I just returned with several others from this area to the largest Peace March to take place in this Country in over thirty years.   Over 300,000 people marched around our Capital to demand an end to the war in Iraq and to bring all of the troops home now.  Peace marches were held simultaneously in several other major US cities like Los Angeles, Seattle and Phoenix, and world wide, like the march in London that had at least 100,000 demonstrators.

People came from almost every State of our Nation, including a large group of evacuees from New Orleans.  All ages, from WWII vets, like the two 82 year old men riding on our bus, to the babies in strollers were represented.  Every religious group, Protestant Christians, Catholics, Jews, Muslims, Buddhist, Unitarian Universalists, had contingencies in the march. People from every walk of life, professionals to blue collar workers, homemakers, students, retirees, unemployed and laid off, those on welfare and millionaires, joined together to march for Peace.

As I write this, 1,931 US soldiers have been killed in this occupation, while an additional 14,755 US seriously wounded.  The number of Iraqi civilians who have died is estimated at 29,000 not counting those killed by as a result of the sanctions.  When those are added the number rises to over 100,000.   The financial burden of this war is having a devastating effect on our economy.  More than $197,871,382 dollars have been spent on this war so far, with the cost rising every second.  The cost to Chautauqua County has been in excess of $57,544. 

The reasons why we went to war in Iraq are not logical.  Weapons of mass destruction was given as the primary reason.  No such weapons were ever found, and in fact the UN inspectors, prior to our invasion, stated that Iraq did not have such weapons.  Iraq has no nuclear weapons and experts state that even under the best of circumstances they were years away from development.  The justification to combat terrorism equally has its flaws.  First and foremost, Iraq had nothing to do with 9/11.  Not one of the hijackers was from Iraq.  Secondly, the militant Islamic groups, such as those associated with Al Quida, are most concerned with overturning governments that do not agree with their fundamentalist beliefs.  This includes Iraq even under Saddam.  Third, the argument to promote democracy is far from believable.  There are many other countries in the world that do not have a democratic government.  We have not invaded their countries for the sole reason to establish a democracy.   Rather, many of these countries have good relations with the US regardless of their undemocratic governments. 

For these and many other reasons, I will march for peace.  I will march on the streets of our Capital and into the offices of our Congress people.  We must end this senseless war.  We must bring the troops home now. It is time for all of our resources to be spent on our own people.  It is time for Peace.

Judi Lutz Woods"