A different approach to the war in Iraq. This is a multi-part series to this article. Perhaps these types of stories & ie in Iraq would help the situation there, even if a lil & it touches the very poor of Sadr City. I believe that part of "winning" the overall "war on terror" is showing that the West, particularly the US, cares about the average Iraqi or Muslim for that matter. We need to, imho, put a human face to this battle--and not simply guns, bombs, force, etc. From what I've read in other articles is that many people admire fanatical terrorist movements & their leaders cuz they financially contribute to helping the problems of the average/poor person. So they don't see them as "bad" people. Therefore, I think that at this point the main key would be to win the hearts over of the people. I may be wrong, but that seems to be the problem w/ this war. Pure force will surely make us look like "bad guys."

Loved this quote from the article:

British charity Oxfam has just released a new study on the humanitarian situation in Iraq.

According to the study, 28 percent of Iraqi children are malnourished, 15 percent of Iraqis (that's four million people) regularly cannot afford enough to eat and 70 percent lack clean drinking water, all sharp increases since 2003.

The terrible violence in Iraq has masked the ongoing humanitarian crisis. Malnutrition amongst children has dramatically increased and basic services, ruined by years of war and sanctions, cannot meet the needs of the Iraqi people. Alarmingly, 92% of Iraqi children suffer learning problems, mostly due to the climate of fear.

Oxfam itself was forced to pull out of Iraq in 2003 because the security situation did not allow it to remain in the country. Local charities are continuing the work but they are severely underfunded. Moreover they don't dare to receive any aid from countries involved in the war because it would jeopardize their own security and independence.

IMHO, this is a high price to pay for a democracy the Iraqis never received.

See the Oxfam press release here.

During my recent visit to Asia I was approached by several Buddhist and Bon monks concerning the war in Iraq. They were so distressed at the suffering of the Iraqi people. The human toll in Iraq is shocking to all humane citizens of the world. Only the coldest heart would not be moved by the plight of the Iraqi refugees. This war is immoral and EVIL. Shame on Bush and on the USA.