Iraqi casualties are believed to be in the millions. This includes unarmed civilians, women and children. The Peace Movement is not over; It has just been silenced by the mainstream media. Until very recently, the average person believed the American military death toll stopped at 3,000. No. That's only when they stopped reporting it. They've never reported the Iraqi casualties, and the violence that America brought to their once relatively peaceful communities. It's time America heard the godawful truth about what happens on a day-to-day basis in Iraq. How Iraqis are gunned down indiscriminately in the street by mercenary companies (such as Blackwater), as well as confused and fearsome, but otherwise honorable, American soldiers

George Bush recently referred to the war in Afghanistan as "romantic." There is nothing romantic about this war - or any war for that matter. The soldiers will tell you that themselves - at least those with the wherewithal to speak about it....

From March 14th to 16th 2008, Pacifica Radio provided coverage of the historic Winter Soldier 2008 gathering at the National Labor College in Silver Spring, MD. During the three day live broadcast, panels discussed the killing and injury of unarmed combatants and innocent civilians, the destruction of property, infrastructure and natural resources of Iraq and Afghanistan; the neglect and abuse of veterans with regard to their mental and physical health; coporate pillaging and military contractors; policies of gender, sexuality, and racial discrimination within the military; the torture, abuse, mishandling and mutilation of the dead, and other derogatory treatment of Iraqi and Afghan civilians; the weakening of the U.S. military due to the lack of training and equipment for the troops, overuse of military personnel and the record number of officer resignations, plus more.

Here are just a few highlights:

Jeremy Scahill covers the origins of the fastest growing private army on the planet, and its founder, Erik Prince - an extreme right-wing fundamentalist Christian mega-millionaire ex- Navy Seal. He details Blackwater's costs and conduct in Iraq, and how their lawlwssness makes fighting insurgency more difficult for the American military. Available at Amazon.com

Jeremy Scahill (author of Blackwater: The Rise of the World's Most Powerful Mercenary Army) shared astonishing numbers on Iraq war personnel: up to 160,000 troops currently deployed; 182,000 private contractors hailing from 100 diffferent countries, working for 630 corporations on the U.S. Government's payroll, and; 170 ruthless mercenary firms, with Blackwater being just one of them - the most prestigious, but not even the largest, or the most profitable. (Imagine that when the government spends nearly $.5M per man/per year* on Blackwater alone.) He describes the war as not only an assault against Iraq and a looting of their natural resources, but a looting of the U.S. treasury as well, and an undermining of U.S. democratic processes. Scahill also pointed out that neither Hillary Clinton's or Barack Obama's plans really call for an end to the occupation - each of them will leave anywhere from 120,000-150,000 U.S. personnel in Iraq - and that we have but a tiny wrinkle in time to ask that our candidates support an immediate, unconditional withdrawal from Iraq, as well as reparations for the Iraqi people. Yes, reparations; that word America despises.

Antonia Juhasz (Author of The Bush Agenda: Invading The World One Economy at a Time) drives home the point that the U.S Invasion of Iraq was an illegal act of war; unsupported by the international community, U.S. law, the U.S. Military Code of Conduct, and basic morality. And, soldiers like Jason Hurd, Adam Kokesh, Jesse Hamilton, and Kelly Dougherty shared brave and emotional testimonies. They recanted horrible atrocities; crimes against the Iraqi people and against military personnel, conflicts between conscience and duty to service, faulty or non-existent veteran care, as well as post-traumatic stress disorder and war-related suicides.**

The event was co-hosted by Aaron Glantz and former Army medic and KPFA Morning Show host, Aimee Allison.

Visit warcomeshome.org to listen to Winter Soldier 2008 and learn more about this event and IVAW efforts to end the war.

*the number of blackwater agents in iraq is unknown. estimates range from 6000 to 30,000 men, with the latter being more believable. at $half mil per year, you do the math!!!