The War in Iraq

Courtesy of Christian Peacemaker Teams

WORKING IN HARM’S WAY Christian Peacemaker Teams sends people into war zones to promote nonviolent solutions to crises. In Iraq, for example, it helps women like this make appeals for the release of husbands who have been captured by hostile forces. The group now faces its own challenge: Four of its volunteers have been kidnapped.

AT THE THIRD ANNIVERSARY of the Iraq invasion, the unceasing violence has left many humanitarian groups ever more concerned about working there.

AS A MIDLIFE CAREER MOVE, this one was a little different: Bruce Parmelee went from selling motorcycles in upstate New York to running community rebuilding projects in Iraq.

ADVOCACY GROUPS both for and against the war plan to mark the anniversary with publicity campaigns, fund-raising efforts, and protests.

FOR CIVIL-LIBERTIES GROUPS, the U.S. government’s campaign against terrorism has meant more work, but also more supporters and more donations.

DOZENS of humanitarian workers have been killed since the war in Iraq began three years ago.

IRAQ PRESENTS A SPECIAL CHALLENGE for a Washington charity that provides employment and other services to women in war zones.

NOT ALWAYS PREPARED to temporarily lose the reservists on their staffs, many charities have nonetheless made an extra effort to hold open jobs and maintain pay for employees deployed to Iraq.

ALMOST 5,600 U.S. CHARITIES, 2 percent of the total, work overseas or have an international focus, according to a report from the Urban Institute.