How’s the war in Iraq going? Are “we” winning or losing? The average person has no idea and the people who do know aren’t so eager to give an honest assessment. So it's left up to the media, but we are forced to rely on information we get from the military leaders running the war. Recently, the former top commander of U.S. forces in Iraq shared his first-hand knowledge in a speech to a group of military reporters.

(click here for the transcript)

Lt. General Ricardo Sanchez called the war plan “catastrophically flawed” and “unrealistically optimistic” from the beginning. He says, “There has been a glaring, unfortunate, display of incompetent strategic leadership within our national leaders.” Sanchez says if these national leaders continue to toy with the military strategy, we still won’t win. He says “the best we can do with this flawed approach is stave off defeat.”

He went on to say America has no choice but to continue its efforts in Iraq, because a withdrawal would “unquestionably lead to chaos that would endanger the stability of the greater Middle East.” And eventually the rest of the world.

Sanchez says if these national leaders continue to toy with the military strategy, we still won’t win. He says “the best we can do with this flawed approach is stave off defeat.”

Sanchez was asked, if he was convinced the American effort in Iraq was failing the day after he took command – which was in June of 2003 – why did he wait until now (after he’s been retired for a year and about to write a book) to be so vocal about his concerns. He responded by saying it was not the place of active-duty officers to challenge lawful orders from the civilian authorities.

Then why should we believe any of the commanders in Iraq when they go before Congress or get in front of a microphone and say we are winning the war?

Rep. Tim Murphy of Pennsylvania wants to make murdering a service member a federal crime punishable by death. The “Captain Scott Corwin Armed Forces Protection Act” would treat the murder, attempted murder or conspiracy to murder a member of the military the same as killing or trying to kill a law enforcement officer. Right now, it’s only a federal crime if the accused knows the victim is a service member. The law would apply even if the service member is out of uniform or in a place where it’s not clear he or she is in the military, the same as undercover police.

Army Capt. Scott Corwin
The bill stems from the 2004 shooting death of Darien Illinois native Army Captain Scott Corwin. The Hinsdale South High School grad was killed in Savannah, Georgia while he and his girlfriend were walking near a downtown square. His shooting is still unsolved. Click on Corwin's picture to get more information about the foundation his family has set up.

There’s no doubt, this country owes a huge debt of gratitude to the service men and women who put their lives on the line to protect this country and the lifestyle we’ve grown accustomed to. Given the state of the world today and dangers they face while serving, especially in Iraq and Afghanistan, saying “thank you” is not always enough. Sometimes, especially now that there’s this huge debate about whether to bring the troops home, people want to go out of their way to make sure military members get the utmost respect. After all, they deserve it. But is this proposed law fair? It says, even if you don’t know this person is a service member, you will still be punished. At least with undercover police, they are protecting and serving (we hope). If the service members are out of uniform, in a place that doesn’t obviously identify them as a service member, then aren’t they just like the rest of us, trying to enjoy life?