The BIG PICTURE is that we need to get Israel's interests the hell out of Washington! And I think you know who I mean.

I can't help but wonder the "WHYS" when I read these types of stories. Occupation always brings about discontent and that leads to the types of violence we are seeing everyday. I honestly believe that if Iraq was to use there new found democracy to demand the USA exit ASAP that we the leaders of Democracy would not comply. It is not hard to imagine the day to day conflicts in a country that already had plenty of violence escalates as a result of our continued presence as though it was justified. Seventy percent of Iraqi's have indicated that they would like the US occupation to leave. At the very least you would think that a new stardegy of pulling back to the outskirts of town to simply contain the intrusions from Iran, Syria and others and allow the Iraqi's to fight this out or finally come to some resolution about their continued existence. They do not need us to fuel the already volitle fire within that country. As for the argument of winning a non-existant war from the Politicains if we pull out. This is not a war put a police action. One more lost Soldier, body part or fractured mind will not solve this crisis. Only Iraqi's with Iraqi's fighting until they are exhausted and willing to compromise and rebuild their nation on their own with monetary help from our mistakes will they ever see a peaceful sunrise or sunset ever again.

Iam so sorry.As Iragis was the scene of blood and killings there befor our troops came to Irag? It does numb one to a curtain extent,but then you feel things like you want to cry,you want to hate,you want to love, its sadness, its fear,its hard to seperate the gunman from the good people in Irag. I wish i could learn and understand so i could be me again.Iam sorry.

Please make no mistake that any loss of life is tragic. Call it civial war, but it is the Islamic crusades. There are the Sunni insurgents coming in from Jordon and Egypt that are creating havic and the Iraqi people. Make no mistake they are there to serve there own agenda and not what is best for the Iraqi people. The Shia are paying the Sunni's back for years of oppression under Sadam's rain. The Sunni's decided not to participate in the government and the Kurds have a working government structure in the north. Make no mistake that if the US was not there, there would genicide. The Shia would wipe out the Sunni's and the Kurds would be the next target. I have seen what they are doing to each other. They are indiscriminate of who they kill, to include women and children. It is bad there, but if we weren't there it would be worse. Lets face the fact that the UN is just for show. They would only call on the US to anyway, so for now we are the only thing stopping the genicide in Iraq for now.

I'm sorry

I grieve with you for your loss, and the mess America create in Iraq. And, fear the carnage and violence will continue in Iraq, with or without American troops there. I just hope we, as Americans will learn from this fiasco, freedom and democracy is something desired by the masses, not another country.

"What are Americans apologizing for?" Sandy, How about for destroying their country and killing a lot of Iraqis who has done nothing to us? "Iraq needs to take control of their own country, we are attempting to train them to do so." Iraq was under control and the Iraqis were safer and happier than now. they did not need us to train them. "Or perhaps the apologetics are desiring this war to continue in our own country? Support our country, our soldiers, or leave." hahahahaha this is so funny, we do support out troops Sandy, and you should do the same and demand they be brought home to their loved ones alive and not dead. all they are doing now is defending the interests of GWB and Dick Cheney. Do you know that the original name of the war was Operation Iraqi Liberation! which translate into OIL? So, if we disagree with your philosophy then we should leave! what logic is that? This is the United States of America and not the Untied States of Sandy or the United States of the Bushes?

It's all about the flow of oil. 2.2 million barrels of oil flow per day out of Iraq and into American oil tankers.

Keep the politicians out of the war. Let the military run it or get the hell out. The same American public that voted to go to war does not have the stomach to do the killing that needs to be done to finish this mess. That puts soldiers lives at risk. We have some dilusional people in this country that think that they can fight a clean war.

Emad makes a great point...you're either for me or against me and if you're against me, you must be a terrorist. In the eyes of the Iraqis, George Bush is probably considered a terrorist dictator who has invaded their country, unprovoked. Time for regime change. Anyone ever consider how many WMD are in the U.S.? You know, "peacekeeper" missiles. Thank God that's not a criteria for someone wanting to invade our country by force. And for those of you who want those of us who "don't know what we're talking about" not to speak, go read the First Amendment to the Consitution.

I am sorry for your loss and all the idiots on here posting as well.. peace ~*~

News flash... Americans are not the bad guys. Americans are fighting the bad guys. Sorry for your loss. I hope the men who killed your friend pay in kind.

TEXAS...... Only the stupid sent in such irresponsible REMARKS! Only TEXAS would put a man in the WHITE HOUSE with the IQ of an roach & expect GREAT things!~ ON THE JOB TRAINING ISN'T A GOOD THING FOR "PRESIDENT" folks...... ALL this for WHAT! For GEORGE OF COURSE.... Y isn't his two daughters on the FRONT LINE? That would change the COURSE for him! Morris Carlisle

I don't grieve. I grieve for the 3000+ US Citizens who have died trying to clean up someone else's fetid mess. I grieve for our people who have died actually trying to make the world a better place. Pick up a rifle and take back your own country instead of a pen. Only when you and millions of other Iraqis do that will you truly have your own country. Until then, you are our welfare project. There was death and violence before we showed up. There is death and violence now. Every time we try to build something and restore utilities, services, etc, these people blow them up again. They don't want to improve. They just want to kill each other and they HATE us. They want our welfare, they need our welfare. I agree with an earlier post - open season. Or we plain outright pull out and let the stupid Iraqi people deal with it. How about we let the muslim world clean up it's fetid sores? Not possible in our lifetime. How about we go in and cut out that cancer for them? I'm all for the latter. And of course innocent people will die, it's the nature of warfare. But better them than my innocent children on a domestic flight next year.

We should never have invaded Iraq - everyone finally sees that - therefore we must get out ASAP - Iraqi's must resolve their own differences without our interference

Rick, I was born/lived in Iraq and i know iraqis more than you do. Please make sense of what you are writing. "Call it civial war, but it is the Islamic crusades." i thought GWB who invoked the word crusade first. You have repeated the MAKE NO MISTAKE few times in your post, it is time for me to tell you make no mistake, if we were not there Iraq would be a lot safer than now and there would be no genocide. "I have seen what they are doing to each other. They are indiscriminate of who they kill, to include women and children." Have you lived in Iraq or the green zone? as the Holy Bible teaches you to find the truth (Seek ye the truth and the truth shall set you free) I ask you to open your eyes and find the truth. this administration have lied us into this conflicts with no regards for human life, as GWB stated one time on his briefings that "we will do any thing to achieve our objectives" Americans are expandable to this administration in my opinion.

As a father in law of an officer in iraq, I must say it saddens me to see what happens in Iraq daily. But its not really about oil, its about trying to help a group of people who cannot help themselfs. But I ask do the people Iraq really want to be saved? You can blame the Sunnis or the Shi'ites for all the murder that takes place in Iraq. Don't blame the US or Israel for the horrors that take place each day in Iraq. All people have a right to live free and not be murdered for their beliefs. No mattter how you believe, God does not approve of murdering thy neighbor. The Israel people did not start this war. Yes Bush lied about why we went to war, and his phony war record for Vietnam is a shame. Its about power, power to corrupt be it here in America, Iraq, Iran. Korea, its about POWER. The people in Iraq are out to gain power, Saddam is gone but someone wants his power and will kill to acheive it. So it hasn't changed. 3500 American lives and untold American victums is all in vain. Lets leave now before another good American life is lost on a peopel who can't help themselfs. I'm sorry if this sounds harsh, but until they want us there, we serve no purpose. Its sad that incocent lifes but be lost. The children of Iraq did not ask to be mureder by their own kind. Good bye and farewll Vietnam-opps Iraq

After 9/11, I visited ground zero, where the twin towers were. I went there with a group of people from church. It was like approaching a giant cememetery. All my life, I was taught in church to love my enemy, and to forgive. However, after 9/11, I completely supported the war against terrorism. I was even on the phone with a recruitment officer, almost ready to join the war. My dad stopped me. Now, some years later, I think about it. Somebody needs to stop the terrorists. However, for every terrorist we capture, it seems 2 or 3 more are putting a bomb in a school or another public place. I am beginning to wonder if this war will ever end. Each year we lose more and more soldiers. And more and more families are being separated here in America. How many years has it been and we haven't found Bin Laden? Maybe the terrorists want us to chase them around the world, while we are losing more and more soldiers each year. How many more years will we sacrifice the brave lives of our soldiers? How many more years will we chase the terrorists around the world, because we are afraid they might enter the U.S. one day? How many more women and children will cry at night, because their husband and daddy won't be coming home for christmas? The terrorists need to be stopped. However it has been many years, with more and more bombs each year. God give our leaders wisdom to take the right decisions.

Some on this blog, thank God not the majority, believe that America owns the world, that can intervene, impose democracy, etc. This is why our Media never questioned the morality and legality of this warm, just the efficacy of the policies. Shame on this country for the grief it's caused Iraq. The road to hell is paved with good intentions.

The apologists on this post who act as though it's the fault of America when Iraqi sectarian violence claims innocent victims make me sick...and they sound pathetic. The bad guys are the ones doing the killings in the name of Islam. Yes, the removal of Sadam's mudering regime fostered the conditions that led to a sectarian civil war. And yes, there have been casualties caused by the fight against the insurgents. Believe it or not, this is a war. If your neighbor chased a rabid dog off your property, would you attack him as being a bad guy because a rabid squirrel showed up (probably because the dog was gone)and bit your kids? If you do, I think you're completely crazy!! People like you aren't worth spit. I may not support this conflict, but I sure don't blame America for sectarian violence perpetrated against the Iraqi people by Muslim extremists.

I am sorry about you losing your cousin and friend. But another Arab took those lives. If the Iraqis really want us out than they would rise up and fight the insurgents themselves. Most of the insurgents are from other Middle Eastern countries. I get so tired of hearing about how great the Iraqis were, Mesopotamia. We expeirenced the same things in the Revolutionary War. But we rose up together and defeated the most powerful army in the world. Your telling me these Iraqis can't fix the problem. No wonder Saddam rose to power and stayed there. These people are too busy stabbing our boys in the back rather than fighting for their country.

What is the root cause of war ? War is simply the law of karma in action. As long as we maintain the concentration camps (slaughter houses) where millions of animals are butchered everyday we can expect the same in return. Why are we callous to the sufferings of the millions of animals that are brutually slaughtered everyday ? we are kind to our pets and eat a ham at McDonalds .. . If we inflict violence on other living entities, we will surely get violence in return. That's the law of karma. We can't escape God's laws !

I am sorry for your loss and for the loss to Omar's family. I am certain you love your country and the people in it just as I love my country and the people in it. Was is a terrible thing and causes pain and anger on both sides. If we can talk together to show our governments what we as citizens want that would be a good thing. No one wants innocent people - men, women, or children destroyed as animals are. No one wants memories of these things to haunt them. Soldiers on both sides are killing each other and leaving families and friends alone. I pray with all that is in me that this was will stop and people from both nations can see that it was a terrible thing and forgive each other because in war, there is no real winner.

EVery one of you who slandered and put down America because the poor man lost his friend, need to go with his friend, and get out of true Americans country who love and stand with our country and our military that are doing their best to help the people of Irag. They are dying for those people to try to help them achieve a peaceful and free country. As the saying goes Freedom is NOT Free. You can't understand that, then you and all that think like you should leave NOW. You and yours are NOT wanted here. q

9/11 was most likely done by mossad (israel) and allowed to happen by the CIA.

America should not be in their back yard. Period.

I can't belive we're letting in the enemy! We're so dumb! Make the Iraqi refugees stay there, dont let them come here. We have enough troubles with Mexicans coming over the borders, we don't need troubles with Iraqis!

IT'S ALL ABOUT THE OIL! WHY ELSE WOULD WE BE THERE?

wa wa wa , im sorry im sorry im sorry! quit crying babies. hug your kids tonight and thank God your American

Where the hell are all these refugees going to go? It's enough that there's problems here in the US with Americans jobless, hungry, homeless, etc...the irony in this is that these refugees will get better treatment than our own people. Shame on the American government for abandoning their own people...to help others!

OVER TWO MILLION BARRELS OF OIL PER DAY FLOW OUT OF IRAQ AND TOWARD AMERICA. AND YOU THINK WE'RE NOT THERE BECAUSE OF THE OIL?

The loss of life in Iraq is tragic.Certainly our intervention has contributed to that.On the other hand,it is difficult not to believe that sooner or later there would have been civil war between the Sunni and Shia once Saddam was out of the way or as IRANIAN influence grew.Lets not forget there were brutal slaughters under Saddam to any who opposed him or who he thought opposed him.The American intervention was a cynically calculated move but it only hastened what would have eventually happened in Iraq between Shia and Sunni.After all the hatred they have shown towards each other cannot be attributed to the americans. We need to be clear about something.THE real victim of Bush's folly is not iraq but the USA.How could our citizens have allowed all of the excesses and incompetence of this administration to go unchallenged.If we want true freedom we have an obligation to be vigilant of the actions of those who would disenfranchise us and violate our privacy.IT nauseates me to see all of the phony support our troops hypocrisy that politicians from both party utter with contemptible regularity.What they really mean is that as long as none of our children has to worry about being drafted to fight this war,then let Bush worry about it.We are too busy watching the stock market.If this war was so damned important to protecting us from terrorism then we would send over hundreds of thousands of troops;but the truth is if Bush attempted this he would fail miserably becuase nobody belives this or lay their life on the line for the biggest incompetent we have ever had as a president.

I am truly sorry for the loss. I am however not ashamed to be an American or ashamed of my government. I just returned from a long tour in Iraq and feel I must try to convey what I saw through my own eyes. We (the U.S. Gov't/ military) are not killing innocent Iraqis. We are not there to destroy the country but to rebuild and stabilize it. What America needs to know is we are not fighting normal Iraqi citizens, but a group of terrorists (syrians, iranians, militants, etc.)who have decided to make Iraq the battleground for their cause. The rebuild and democracization of Iraq was going well and so they had to change their tactic to stay in the news. Can anyone guess what that change was... start infighting amonst the different divisions to create turmoil. Their tactic is to try and keep this up so the American public opinion will sway and hopefully we will run tuck tailed home like Vietnam. The only difference is that if we pull out now they will come after us here and the bombing and unrest will be main street USA instead of some far off street in East Baghdad. ALL of the the Iraqis I had the good fortune to come in contact with reassured us that we were welcome and they know that we are there to try and help.

I've read and re-read this story. It is the story of two good and decent human beings being murdered by faceless cowardly dogs, apparently for praying, perhaps in the "wrong" mosque, drinking Pepsi and serving faithfully the government they hoped to make better. (Unless you consider Omar to have been just a tool of the occupation.) Nowhere in the article do I find the slightest hint of animosity toward the U.S. on the part of the writer who, more than anyone responding here, deserves to lay blame. Yet, there is not a hint even though there is ample opportunity to do so. Instead, the only place I find animosity is from U.S. citizens directed at their own country. By blaming these acts on the U.S. and apologizing for them, you essentially excuse the sub-humans who carry out such acts. Our soldiers understand that they are targets. It's fair to direct your anger at those who have put them in that position. But have the intellectual honesty to refrain from apologizing for the actions of the dogs who caused this reporter so much pain, a reporter whose very life is in danger simply for working with NBC.

I support our troops of course because they are there and I guess believe in what they are doing over there, but why in the first place are we in a religious war that has been on going since the beginning of time? We don't belong there!!

Our world is complex and for one country to think it can bring understanding and an end to violence is absurd. We need to fold our tent and go home. Let us for once concentrate on the problems that have besieged us for years. Problems of universal health coverage, hunger, homelessness, and education. We will never solve the world's problems when we can't solve our own. We need to close our borders, heal this contry and begin again, only this time we do it with our eyes open and knowing what can happen when the corporate world and politicians run our daily lives. Ours was to be a government for the people and by the people, what the hell happened and when will we make it so again?

There is no excuse for what happened to your friend and close cousin. I am so very sorry for you and for your friend's family. There has to be peace soon because it must not go on like this forever. These people do not deserve this hurt. Peace must be accomplished soon! Peace to all!

I'am so sorry for your loss, however if the US were to leave, there would be thousands of these stories in the first day.The "terrorists" are totally protected by the Iraqis since they hate the US even more. I cannot understand it all. The original concept which some call "the lie", was to free the Iraqis and they would love us for it. NOT SO!

Daily, I am saddened that my country - a country which used to stand for good and right, has been overtaken by the stupid, the greedy, the fear-filled bullies. Intelligence and reason, REAL compassion overtaken by the self-serving, mean-spirited, unenlightened in places of power. This is not the America I grew up in. I am embarassed and ashamed my country has sunk to this level.

AP, Updated: 1 hour, 39 minutes ago WASHINGTON - The United States will soon begin admitting a bigger trickle of the more than 2 million refugees who have fled Iraq, acknowledging for the first time the country may never be safe for some who have helped the U.S. there.

They don't want us there. We don't belong there. They would be better off without us and if Sadam was still in power. To hell with them, most of them don't appreciate what we are doing. Not any of them are worth one American life. To hell with them, let them kill each other.

Saddam Was a ruthless dictator, I am glad to see him gone, but was his life worth the hundred thousands of Iraqies how died the hundreds of thousands that will die? I THINK NOT. The misery and the ugliness that Bush brought to Iraq is unforgivable, for me he is uglier than Saddam. If you need to make sure of how Iraqies feel, ask them do they prefer these mad times or Saddam ruthless rule, I would prefer to still have my brothers my friends my neighbors around me like all times under the rule of Saddam. \\\\you think that Bush brought freedom to me, I wish he can bring my father back, freedom taste too bitter. America occupation to Iraq brought death and carnage on scale we never seen before, I hope that Bush will suffer the way I SUFFERD.

It's amazing how some are still brainwashed by our government's ''canned slogans''(demoracy, freedom...), we played a great role in the mess Iraq has been suffering from since we invaded their country, our gov invaded Iraq under the famous historical lies, because of which the whole world except a few hate us or at best despise us, Saddam was a ruthless dictator but at least he had all and everything under control, we never heard of terrorists in Iraq before we invaded it, did we? there was no link between Saddam's regime and Alqaida, we found no weapons of mass destruction, we invaded Iraq for maybe 3 reasons:1- to settle accounts between the bush family and Saddam, since senior bush could not get rid of Saddam back in the 1st gulf war the son wanted to finish that job, 2- then to protect Israel from the mounting influence of Iraq in the region thanks to its strong economy and advanced scientific research, now we've reduced it to a pre-historic condition, 3-and lastly for the sake of preserving our dominion over Iraqi oil fields because Saddam was about to give oil contracts in 2003 to expanding rival China. Because of our invasion of a sovereign country and our oppression and humiliation of its ppl( abu ghraib, rape and cold killing of civilians like in Hadeetha and other places...) we turned Iraq into a magnet to foreign and local fighters who rose to defend their country, in the process some factions became embittered and started killing innocent civilians from other sects and everyone they think collaborates with us, including the puppet gov we put in place. I can not believe the price we paid in blood and money, billions of dollars that could've been spent to remedy the aches of our country and then some, not to mention the almost million Iraqi civilians that died primarily because of us, i don't put all the blame on us, the mess in Iraq is also caused by local lunatics, but we bear the 95% responsibility for the turmoil and tragedies whether on our side or theirs.

I'm so sorry for your loss. It's a shame more American's don't get to see the human impact of the actions taken on our behalf by our war mongering President and his cronies. Many have responded here by pointing out that your cousin and friend were killed by Muslim extremists. That is true enough, but I ask: What is the likelihood that these innocents would be dead today if we hadn't started this misbegotten war? Others have talked about the need to "fight the terrorists". I ask: are there more people in the world today than before the so-called "War on Terror", or less, who hate us and, driven by that hate, are willing to kill and be killed. Does anyone honestly believe we can make reduce that number by continuing this war?

For Emad in Mississippi: Hey Bro, if you don't like living here in the USA, then go back to Iraq. We already did your country a giant favor-Saddam is DEAD now, correct? But now since his death, the scum-terrorists have taken over where he and his sons left off before they were taken out. Its not the Americans guy, its your very own countrymen that are killing your very own countrymen. Basically a religious battle between two sects of muslims, which has been going on for thousands of years. The same crap in Bosnia, which I served at with the US Army. Your people in those countries need us and other NATO countries there to bring your people into the 21st century. If you are against our Government, our President, and our Servicemembers, then just leave and take your family back to Iraq. We're fighting to give those poor people freedoms that they've never had in their lifetime. Get a clue, WWII was much worse.

Those of us (Americans) who are old enough to remember Viet Nam can see the similarities. I suppose those who fought in Korea also have an opinion. It is always about being able to persuade people to die for a principle. You would think the PERSUASION would be easier in a less technologically advanced society as Iraq and the Middle East, but look how many Americans are willing to give their lives. Somehow, it seems that fundamentalism in religion has a big part to play here on all sides. Religion always seems to be persuasive.

Now on the subject of this article, it is truly sad that so many lives have been lost thus far and my sympathies go with you and all who've lost loved ones, American or Iraqi, due to this inane war. However, this article is a perfect example of one of the fundamental problems with Americans today. We read about one man, a man with a name, a family, a story, being murdered by lunatics and our hearts break. Where is the sympathy, the compassion, the outrage when hundreds or thousands die? It seems people only care about innocent deaths if they can be marketed. If they can't sell your life story than your death really is meaningless because no one but your own family will give a rats ass who youwere or what you did unless it'll make newspapers sell. Why does no one care when dozens are killed in a car bomb, when a hurricane or tsunami wipes out hundreds of lives and ruins thousands more? I am truly disgusted by Americans indifference to these terrible tragedies. I am ashamed of you, America. you've allowed the nation to be controlled by evil men whos only concern is to make money and I'll tell you, nothing makes money faster than the military-industrial complex. Now on another note, I couldn't even finish reading the comments posted here because I became nauseus from some of these responses. In particular, the rat bastards that continually say to support our troops, support the war or leave the country. Do any of you realize how fascist you sound? The United States was founded on the principals of freedom of speech, of freedom of choice. The soldiers in Iraq chose to be there, no one forced them to enlist and though I don't agree with this war, I respect their right to choose. How dare you refuse to reciprocate that very simplistic notion. To suggest that because one does not agree with the governments policies and actions that that makes them unpatriotic is ludicrous! In fact, it's quite the contrary. The founding fathers, considered terrorists by England, would most certainly disagree. A lack of trust in the government is what created this governmnet to begin with. Why do you think the 2nd amendments there? It's not for hunting or sport, the right to bear arms exists so that if the federal government get too powerful, which in my opinion it did a while ago, that the people can arm themselves, rise up, destroy the corrupted government and reform it so the government serves the people again, not the other way around. It is those of you who would dare to intimidate or threaten others for their beliefs on this war that deserve exile. People like that are no better than the religious zealots on the loose in Iraq. I don't support this war but I have bloodkin who do and I respect their right to do so. A couple more things that bug me, the "fight them there or fight them here" argument is inherently flawed. Think about it. Our MASSIVE borders are horribly undersecured and most of our military is spread out overseas. At this very moment, we have never been more vulnerable. Now if we pulled our troops out of Iraq, that would mean a good 140,000+ soldiers would be within our borders, ready to rise to a homeland crisis in no time. Now, explain to me how having an army IN our country makes us less safe than if they were OUT of it. One final comment from me, I have heard many people say that those who object to this war go live overseas and see how free they are. These people clearly never bothered to read the ironically titled "Patriot Act", the foulest piece of legislation ever introduced in this nation and our first major step towards corporate imperialism. My friends, America is dying and unless something is done to save it soon, an armed rebellion will be our only hope. So get off your asses and do something to control these lunatics in the federal government! United we stand or united we fall.

As a Blackman I believe the burden falls upon me to fight for peace and justice. I observe many people crying out for peace, but very few crying out for justice. Very few realise most of the global chaos is caused intolerance. Too many people believe that either their nationality, race or lifestyle makes them better than other nations, races, religions or cultures, until they learn tolerance and respect for others, there will be no peace. Another option is to isolate themselves and stop invading foreign lands. The world today is at a point where neither economic or political domination will be tolerated, it is at a point where technology allows either one man or a small group of men to do what too an army not so long ago. The dependence of the imperialist on superior conventional military power and nuclear blackmail must end. I remember the days when a certain middle east country (with superpower blessing) helped apartheid South Africa develop the nuclear weapons that were quickly and silently dismantled before a Black majority government came into office. My experience with struggle teaches me that a terrorist/insurgent in the eyes of one group might be a freedom fighter in the eyes of another group. We call the clerics with whom we disagree terrorist, but yet we fail the label the televangelist who calls for the assination of another world leader. Are we really freedom fighters or just followers of a long tradition of exploitators. Call me unpatriotic or any name you desire, chances are my ancestors were called worst.

Retired Military USA Officer Atlanta. I don't hate America.I even voted for Bush the first time around. But the ink on my ballot wasn't even dry when I started regreting it. Our invasion of Iraq was wrong, wrong, wrong, based on ignorance and arrogant assumptions,fueled by deceit and manipulation of fear of terrorists after the 9/11 tragedy. I'm afraid that this stupidity has played right Osama bin Laden's hands. We have opened another playground for Al Queda in Iraq. The pain, suffering, heartache resulting from bloodshed in Iraq, the dispair of the youth is fertile ground for the seeds of jihad to grow. Stop and think. Imagine your self living in total dispair. The instinct is for survival but only those who cannot see or hope in a better tomorrow are willing to end the pain by suicide. And being blinded and bitter enough to take innocent lives in the act. I grieve for those of my country men and women who have sacrificed life,limb,sanity and soul in this mad misadventure in Iraq. My heart and prayers go to their families. My heart and prayers also go the the Iraqi people who suffer. We have empathy for the victims of the tragedy at Virginia Tech but there seems to be a disconnect when it comes to the suffering in Iraq. IF the job begun in Afghanistan and then abandoned had been worked on to completion we as a nation might still enjoy the moral high ground among nations of the world. Has anyone checked out the latest news from that country? Taliban are back in force and opium is flourishing. That's what happens when the job is abandoned before finished. I support the men and women in service BUT not those who sent them to Iraq. Survivor 9/04/86

What a truly amazing fighting force, the Iraqi insurgents that is. They can strike at any time and anywhere. They can even strike deep inside The Green Zone. They use many clever tactics to obtain brief tactical superiority to accomplish their mission(s). They can even capture and kidnap heavily armed and trained U.S. soldiers (supposedly the best in the world). They can even annhilate U.S. Special Forces units and sometimes heavy mechanized armor units in some situations. All without bases of operation and supply, massive rear echelon support and state of the art surveilence systems. They do NOT have $80 million apiece fighter planes or $30 million apiece helicopters to ferry around their troops. Nor do they have any $7 billion apiece aircraft carriers. Neither are they college educated or even technically or classically trained in the Art(?)of War. Simply put, they cannot be engaged because they cannot be found, I think they are an amazing fighting force, the Iraqi insurgents that is.

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