Dear Fellow Americans:

Following another tragic roadside bombing in Iraq, resulting in the death of more American Marines, Bush pronounced 'the best way to honor the dead was to fight the insurgents, and train Iraqi troops, and he rejected any early U.S. pullout.'

When I hear the word 'insurgent', I do not see death-clad machines of war. I can't picture angry demon-like creatures flying about with machine guns. I see adolescent children and old men. I see anger. I see faces of people who are no longer quite sure what to do--so, they turn to violence against American troops.

And Iraqi troops? Well, is it possible some of the insurgents might be in the troops, as well? After all, Iraq is for the Iraqis, is it not?

When I read this news article, I could not help but picture a mother or father of one of the fallen Marines. Perhaps, she is drinking coffee in her bright kitchen. Perhaps, he is mowing the lawn, or looking at the stocks on the television when they get the news. Perhaps, they are both in mourning, perched on a loveseat in the family room filled with pictures of this Marine. They are dabbing at their eyes, and trying to remember what good it served when their child died. And then, they hear the words of the President tumble out of the television..."What the fallen would want...is to continue to fight the insurgents...and remain...Indefinitely...in Iraq". What do these loved ones think, staring at each other in their middle class home, or their lower class home? Do they clutch each others' hands and mourn, knowing their child would not want more death to result from his death? Do these parents agree with Bush but silently curse the man? Or, does Mother and Father simply turn the television off, and hope, hope, hope more children come home before they, too, are blown to bits...

No, President Bush. I do not believe the dead want the troops to push on. I do not believe the dead pray for more death. I do not believe the dead are anymore concerned for this checkered battle of ego to continue. I believe the dead wish to comfort the loved ones they left behind, and go on to a more peaceful place, where blood does not equal victory, and stupidity does not rule over life.