track the depressing statistics of the Iraqi civilian dead at IRAQ BODY COUNT. As of this evening, the five year anniversary total is estimated between 82,249 and 89,760.

Happy Anniversary President Bush!

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Paying the Ultimate Price

Tommorow we celebrate Memorial Day. This is a day to remember those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice to defend the American way of life. Giving one's life for one's country is what comes to mind when one speaks of the ultimate sacrifice.

However, Tammara recently posted something at TeamBio.org that caused me to question whether this is truly the ultimate sacrifice. Every day, Military families are stressed and strained by the ceaseless grind of war. The story that follows is a heartbreaking example of how one young soldier gives the ultimate sacrfice new meaning.

"Support for Our Troops- One at a Time
by tammara @ 6:48 pm

this is from the ED of Vets for Peace, and concerns his son shaun. micahel asks for letters of support for his son, and i certainly will send him one. i hope some of you can do same. it is heartbreaking to lose a child, and losing one you hardly knew due to being deployed to iraq when he was born, not being there when the baby was diagnosed with an illness that meant a death sentence, and only being able to spend 5 months with that baby before he died is enough for anyone to have on his plate. having to face a second deployment is too much.

please take a minute out of your busy day to write a quick note to this young man, to let him know that he is not forgotten, that indeed, we do support our troops.

Hello Everyone,

I wanted to update people on the status of my son SPC Shaun Manuel. For those who know nothing about him I will go through a quick explanation. My son joined the Army in late December 2003. His Military Occupation Specialty is supply 92A (Automated Logistical Specialist). He served a tour in Iraq with the 101st Airborne, September 2005 to September 2006. He participated in convoys to transport supplies. He also participated in sweeps. All in all Shaun returned from his Iraq experience intact but facing a few emotional challenges. I am not an expert, but I think he has a slight case of PTSD, anger management. Events concerning his second son Jeremiah exacerbate these challenges.

Jeremiah was born June 2006 while Shaun was still in Iraq. In November Jeremiah was diagnosed with Muscular Spinal Atrophy, a genetic disease. He died January 3, 2007. Since that time my son’s motivation has suffered. It appears his command has not been very supportive. His brigade is scheduled return to Iraq in July. Shaun does not think his head is in the right place to do another tour. I think he told his command sometime last month that he wanted to get out of the military. I am not clear on all the details, but I do know he missed a number of work days and formations. When he returned he was arrested for being AWOL. He has been in jail since April 27.

We hope to have him out soon. He is set to face a summary court martial where he can receive 30 days jail time, hopefully time served. He will probably be chaptered out with a less than honorable discharge. His unit is currently in the field training for the deployment and will not be back to Fort Campbell until the 17th. I have visited him in jail. He seems in fair spirits considering his situation. Of course this has put tremendous stress on his wife Lanisha. She seems to be holding up well with his oldest son Justin acting his age of two. I admire Lanisha’s strength to handle this crisis.

If possible please write my son a few words of encouragement. I think a number of letters will help sustain him through this ordeal. It would also subtly inform the jail and his command that there are people aware of this situation and watching. Fort Campbell does not have a jail so he is the Christian County, Hopkinsville, KY jail.

SPC Shaun Manuel
C/O Christian County Jail
410 West 7th Street
Hopkinsville, KY 42240

Lanisha Manuel
952 Norman Drive
Clarksville, TN

I would like to thank several people for helping with legal support, Marti and Luke Hiken of Military Law Task Force, Elizabeth Stinson of the Peace and Justice Center of Sonoma County CA, and David Gespass in Birmingham AL.

Thank you everyone for all your support and I will keep you informed as things change. Please circulate as you think best.

Michael T. McPhearson
Veterans For Peace
Executive Director
314 725-6005

peace: One step at a time."

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