21,000 troops notified they will be going to Iraq this year.

The Pentagon has notified about 21,000 Army soldiers and Marines that they are scheduled to be sent to Iraq late this year as part of the latest deployment rotation.

Four major combat brigades from Texas, Alaska and Colorado are scheduled to replace troops returning home from the war, the Pentagon said. Thus, the announcement does not signal an increase in troop strength in Iraq.

In a press release Tuesday, the Pentagon said the planned assignments could change depending on the conditions in Baghdad. The move comes as Pentagon officials and the Bush administration are under increasing pressure from Congress and the public to begin withdrawing troops from Iraq.

There has just not been enough death to satisfy the demons of war. I can't help but think that if one of these soldiers were named Bush, or Cheney, or Rumsfeld this war would end tomorrow.

But their loved ones are safe. Only those with no voice have to sacrifice their children, husbands, wives, and parents to this illegal conflict.

Perhaps Bob Dylan said it best:

Yes, how many times must a man look up

Before he can see the sky ?

Yes, how many ears must one man have

Before he can hear people cry ?

Yes, how many deaths will it take till he knows

That too many people have died ?