We are taking casualties in Iraq because we are working on the ground, bit by bit, trying to salvage a nation out of a dictatorship, instead of flying thousands of feet overhead bombing the entire place into rubble.

I think we're doing the right thing, but it's costing more American lives than doing the wrong thing would.

Already, some terrorists that have been released have returned to their terror groups, and at least one has been implicated in further acts of terror overseas.

When someone is released under "due process" who then blows up a train, are you going to recognize that, as with our regular criminal system, this is part of the price that is sometimes paid to ensure that the innocent are not punished?

Or are you going to scream at the government about why they didn't "do something" about this?

In all the finger-pointing after 9-11, how many people realized that the actions that would have been required to round up the terrorists before the fact would have violated a lot of current due process and human rights standards?

Can you really arrest someone for taking flying lessons that don't involve landing? Under what charge? Is "Flying while Arab" anything like "driving while black?"

Don't get me wrong. I think a certain level of trading perfect safety to keep our freedoms is not only a legitimate tradeoff, but a good one.

But when it hits the fan, let's all remember that.