Larry wrote: "Military personnel are killed virtually every week regardless of whether they're in the US or overseas. They get killed in training accidents. They die in plane crashes. They die by falling off of ships. They die in many often gruesome ways. It comes with the uniform, especially when you mix teenagers with live ammo and high explosives. "

Let me itemize it for you Larry.

(1.) Not all casualties, nor even most, in Iraq are from 'routine' deaths and accidents, so this is an in-general red herring.
(2.) That they are dying in Iraq, is because we have placed them in Iraq. This is simple causality. Additionally Accidental death is higher among troops on deployment. Look it up in you all-mighty knowledge base of military affairs.

As to the rest:
I understand that Military folks die all the time from accident, but that does not mitigate that we have placed troops in Iraq and they are dying there.

Also, WRT the rest:
I understand the accidental and/or in-action body counts in other conflicts was higher, but them being higher does not justify, excuse, or make right, lessen the moral import of the deaths in this conflict. Stalin Killed on the order of twice to three times the number of people Hitler did (depending on how you do the math). This does not make Hitler better than Stalin, nor Stalin worse. That I have to explain these basic facts of morality to you makes me feel very sad for you, and a Pray you never had children.

Your original statement was that mopre people died In DC during the same time segment, since we don't give up on DC, we shouldnt give up on Iraq- its all the same. Moral relativism by definition. Your backpeddaling doesn't change anything.

Larry wrote: "It's really rather pathetic. I feel sorry for you. "

And I for you, Larry. You know my estimation of you- I have stated it before- what you are, and this backpedal only adds conviction to my notions about you. If you want to make statements about my character, Have some courage, go over to Flame and post your thoughts, and lets go at it. Otherwise, stop hiding behind the posting standards of Currentevents.

Davin L.