More than 1,000 military deaths in Iraq

We have reached a sad milestone in the war in Iraq. The following information was taken from today's Christian Science Monitor:

US military deaths in the Iraq campaign passed 1,000 Tuesday, an Associated
Press tally showed, as a spike in fighting with both Sunni and Shiite insurgents
killed seven Americans in scattered clashes in the Baghdad area.

The count includes 998 US troops and three civilian contractors
killed while working for the Pentagon. The tally was compiled by the AP based on
Pentagon records, AP reporting from Iraq, and reports from soldiers' families.

It includes deaths from hostile and non-hostile causes since
President Bush launched a campaign in March 2003 to topple the regime of Saddam Hussein. A few deaths occurred in neighboring Kuwait.

The grim milestone was surpassed after a spike in clashes that has killed 14 American service members in the past two days. Two soldiers died in fighting Tuesday with militiamen loyal to rebel Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr. Five other Americans died Tuesday in separate attacks, mostly in the Baghdad area.

Given all that we have learned about the circumstances surrounding our initiating this war, and that we are currently losing men and women at a greater rate than earlier in the war, why aren't Americans more upset? Why aren't they more angry with George Bush and the Congress that authorized the action?

I'll admit it - I'm an anti-war type and was against this war from the beginning. I think the whole notion of "pre-emtive war" makes our world a more dangerous place. Maybe I just don't get it. Give me your comments on this.

However, unlike others in the anti-war movement, I don't think we can just cut and run now. I do think that we made certain things a mess in Iraq and we have a moral obligation to help make those things right. Do you agree or do you think the U.S. should get out as soon as possible and let the chips fall where they may in Iraq.

Please share your wisdom with me....