Debt owed to those inclined to be soldiers

WASHINGTON -- Americans have grown used to nearly costless wars. The New York Times headlined one story: "Invading Forces Capture Key Bridge -- More American Deaths." It left readers to ponder which was the more interesting news nugget -- that a bridge was taken, or that U.S. soldiers died taking it.

That Americans die in battle was not considered to be news in earlier conflicts. In most of them the casualty lists were hideously long.

Despite complaints about the American public's low tolerance for casualties, it has accepted huge losses when it believed the goal to be worthwhile. In contrast, tracking down one of many warlords didn't seem worth the 19 dead Rangers in Mogadishu.