by James Glaser
May 31, 2005

President George Bush was speaking at Arlington National Cemetery on this Memorial Day and here is what he had to say. "As we look across these acres, we begin to tally the cost of our freedom, and we count it a privilege to be citizens of the country served by so many brave men and women and we must honor them by completing the mission for which they gave their lives, by defeating the terrorists, advancing the cause of liberty, and building a safer world."

The "mission" that Bush is talking about is the same mission that he said was "Mission Accomplished" over two years ago on May 1st 2003. Since that day that he talked to the Nation from the deck of an Aircraft Carrier filled with sailors wanting to see their loved ones, but who were kept at sea longer for Bush's speech, another 1,520 young brave Americans have lost their lives and over 10,000 have been wounded.

Every year since George Bush started his war on terrorism, there has been an increase of terrorist attacks the world over.

Now George wants to honor those thousands and thousands of deaths and wounds, by adding to that number. Well how much honor does it give to those men and women buried at Arlington, if thousands of more brave young Americans die or are maimed for life?

How many more Americans must die, and how many more Iraqis? Iraq is almost in a total civil war right now and there have been over 750 killed and thousands wounded since Bush installed the "new" Iraqi government at the end of April of this year.

George Bush had his chance to go to war, but instead, he deserted. He could have heard and answered his nation's call to arms, but he walked away. If he had served, he would really know the price those at Arlington paid, and he would know that more deaths do not honor those who already have died.

Iraq never attacked our country nor did they have the means to attack us. No Iraqi was involved in the September 11th 2001 attack on America. No one in Iraq invited us to help them over throw Saddam Hussein. We have not brought any liberty or freedom to Iraq in over two years of combat.

Here is a common daily report from Baghdad, "But there was no doubt that the casualties were extensive. The blasts left the roadway strewn with sandals, pools of blood and pieces of flesh, some of them caught on the rolls of razor wire protecting the Hilla mayor's office." That report was sent out on Memorial Day. Each and every day there are similar reports coming out of Iraq. People in Iraq still do not have reliable electricity, clean drinking water, nor do the have any sense of security.

George Bush's War on Terror has been a failure and the war in Iraq is costing us more and more fine young Americans each and every day. Today our all volunteer military can not get enough volunteers. Soldiers have to make repeated combat tours and middle age National Guardsmen are fighting on the front line in Bush's war. Today American soldiers are forced to stay in the military even after their enlistment is over with a law that says it all, "Stop Loss."