And I fell even sourer. But I'll turn it around: what do you think the least bad course is now: should we pull all combat forces out in 8 or 9 months? Are our forces doing good--from the point of view of Iraq and Irais--at this point?

Dear Kassakhoon: The way I read this post, it sounded satirical--that Sahar was saying what might be in the soldiers' minds, not what is true. And sadly, I do think many thought they were bringing democracy, or even civilization, when they first came. I wish I could convey how hysterical people were in the U.S. at the beginning of this war. The majority were in favor of it, and people who spoke out against it were labeled traitors. The lies that were being spread with impunity overshadowed the truth in way that is still difficult for me to understand. There were those of us who knew it was wrong then--but it was as though we were in some other reality than most of the country. Even today, far too many Americans still believe that Saddam Hussein had something to do with 9/11/01. Completely absurd, I know, but.... I believe that there are people of ill-will involved in this war. They are the planners in the Bush administration, including the liars in the State Department and White House. Then there are the corporations who are making a killing--making a massacre--making a genocide of money over all this, and exploiting everyone and everything (Iraqis, American soldiers, the environment) as they do so. What is heartbreaking is knowing that--however misplaced, however misguided--the intentions of most the Americans in Iraq was to do good. And now, of course, many of them--as do most of us at home--understand that what they thought they were doing, what they were told they were doing it for, is neither true nor good. Worst of all, I believe, is how all the wrongs and pain planned, caused and ordered by the unjust has led to ordinary, good people--Americans and Iraqi alike--to lose sight of a sense of humanity--of that core understanding that we are all simply human. That we are more like each other than different from each other. I hate this. I hate how those of you thrust into this disaster are suffering. I hate the utter destruction of it all, the loss of life and culture and homes...and in some ways, maybe even worst of all, the loss of trust, the loss of seeing good in others, and--for some--good in oneself. What I am grateful for, Sahar, is that you see those young people with the eyes of a mother. The eyes of someone who knows just how human, how perfectly imperfect and love-worthy we are, just because we are human. How alike we are, or we could be, if this madness were not happening. I think of how your mother's eyes may be alighting on some other mother's son, some child this mother will not ever see again. Some husband who will not come home. And you, dear friend, already know what that is like. And still, you can see their humanity. Despite what they may be doing. Despite what you have suffered. May G-d bless you and keep you. And help us all.

I feel ashamed that my fellow citizens let this happen, and I feel ashamed that they let it continue, even though they now disapprove. And I feel despair that they will EVER wake up and realize the extent of the pain and misery they have inflicted on other countries, most recently Iraq.

Some of them feel like they want to fix the country they broke in 2003. Most of them are there looking out for each other until they can go home. They all want to go home. Then there are the wounded soldiers in places like Walter Reed who only want to go back to Iraq. They worry about those they left behind. One thing is for sure, like those in Iraq, none of these Americans will ever be the same. We are all changed forever.