Beach Bear is pointing out that we are not seeing a return on our precious investments.

When difficult military operations are truly necessary, there is no need for propaganda. There is no need for spin. We would not have to spend thousands and thousands on PR trying to "sell" an operation. And, most importantly, we would not need to hide the cost of this war in bodies and casualties. We could give our fallen heroes warm welcomes home as opposed to hiding coffins from cameras. Let's air this out right here, Richard.

Scott McClellen is about to meet a firestorm from the GOP. Why? Because he has written a book which very personally explains his anger for being used to promote falsehoods and spin and propaganda on Iraq and the Valerie Plame story. I would say Scott McClellen knows this administration well. That gives him credibility, so his character WILL BE ATTACKED.

This is not hind sight being 20/20. This is Americans being absolutely, positively misled about the threat of Iraq. Even if Iraq possessed WMDs, they would have been no more of a threat than North Korea, Syria, or Pakistan. They, by our military presence there, would have been much less of a threat to us.

Richard, the FACTS are that we had 24/7 combat air coverage and presence over Iraq. They were a threat which was guaranteed destruction if they ever actually attempted an attack on us.

Fact: We, as a political administration, made a campaign out of discrediting the United Nations. I found it incredibly odd that we began pushing the need to enforce UN 1441: A resolution from an organization we felt was unjustified. I felt it incredible when we went against that same organization when they correctly found evidence to support the difficult concept of "preemptive war" to be lacking.

Richard, you can state all you want that Americans are safer because of invading Iraq. Unfortunately that does not make your statement true. We have buried more Americans than we did on 9/11. I would call those wonderful contractors, troops, and associates "U.S. interests." Al Qaeda is STRONGER than they were pre 9/11, Richard. Al Qaeda has more global members and operatives than pre 9/11 Richard.

As we spend money we don't have and lose the bravest and brightest among us in Iraq, what is the return on that investment of treasure and life? That is what Beach Bear is showing us front and center. We are trying to craft a military solution to a political problem of reconciling shiia, sunni, and kurds. For nearly 6 years I have heard from your side how everyone else is wrong, patriotism requires we support the war troops are in to support the troops, that success is right around the corner, just down the road, just over the hill.

Richard, how long are you willing to support military occupation in Iraq with troops dying before you somehow begin to even ponder that we may need to end such occupation? How many years of funerals in the dark of night, out of the public eye, are you willing to turn your attention from before you realize that we are not kept safe from Al Qaeda by troops occupying a country of 12 million + with only approximately 1000 al Qaeda operatives left in it?

Perhaps we are kept safe because we are finally doing the police work and investigative work that certain politicians talked about in 2004: Watch lists, airport and sea port security, eavesdropping through FISA courts.

The illusion you attempt to propagate that Iraq occupation has lead to domestic safety, while giving no credit to TSA, FBI, CIA, and Homeland security efforts is disingenuous and only serves to delay the inevitable conclusion that we are not well served by pouring a billion dollars every other week into Iraq with no return on our investment.

I have long since given up listening to those who were wrong in 2003, and who have been wrong every step of the way since.

Kevin "Hack" King

you said it so much better. I want to read McClellon's book. I never dreamed they would fool us so bad about the war. They fooled us into giving our most cherished assets, our young boys. Killed, mangled, or mentaly broken. It isn't like Bush ever went to war.

It has taken Merlin years to die a slow ugly death. Because of people like you speaking up, I hope he won't be swept under the rug.

And I mean nothing. I know how difficult it must be for alot of people to even imagine that they were misled or that their emotions post 9/11 were used against them. There are three days with respect to this war on al qaeda that I will never forget as long as I live:

1. The anger and profound sadness I felt on 9/11, watching so many of our fellow citizens die. It seemed like rape to me; a permanent loss of innocence.

2. My sense of pride and resolve as we went into Afghanistan to confront those who had attacked us.

3. True confusion and deep concern as I saw the case being made to invade Iraq in March of 2003. I was dumbfounded by so many credible people saying how quick and easy this war would be. I served under GHW Bush, and I agreed with him that a push to Baghdad would open a long and expensive chapter to our involvement in that region. I believe that the campaign we are currently prosecuting there shows how wise and correct George Bush 41 truly was. He does not get the credit he deserves.

Kevin "Hack" King

In 2006 there were 17,034 murders in the US. So far this year, there have been 5,692 deaths due to drunken driving. I am still much more likely to be done in by local talent than a terrorist.

I guess I didn't do it right. Merlin is the face or war. I feel for him and so many others like him. You have to ask your self, is it worth that? I don't think so. Despite the fact we want oil, despite the fact we have done very little as a country but give the oil companies tax breaks to to find alternate resources, (now there is a contradiction)!
I know most of us didn't think doing this to Merlin is what we meant, but, he is the face of war. I have no family member there but I care for those kids. I want our boys home.

I would like to think that some sort of "endgame" strategy would have been modeled with all the possible scenarios to determine if we had wherewithal to stay an extended period. I really wish WMD were found.
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me too. I have friends that live in my neighborhood that are from the middle east. They are good law abiding people who were terrified. I kept saying to them, I was sure they were gonna find those weapons, why else would we be there. I told them I was sure Bush knew something we didn't and just couldn't make it public. Well, here I sit with egg on my face, and look at our kids.

I remember the boys that came home from Viet Nam. I use to sit with them and they would cry. First it was guys I grew up with and then people I knew later. They were so hurt and troubled and weren't sure it was worth what they did. The worst thing I noticed in all of them was it was never finished in their minds. They may have saved someone, but their minds were still with the one they left behind. You could never convince them they did the best they could. It reminded me about something profound my father told be about war II.

He said he didn't blame the Germans, they were brainwashed, and that for me to tell my friends who were going to Viet Nam that I didn't believe in the war, I was hurting them. That the must fully believe in what they are fighting far.

I feel that we the people, much less those kids, are not a 100% behind this war, and our boys will suffer for it. I want to bring them home.