ReachM High Cowboy Network -- How to win a war, and lose our soul

Cowboy Kahlil -- I have an online friend who hails from Louisiana. Our early encounters on an online message board some years ago were confrontational and angry. We learned to get over ourselves, so we could start communicating.

I know only a little about her. She was a retired nurse, and apparently had a very comfortable life. As our country moved to war with Iraq, she was strongly opposed to it. She is opposed, as well, to the notion that Americans of means deserve the enormous tax breaks provided by George Bush. She's cognizant that most Americans, at most levels in society, were granted great gifts simply by being born in a country where freedom is taken for granted and opportunities exist for more citizens than most foreigners will ever have access to.

She had to take refresher courses to regain her nurse's license. And took off to Kuwait three weeks ago, accompanying a plastic surgeon, to patch up as many Iraqi children as they can this summer. Only after she left did I learn from others who've stayed in touch from that old message board, that this woman has quietly helped a few of them or sent checks to charity efforts they supported.

Her vision of America is one that gives back, for all the blessings bestowed upon us. Contrast that with the record of a man whose life began at the top of the stairs, whose successes were lined with the gifts of his father's powerful friends and whose failures were covered up in similar manner.

The history books will be full of the latter, the man who lied repeatedly to compel a war that has cost the lives of well over 5,000 innocent Iraqi civilians, and hundreds of our soldiers. Taking out Saddaam was unnecessary, because even the existence of scary weaponry does not conceal the fact that he was no threat to the US and no match to our military's superior training and weaponry.

and more combining a tribute to compassion and total scorn for Bush.