I do not measure the Iraq venture in death. Death is wholly inadequate a yardstick.

We could measure WWI and WWII by death. There we were nation building, playing God with men and lands where we had no interest.

But no, there we were fighting fascism - a wholly noble venture. We freed the citizens from their oppressors.

The millions who have left Iraq, most will have a better life than they did under Saddam. At the very least a more free life, and their offspring will hopefully have a more fruitful life.

When Iraq finally does settle down, it almost certainly will be much more free than in the Saddam days. No dictator will make wanton purges and mass murders. No wood chippers will be operating on human flesh under state sanction.

America paid a bloody price for Freedom from it's king. So did Germany and Japan from their dictator and emperor.

Death is no yardstick for freedom. There is no point at which enough death makes it preferable to live as a slave. If Iraq was not worth it than WWI and WWII was not worth it either. Neither was the American Revolution or all those unlucky souls who were shot in the back as they hopped the wall from East to West Berlin. Death almost always accompanies the struggle for human freedom.

If your case is Iraqis are undeserving of freedom - make your case. If your case is US lives are worth more than Iraq's freedom - make your case. If you believe fundamental Islam has not benefitted from the spotlight our ventures have placed upon it - make your case.

And I would strongly suggest you take a look at death statistics around the world, since death is your yardstick. Look closely at just how many people die unnaturally all over the world due to the lack of civilization. Then come back and look at what the US has done in Iraq and around the world and come tell me about the US caused global suffering and death again with a straight face.

The anti-American propagandists have you, and many other gullible Americans, right where they want you.