It's been recently revealed that U.S. Soldier Alyssa Peterson, killed herself after raising objections to interrogation techniques used on Iraqi prisoners. She was one of the first female soldiers to die in Iraq and thus the news was widely spread in the media at the time, but the cause of death was only as a "non-hostile weapons discharge".

From the official investigation of her death:

�Peterson objected to the interrogation techniques used on prisoners. She refused to participate after only two nights working in the unit known as the cage. Army spokespersons for her unit have refused to describe the interrogation techniques Alyssa objected to. They say all records of those techniques have now been destroyed. ...".

Although ultimately the responsibility for Peterson's death has to lie with Peterson herself (assuming it was indeed a suicide), you have to imagine the feelings of guilt and anguish she must have had to take her own life.

This news should reinforce any doubts anybody might have over the war in Iraq and how it's been fought. Think about it. What are we getting out of the war that is worth invading a country, unprovoked on an unproven pretext, and subjecting our "enemies" such inhumane treatment that one of our own soldier's finds that she can't live with what she's being ordered to do?

The answer is nothing. We have gained no real measure of safety from this war. We have gained no land or resources of note. We have not improved our political situation in the world. What we've gained is a record deficit, record debt, the deaths of many American soldiers and civilians and a stained conscience. Iraq appears to have fared no better.

Even the American Conservative advises voters to repudiate the invasion of Iraq in the 2006 elections by electing a Democratic congress.

Though I feel a bit dirty spinning this story of tragedy to advance my own political agenda, I feel it is relevant and important that we do whatever we can to remedy the damage that has been done by this administration and the Congress that has been complicit in nearly every act of injustice and recklessness that has written this grim chapter in American history.

So I implore the small handful of individuals that may read this blog, to get out to the polls and vote your conscience. Early voting is probably available near your home or place of employment right now and you have until Tuesday to do what needs to be done.