Casualties In Iraq War

The American casualties in Iraq war show that currently 4085 (as of August 10, 2008) troops and civilians have been killed, and more are killed everyday. Other casualties in Iraq war include the dissolving of families here in the United States of America. Separation of spouses is hard on marriages. Spouses at home and at war get lonely and can cheat on their absent mates. Others fall out of love and leave their marriage commitments behind to "get on with their lives" by finding someone who is near. There are just too many temptations when married couples are apart.

Children are also casualties in Iraq war. When the TV news bombards us each day with news of the war, killings, bombings, and war crimes, children get scared and very anxious. Many develop bad behavior or have nightmares. They panic and wonder if Daddy or Mommy will ever come home.

The absence of Daddy or Mommy builds deep insecurity in children, no matter what their age is. Children decide to hate the bad guys and worry about their missing parent. They have daydreams about getting the bad guys themselves. My then-three year old son used to pretend to kill Saddam all the time back in 1991 when his daddy was in the war.

Five years ago, my then pre-teens acted out their fears in different ways. It was and still is no fun for them or for their mom who tries her best to keep them feeling safe and secure.

I realize that sometimes war is inevitable and that the military personnel have no choice but to go where they are ordered. I also realize that sometimes civilians who lose jobs either have to take a decent paying job overseas or lose their home (been there, done that.) But, doing this long term is terrible for the family and not worth the money in the long run.

Keeping families separated is wrong for more than just a few months. No ifs, ands, or buts about it. It is wrong. I speak as someone who has experienced this for more than five years at three different times in 17 years. It does affect marriage relationships and child-parent relationships and it is not what God intends for a family.

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