I first met Cole Miller on a very cold January day in Washington, DC. about 2 months before the invasion of Iraq began in 2003.  I was at a protest, trying to prevent the war from happening, and afterwards I went into a coffee shop to warm up.  As I looked around I suddenly saw this man holding a poster with the picture of a young Iraqi girl I recognized.  I said to him, I know the man who took that photo, Alan Pogue.  And so Cole Miller and I began talking.  That began a collaboration and friendship which has continued to this day.

I am pleased to say that Seattle area residents have been good in finding ways to express a natural, healthy compassion for the Iraqi people — first during the terrible period of the economic sanctions — and now during the even more terrible period of invasion and occupation.  But it has required educating folks about the reality of U.S. policies. (more…)