From the dead soldier:

>"I think that many of us in America have forgotten that war means death and suffering in wholesale lots.
A decision that for most of us in America was academic, whether or not to go to war in Iraq, had very real consequences for hundreds of thousands of people. Yet I was as guilty as anyone of minimising those very real consequences in lieu of a cold discussion of theoretical merits of war and peace.

I think it's a good thing to realise that this pain has been felt by thousands and thousands (probably millions, actually) of other people all over the world. That is part of the cost of war. If everyone who feels this pain keeps that in mind the next time we have to decide whether or not war is a good idea, perhaps it will help us to make a more informed decision.
Because it is pretty clear that the average American would not have supported the Iraq War had they known the costs going in."

I don't know how old he is, but he's speaking from his perspective, his participation in it.
And he was wise beyond his years. Too bad his family gets to suffer. He's probably just another statistic on the Road to Democracy for you.