Bring home troops before more are lost

I truly believe that if a poll were conducted asking how many American men and women have lost their lives in the Iraq war, most people wouldn't even be close in their answer. Take a moment, reader, and guess before reading on.

The total number is 4,413. Count to it and see how long it takes. We are talking about human beings who no longer will enjoy another day, no longer will see the sun rise or set, won't see his or her wife, husband, children or parents, and will never get a chance to grow old naturally. Exactly for what reason, I do not know.

This is not to mention the 33,000 or so who are wounded, maimed, blinded or so emotionally scarred that they will never be the same, nor their families.

This war is madness. I pray that we will bring our young home and minimize any more bloodshed.

One last thought: How many times in the last day, week or month have you thought about these brave young men and women, or how many times have you prayed for them? Only you can answer that.

Steve J. Kogut

Des Plaines