I wonder if Americans are prepared to take these kinds of losses for a war that many are uncertain what the goals are now.
What is not clear about the goals?
I think most Americans realize that fanatical Arab nationalist tyrants like Hussein are simply the other side of the bin Laden coin, and as the President said, we're not going to run in the face of thugs and assassins.
I read these stories too, and my heart breaks; but, it is also filled with pride at what these young soldiers have done for themselves, their comrades in arms, their country and for the Iraqi people. And I think they may also feel the same way, even in the face of their pain.
The worst thing in the world for them and for us would be to leave the job undone and feel sorry for ourselves.
None of my family or loved ones are in theater, so I don't feel I can speak for those who are.
I think we kicked out an evil bastard, we have given some poor benighted people a shot at a better life, and we may be re-writing the rules for a Phooked up part of the world, with the result that the Islamo-naziis fade away.
Like I said, I don't have anyone at risk in this..but I remember being out in the field, and hearing that we had six dead and ~100 medevacs in a jump gone wrong in 29 palms.
We kept training, and we kept jumping. 7 years later the berlin wall came down.
And it was worth it.