The Editorial cartoon in your paper today is proof that our leaders did not learn from their previous mistakes, but you will not admit that one.

this was expected from the daily, ssdd dd

Mr. Hagel was taken to task for his "pro" and "anti" war positions, (he was for it before he was against it, a regular John Kerry).

The Iraq war was not a mistake, but, like all complex issues, the justification cannot be neatly packaged in a slogan or catchphrase, and, most of the American public no longer have the attention span required to absorb the rationale. While Iraq continues to suffer wanton acts of terror, and, while Islamic democracy may not resemble American democracy, Iraq's democratic institutions are strengthening and there is little sign the country is on the verge of "Arab Spring"-type civil war despite articles the Decatur Daily might run to dispute this claim. The public pressure created on neighboring tyrants is overwhelming. If Iraq succeeds, as it appears it may despite the Obama Administrations best efforts to the contrary, the Daily and the Democrat Party will be on the wrong side of history, again, as usual. The readership should prepare itself for articles that run counter to this view as the Daily cannot let this comment go unanswered.

The Iraq war was not a mistke DD, we have not had a terrorist attack on our shores from that region since.As usual, the DD does not look at the overall big picture.

As someone who fought in it and attended more than my share of green suit funerals as a member of the honor guard, the iraq war was indeed a tremendous waste of blood and treasure. The life of even one of my buried brothers is worth more than our involvement in that country.

It was a waste, and I'm glad that at least some can see the obvious truth even far too late. Its still better than never.

Thank you for your service James. Would you elaborate on why you believe it was a waste?

Hear, Hear! Bring them home!

Thank you otis, it was an honor, and gladly.

Historically, we have seen many nations, empires overextend and waste precious blood and treasure in excursions abroad, like the romans of old, or even the soviets in one of the very same nations we are currently in, afghanistan. Here and now, as then, it has contributed to the downfall of this nation as a whole financially in ways we cannot even begin to understand. The sums are just too vast. For example, the program I worked on was a small one, funded almost entirely by supplemental appropriations, with a budget of approx $500 million annually as of 2007, and a force structure of about 200 man years. So small, by army standards. But with a $500 million budget. Think of what alabama could do with that $. Perhaps give teachers a raise? Pay off debt? All from one small program.

And I don't think I have to tell you from a human standpoint, the loss. The sheer tragedy. I was in honor guard for less than a year, and attended about 4-5 state funerals. The look of grief, the pain in the eyes of the families involved, in at least two cases with young children. Almost nothing in this world justifies that pain to me, and most certainly not to the families. What have we really got to show there? Why did these men die? I don't know. Do you?

I was ready james' comments and agree with alot of it but lost me at given teachers a raise.

well, whatever you would like to do with the money, then ronald. it was a rhetorical point; neither of us is in charge of budgeting.