"Mankind must put an end to war, or war will put an end to mankind."-John F. Kennedy

Given what the media chooses to cover and not cover, one might believe the talking points that all is well in the Iraq War. With Barack Obama Controversy Contrived by the Media #24, What in the World Did Jeremiah Wright Say Part XX, Where in the World Is John McCain Version 7.5, or When Clinton Attacks (Last Updated April 2008), it is not hard to understand why an actual war, with actual bullets and bombs, where actual people die, not just reputations, is relegated to the back burner. The presidential campaign has devolved into disreputable verbal warfare with John McCain and Hillary Clinton allying in an attempt take out the superpower, Barack Obama (see here). It has become so annoying that I am no longer able to formulate cogent thoughts to write about on the campaign. A story out of Iraq this morning tells us that 52 Iraqis died in two car bomb attacks (read here). I know what you are thinking, they are Iraqi, who cares? But where Iraqis are dying is the same place where Americans are dying. And what about those Americans that are dying? Turn on Countdown, the O'Reilly Factor, Hannity & Colmes, Hardball, listen to Rush Limbaugh, read the Weekly Standard, or go to nationalreview.com, who is talking about these Americans? The left uses the war as a means to demonize the Bush administration and the right looks the other way and espouses the virtues of the war and how much fun it is to live in Iraq these days. Soldiers do not choose where they want to go, they merely do what they are told.

Over the last seven days, seven Americans have died in Iraq, bringing the total 4,507. Maj. Mark E. Rosenburg, 32 years old from Miami Lakes, Florida, died in an IED attack in Baghdad on April 8. Staff Sgt. Jeffrey L. Hartley, 25 from Hempstead, Texas, died in an IED attack in Kharguliah on April 8. Jacob J. Fairbanks, 22 from St. Paul, Minnesota, died from injuries suffered in a non-combat related incident in Baghdad on April 9. Sgt. Jesse A. Ault, 28 from Dublin, Virginia, was killed in an IED attack in Tunnis on April 9. Sgt. Shaun P. Tousha, 30 from Hull, Texas, died on April 9 from injuries suffered in an IED attack in Baghdad. Tech Sgt. Anthony L. Capra, 31 from Hanford, California, died in an IED attack in an undisclosed location on April 9. And Spec. Jeremiah C. Hughes, 26 from Jacksonville, Florida, died from injuries suffered in a non-combat related incident in Abu Gharab. I will continue to use this space to humanize the war by making the sacrifices of those who have died for no good reason known.