An honest conversation

The News Blog has a brilliant post up that distills the Iraq argument to its most basic element. For all the rhetoric, Americans have already voted with their feet - at the recruiting office. You don't exactly see the war hawks on either side of the fence waving their patriotism by lining up to join the badly undermanned troops that are stuck there or by sending their children to go in their proxy. News Blog puts it simply. Excerpts:

We need to be honest here: Iraq is not worth one more dead American.

...It's bad the soldiers are trapped there, but we have made it their problem, No one is willingly going to join them, and 5,000 have deserted so far.

...We have a volunteer army with fewer and fewer volunteers, and people reenlisting only to save their friends. There is a time limit to their ability to be in combat. They cannot serve forever. They will have to be replaced. And fewer and fewer are willing to replace them,

What I want people to do is be honest.

If you will not serve in Iraq, and no one you know will serve, stop expecting someone else to do what you will not.

Therefore, it is time to stop calling for more troops, or the US to make Iraq safe. We cannot do this and even Americans are refusing to join the fight. It is time to look at your actions and realize, that despite your ideals, you oppose continuing this war. In practical terms, you have decided that this war is not worth your life or anyone you know. And million of Americans have joined you in this decision.

Indeed, if no one is willing to go it is certainly time to support our troops by getting them out of the shooting gallery. It's the ultimate disrespect to allow the brave souls who remain to become little more than carnival dolls for terrorist target practice.