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We have military bases in German, Japan, South Korea, Greece, etc. to remind everyone that we are ready, willing and able. Why becuase people like you forget so fast. How do I know that, well because you ask inane questions.

Now back to the topic of why Iraq is a victory.

Because the losses to date however tragic each and everyone is to the individual, the family, the friends and the country it is nothing compared to other wars. And if Iraq was truly as lost as MSM and the Democrats claim we would have thousands upon thousands of more KIAs. Why do I say that? Iraq is one big stockpile of weapons. At the beginning of the war there was 25 MILLION TONS of weapons just lying around. If there was a REAL insurgency we would have suffered way more than 2,700 KIAs, way more than 17,000 WIAs. Compare Iraq with the Battle of the Bulge in WW2. Under the Democratic civilian leadership the troops where short bullets and winter gear. In that 6 week battle the US suffered 80,000 casualties (of which about 19,000 were KIA). It has taken more than three years to hit the 25% mark. That is how puny this MSM insurrection is and every time MSM whines, every time the CIA leaks a national security secret the risk of turning this amazing victory into a defeat increases. There you have it. Now you can whine and complain about tragic stats but the fact remains that (1) the Iraqis voted, (2) the Iraqis formed a government and (3) we won an amazing military victory. Yes birthing a free and democratic nation is difficult and trying but remember our country's birth was bloodier and took much longer. Heck the Brits had the gall to burn down our WH in 1812 and we fought our bloody Civil War 120 years after we declared Independence from the then World Power.

To jec41: Please say thank you to your son for me. The 101st has a special place in my heart! They almost freed my Dad in WW2. The 101st did get as far as Eindhoven! "Nuts!"...I just love the Bastards of Bastonge. :)

Here is one of the magnificent bastards!!!!

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, March 3, 1983, has awarded in the name of Congress the Medal of Honor posthumously to:
PRIVATE FIRST CLASS JOE E. MANN

UNITED STATES ARMY

for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty.

Rank and Organization: Private First Class, U.S. Army, Troop H, 502d Parachute Infantry, 101st Airborne Division. Place and Date: Best, Holland, 18 September 1944. Entered Service at: Seattle, Washington. Birth: Reardon, Washington. General Order No. 73, 30 August 1945. Citation: He distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry above and beyond the call of duty. On 18 September 1944, in the vicinity of Best, Holland, his platoon, attempting to seize the bridge across the Wilhelmina canal, was surrounded and isolated by an enemy force greatly superior in personnel and firepower. Acting as lead scout, PFC Mann boldly crept to within rocket-launcher range of an enemy artillery position and in the face of heavy enemy fire, destroyed an 88mm gun and an ammunition dump. Completely disregarding the great danger involved, he remained in his exposed position, and with his M1 rifle, killed the enemy one by one until he was wounded four times. Taken to a covered position, he insisted on returning to a forward position to stand guard during the night. On the following morning the enemy launched a concerted attack and advanced to within a few yards of the position, throwing hand grenades as they approached. One of these landed within a few feet of PFC Mann. Unable to raise his hands, which were bandaged to his body, he yelled "grenade" and threw his body over the grenade, and as it exploded, died. His outstanding gallantry above and beyond the call of duty and his magnificent conduct were an everlasting inspiration to his comrades for whom he gave his life.

I email my son every couple of days and he can answer OK. Not like the old days where one was just gone until they got back. However he puts it this way. There have been ~67,700 murders in the US since 2001 by criminals, terrorists, perverts and in general people who just want to kill each other. We have lost ~2500 soldiers in Iraq and about 500 from accidents. There are 5 times more people in the US (300 Million) than Iraq (60 million). 44,100 murdered in the US in the last 3 years divided by 5 is 8020 for the same population. And the 8020 divided by 2000 soldiers killed in Iraq is 4. He thinks his chances of getting killed here is about 4 times as great as getting killed in Iraq. American casualty rate is really low considering the Iraq population killed.