A Soldier will die.

I'm rescuing those on dial-up from the sluggishness the videos cause on the other thread. So you've now got a nice quick thread on which to post your thoughts about tonight's caucuses.

No matter who you're routing for, remember this statement posted by Army Dude from
ArmyofDude.blog

Remember Iraq? The Democratic candidates don't, but the Republican candidates do, as the word 'success' is being tossed around D.C. like it's been there since mission accomplished. I suppose the only thing both sides have in common is using the war and our soldiers as a Kleenex issue, ready to dispose of when they're no longer useful.

What you likely have forgotten is Afghanistan, slipping deeper into chaos with a Taliban resurgence, coupled with what is going to a be record crop of opium, used to finance insurgent fighters. Per capita, it's more deadly than Iraq, with only 50,000 troops there to hold against the Taliban influx. A war almost the whole world can agree on, and there's a little being done, save Secretary Gates asking allies to contribute. Be sure to read this article on what happens when there are too few troops in an area crawling with Taliban. Policy that directs assets and soldiers to Iraq to fight in that war is what gets men killed in Afghanistan, simply put. They don't have enough manpower and equipment to fight their fight. With the supposed success in Iraq, it's high time we have another surge, this time in Afghanistan.

This has been on my mind all new year. It was left anonymously in a comment section of an earlier entry:Sometime this year, an eighteen year old soldier will die in a war that started when he was thirteen.Hold onto that. Let it linger.

Sometime this year, an eighteen year old soldier will die in a war that started when he was thirteen.

Sometime this year an eighteen year old will die after having lived through a political impeachment based on marital infidelity and a lie that happened when he was nine.

Some time this year, an eighteen year old soldier will die for a president who lied...

And yet Congress just sits by...

It's an election year, and many more will die. Think on that a while.

Sparrow DCP Open Thread