Mourn the lives and money lost in Iraq

As we enter the ninth year of our war with Iraq, it is a time of mourning for all Americans. First let us mourn the 4,439 U.S. soldiers killed in Iraq and the thousands more wounded, the suicides and traumatized.

Next, let us mourn the hundreds of thousands of Iraqis killed and the tens of thousands wounded and the homes and hospitals, factories, roads and bridges destroyed in Iraq. All this in a war based on a threat that did not exist.

Finally let us mourn our waste of dollars for this war. Let us reflect on how else we could have used this money: For our young people who graduate from college and cannot find jobs that use their education. For middle-aged people who find themselves out of work after many years of faithful employment. For children whose class size is increased. For children with both parents working but inadequate child care. For working families without enough to eat after they have paid the rent.

Lastly, let us weep for our country, whose roads and railways and bridges and water systems are falling apart.

Eleanor Krebs

Farmingdale