The deaths of 6 U.S. soldiers yesterday has pushed the American death toll to 2,978–five more than died in the attacks on 9-11.  Since Iraq had nothing to do with 9-11, this has been a pointless sacrifice every bit as tragic as 9-11.

Of course, the U.S. casualties in the war are dwarfed by the hundreds of thousands of Iraqi deaths in the chaos unleashed by the U.S. invasion, as well as suffering of the million or more Iraqi refugees who have fled the violence.

The Bush administration continues to focus on “winning” the war, but there is no winning possible in Iraq.  Too much has been lost already and no end is in sight.