This weekend, there will be rallies against the Iraq War around the country. Over at MyLeftNutmeg, CTBlogger has a great flashback from last year’s rally.

For those who want to put things into perspective about some of the real costs of the war to individuals around the country, please check out the case of Suzanne Swift, who is

facing a redeployment to Iraq while serving under the command of the same individuals that allowed her to be raped and sexually harassed, suffered a breakdown due to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, and went absent without leave rather than subject herself to the horrors she experienced during her first tour of duty

(Hat Tip to Michael V. Brown for pointing me to this site.)

When you start talking about PTSD of returning soldiers, I want to point out Ilona Meagher’s book Moving A Nation to Care: Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and America's Returning Troops. I’ve met Ilona at a couple conferences. She is a great writer and I’ve managed to get a review copy of her book. I highly recommend it to anyone concerned with the fate of our servicemen and women.

She mentioned that her publisher has sent out press release about the book on Thursday. You can get more information there.

So, please, get out to a rally, but don’t stop there. Contact your elected officials to bring the troops home now to the heroes welcome they deserve, and make sure that they are given the support they need upon their return.