Disclaimer: When I was home and had time on the computer, I really enjoyed linking and writing complete thoughts, out here, my time on the computer is limited, so please forgive relying on my memory, if I screw it up, oh well.

This past week, the MSM was a twitter with the revelation that American deaths in Iraq had passed 4,000 -  a point at which the media was clearly anticipating, almost salivating towards.  This provides them yet another clear talking point devoid of analysis; a news bite in which they can throw up a number, show the names and faces of some troops, all the while pointing out the length of the conflict and their view of its utter hopelessness. In my view, nothing can be further from the truth.

I grieve every single American and Coalition (to include our brother and sister Iraqis) who lose their life from the violence here. But any war, especially one with an ideological nature as this, is not measured simply in stark numbers of dead troops.  Imagine for a moment if the media provided context, CNN this past week did show the relative length of wars since WWII and their cost in terms of American dead, but even that doesn't tell all the tale.  What was the result of WWII?  A stable and free western Europe, a disarmed Japan, and relative peace and prosperity for an ever expanding pocket in South East Asia.  A peaceful and very prosperous Korea came out of the Korean War and yet, where was this piece of the equation? How about the population size of our country against the size of loss of life in WWII (405,000 against 140 million vs. 4,000 against 300 Million).

The other major story currently being breathlessly reported is the violence in Basra and directed at the Green Zone.  Major media outlets make this seem like it's the Battle of the Bulge, and like Otto Skorzeny's German troops dressed as Americans and infiltrating the lines, are we now to authenticate ourselves in a similar fashion as in WWII, American icons?  When General Omar Bradley was mistakenly arrested for failure to know a fact (I think it was sports related) any moment now, I'm expecting a guard to stop and ask me who won the last American Idol? You don't know that? OK, What’s Brittany's second child’s name? WHAT, OK Sir, last one: What is Paris Hilton's dog's name?  That’s it, arrest him!

Isn't it amazing no one in the MSM at home appears to be making the connection between the upcoming testimony of General Petraus and Ambassador Crocker and the "uprising."  Think of Al Sadr as a modern day General Giap, although, what I think he lacks in military effectiveness of our North Vietnamese nemesis he more than makes up for in media savvy.  Folks, just as the war in Vietnam was fight for on the floors of the American living room with Walter Cronkite broadcasting and then translated into the city of Washington; it's now being fought on the blogs of America and the internet and the same halls of US Congress.  Sadr is "prepping the battle space" and the batlle space is the Senate Armed Services Committee.  He knows full well, that as General Petraus tries to give his assessment, he will be met with a skeptical gaze from Members of the Senate and House, fresh in their minds from watching the media's discussion of the "raging battles" and the Shia uprising.

Finally, to end on another media note, we lost an Air Force Combat Controller in Afghanistan named William Jefferson, I believe he was a SSGT.  I doubt if I knew him but I certainly have been honored to serve with many CCT troops over the years.   When I looked at the story in the Washington Post, this line (are very close to it) was there"  "Our calls seeking comments were not immediately answered"  Let me get this straight, parents, siblings, a wife, friends, had the temerity to not return the phone calls of the Washington Post, how dare they!  To the caller who left that message, bile rises in my mouth.  Is there any possible way you can understand the grieving process?  Are you so much of a jackal that you needed to call and leave a message asking about a dead American?  I don't care if a person des in a car accident, of cancer, or on the battlefield, it's reprehensible to interject yourself into this process, and as far as this American is concerned, leave these people the hell alone.

One final note.  It's not just Americans out here serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, I don't know the number of countries nor the number of troops alongside us, but we are privileged and honored to have with us men and women from all over the world.  Just as I remember SSGT Jefferson, I remember all of the troops from all over the world who have joined us in this struggle. Thank you for your service and sacrifice.

Otto sends