Iraq death toll reaches 2,000

Not including civilians, of course. The AP reports: "A U.S. Army sergeant died of wounds suffered in Iraq, the Pentagon announced Tuesday. The death -- along with two others announced Tuesday -- brought to 2,000 the number of U.S. military members who have died since the start of the Iraq conflict in 2003."

One hopes (perhaps against hope) that the end will one day justify the means. If not -- if Iraq doesn't transition to democracy and the Middle East remains and insoluble problem -- then for what exactly did they die?

(The ratification of Iraq's draft constitution is a positive step. I'll have more to say on that later.)