Tragic Numbers of Iraq

We are well past 1850 dead American GIs in Iraq and may hit 2000 in a month or two. When our losses reached 1000 dead in September 2004, it made an impression on the American psyche, though people in general are slow to admit a change of mind.
Once we get to 2000 though, it will not be just another milestone, it will become a specter haunting the Administration and hanging over them like a cloud of doom.
After you reach 2000, it is normal human nature to look at the next major milestone – and that is 3000 dead. Why is 3000 such a major occurrence? – Because of 9/11. On September 11, 2001, there were 2,986 lives lost (according to Wikipedia). And 2986 is just that much less than 3,000 such that everyone will know that the tragic lie of the Iraq War has borne fatal fruit.
Pres. George W. Bush told America and the rest of the world that we had to attack Iraq because of terrorism. He mixed in 9/11 and Afghanistan with Iraq so that anyone trying to stop the invasion of Iraq was ‘protecting the terrorists’. Just as we had invaded Afghanistan and overthrown the Taliban, we had to attack Iraq and overthrow Saddam Hussein. In the end, all of us must admit that much of what Americans wanted to do was exact vengeance on the perpetrators of 9/11. In carrying over this emotional rationale to Iraq, we are still exacting vengeance. But what kind of revenge is it when the price of exacting vengeance is higher than the original atrocity? You actually encourage your enemies because they will know that all your victories are Pyrrhic.
Soon everyone will start ‘counting down’ to 2,986, that is to say, we will all keep track as the difference becomes smaller and the body count grows larger. The Bush Administration will begin to look for a quick way out, making the situation worse. Panic drills lead to greater mistakes and losses, not less.

Radical Republicans and Military Service

Radical Republicans and Military Service
Right now we are faced with the Republican Party on Capitol Hill, dominated by the Radical Right, trying to push through an Amendment to the Constitution to ban flag desecration. This is part of their effort to impose their form of patriotism.
But how much were they willing to sacrifice for the flag? The answer is “Not very much.”
Of the 20 Republican Congresspersons from California, only four are veterans. Nine of these Republicans were faced with the draft in the Vietnam War Era and did not serve.
In the Senate, there are 19 members who faced the draft at that time. Only one, Sen. Hagel of Nebraska, served in the regular military, and he pulled a tour in Vietnam as a Staff Sergeant.
Three Senators (Isakson – GA, Craig – ID, and Enzi – WY) served in National Guard units, and one (Sessions – AL) served in the Army Reserve. It would be interesting to know how they secured their slots in the non-Active Duty service.
This means that 14 Senators did not answer the call when it counted. (The most notable of these are Bill Frist and Saxby Chambliss.) Now most of them try to prove what great patriots they are by desecrating the Bill of Rights.
If this was the only case, it might not be so bad. But the Republicans have consistently acted detrimentally to the interests of veterans, retired military, and active duty personnel.
They have also promoted the War in Iraq and pushed their hawkish agenda. But they never have put it on the line.

Note 1: I consider any male born from 1943 through 1953 to have been Vietnam War Era draft bait.
Note 2: I have been a registered Republican since I was first eligible to vote – at age 21.