Why can’t more Democrats call this occupation what it really is instead of letting the other side frame the debate? Time. After. Time. What are Blue Dogs and other Bush enablers so afraid of? That they will give the other side a soundbite that could (possibly) be used against them in a future campaign? That they will be portrayed as unsympathetic to the troops?

Even Al Gore can’t quite bring himself to speak the unvarnished truth about the war. There was a moment in the Diane Sawyer interview in which Gore had a chance to say that our soldiers are dying and being maimed in vain, for a war that should never have been fought. But Al couldn’t bring himself to say the words: “Yes they are dying in vain.” Instead, he took a more cautious tack, declaring that of course our soldiers should be honored for their sacrifices, etc.

I just want to know what’s wrong with asking a few simple straightforward questions and demanding straightforward answers to those questions?

For instance:

1. Why did we go into the war in the first place?

2. Why are we still there?

3. For what cause are our young men and women being asked to sacrifice their lives and limbs in Iraq?

And if there are no good answers to those questions, what is wrong with saying that their sacrifices are, in fact, in vain? Just asking.

Meanwhile, less than 24 hours after the Democrats caved to the 28 percenters on withdrawal deadlines, our troops are still sitting ducks and there is no end in sight.