Long Island veteran urges Congress to end Iraq war

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http://www.newsday.com/news/local/ny-ligold0518,0,1954390.story?track=rss

Kristofer Goldsmith feels so strongly that the war in Iraq must end that the former Army sergeant from Bellmore went to Washington last week to urge members of Congress to act.

Goldsmith, who told Congress he and other soldiers were pressured to continue serving despite psychological stress disorders, is among area peace activists who say the five-year conflict is harming America, and they are urging their fellow Long Islanders to do more to end it.

"There was a very high rate of divorce in my company and more alcoholism than I have ever seen in my life," said Goldsmith, 22. "A lot of them had stresses with their children when they got back home."

The Long Island Alliance for Peaceful Alternatives, a consortium of church groups and community activists, has urged members to contact their elected officials over the harm they say the war is doing to America's image abroad and to taxpayers at home.

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"For the good of the souls of the American military, and the millions of Iraqi civilians who also suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder, this fight must come to an end," Goldsmith said.