US Death Toll in Iraq Surpasses 9/11 Death Toll

BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) - At least 36 Iraqis died Tuesday in bombings, officials said, including a coordinated strike that killed 25 in western Baghdad. Separately, the deaths of six U.S. soldiers pushed the American toll beyond the number of victims in the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. (Read the full story here.)

LSB: Reminds me of Ronald Reagan's question during the 1980 election season: 'Are [we] better off today than [we] were four years ago?' True, in the past four years a tyrant has been toppled and sentenced to die, and a freely elected government (albeit unstabled and propped-up by a continuing U.S. presence) exists in Iraq. However, four years ago there were nearly 3,000 more young American service personnel walking the face of the earth; more than 25,000 young American service personnel without life-altering wounds; the U.S. deficit hadn't been increased nearly $350 BILLION due to this war; and America was held in high esteem by most around the world. So, the question remains - are we better off than we were four years ago? Are we safer? No. Are the Iraqi people safer? No. Was this ill-conceived war borne of deceit worth the lives lost or destroyed? No. Sadly, the legacy of 9/11 will be continuing tragedy for no good purpose.