"Augie"

I have seen Paul E. Schroeder and "Augie" Schroeder's mother on CNN programs from time to time since their dark day in Haditha. Both have always maintained a respectful, thoughtful tone in their reaction to the Bush administration's decisions concerning Iraq. Paul Schroeder's tone remains that in his Op Ed in today's Washington Post:

Though it hurts, I believe that his death -- and that of the other Americans who have died in Iraq -- was a waste. They were wasted in a belief that democracy would grow simply by removing a dictator -- a careless misunderstanding of what democracy requires. They were wasted by not sending enough troops to do the job needed in the resulting occupation -- a careless disregard for professional military counsel.

But their deaths will not be in vain if Americans stop hiding behind flag-draped hero masks and stop whispering their opposition to this war. Until then, the lives of other sons, daughters, husbands, wives, fathers and mothers may be wasted as well.

This is very painful to acknowledge, and I have to live with it. So does President Bush.