Planet Waves | Memorial Day, May 30, 2005 It's the day to honor our fallen -- and this year it's particularly poignant. No matter what your personal view of "war," the truth is that it always requires "blood sacrifice" -- count 1,658 Americans returned to us in body bags and 12,348 wounded and maimed [as of last week.] While that is difficult enough to comprehend, the larger grief is that there is no end in sight -- and no government plan to withdraw from what is quickly becoming a civil war in Iraq. And, lest we forget, there is still a war on the ground in Afghanistan. Memorial Days are often a time for pomp and pride, for speeches and flags waving, for the celebration of honor and bravery. In military circles, it's popular to say that "If you're enjoying your freedom, remember that it was a soldier that gave it to you." That's one way to see it ... and I give respect and honor to the soldiers that have given their lives in defense of this country. But I grieve the loss of the men and women who have given their lives for the political manuevering of sociopolitical ideologies -- and there is nothing about the war in Iraq that escapes that definition. The Minneapolis Star Tribune today, as the first mainstream paper to acknowledge the Downing Street memo, puts it this way: "Also comes word, from the May 19 New York Times, that senior U.S. military leaders are not encouraged about prospects in Iraq. Yes, they think the United States can prevail, but as one said, it may take "many years." "As this bloody month of car bombs and American deaths -- the most since January -- comes to a close, as we gather in groups small and large to honor our war dead, let us all sing of their bravery and sacrifice. But let us also ask their forgiveness for sending them to a war that should never have happened. In the 1960s it was Vietnam. Today it is Iraq. Let us resolve to never, ever make this mistake again. Our young people are simply too precious." Yes, on this Memorial Day the barbeques are lit and the beer is being passed and the flags are waving in the breeze, but there's a feeling of unease in the nation. It's not just the grief of ongoing war -- it's the question that the polls show so many of us asking ... do we still belong there? Did we EVER? There are links below to a few excellent op/eds -- take a moment. Note: some of you who tried to get on the Conyers website to sign the petition may have been bounced out by [one can hope] too much activity; it was running smoothly yesterday. Try again at: http://www.johnconyers.com Peace ~ Jude Praise Bravery, Seek Forgiveness -- http://www.startribune.com/stories/1519/5427823.html They Also Serve Who Stand for Peace -- http://www.commondreams.org/views05/0529-28.htm Paul Krugman: Too Few, Yet Too Many -- http://www.truthout.org/docs_2005/053005Z.shtml Jude, the editor of Political Waves, is currently standing in for Eric Franics on his daily blog. You can subscribe to Political Waves (our all-politics news distribution list) for free at the link below. You'll receive between five and 10 news articles each day. You may write to Jude with your responses to her commentaries at moderator@planetwaves.net. Political Waves list: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/political_waves/