TODAY IN IRAQ

"It is not suffering as such that is most deeply feared but suffering that degrades." -Susan Sontag

The war is fearsome today. I looked up the word "insurgent" since that is the term used constantly by the White House and news media when talking about it.

The word means, "a person who revolts against civil authority or an established government; especially: a rebel not recognized as a belligerent."

It does not really describe the war and the warriors that the "coalition" is fighting. Many reports about Iraq describe American soldiers kicking in doors, routing "insurgents" and killing injured "insurgents" in mosques. Today's reports tell of "insurgents" killing nine Iraqi policemen in a mosque and other atrocities. Just like this war, the name we have given the enemy does not make any sense.

Amid all of the horrendous suffering, I grieve for Margaret Hassan. The insurgents killed her, a woman who dedicated most of her life to relieving the suffering of the Iraqi people. She had to suffer so much at the end of her life and at the hands of the people she worked hard to help. I can only hope she did not die bitter and disconnected from the peace she tried to bring others. She was an example of love, generosity, and hope. That’s what I’ll keep in my mind when I think of her and others like her who work so hard to create order and good out of chaos. They are love in action.

RIP Margaret Hassan. And, RIP all innocents who have been killed or wounded in America's terror wars.