War is a popular topic today. It's the headline nearly everyday on the evening news and dons the front page of nearly every magazine and newspaper once a month. It doesn't stop there. It's the basis for multiple movies and even finds its way into the monologues of late-night comics.

So we are bombarded by the coverage of the "war against terror" and the "jihad" holy war. It's a reality that we have settled for even though "jihad" doesn't even translate into war...it actually means to strive or to struggle, although it is understandable how it's mean can be twisted to declare a holy war. I think the excess of discussion and information regarding the war is more detrimental as opposed to helpful. We are so overloaded with information from the past month that we forget what actually occurred a 6 months ago.

Another thing that happens with this excess of information is that we are allowed to focus on minute points and build them up while ignoring the most important aspects of the war. We have seen this happen many times during this war in Iraq with instances such as Abu Grab, Guantanamo Bay, and torture/questioning of enemies. While these issues shouldn't be hidden, they are not most important when it comes to war. Not to sound redundant, but isn't it a bit absurd to expect full civil rights for people trying to kill us in a war zone?

War is not pretty, fair, and there are no rules. Regardless of the Geneva Convention, war is still about killing more of the other guys and winning. People die in war and not all of them are soldiers. Atrocities happen in all of these situations. There is no congeniality award in war, just a winner. I'm not saying that this is wonderful or that it's the way war should be, but it is. It's the way that war always has been and always will.

I've never served in the military and have never had to fight in a battle for my life and hopefully I won't ever have that experience. However, I do think our troops believe in what they are trying to accomplish. I think they deserve our respect, care, and encouragement of all Americans. They are doing a job that I don't want to do...and for that I'm thankful and will encourage them to the end.