9 Soldiers Dead in Iraq in Just 24 Hours

And whenever you see soldiers dead, you know that exponentially more innocent Iraqi civilians have died because that's just the way a Bush war goes.

And what of Pat Tillman's parents, not only griefstricken but coming to the horrible realization that not only did the military lie about it, but every level of the military involved themselves in great ad grave deceit over this man's death?

I don't happen to agree with the choice Pat Tillman made because I do not believe the war in Afghanistan was any more just than the war in Iraq.

But at the same time, I greatly admire that Tillman believed he was doing what he thought was right. I grieve for his death as much as I grieve for all the other soldiers - and the countless (because we don't count them) others who have died.

And I am terribly angered that not only was this man killed by friendly fire, not only was his death highly preventable, but that there was an actual conspiracy engaged in from Tillman's fellow unit members all the way up to Schwarzenegger, Mr. Rumsfeld, and this president.

We owe the Tillmans far better than they got, just as we owe the many other dead and disabled soldiers better than they got. And we cannot give them any better so long as Mr. Bush and company are allowed to remain in power.