War News from the Volunteer State

Early Sunday three Tennessee Army National Guardsmen died when their Knoxville-based unit came under hostile fire. Staff Sgt. Asbury F. Hawn, 35, of Lebanon; Sgt. Shannon D. Taylor, 30, of Smithville; and Specialist Gary L. Reese, 22, of Ashland City died at Tuz Khurmatu near Tikrit. In a summer marked by larger I.E.D. explosions, Coalition Forces have now lost 2050 soldiers in Iraq. Tennessee has lost 41.

In related news, a triple bombing at a Baghdad bus station and hospital killed 43 today.

On Monday, Tennesse’s Senator Frist made an unannounced visit to Alcoa’s Midland Restaurant to meet and greet constituents. He talked about stem cell research, social security, and other issues over breakfast with patrons.

When asked by a reporter about troop levels in Iraq, Frist replied that “it is critical that we take the war to the terrorists” or they would bring the war to us “as we saw on 9/11.” He said emphatically that terrorists would come to this county and this state, and that troops would not be out of Iraq for “a long time, maybe years.”

When will GOP leaders stop making the connection between 9/11 and Iraq when the 9/11 Commission reports there is none? Bush decided to invade Iraq shortly after 9/11, despite questions about the hunt for Al qaeda and about a greater threat from North Korea. Furthermore, military leaders like retired Marine General Anthony Zinni said over a year ago that Rumsfeld had ignored warnings about potential problem in Iraq. CIA advisors report that more Muslim extremists are creating terror in Baghdad today than before he U.S. invasion and occupation.

The American peace movement has been slow to build, but Sheehan’s vigil in Crawford. Cindy has captured the attention of American families wondering why we are in Iraq and when we will get out. — T