The Washington Post ran an Op-Ed by Paul E. Schroeder, "A Life, Wasted," on January 3, 2006 regarding the death of Schroeder's son "Augie" in August 2005. The father notes that the Marine Colonel's telling him that his son "is a true American hero" does nothing to assuage the grief. Augie's sister comments that "being a patriot doesn't make his death okay." The father adds that
"The words 'hero' and 'patriot' focus on the death, not the life. They are a flag-draped mask covering the truth that few want to acknowledge openly: Death in battle is tragic no matter what the reasons for the war. The tragedy is the life that was lost, not the manner of death." Id.
Mr. Schroeder goes on to say that he sees more and more Americans who oppose the Iraq war but who are not willing to talk about it openly. He steps out to make a clear statement about the futility of the war.
"I am outraged at what I see as the cause of his death." For nearly three years, the Bush administration has purused a policy that makes our troops sitting ducks. ...Augie complained that the cost in lives to clear insurgents was 'less and less worth it' because Marines have to keep coming back to clear the same places."
"President Bush says those who criticize staying the course are not honoring the dead. ...Though it hurts, I believe that [my son's] 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."
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