I'm new to the "ugliness of war". Gulf 1 was short and fairly sterile. We had a clear mandate from the UN and a broader coalition. We did what we had done several times before. We fought to drive an aggressor from its neighbor. The responsibility for any and all "ugliness" was put squarely on Saddam.

The group responsible for 911 lived and trained in Afghanistan. Striking the Taliban was an action demanded of us, by us, as lucid as declaring war on Japan.

In this war I can't help but feel guilty when innocent people die. I don't think anyone can. It does not mean I don't believe in the moral character of Americans fighting in Iraq. I just means I'm slow to accept the realities of war.