Iraq War do-over? No, thank you

Quick show of hands: Who wants to send combat troops back into Iraq?

Nobody? That's right. Nobody at all. Not even former Vice President Dick Cheney or Arizona Sen. John McCain are demanding American boots on the ground -- yet.

No sane person could possibly wish for a repeat of the last time we barreled into Baghdad, leaving a decade later with 4,486 American service members killed, many tens of thousands injured (physically and otherwise) and U.S. credibility badly battered around the globe.

Don't lose sight of that core fact as al-Qaida-inspired ISIL fighters keep advancing toward the Iraqi capital and American political rhetoric grows even louder and hotter than it is.

There's no denying these ISIL zealots are scary and violent people, committed to imposing horrific Sharia law. There's also no denying that the American people have given all they care to the cause of creating a Western-friendly government in Iraq.

Been there, done that, ain't going back no more!

On Friday, Barack Obama made clear that he shares this view. Maybe a few scattered airstrikes. Maybe some passing surveillance or some hit-and-run drone attacks. But nothing that looks anything remotely like what George W. Bush began in 2003.

So feel free to ignore this weekend's bellowing from Washington. It's all just anger for politics' sake. Say a prayer for the poor Iraqis. They could use a little mercy now. But no one in America, Republican or Democrat, really wants an Iraq War do-over, thank you very much. Too bad it didn't work out better the last time. But eight years on that hopeless errand was more than enough.

WAR CRY

1. Sunni and Shia: Can't We Get Along

2. Sharia Law and Order

3. Maliki-Talabani: Four More Years

4. Weapons of Mass Repetition

5. Leaving So Soon?

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THE NEWS IN SONG: You can only get so much from me: Amy Winehouse, "Help Yourself," tinyurl.com/awhelpself

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