Military Death Non-Milestone: The Old Maid Comments

Listen to the Old Maids of the Senate lamenting the 2000th military death.

Critics of the war also acknowledged the sacrifice, even as they questioned the policies of those who lead it.

Sen. Robert C. Byrd, D-W.Va, called Tuesday afternoon'’s news "“another tragic milestone in this costly war."

In a speech to the Senate, Byrd said, "“Too much blood has been spilled already. I offer my deepest sympathies to the brave men and women who have given their lives in selfless dedication to service to our nation,"” Byrd said in a speech on the Senate floor.

"“As we mourn the losses that have already occurred in the war in Iraq, Americans should be mindful that all indications are that there will be many more losses to come,"” he said.

Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., said, "“our armed forces are serving ably in Iraq under enormously difficult circumstances, and the policy of our government must be worthy of their sacrifice. Unfortunately, it is not, and the American people know it,"’ said, the Massachusetts Democrat.

Makes you wonder what would be worth the sacrifice? With these old turds lamenting, it make you wonder how much is honest feeling and how much politics.

But the MSM isn't going to give a realistic view. Their complaints about the military doing body counts, something the MSM has been doing since the start of the conflict, is just morbid. Not to mention the total lack of coverage on the fact that the Iraqi constitution passed with high voter turn out and with a large percent of the vote approving.

In an e-mail statement to Baghdad-based journalists, command spokesman Lt. Col. Steve Boylan said media attention on the 2,000 figure was misguided and "set by individuals or groups with specific agendas and ulterior motives."

He described the grim statistic as an "artificial mark on the wall"’ and urged news organizations to focus more on the accomplishments of the U.S. military mission in Iraq.

For example, Iraqi officials announced Tuesday that voters had approved a new constitution in the Oct. 15 referendum, laying the foundation for constitutional, democratic Iraqi government after decades of Saddam'’s tyranny.

"I ask that when you report on the events, take a moment to think about the effects on the families and those serving in Iraq," Boylan wrote. "“The 2,000 service members killed in Iraq supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom is not a milestone."’

and

He complained that the true milestones of the war were "“rarely covered or discussed, " including the troops who had volunteered to serve, the families of those that have been deployed for a year or more, and the Iraqis who have sought at great risk to restore normalcy to their country.

"Celebrate the daily milestones, the accomplishments they have secured and look to the future of a free and democratic Iraq and to the day that all of our troops return home to the heroes welcome they deserve,"’ Boylan wrote.

Then of course the article goes on to give the daily body count and the details of the daily suicide murders. Makes you wonder how the MSM can write a single story on Iraq, without returning to the body count.

But then there is the cut and run crowd.

With the death of the 2,000th American soldier in Iraq on his mind, Vermont Sen. Patrick Leahy challenged the president Tuesday to recall U.S. troops from deadly insurgent hotbeds in Iraq after the embattled nation's elections in December.

"I believe the president should consult with Congress on a flexible plan that includes pulling our troops back from the densely populated areas where they are suffering the worst casualties and to bring them home," Leahy, D-Vt., said in a speech on the Senate floor. "Those consultations should begin in earnest as soon as Iraq's new government is in place."

and

Leahy derided the administration for its "outright distortions" in the lead up to the invasion more than two years ago, calling the bloody outcome "politically motivated" and "unnecessary."

"I believe that history will not judge kindly those who got us into this debacle by attacking a country that did not threaten us, after deceiving the American people and ridiculing those who appealed for caution," Leahy said.

Histrionics without an understanding of history. I even heard one report that there is discussion of Senators blocking further funding of the Iraqi operations. Well, if it's not a Vietnam quagmire yet, this should help seeing this is exactly what went on during Vietnam.