As you know, Iraqi constitution passes. It barely made it because another 12 percent "no" in one province would have derailed the nation-building process. Still, it is a good news that perhaps our task there is almost done, and Iraqis' task of rebuilding their country—which we blew up several times—has to begin.

They will have to deal with the Jihadis, whom some have revoltingly invited to bomb not just our soldiers but their civilians simply to drive us out; but when we leave, who can they attack now? When they realize that they have journed thousands of miles to Iraq to fight against an enemy that is already gone, where be the paradise they look for? I am fearful of the future repercussions.

Meanwhile, 2,000 brave soldiers have died in Iraq now. The article brushes off the number as a statistics useful for blaming President Bush. I don't believe that. It is 2,000 soldiers, but in 2003, we weeped when some tens and hundreds died. This is 2,000 soldiers . . . the hundreds times the tens. Our sorrow should overflow. Maybe the fact that the nation isn't as enraged over this is because we suffered thousand times more in Vietnam a day, or because we are more desensitized to death, or worse still, we are apathetic to violent death when they happen to other people far away in the obscure land of Arabia, where the perfume will not ever cleanse our or their hands of blood.