The Last Full Measure of Devotion

MSNBC World Blog has a story about artist Emily Prince's installation of her drawings of the more than 5,100 Americans who have died in Iraq and Afghanistan. Even the tiny photographs of the installation convey its somber immensity. Like the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, the simple images clearly convey the cost of war.

The artist herself makes no statement about the wars in which these Americans died. An art critic describes the installation as a "powerful ... and grim memorial to wasted life." Which sets off a chain of comments about whether or not these dead service members "wasted" their lives. I wanted to add my own comment but for some reason, it would not submit.

Quite simply, I do not believe these men and women wasted their lives. In fact, they gave their lives in service to their country. George Bush and Dick Cheney wasted their lives by sending them to fight in unnecessary wars that do nothing to protect America. And now Obama is asking more or them to die.

Once again, honorable service is betrayed by leaders unworthy of the men and women they lead.