by James Rothenberg

The US military says 4,000 US soldiers have now died in Iraq. The White House regards all these deaths as "tragic", and the enormously greater number of Iraqi civilian deaths as "regrettable". Any other reckoning might make us seem heartless.

The White House prepares for annoying milestones such as this with equanimity. Deep in the bowels there may even be a pencil pusher noting that given the domestic death rate of 8.26 per 1,000 population (CIA figures, 2007 est.), they wouldn’t all be alive if they had stayed home. Good taste prevents such flak retardant measures from being used. That and a keen political acumen.      

Changes in our hyper-militaristic posture might be slow in coming as the antiwar candidates in the two reigning parties have been swept aside. The trio of presidential favorites have picked up the beat in this so-called War on Terror/Islamo-Fascism/Extremism. McCain wants to fight it harder. Clinton and Obama want to fight it better.

Unless heroism is a uniquely American trait, those who were tortured in Bagram, Abu Ghraib, Guantanamo, and other rendition holes deserve to be considered war heroes, like John McCain. Unlike McCain, though, they lack a clear "side" to designate such honor for them.

As Commander Bush puts it, it’s us or them. You’re either with us, or you’re with the terrorists! Upon which a sober person may reflect...Well, I’m certainly not with you!

The "duty, honor, country" mentality occupies but a small portion of the human sphere. True, there are some who are always eager to be led from above, as long as they get to lead some from below. But no matter your place on this ladder all are led in the direction of the ladder. There are some who see no place for themselves here but seek their own direction.

Excerpted. Read the Full Article at the following link:
http://www.populistamerica.com/who_are_we_fighting_for