war is a major global threat to human health, not only in the immediat
e effects of death and injury to the people, but also in the damage to
infrastructures such as food, water, and power supplies and to social
structures that support families, economies, and governments. Iraq's
devastating aftershocks from the Gulf war include the physical and psy
chologic effects of displacement, poverty, famine, disease, and enviro
nmental destruction. Early nursing leaders vocally opposed World War I
, and contemporary nurses should consider becoming activists in the pr
imary and secondary prevention of this major global health problem.