[benVFR]

Give us an exective summary of where the progress is.

Republican leadership (other then the President, who's just trying to save face) doesn't even seem to believe there is progress anymore.

We've got more soldiers dying, more Iraqis taking up arms, the Iraqi security forces seem to be selling or giving away the weaponry we're providing for them to keep peace with.

What is going well? That companies that are involved in the making of weapons and reconstruction of Iraq are having great financial results? And I'm not kidding.. keep the Iraq war going and I'll be happy to ride that wave, I've got no issue going to work for a defense contractor. (I'm starting a new job in 2 weeks and technically I think I will be on that wave, even though I'm not going to work on a military project the company is heavily involved with the department of defense) But that still doesn't make the invasion and occupation "right".

This country is "by the people for the people". Telling people to shut up and act in lock step like a bunch of soldiers is a rotten thing to say. When we do that we cease to be the same country we are.

BTW.. how can you advocate an all-volunteer army and in the same sentence make it clear you think everyone should serve?

No one is questioning soldiers for doing their job. It's not a soldiers job to question orders. That doesn't mean there is anything wrong with civilians questioning the government that put you in harms way. That's our right, the government is supposed to be accountable to the people, not the other way around. When it is not at all clear the war advances US interests in a positive way why the hell shouldn't we be questioning it.