WHY HAVEN'T I HEARD OF THIS BEFORE?

From Jack Bog, this New York Times Op-Ed about the life and work of Marla Ruzicka, the founder of  the Campaign for Innocent Victims in Conflict (you can make donations at the site).

Her goal was twofold: First, to secure compensation for the relatives of innocent victims who were killed, and for the many thousands of noncombatants who have been wounded or displaced. And, second, to get the U.S. government to establish an office or agency, perhaps within the State Department, to collect data and report on the civilian casualties of war.

For an individual with so few obvious resources - she established a tiny organization called the Campaign for Innocent Victims in Conflict (Civic) and had very little money - Ms. Ruzicka's reach was tremendous. She worked tirelessly over the past three years with the office of Senator Patrick Leahy, a Vermont Democrat, to get millions of dollars in compensation for civilian victims in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Would I have heard of Marla or her cause even now had she not died?  I would much rather see pictures of her in the news than Britney Spears.

And it's horrible to think that our government does not yet keep track of information about civilian war dead.  As a pro-lifer, I demand to know how many people are being killed on my dime.