[conservatism_IS_compassion]

this is the first war America has been in where the number of casualties is small enough that it would even be theoretically possible for a Defense secretary to sign each condolence letter personally.

Follow the link to get the punch line.

[exhaustguy]

Not true. Several wars have had deaths lower or close to Iraq II.
Battle deaths
Iraq I - 147
Spanish American - 385
Indian - 1,000 approx
Mexican - 1,733
1812 - 2,260
Revolution - 4,435

Now we get into big numbers:
Korea - 33,741
Vietnam - 47,410
WWI - 53,402
Civil (Union) - 140,414
Civil (Confed) - 74,524
WWII - 291,557

How many deaths are we going to have in Iraq? Will it be like the Mexican American War or Korea/Vietnam?

I really think he should have signed every letter personally. Not a reason to remove him or criticize him too much, but I know that I would have if I were in his position. I sign over 100 letters for Christmas every year - what is 1,200 over the course of two plus years (2 per day for example).