Shame on Santorum

The Iraq war is on our doorsteps and in our hearts and Senator Rick Santorum doesn’t want to talk about it. He certainly doesn’t want the media to focus on the casualties. He blames the media for the drop in public support for military operations in Iraq.

I don't know of any other war in American history where every casualty -- every casualty -- was the headline"

The state of Pennsylvania has suffered the 3rd highest number of casualties in Iraq with 111 dead. That Senator Santorum seeks to hide the numbers and their names, calls for an honest assessment of his commitment to his constituents. His feelings about open communications of the casualties of this war indicate his allegiance lies with the current administration and not with those he represents.

Flag draped caskets containing military casualties arrive at Dover AFB in Delaware 2 or 3 at a time. We cannot see photographs of the caskets by way of a Department of Defense regulation and Senator Santorum says that we should not know about the number of casualties, either. The young men and women inside these caskets are forever part of the fabric of the history of the United States, and they deserve to be remembered. The body count is the most important number to the Gold Star families of these sons and daughters of our country. I want my only child, Lt Ken Ballard to be remembered. Other Gold Star family members want their loved ones to be remembered. That seems to be the furthest thing from Rick Santorum’s mind.

Stories and photographs are a stark reminder of the reality of war. For Senator Santorum to say that publishing the names of our war dead is "helping Islamic fascism win the battle" is ignorant and insensitive to all Americans and especially to Gold Star families.