Bless you for your loss, LaTasha, but please understand we're in a chaotic situation - in part because four years in no one knows The Mission - it is still vague, still weighed with politics.

Will more lives be simply spent in vain - or is this the sacrifice needed for a better world? What is a better world? Is the Surge the solution or just a faint attempt? Is it exactly what the best military minds have determined is needed, or has it been influenced by political party motivations?

Right now no one really knows for sure ..

LaTasha,
Your brother died for nothing. There was no purpose to his death. His life was wasted in a war with no meaning or end goal. Some are going to respond to your letter about how your brother made a noble sacrifice. There was nothing noble about it and they never gave a damn about your brother. To them he was cannon fodder for their neocon dreams. There's no reason why others should be made to waste their lives in this war either. If you want your brother's death to have meaning, be angry at the ones who sent him and others to die in a war that they would never fight themselves.

LaTasha, I am truly sorry for the loss of your brother. I believe that his death was not in vain. It does not matter if we support the branch of government that has sent troops all over the world, what matters is we support The United States of America. There is a responsibilty to defend Her freedom, without said freedom we would not be able to post on sites such as these.

I know the current situation is extermely frustrating, I have experienced it first hand. I have never believed that a single one of our fallen heros memories be disgraced because of politics. Had it not been for fine Americans like your brother what kind of country would we live in?

I cant help but wonder if those few who disrespect their memory have ever served in a war? If we pull our troops out now I believe it will send the wrong message to those who need to know we are not backing down. I am confident we will see alot of posts on here with a political twist to them but you can be assured that althogh I never knew your brother personally I am grateful to him for defending my freedom and will never forget what your brother has sacrificed for this great country.

Blunt Truth,

You are the most despicable of all human beings. You would not make a pimple on a good mans ass. I could care less what your politics are; I can tell by your letter that you belong in hell with the other scum, of every political persuasion, that infests this country. We are fighting a war against an enemy that uses pond scum like you as its ambassadors. You bring out the worst of this country and make me ashamed to have served for so many years to protect your kind.

Another American hero has passed and for you to use this as a platform to spew your hatred is unforgivable. May you burn in hell like the enemy that took this heroes life.

WAJ & Rock

Blunt Truth,

While quite crass, everything you state is ... well, the BLUNT TRUTH.

Seems you have caused the ire of the very "neocons" you mentioned in your post. Wear it as a badge of honor, as the truth drives them crazy. They cannot refute what you say, but they can resort to name calling and cult like fervor for killing, no matter what the cause.

LaTasha,
If you want to revere the memory of the fallen soldiers, work to make sure no more die for Bush's war. Direct your anger at the ones who ARE responsible for the deaths--the chickenhawks who would never go to Vietnam, but have NO problem sending men and women to die for the mistakes of Bush/Cheney.

I don't want to think that the Neocons sent our troops out on a war of aggression as "cannon fodder" any more than I do think that we who oppose this fool's errand are doing so at the behest of the enemies of civilization. The Neocons were wrong in almost every particular and are still wrong, but their evil resides elsewhere than in their intent for the troops.
Some wars are simply wrong, some soldiers do die in vain. Our invasion to liberate Canadians who didn't want to be liberated in 1812 was wrong; those Americans, heroes and cowards alike, died in vain. Our wars against Mexico are national disgraces even though we gained territory and population, and they led to the near extermination of the remaining Native Americans. Our war in the Philipines (turn of the 20th century) was wrong, and we ultimately wasted two generations of soldiers there. Vietnam was wrong, and those soldiers of my generation died in vain, except for the most moving and thought-provoking monument to human folly ever created.
I didn't spit and curse when the soldiers of my generation came home from their fool's errand, and I'm pretty sure every grunt who wears a uniform in this fool's errand isn't a hero. 99.9% of both generations were average folks doing the best they knew how with the hand they were delt or the cards they picked for themselves. As far as I can see, all we've proved is what a mess the National Guard/Reserve Army system is and how badly it disrupts families and the economy.
I'm sorry for the opportunities LaTasha's brother will never have, for what he won't get to contribute to our society, for the life he will never live, but sacrificing more people's futures will not justify his death. It was a fool's errand when he left to go over, and it will have been a fool's errand whenever the last US boot leaves Iraq in either celebrated victory or concealed defeat.
I've consistently said that the only thing that would make the sacrifice worthwhile is the oil. If we haven't got the gumption to steal it fair and square, then we have no purpose for being there. Our own fundamentalists are a much greater threat to our civilization than the Muslim findamentalists will ever be.

How do you define the point when a death has sufficient "meaning" to make it worth it? What if this war never ends, and we end up losing more troops than in any war America has ever fought? Will that make the death of any particular brother or son or father easier to bear?

Saying that we must continue to fight in order to make the losses we've experienced so far "worth it" seems to imply a desire for revenge. If that's the case, it is an empty desire, one that will destroy us in the end.

In deciding how to move forward, we must concentrate on what is best for the nation. Our choices are limited, and there is no "happy path" any more. That was closed off to us the day we invaded Iraq with no realistic planning for how to "win the peace."

So while we are mourning our losses and bleeding oceans of cash from this country, we are concerned about what can make all of this "worthwhile"? I honestly don't think it can be done.

I think I agree mostly with Jennifer [Lundrigan].

America's leadership - through unthoughtful panic, ignorance of world politics, personal agendas, or some combination .. got us really really stupidly into what can politely be called a mess. That said .. pulling our troops out now - without a very credible reason - will send the same message that the USSR sent in 1989 when they left Afghanistan .. and we hopefully all know the current status of the USSR.

... speaking of the USSR, according to our current Secretary of Defense: Why the USSR collapsed:

- no investment in Manufacturing (starting about 1975)
- Involvement in an unwinnable war
- Financial collapse from the above two
- declaration by Jimmy Carter they had an illegitimate claim to govern - no mandate from the people only bully power through fear, intimidation and cronyism
- Glasnost Proof of the bully power through fear
- Helsinki Accords stating all people have rights including the freedom of thought, and freedom from threat or use of force
- Demonstration & proof of the power of those concepts through Leck Welensa and the Solidarity Workers
- Incompetent leadership from Gorbochov

If you see any parallels .. I'm sure it's just coincidence.

my concern is "The Surge" is too little too late with no staying power either politically nor militarily. If I were King - I'd throw about 400,000 more troops into Iraq, tell the American people to suck up and car pool or take the bus so we can stop buying terrorist-supporting dinosaur juice, demand all able bodied start volunteering for the war effort (candy strippers to front-line troops), law all war-suppliers to restructure into cost plus $1 with rock-busting by hand for war profiteers, ask the rich to remember how they got their money and tell them top rates are going instantly to 90% to fully fund this and assure victory .. etc.

""The Surge" is too little too late with no staying power either politically nor militarily. If I were King - I'd throw about 400,000 more troops into Iraq, tell the American people to suck up and car pool or take the bus"

That's what gets me, too. Either s**t or get off the pot already. What we're doing now isn't working, "surge" included.

Of all the posts, I'd have to agree with Denzien's the most.

However, since I'm sitting here in my arm chair and Iraq is thousands of miles away, I'll acquiesce to the Generals and military personnel who are in Iraq.

Our service men and women do not serve opinions, they serve our country. Whether or not a war is "popular" has no bearing on the honor of serving our nation.
If you think otherwise, and feel a soldier dies "for nothing" while in service to our nation, you are entitled to your opinion.
My opinion is this: honor isn't determined by wins or losses. It is determined by service and, especially, by sacrifice.
LaTasha, Cpl. DeMarkus Brown did not die "for nothing". He died for his country and therefore for me. I thank him and you for your honor and your sacrifices.

I'm surely not qualified to say if this mans death was in vain but life only goes forward. The question that we must answer is whether future deaths are justified by this enterprise.

My answer is no.

"I'll acquiesce to the Generals and military personnel who are in Iraq."

The funny part about that is that those who have called for such an approach haven't generally been warmly received by the Commander in Chief's admin. See Shinseki, Eric.

One cannot argue that this admin has been open to or embraced differing opinions in regards to any phase of this war.

Ms. Carter, I am saddened that you and your family only have memories of your brother/son/uncle/cousin at this point. When a young person dies, there is generally a deep grief/regret because that person did not live to a ripe OLD age.

Aside from the above, I am not in agreement with what was written. I abhor ALL war/conflict. I believe the Bush Middle East Boondoogle is our 21st Century Viet Nam. The ONLY difference is the leadership at this time.

And do not believe the lies that what is happening in Iraq/Afghanistan is for American "freedom." Those two countries were not directly or independently a threat to America. There is factual, valid evidence to support this. Remember, operation Iraqi Freedom is only one of MANY reasons given for the Bush Middle East Boondoogle.

As others have noted, be angry with those people who have sent your brother into harms way for no reason! Hold them accountable at the ballot box at every election where said people are being voted upon!

Shalom

Quick flash to our military experts; that commercial about Holiday Inn Express is BOGUS!!! Staying there will not make you an expert on military anything. If you think you’re smarter or know more than the current crop of experts, you aren’t and you don’t and unless you’re a lot younger than you come across, you never will. Stick to DBS, Mayor (What can I do for you next Skippy) Holiday, the Fedex Hub, Grasshoppers and things you might know at least a little something about.

"Stick to DBS, Mayor (What can I do for you next Skippy) Holiday, the Fedex Hub, Grasshoppers and things you might know at least a little something about."

No. Sorry.

Help my reading comprension, Rocky - I don't see anyone claiming military expertise.

I see a lot of folks "not getting" what we're doing over there.

I see some folks noting that true military experts were diss'd .. and then dismissed .. when they produced their military expertise and it happend to discgree with Career Military Experts Bush and Cheney and Rummy and Wolfy and Perle and Dad-&-Son Kristol and let's throw in Chalabi too ..

all BRAVE MILTARY MEN WITH KEEN INSIGHT .. right?

http://www.csmonitor.com/specials/neocon/index.html

"I see a lot of folks "not getting" what we're doing over there"

No kidding! A lot of those folks are the ALL VOLUNTEER folks, and they do NOT like what they see:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17819626/site/newsweek/

*************
Rock,
Can you separate your heart from your brain just one moment and ask yourself...How did our withdrawal from Southeast Asia affect the price of eggs in Randleman? In every Shakesperean tragedy, passion overrules reason. The same is true here.

"I see a lot of folks "not getting" what we're doing over there"

No kidding! A lot of those folks are the ALL VOLUNTEER folks, and they do NOT like what they see:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17819626/site/newsweek/

*************
Rock,
Can you separate your heart from your brain just one moment and ask yourself...How did our withdrawal from Southeast Asia affect the price of eggs in Randleman? In every Shakesperean tragedy, passion overrules reason. The same is true here.

"all BRAVE MILTARY MEN WITH KEEN INSIGHT .. right?"

Yeah, but they wanted the terrorists to win, so they got let go.

Gee, don't you read the papers?