america's long war in iraq is at last officially over.  a friend served, and a friend's husband served. part of their story is here.

update: christopher hitchens, who supported the war, has died the day after it's end. a friend of mine knew him slightly.

RIP? since he was never big on rest or peace, it doesn't seem right to wish it for him.  i've got the same feeling i had when teddy kennedy died- the world's lost one of it's giant characters,  passionate humanitarian... charming rhetorical pugilist... and it's a little less fun.