Politicians play on our emotions in order to get us to vote. As a result, politicians say things that you either love or hate. Recently, our politicians have invented a saying that is driving me crazy.

"The Iraqi's need to get into the fight."

What? Are you kidding me? While we moan about 3,000 US soldiers dead in the past 4 YEARS, over 30,000 Iraqis were killed just in 2006. Iraqi's dont need to get in the fight, we brought the fight to their home. They ARE in the fight; are we?

Like a lot of American's, I assumed that our troops were in Iraq to establish law and order and to support the independent contractors who were rebuilding the country's infrastructure. We have spent hundred's of billions of tax dollars in Iraq and I assumed it was doing some good. I assumed that Iraq was under martial law and our troops were out walking a beat, keeping the streets of Baghdad safe and fighting terrorists when they found them.

But it turns out, establishing order has never been their "mission."

The majority of US troops are actually stationed in the "Green zone" or on Saddam's Presidential palaces which have been turned into bases. When our politicians visit Iraq, they cower in the Green Zone or on bases. Why? It is too dangerous to leave, that's why.

It is too dangerous for reporters, politicians and even soldiers to travel around Baghdad - but Iraqi civilians have to live there. They dont have a Green Zone. What is too dangerous for us to even visit has become their home.

People here talk about Iraq as is it is some lazy child. "Get off the couch, JR and get a job!" Very few leaders point out that the Iraq is a "democracy" of people just like you and me. Men and women trying to go to work and raise a family - but who are trapped in this state of anarchy.

If you look beyond mainstream media, you can find endless tales of life in anarchy that are much more terrifying than the latest Hollywood slasher movie. People get kidnapped/tortured/murdered there every day and much of the time the murderers are in the Iraqi police or army. Imagine trying to protect your own family and never knowing who you can trust and who would rather murder you?

Mistakes have been made alright but please show some respect for the Iraqi people. Dont accept this idea that they dont care about or understand what is happening in their own country. They are just like you and me - victims of people who are willing to kill others to get what they want.

Even if you dont care about other people, it is good to learn about the lives of the Iraqi people because they are the legacy of this war. The widows, the orphans, the burned and maimed. How will those people feel about the USA 10, 15, 20 years from now? How would you feel?

We have been in Iraq for so long now, most people are tired of hearing about it. Maybe it is time you got in the fight?