Happy anniversary . . .

As a scattered few thousands among us protested in cities around the country, the rest of us seemed to observe the fifth anniversary of our foolish foray into Iraq in a kind of numbed resignation yesterday. Iraq Body Count offered this scathing assessment.

Anyone who's paying attention should note that the invasion has led to the death of approximately 90,000 civilians directly (And a Lancet account of casualties places the figure much higher at 650,000 in 2006); as of March 19, 3,992 Americans have been killed in action and nearly 30,000 wounded, many grievously. The war so far has cost almost $505 billion and it's long-term costs estimates now exceed $2 trillion. And. There. Is. No. End. In. Sight.

Yesterday our President, finding new non-ground in the shifting quicksands of his increasingly demented justifications for this war, simply noted that it would help the economy and contain the hyperacceleration of the price of gasoline. Told that two-thirds of the American public want the war to end, our Vice President, responded, "So?" Bin Laden meanwhile romps freely across the media landscape--and the plains of of Afghanistan? caves of Pakistan? coffee shops of Saudi Arabia?--issuing threats against Europe and the Pope, apparently unconcerned that he will ever be called to account for 9/11. Why should he be, when American forces are bogged down in the war he hoped they'd fight in Iraq, a war BTW, whatever else is said about its specific strategic or moral failures, which will certainly bankrupt our treasury just as it has already bankrupted our standing in the world and whatever remains of our ethical good judgment.