" This is PRECISELY the 'place' for this discussion; THIS young man has died but he IS a harbinger of many others to come as BOTH presidential candidates are advocating a 'renewal' of this war in Afghanistan. Obama only yesterday in Berlin was in effect 'recruiting' the Germans to send more troops and the Illinois senator has STATED that if elected president he will be recalling military from Iraq IN ORDER to send them to Afghanistan. Unless John McCain is going to try to reinstitute the draft he as prez MUST do the same thing. 'Honoring' the dead in blatantly political wars by ignoring reality is poor 'honor'; but the dead CAN 'warn' the living if we are wise enough, brave enough, to really listen and forego just mouthing the platitudes below... "

" Lax and Michael,

This isn't the article to post your political beliefs. Post them somewhere else, please.

To Nicks family and friends,

Words fail to convey the gratitude and the sorrow. The gratitude that such a great person was willing to risk his life for our freedoms. The sorrow that such a great person is now gone from us.

Nick was an excellent representation of the best America has. His family and friends should feel proud to have known him. "

" The point is there is a time and place for your ranting and the heading on this article presents you not to do what you are doing, say your peace to the family and do your political rants elsewhere you do not seem to lack places to do that. I could care less about your feeling towrds the administration but do not lessen the task held by this young man by your veiws. My criticism to you is not what you say but when you choose to, even you should understand that. "

" The attacks on me below are in fact political; the attackers seek to use this death to reaffirm their support for the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq; they weep their crocodile tears but there are no deaths they will not endorse for THEIR political positions. It's too bad, in their views, but the wars MUST go on no matter who or how many die or how many families suffer. I NEVER wanted this war; I NEVER wanted the lieutenant to have to leave his family and risk his life; I NEVER cheered for the deaths of Afghans or of Iraqis. My critics below are FAR MORE responsible for this death than I; they accept it as a necessary part of their political agenda; I don't 'accept' it... "

" Nobody said Nick wasn't the best of America. Welch was simply pointing out that you all better get ready for more "ultimate sacrifices." How many more like this kid (I'm old enough that he is just a kid) will die tomorrow, the next day and the days, weeks and months and years after that thanks to Bush's bungling and incompetence? It's a question you all need to ask... Of course folks like "Phil O" (you know what) would rather nobody questioned anything Bush does. This kid's death is another of 4000-plus results of such of Bush's crimes ... "

" Lieutenant Dewhirst died for political reasons; he was placed in harm's way for political reasons; suppressing that fact does him no 'honor' and it is important that others not die under the same circumstances if some of us can prevent it. 'Ranting' occurs by these same critics of mine but theirs is ALWAYS for death and destruction, for the spread of misery in the name of false 'patriotism,' for the arms dealers and the oil merchants and they repeat their rants on this blog daily. This man is dead and I grieve for that; I don't care for the fact that so many many others will apparently have to follow him and so many other families, here and in Afghanistan, will be grieving too... "

" As some one who has litterly spent his whole life in the service, I am appaled at the level you have sunk to. I will not even mention your name I am so disgusted. I was born into a military family and I am currently serving. I feel so sorry for the family will be there when this hero is laid to rest. Thank you for the service he has paid the ultimate sacrifice. "

" Jeez Michael,

Save your political ramblings for a different thread. Turning a post about a person who valued service to others over service to self, into your political rant is ugly at best. At worst, it looks like opportunism at the expense of someone's pain.

Nick was an example of the best America has. My heart goes out to his family and friends. "

" Absolutely one ought to empathize with this family's awful loss; I agree. But I also must point out that this is only a beginning of the intensification of the war in Afghanistan as BOTH candidates for president are PROMISING to remove troops from Iraq and send them to this Afghan war number 2. McCain simply wants no 'timetable' though that may be academic if the Iraqi government is really serious about it. Obama has STATED openly that he INTENDS to shift troops from Iraq to Afghanistan -- that's his 'plan' to end one war and continue another. When you vote in Nov, you are voting perhaps against 'a war' but not 'war' itself; remember that... "