When the War Is a Lie the Sacrifice Is a Waste

“It brings back a lot of anger. I feel like it’s been a big waste of time. It’s kind of like, why the hell did all my buddies die there for? There’s no purpose to it.” 
   -- A 30-year-old Marine staff sergeant who served tours in Fallujah and Ramadi

They believed CheneyBush's lies, served courageously and have every reason to see the chaos in Iraq and wonder why.  They thought they were serving their country and maybe even the Iraqis.  That was the Big Lie. The sergeant quoted above went to Iraq right out of boot camp with all the idealism of a newly minted young Marine who thought he was "...fighting evil in the world, in a place where people are being treated terrible and getting murdered and have zero rights.”  Today's Iraq is a long, long way from that utopia.

Some still believe the Lie.  James M. Dubik, a retired Army lieutenant general, asserts the US interest in defeating al-Qaeda in Iraq and throughout the Middle East as a national interest.  Of course, had the US wanted to keep al-Qaeda out of Iraq, we would not have removed Saddam Hussein from power.  Instead, we created exactly the ungovernable chaos in which al-Qaeda thrives.

How do you ask a man to die for a lie?

With a straight face and flag.

By the time the lie becomes apparent you can be quietly and comfortably retired.  The veterans will be anything but.