Casualties of War

Now that the midterm elections are over it is time to stand back and take a look at what really happened and why.

We all know the Republican party got what President Bush called a "real thumping."

That is a total understatement. Losing both the House and the Senate is more than a thumping. It is a political sea change. And here is why.

Scandals rocked the Republicans, from the months-long corruption investigation spawned by lobbyist Jack Abramoff to the revelation that former Rep. Mark Foley, R-Fla., had sent sexually explicit computer messages to teenage congressional pages. Add to that he fact that the Iraq war has proved to be as unpopular as Vietnam was during its time and its not hard to see why they failed.

Donald Rums-failed has now resigned. Many believe that he was a scapegoat for the Republicans. Scapegoat or not he was the architect of the failed war and had to pay the price for its failure.

But lets not feel sorry for any of the previously mentioned people. Bush is still the President and still has a job. He is a lame-duck President but still the President none the less. Jack Abramoff  will do some cell time but will eventually be freed and still has his money and powerful friends. And Rums-failed. He can get another job in this or a future administration. If not, he will be on the lecture circuit collecting $50,000 engagement fees.

No don't feel sorry for anyone of them. They are not the real casualties of this war.

The real casualties of this war are the soldiers that died in Iraq. The men and women who actually died while supposedly defending America. They are the real casualties. Add to them the ones who survived but were maimed for life. They too are the real casualties. The real casualties are the families and relatives of those dead soldiers. The mothers, fathers and children. The sisters and brothers. The aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews. And of course all of their friends too.

So for the next few days while you are listening to the political pundits tell you about the casualties of war remember who the real casualties are. And then realize that no matter how bad you think it is for the Republicans it is only temporary. Political parties change as do those in control. It was Clinton then Bush and now you can expect another Democrat. They always get replaced.

They are only temporary casualties of war. Remember the permanent casualties of war. Remember their sacrifice and what they died for. And the next time we are in this situation remember what happened this time. Maybe then we can have fewer casualties of war.