According to a recent NIE report, Al Qaeda is every bit as functional and organized as it was prior our losing 3776 soldiers, over 27,700 wounded, and over 70,000 slain civilian Iraqis as well. And then to hear from Petraeus himself, the commander of the multinational forces that even he doesn’t know if our efforts in Iraq are making America safer, and that the primary cause of violence is sectarian strife and the battle for power and resources, and I wonder what ever happened to the “global war on terror”? Wasn’t Bin Laden at one point in time the primary target in our quest to avenge 9-11? I seem to recall a wanted “dead or alive” exclamation from our president some time ago. I can only imagine the satisfaction he (Bin Laden) derives from being able to shown up at will, taunting us, reminding us that he is still out there. What are we doing folks?

All the talk, the hot air, the endless debate, posturing by wanna be presidents and the like, the bloviating, and still our nation and our soldiers carry the heavy burden of political paralysis and inaction. The cost is staggering in every way imaginable, and grows exponentially with each and every day. What needs to happen before we collectively demand answers as to how much blood has to spill for a cause that has an ever changing rationale, and a president still on the stump attempting to sell his war to the American people?

Make no mistake, we are all being held political hostage in this endless, mindless, despicable shell game, and we have abdicated our civic responsibility as evidenced by the continued hubris and arrogance displayed by those who know they can get away with politicizing this war until Jan 20, 2009. I see more studied thought and commentary on school vouchers and UTA bus service than on the “defining battle of the 21st century”.

Are we really so ignorant as to assume that this will resolve without our insistence and attention? Shame on us. Our soldiers and our nation deserve so much better.