I hope the "innocent souls" cut off YOUR heads. American Bastards indeed.

Bush and Blair are defending their countries, and indeed the world, from islamic fascism. Fanatical muslims are killing non-muslims in over 20 countries. That they do not wreak more havoc is simply due to the fact that they don't yet have the means. If muslims don't start pointing fingers where they deserve to be pointed (such as at the barbarians in the Sudan) instead of at Americans, you will force us to literally destroy Islam.

America has no need to "extricate" itself from anything. The only reason there is any difficulty at all in Iraq is that we are good people, and would rather try and root out terrorists there while leaving civilians alive than simply remove trouble spots like Fallujah and Najaf from the map with a coupe of MOABs.

Just wanted to address the comment below about the flags on the uniforms being "reversed". Actually they aren't: http://www.marlowwhite.com/faq-why-is-the-...patch-reversed.html

Thousands are praying for all of you to come home. Stay safe. We miss you.
spunga.org

Here's hoping all those American soldiers come back in body bags or don't come back at all

Hey Jean-Michel, if our soldiers come back in body bags, then next time your people are thrown into a crisis, here's hoping your own damn country can handle it yourselves. I am so sick of your kind whining about Americans and wishing death on us all as if every single one of us is to blame for this. Yet if we went over to Afghanistan and slaughtered them like pigs after 9/11, you would claim their people are not to blame, only the terrorists themselves. Your hipocrisy is astounding and quite frankly disgusting.

Is killing for "your cause" really a mute point?

Are you shooting without thinking?

Is aiming your weapon at a target and pulling the trigger a reflex action?

Are you shooting a pop up polyurethane foam “bad guy” or a human being?

Do you have to face your target before you will shoot?

Are you prepared to shoot your target in the back?

Are you prepared to shoot a child? A woman? An old person?

Are you prepared to bury the person you have killed?

Are you prepared to touch the body you have just killed with your bare hands?

Are you prepared to look the dead person in the face and touch their face?

Are you prepared to talk to the person's family?

Are you prepared to justify your reasons for killing this person?

Does the Bible really provide you with justification for killing?

Are you convinced that Jesus didn't really mean “Do violence to no man” when the soldiers asked him “What shall we do?” Luke 3:14

Are you sure Jesus didn't really mean “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you?” Luke 6:2

Is your justification for killing “For he is God's minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God's minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil?” Romans 13:4

Is the passage “for he does not bear the sword in vain” your justification?

Does Jesus kill anyone with a sword in the bible?

Do any of Jesus's apostles kill anyone with a sword in the bible?

You can see how questions like these could activate your conscience or cause you to hesitate to pull the trigger.

If you find yourself asking these questions, see a Combat Stress officer immediately.

Kevin, I think you've stepped up to the plate as the new Ernie Pyle. Another solid article. Too bad some visitors don't see the quality you put out and focus on their own biases.

Thank you for showing with honesty the situation that the troops face everyday. My husband served over there the first time, and most people have no idea what those people go through over there. All of the anti-war folks still haven't been able to tell me the answer to this question..."9-11 connections aside - I suppose all of you were perfectly fine with the injustice and blatant killing of the Iraqui people under Sadaam Hussein?" These same people would dare to say "we Americans" waited too long to do anything about the Holocaust. Hypocrites!

kevin - thanks for showing the personal side of things in Iraq. When all the "big issues" are done being debated it all comes down to a soldier trying to stay alive for another day.

Thank you for your article. My son stayed alive for a year.He will go back to Iraq in a few months. I pray he will stay safe anther year.

It's touching, realistic stories of hope like these that keep many of us going. Job well done. Thank you.

This is not the war GW Bush is talking about. Nothing like this comes out of the Whitehouse or even Fox News. Are they blind or do they like telling half-truths.

This is so much like Vietnam it hurts.

I have enjoyed reading this article. These soldiers sacrifice so much for our country and Iraq. It is easy to get caught up in the critizism of soldiers, our government, and the Iraq war. Reading stories such as these reminds me of how blessed our country is to have soldiers that are willing to sacrafice so much for their country.
The media tends to focus on the negative aspects of the War in Iraq, but I would like to hear and see evidence of the good we have accomplished. A POW once said that he would be willing to return to Iraq to help the people there rebuild their country. He said the satisfaction of helping the Iraqi's rebuild their government is worth the sacrifice.
Thank you for allowing Americans to see what life in Iraq really is like...the good and the bad.
Please let the soldiers know we are praying for them daily, and tell them they are setting a wonderful example for everyone in America.

Great, great job Mr. Sites.

Keep those dispatches coming.

Thanks for the great article on the PLT Kevin. It really made their day getting to say what was on their mind. Thanks as well for letting them use your phone too, it really meant alot to them. I still haven't figured out the charms thing myself, when I do I'll let you know.