More than 5,000 U.S. Military killed in Iraq and Afghanistan Wars

Anti-war  groups have been pushing hard for weeks now -- first against the war-funding Supplemental bill and now in support of Rep. Jim McGovern's bill calling for an 'exit plan' from Afghanistan. 

Today I received this request from United For Peace and Justice:

Dear UFPJ Supporter,

In the next 24 hours, Congress is set to authorize $550 billion in FY 2010 defense spending -- and with it, an additional $130 billion for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

This, on top of the $75 billion Congress approved for continuing the wars and occupations last week. Not to mention the fact that 6 million jobs have been lost and our communities continue to face stiffening budget cuts. To put it plainly, our nation's priorities are out of whack.

The sole bright spot in this is the McGovern amendment. House Representatives Jim McGovern (MA), Walter Jones (NC), andChellie Pingree (ME) have introduced an amendment to the 2010 military authorization bill, requiring the Pentagon to provide an 'exit strategy' to Congress by the end of this year.

That's why we need you to call your Representatives TODAY and TOMORROW and urge them to vote for the McGovern amendment. 20

Supporting the McGovern amendment and forcing the Defense Secretary to submit an 'exit strategy' will allow us to insert our voices into the debate and push for a complete and immediate withdrawal from Afghanistan. Before we can do that with success, though, we need to ensure that the debate happens at all - and this amendment is a step towards doing that.

So make sure to call your Member of Congress and urge them to support the McGovern amendment. Call the Congressional Switchboard at 202-224-3121. Tell them we need to end the wars and occupations and redirect spending to our urgent domestic needs!

Thanks,

United For Peace and Justice

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American Military Casualties in Iraq                 

Since war began (3/19/03):         4316         

Since Capture of Saddam (12/13/03):         3856         

Since Obama Inauguration (1/20/09):         88         

American Wounded         Official  count 31,354       

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U.S. Wounded - Daily DoD Casualty Release

320,000 Vets Have Brain Injuries

Other Coalition Troops - Iraq        318

US Military Deaths - Afghanistan    711     

Other Military Deaths - Afghanistan        482

Journalists - Iraq     138    

Contractor Employee Deaths - Iraq   1,306

    More than one million Iraqi's have been killed in the Iraq War

Sources: DoD, MNF, and iCasualties.org

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Support the troops serving in the Iraq/Afghanistan Wars

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