"The direct use of force is such a poor solution to any problem, it is generally employed only by small children and large nations."-David Friedman

Since posting the names of 19 more Americans who have perished in this country's Middle Eastern misadventures last Tuesday, 13 more have been confirmed dead since. This brings the total of Americans to have died in the month of April to 56 (reported earlier as 47), the most since 74 died last September. The last week in the media has been choke-full-of Indiana and North Carolina. Who will win these uber-important primaries in a race that is essentially over (see here)? The media has already dubbed today's new make-or-break contests as Super Tuesday (again?). Jeremiah Wright is like Senator Clinton, no matter how bad we want her to go away, she won't. There are approximately 515 polls that all say something different. Lost in the primary shuffle has been the service of the following individuals:

1. Staff Sgt. Shawn J. Whitehead of Commerce, Georgia was 24 when he encountered a makeshift bomb in Iskandariyah on April 24.
2. Pfc. William T. Dix of Culver City, California was 32 when he died in a non-combat related incident in Kuwait on April 27.
3. Sgt. Mark A. Stone of Buchanan Darn, Texas, 22, died when his unit's forward operating base in Baghdad was attacked on April 28.
4. Pfc. Adam L. Marion of Mount Airy, North Carolina, 26, died when his unit's forward operating base in Baghdad was attacked on April 28.
5. Sgt. Marcus C. Mathes of Zephyrhills, Florida, 26, died when his unit's forward operating base in Baghdad was attacked on April 28.
6. Spec. David P. McCormick of Fresno, Texas, 26, died when his unit's forward operating base in Baghdad was attacked on April 28.
7. Staff Sgt. Bryan F. Bolander of Bakersfield, California, was 26 when he died in an IED attack in Baghdad on April 29.
8. Staff Sgt. Clay A. Craig of Mesquite, Texas, was 22 when he died in combat operations in Baghdad April 29.
9. Sgt. 1st Class David L. McDowell of Ramona, California, 30, died by small arms fire when his unit was attacked in Bastion, Afghanistan on April 29.
10. Spec. Ronald J. Tucker of Fountain, Colorado was 21 when he died in an IED attack in Baghdad on April 30.
11. Cpt. Andrew R. Pearson of Billings, Montana was 32 when he died in an IED attack in Baghdad on April 30.
12. Staff Sgt. Chad A. Caldwell of Spokane, Washington was 24 when he died in an IED attack in Baghdad on April 30.
13. Sgt. 1st Class Lawrence D. Ezell of Portland, Texas, 30, died in combat operations in Baghdad on April 30.

To date, 4,057 Americans have died in Iraq and another 489 in Afghanistan. That is 4,546 individuals who have died for what exactly?