Andy

There are lots of ways you can help.

Operation Iraqi Children was founded by author Laura Hillenbrand (who also has CFS BTW) and actor Gary Sinise and they organize sending school supplies among other things to the children of Iraq. They even partnered with FedEx so that Americans need only send their packages to Kansas instead of all the way to Iraq (so shipping doesn't exceed the cost of the supplies). They sent 52 shipments from 2004-2005.

Generally, I think Hollywood actors are full of themselves and should venture into politics at the risk of their own careers. They like to shoot off so they garner as much media attention as possible. Mr. Sinise actually got off his bum and did something to help people, and I think that gives him more credibility than Michael Moore, Martin Sheen, or any Dixie Chick. Of course, Wonkette felt obligated to make snarky remarks overlooking any and all work he has done on behalf of OIC.

If you prefer to write a soldier, there is OperationDearAbby.net.

If you are into donating to help the soldiers who came home wounded, Project Valour IT raises money for voice-activated laptops for severely wounded soldiers, and soldier's angels has lots of projects to help those deployed.

I'm gonna check out the school supply thing right away. As soon as I have a design website up I'm going to try to contact the powers that be and see how I could make it known that my cards are for sale at cost to anybody who wants to send letters to Iraq.

Unfortunately, any donation I make has to be meager because I have only a $600 check coming in once a month, and that gets invested automatically despite my objections about holding a couple checks a year out for charitable donations. I should probably try again on that front.