CODEPINK protester Desiree Farooz confronts Condalezza Rice
We went from “Mission Accomplish” to “Mission Unknown” while losing focus on the men and women who are dying and becoming injured for a war based on lies. All of this becomes lost behind the rhetoric of politics, but for CODEPINK the war isn’t an issue lost in the headlines.

CODEPINK is a women-initiated, grassroots, peace and social justice movement working to end the war in Iraq. CODEPINK women and men seek to activate, amplify and inspire a community of peacemakers through creative campaigns and a commitment to non-violence.

The movement was launched as a women’s pre-emptive strike for peace when Medea Benjamin, Starhawk, Jodie Evans, Diane Wilson and approximately 100 other women marched through the streets of Washington, D.C. on November 17, 2002 and set up for a four-month vigil in front of the White House.

Today, there are over 250 local CODEPINK groups performing vigils throughout the United States. Each group acts autonomously, and chooses significant campaigns and actions within their own communities, while using suggestions, action ideas and receiving support from the national team.

During my war fatigue stage, CODEPINK Protester Desiree Farooz, who is on the national team, confronted Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice while she prepared to testify before the House Foreign Affairs Committee. Farooz had painted her hands red to symbolize CODEPINK's claim that members of President Bush's cabinet have blood on their hands because of the way the war in Iraq has been handled.

When I saw the photo, I thought Farooz had gone too far. It was my belief that the war wasn’t going to end by protesting. Protesting only seems to make the administration’s war ambition stronger – like Popeye eating spinach. As depicted in the cartoon, Popeye the Sailor Man, when Popeye was in trouble he would eat spinach and take his enemies down.

My thought was; stop giving the Bush administration spinach and conserve our energy to concentrate on the future by electing politicians who will end the war – but all that changed.

A couple of weeks ago, I met Phil Donahue, who is a legendary commentator, and watched his new documentary, “Body of War”, that he produced. After watching the film, which focuses on the physical, emotional and political struggles of Tomas Young, I understood CODEPINK’s mission and their fervor.

Prior to the war, Young was an idealistic 26 year-old native of Kansas City, Missouri, who joined the Army a few days after September 11. In the film, Young states that when he saw President George Bush on the pile of dirt in the middle of “Ground Zero” declaring that America would get those responsible, he felt obligated to answer the call to avenge America. After his training, he expected to fight in Afghanistan but was sent to Iraq instead. Already disillusioned, he followed directions like a good solider.

Today, Young is paralyzed from the nipples down. His service was honorable but the war isn’t; and yet it continues.

Why? We may never know the answer, but it’s time to bring to the war, the casualties and the injuries to an end - NOW.

CODEPINK is one of many groups (shout-out to Moveon.org), who are fighting to end the war like good Americans because it’s just that serious. Please forgive me for not understanding “the fierce urgency of now,” to quote Dr. Martin Luther King.

That’s what I think. Tell me what’s on your mind by e-mailing me at beheard@everythingispolitical.com.