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In a prime-time televised speech Tuesday night, President Bush told Americans that the war in Iraq, the deaths of 1,744 U.S. soldiers, nearly 1,200 Iraqi security forces and countless innocent civilians were "worth it."
In times of war, it is important to see what is really going on. We are a world away from Iraq, and the distance abstracts the war into detachment for most Americans.
It is important that those who insist on war, and defend the reasons, witness a greater picture of that reality than the rhetoric that supports it.
"The progress in the past year has been significant, and we have a clear path forward," Bush told an audience of Army Special Forces members in Fort Bragg, N.C.
Much of what Bush said Tuesday night has been similar to statements he's made in the past. In addition to stressing the importance of training and eventually substituting Iraqi troops with international forces, Bush also said the Iraqi people need confidence in the democratic process in order for victory to be possible.
"Like most Americans, I see the images of violence and bloodshed," Bush said. "Every picture is horrifying - and the suffering is real."
We agree, but rather than just listening to Tuesday night's speech, we ask you to see it yourself.
We find these images unbearably graphic, but these are the images that these people are faced with day to day. They don't have the choice to turn the page or change the channel. To them these photos are real.
We ask you to take a minute to look over these images, which are often violent and often distressing. But this is the reality of the war President Bush has told us we will "fight until the fight is won."
Is it worth it?
Images compiled from The Associated Press
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