For quite some time, when writing about the quagmire that is Iraq, a variation of the phrase, “where nearly 2400 Americans have died” has been used. Today we are officially at 2399 dead U.S. servicemen and women, so I thought I’d take a few minutes and tell you about Edward Davis III, who was killed yesterday when a bomb struck his Humvee…the last of the “nearly 2400”:
Sgt. Davis…leaves behind his wife, Preena, daughters Priscilla, 11, and Alicia, 4, and his 2-year-old son, Edward Davis IV.
“He excelled at everything he did,” his father said. “I just want the people of Lake County and Waukegan to know that Waukegan lost one of its very own”
On this day that Davis died, what does another U.S. serviceman say about the situation in Iraq?
“There’s two kinds of Iraqis here, the ones who help us and the ones who shoot us, and there’s an awful lot of ’em doing both.”
And what are the Iraqis saying on the day Waukegan lost one of its own?
Only 1 percent said they trust U.S.-led coalition forces for their personal protection.
It is time to once more ask, how do you ask a man to be the last one to die for a mistake?
Davis had volunteered for his tour of duty in Iraq, telling his father that, “it’s what I do. I’m a Marine.” And as always when I read a sentiment like this, I’m reminded of a soldier’s explanation for why they do what they do:
“Hey Hoot, why do you do it man? Why? You some kind of war junkie? I won’t say a goddam word. Why? They won’t understand. They won’t understand why we do it. They won’t understand, it’s about the men next to you. And that’s it. That’s all it is.
Davis did his duty, was true to himself and his fellow-Marines. And now his devastated family and friends are left behind while:
Anger and malaise have driven a relentless insurgency that is mostly homegrown — few foreign fighters have been found here — and has inflicted more than its share of violence on American troops.
And the answer to the many questions on how to deal with the insurgency and the ever-increasing sectarian violence? Stay the course…don’t cut and run…freedom is on the march. And at the same time, a recent poll run by a conservative think tank finds that:
A majority of Iraqis say their country is in dismal economic shape and getting worse, with 3 of 4 respondents also describing security in the country as poor…
And on and on it goes, no matter how many corners are turned, no matter how many times purple fingers are waved…again, how do you ask a man to be the last one to die for a mistake?
Crossposted at Daily Kos and <a href”
