The Forgotten War

Thirty-nine coalition forces have been killed in Afghanistan this month. A roadside bomb killed three service members and a local-national interpreter in a coalition convoy in eastern Afghanistan, the U.S.-led coalition said.

Since we have family in Afghanistan this is disturbing to say the least. Iraq is just about off the front pages of the newspapers, though there is evidence Iraq is becoming un-surged. Nearly 30 soldiers in Iraq this month, while over 50 ordinary Iraqis died yesterday alone. What is the Democratic Congress' answer to this? A $162 billion war spending bill with no timeline, virtually nothing, but a blank check. Of course the package includes something for us. It was approved 92-6 in the Senate and includes a doubling of GI Bill college benefits for troops and veterans. It also provides a 13-week extension of unemployment benefits and $2.7 billion in emergency flood relief for the Midwest. Should we not have these benefits as Americans anyway in times of crisis and need? Why should they be tied to more war in Iraq and Afghanistan?

I believe truly that Obama and the Democrats want to stop this war, but how many people will die until January 20, 2009? How many? Is it worth not showing a spine right now with the hopes of getting a Democrat elected to the White House? How many more times will we make this mistake?

Here are pictures from our cousin's stay in the war riddled country of Afghanistan.