The brutality and cost of the war in Iraq is becoming clearer as we hear of coalition soldiers and Iraqis dying. And this is just the beginning.

However unhappy Iraqis have been with Saddam Hussein, some still show a strong will to preserve their independence. The war isn’t over and we face a long occupation.

The president has asked for $75 billion to cover the war, and estimates for occupation and reconstruction approach twice that per year.

Our peace dividend has long ago been consumed by homeland security and defense spending. The deficit has ballooned and states face unprecedented shortfalls.

Here, we watch the governor and Legislature struggle through how to make do with so much less, while trying to preserve essential services. Health care and educational costs are pressing issues, but we have little left to deal with either one.

As the economy continues to falter, job losses continue and unmet needs mount at home. We cannot have guns and butter.

On top of this, and serious in the long term, we have lost the goodwill and respect of much of the world, where opposition to the war is nearly universal.

We started this war over illegal weapons but, so far, weapons of mass destruction have not been found.

We should press our government to support our troops by bringing them home as soon as possible and resume the United Nations inspection process that was working so well.

Steve Bien, Jay