Would Kerry Mock Their Courage Too?

The Iraqi National Guard are fighting and dying alongside us in Iraq as we try to build a stable, peaceful prosprerous democracy in a region known for terrorism and squalor.

The Washington Post has a terrific story today about their courage and their vulnerability.

[T]he air filled with an orange fireball that seemed to erupt about 10 feet to the right of the Nissan.

The smoke from the explosion cleared after about 30 seconds, revealing the carnage.

"We have ING wounded!" Stewart shouted into the radio. "ING are down!"

The truck had offered no protection. The man who had been swigging the water was slumped against the rear of the cab, his eyes open, his body bloodied and motionless. The man next to him also appeared to have been killed instantly; his body lay against the left side of the truck, his right hand spread across his lap. Blood and parts of his brain and skull trickled down the left rear panel.

Inside the cab, two others were dead; a man in the passenger seat had two ball bearings lodged in his forehead.

Khaleb, the driver, managed to open his door and take a few steps toward the company medic, Spec. Justin "Doc" Martin, who was riding in the Humvee in front of the Nissan. But then Khaleb collapsed in the dirt and crawled until the medic reached him.

Martin cut off the man's bloodied clothing and began to treat him for arterial bleeding.

These guys are really putting their lives on the line and not one of them will report three fingernail scratches as "wounds" so they can escape the fight.