My LTTE published today in Greenville, SC (2 anti-war LTTEs today!)

We should honor the troops, not this war

The haunting realities of President George H.W. Bush's reference to "a thousand points of light" in his 1989 inaugural speech visit us again. This time the "thousand points of light" are the lost lives of 2,000 of America's finest young men and women. The first of these brave troops died on March 20, 2003. The 1,000th Iraq war death occurred on Sept. 7, 2004, and the 2,000th war death on Oct. 25.

These 2,000 lives were lost in a war that happened because of another "thousand points of light," the constellation of bright shining lies of President George W. Bush .

Since "Mission Accomplished," May 1, 2003, 1,883 U.S. troops have died. Since "Bring 'em on!" (July 2, 2003), 1,795 good Americans have died. Dover Air Force Base has received 1,588 flag-draped coffins from Iraq since Dec. 13, 2003, the day Saddam Hussein was captured and we were told the world is a safer place.

The original reasons justifying this $200 billion war are long gone. As a veteran of 250 air combat missions in Vietnam, I honor the warrior, but not Mr. Bush's war. As one who can count the names of many friends on the Vietnam Memorial Wall, I grieve for this regiment of good and brave Americans, lost forever in Iraq.

DemoTex