Opinion:  Obama Predicted that American Deaths in an Iraq War Would Be in
Vain

The Iraq War started on March 20, 2003.  

Prior to the war, Obama gave a speech on October 2, 2002, when he was an
Illinois State Senator.  

At the end of that speech, as I interpret his words, Obama predicted that U.S. deaths in a future Iraq war would be in vain.  

It is true that earlier in that speech, Obama voiced his opposition to such a
war.  However, what I am focussing on here is his ending to that speech which
I quote below.  

Please note that I have CAPITALIZED words for emphasis.  

Here is the quote:  

"We may have occasion in our lifetime to once again rise up in defense of our
freedom, and pay the wages of war. But we ought not - we will not - travel
down that hellish path blindly. NOR SHOULD WE ALLOW THOSE WHO WOULD MARCH OFF
AND PAY THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE, WHO WOULD PROVE THE FULL MEASURE OF DEVOTION
WITH THEIR BLOOD, TO MAKE SUCH AN AWFUL SACRIFICE IN VAIN."   

The full text of the speech can be found at the following links:  
a.  "Barack Obama's Iraq Speech" on Wikisource --  
http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Barack_Obama%27s_Iraq_Speech
b.  "Before the Iraq War: Obama's Bad Judgments about the Coming War" on
Pensero Postings --
http://pensereo.blogtownhall.com/2008/07/31/before_the_iraq_war__obamas_bad_j
udgments_about_the_coming_war.thtml

Interestingly, the lines that I capitalized above from Obama's October 2,
2002 speech, are a REVERSAL IN MEANING from the following lines from Abraham
Lincoln's famed Gettysburg Address, portions of which I have CAPITALIZED for
purposes of comparison.   
 
Abraham Lincoln stated at the end of his Gettysburg Address:     
 
"It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before
us -- that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause
for which THEY GAVE THE LAST FULL MEASURE OF DEVOTION -- THAT WE HERE HIGHLY
RESOLVE THAT THESE DEAD SHALL NOT HAVE DIED IN VAIN -- that this nation,
under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that government of the
people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth."  
 
By comparing Obama's words and Lincoln's words, it appears to me that OBAMA,
IN HIS PRE-IRAQ-WAR SPEECH, IS FORECASTING THAT AMERICAN DEATHS IN A FUTURE
IRAQ WAR WILL BE IN VAIN.   
 
In my opinion, OBAMA'S PRE-IRAQ-WAR STATEMENT SHOWS BAD JUDGMENT.  Is that
what is wanted in a Commander-In-Chief?  

In addition, perish the thought that Obama even now believes that American
deaths in the Iraq War have been and will continue to be in vain.