[George W. Bush]

What sort of "context" overturns the plain fact that you're literally wishing for more Iraqis to die than already have?

If someone's going to die for Iraqi freedom, let it be Iraqis. Not Americans while the Iraqis vacation.

We had this in South Vietnam where recruiting for their army came to a standstill. American support for the effort plummeted. Again, why should our troops die for their freedom if they could care less?

And that is the correct context, as you well know.

If recruitment shrinks below needed levels, we can adjust as necessary. Whether I personally join the military will have no effect on the matter one way or another. This is a particularly dumb form of the "chickenhawk" argument.

No, it's pretty relevant. It's a nice hobby to be an armchair-warrior posting anonymously but the folks whose sons and daughters, spouses and children will feel the actual brunt of death and maiming may not share your enthusiasm. Of course, you have suffered too. You've expended many keystrokes here on the war and run the risk of carpal tunnel syndrome.

[Dr. Frank fan]

If someone's going to die for Iraqi freedom, let it be Iraqis. Not Americans while the Iraqis vacation.

The only Iraqis "vacationing" are the ones in parliament. I don't know what you envision those parliamentarians doing otherwise, but I can tell you that "dying instead of an American soldier" was never quite in the cards anyway. So I still can't figure out why when/whether the parliament guys go on vacation is relevant. Again: you need to explain how/why them not going on vacation would save American soldiers.

In general, it sounds like you have a cartoon picture in your head of how things work in Iraq, to the effect that there's a certain quota of people required to Die For Iraqi Freedom per month (or whatever), and the only reason American soldiers are dying is that not enough Iraqis are stepping up to fill this quota. Therefore, somehow, in your mind, if more Iraqis would step up and die, then fewer Americans would have to.

This picture is utter nonsense, of course. Again, all I can do is point out that LOTS AND LOTS OF IRAQIS HAVE BEEN DYING over the past 4 years. An Iraqi dying doesn't somehow magically prevent an American from dying - thus, even more Iraqis dying (in addition to the lots dying already!) wouldn't save Americans - because, Iraq not being a board-game, THAT IS SIMPLY NOT HOW IT WORKS. There is no "Die For Iraqi Freedom Quota" in effect.

Again, why should our troops die for their freedom if they could care less?

What makes you think "they could care less"? That's just so stupid. Human beings in Iraq don't care whether they live or die, whether they are kidnapped or murdered? Is that really what you think? Why do you think that?

It's a nice hobby to be an armchair-warrior posting anonymously

About as nice of a hobby as to be an armchair-griper, posting anonymously, I imagine.

but the folks whose sons and daughters, spouses and children will feel the actual brunt of death and maiming may not share your enthusiasm.

Or they may. Opinions differ. Have you anointed yourself spokesman of all military families, O wise one?

Of course, you have suffered too. You've expended many keystrokes here on the war and run the risk of carpal tunnel syndrome.

You assume quite an awful lot for someone who doesn't know what he's talking about. You've also made this needlessly personal. This ad hominem stuff is essentially an admission that you lack good arguments.