Cassidy: Horror of war even worse 3 years later

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/local/14688262.htm

<snip>Furling the flag

I've wrestled with my feelings as the war drags on. I love America. I'm profoundly proud of those who've sacrificed their comfort, safety and lives to follow their orders and fight in Iraq. I can't imagine that kind of bravery, that kind of commitment to duty.

But I hate this war. I hate that we ever started it.

In the war's early years, my wife, Alice, and I flew the American flag outside our home. Not out of some sort of U-S-A chanting war lust. We saw it as a sign of support for those sent to fight.

As more soldiers headed to Iraq, we became more and more weary. We still supported the troops dispatched to Iraq, including Alice's Air Force officer sister.

But we tired of our country's leadership, tired of the Bush administration's lack of a plan to bring those troops home. Tired of the administration's unwillingness to admit any miscalculation, deception or lack of foresight. The day George W. Bush was elected to a second term, Alice brought the flag in. A helpless gesture during a hopeless war.

And now, of course, there are new numbers. U.S. soldiers killed: 2,466 as of May 26. Estimates ranging from 10,000 to more than 40,000 Iraqi civilians killed. A price tag expected to reach over $300 billion by fall.

[stellanoir]

1. The way he ends the article is worthy of a post. . .

"And now there are more than 18,000 U.S. military members wounded. Soldiers coming home without their eyes or pieces of their skulls.
Soldiers who have lost arms and legs and souls. Soldiers who can't hear. Soldiers who will never again put together a coherent sentence or
feed themselves. Soldiers who will never toss a ball with a son, or braid the pigtails of a daughter.

There are other numbers, too. Numbers showing that Americans are fed up with this war and its uncharted course.

More than 60 percent of those polled recently told ABC News that the war in Iraq is not worth fighting. And 59 percent said the war was a
mistake in the first place.

Those who say the war was a mistake do not intend to be disrespectful of the soldiers risking their lives to fight it. I think their dissent is a
patriotic thing. What they are doing is honoring the troops.

Honoring them by calling for them to come home."

[partylessinOhio]

2. This invasion was/is a travesty.

Donald Trump was a phone guest on Imus this morning. He described the soldiers returning some missing both arms and both legs, some missing their legs, some blind, some wanting to go back without their legs. He said they cannot go back. He talked about rehabilitation. He said the blind ones cannot be rehabilitated. He said this was all over two politicians that wanted to go to war. He said it was a mistake. He went on and on about how bad this has been until Imus finally got him off the air. BTW, through all of Trump's comments, Imus was silent.

I was surprised to hear Trump coming out so strongly against those two politicians, Bush and Cheney, and their war/invasion. Trump usually is very diplomatic and careful when he speaks. Today, he did not sugarcoat this horror. He told the truth and showed his disgust and sadness for our wounded and dead soldiers.

Please, wake up America. These two evil men have to go, they have to answer for their crimes and we have to take back our country. We cannot afford to lose any time in doing what is demanded, we must impeach and remove them from power.