We read that 35 US soldiers were "hit" in Iraq yesterday. When our Bellingham Herald does print war casualties on the front page, the choice of words seeks to minimize the tragedy. Hit. Did someone punch them? Did their bus or truck get 'hit' by another vehicle? Did they receive bumps and bruises? Did medics put bandages on their cuts? Anyone have a headache the next day?

Today we learn one of the 35 has died. Hmmm. Maybe some or many of the others are near death. Are any more near death? The Army is not saying. Nor are American press reporters asking very hard. Nor are the American people asking. Perhaps we would rather not know. Easier to go about our daily work and play without being told every day of the gruesome details of our young men and women being maimed and disfigured for life. In a war carried on under false pretenses. In a country that was never a danger to us.

"Hit". How simply absurd. How obscene. What is worse than the government not releasing information is our local press acting as the propaganda arm of the Defense Department to Bellingham readers. Maybe the word came down from Gannett headquarters to find soft easy words for life-threatening and body-ripping wounds. Hit.

During Vietnam, the Army lied a lot. It took us 30 years - and counting - to slowly learn the truth. The lies were justified as necessary for National Security. Then-Defense Secretary McNamara now openly admits to and apologizes for the lies. He deeply regrets his role in the deceit of us American patriots. Back then I read the Herald and they dutifully printed positive stories about Vietnam and ignored or distorted reports about local efforts to stop the war. Nothing changed. Nothing learned.

Our kids are being maimed for life by the thousands in Iraq. Physically and mentally and emotionally. Over 2,000 have been evacuated for serious wounds - and another 7,000 have been evacuated for other reasons. Like going nuts or self-inflicted wounds. For what?

But - my point today is not to argue against the war. It is to suggest to you, gentle reader, that if you consider yourself a decent American then you should insist on full reporting of the casualties. The ONLY reason for denying you the truth is you might change your mind about supporting the war or might actually oppose it. The other reasons - privacy of soldiers, encouraging the enemy, etc. - are bogus. They do not want us to know. We might - as voting citizens - vote them out of office.

How do you insist? Write the Herald. Write your congressman. Write, phone or email whoever is involved. I post here and this gets read by 300 people a day. I am one citizen. No more. My opinion is not worth any more than yours. But this is my way of speaking out. Find your way - and please use it.