Bush broke international law that protected prisoners of war. Bush ok'd torture of prisoner and secret jails. Now the terrorist are killing our troops as we tortured and killed Iraq people. We have become just like our enemy.

I couldn't help but notice during Chip Reid's report on the Congress debates over Iraq that the two members expressing their opposition to the war (Kerry and Murtha) have actually experienced war first hand. Many of those stating that these Democrats were of the "Cut and Run" group have never served in the military and/or did their best to avoid the service when they could have served, i.e. Mr. Bush, Mr. Cheney and Mr. Rove for example. They want to "Stay the course" at a safe distance.

Darrel in San Francisco- go fight. Show them how tough we are. I guess you don't have to "cut and run" when you're already a long, safe way away - like GOP Congressmen.

Are there ANY Congressman with a child in Iraq? There sure aren't any Bushes, Cheneys, Rumsfelds or Rices.

With the nature of these two gruesome deaths of the so-called kidnapped soldiers and the release of the information that this came as a result of the replacement of al-Zarqawi, I must question the scenario involved. Would it not be a great ploy to attempt to draw in those disgruntled Americans of this Iraqi contorted offensive by having something of this nature occur? It seems to me that, perhaps, propaganda interests are at work here to mollify those dienchanted with Iraq. It seems to convenient that after Bush gets his man in Zarqawi, another face has to come to the fore in Zarqawi's replacement, because if there is no face, there can be little generated hatred to continue that war. Hence, the convenience of this scenario to embolden the desirous to continue by "staging" this terrible event. Is the United States behind this action?

Brian-

Dan Rather was a voice of reason for years. It's simply a rotten shame that what he'll be remembered for is getting caught trying to frame a guilty man. I suspect it was a setup to start with and Dan let his guard down - who can blame him? He was trying to save the country from an election cheat and global loose cannon.

Anyway - thanks, and good luck, Dan. I appreciate what you tried to do.

My heart is further sickened by the horrific deaths of these two brave soldiers. No matter what your view of the war in Iraq, all of us mourn for our soldiers: for the ones who die horrific painful deaths, for the ones that are maimed each day, for the ones that witness their best buddies being blown up before their eyes. We cannot forget our soldiers. I pray for their safety, their comfort, and for peace each day. Each soldier is a precious soul we have lost on this earth.

In our fast-paced world it is easy to distance ourselves from what is going on in Iraq and in Afghanistan. But we must not let ourselves become complacent with war. Our news coverage is so sanitized of the reality of war. We do not see many pictures of the thousands of severely injured soldiers in our newspapers or on TV. We see it occasionally, but not at the rate that it is happening. Tony Snow says that 2,500 dead troops "is just a number." It is shameful!

Please say NO to the political spin of "cut and run" for the '06 elections. It is another fraud by this administration. There is not a single American who wants this horrific mess in Iraq to continue. We want to stabilize the region, and we can if we have new COMPETENT leaders who do not LIE and who have a competent plan to stabilize Iraq. I urge all Americans to think for themselves this election and not buy into the LIES and SPIN. May God bless America, and guide us.

Thanks for the excellent coverage for the past couple of days out of New Orleans, where "the wheels have fallen off and the mechanism of a civilized society has come unhinged."

Mayor Nagin had the right idea, asking Gov. Blanco to send in the Louisiana National Guard and state police. Violent crime in that beleaguered city has been terrible for a city of her diminished size, and the fact that so many police officers deserted her police force during and after Katrina is no help. That murder of the 5 teenagers over the weekend after steadily increasing violence was the last straw.

New Orleans needs to be able to recover without anything holding her back. She will not become whole if her abandoned streets and neighborhoods are allowed to become "Baghdad on the Bayou." Not only would this discourage evacuees from returning and keep people from other parts of the country from wanting to make her their home, it could cause people currently trying to stay in New Orleans and rebuild to give up and move elsewhere. That could spell New Orleans' death as a city.

Regarding what was said in last night's report about tourists being turned off by seeing the National Guard, I'd imagine that the thought of violent crime would be even more off-putting. I hope the National Guard succeeds where New Orleans' decimated police force has failed.

Brian,
How sad we continue to lose our YOUNG men and women, at the hands of barbians who will be exactly as they are now 25 years from now, and relatives of our lost will grieve their deaths for many years to come. Our service people are tortured and then we charge our young people with murder and take away their lives for doing what their commanders tell them to do or face court martial. I am truly ashamed of our president and his co-horts for turning our country into a hated enity, instead of the respected great we once were. Bush will never resign, but his incompentance and that of his TRUSTED staff will ruin this country for many years to come. And it won't matter whether a Democrat or a Republican shall be elected, they won't have enough terms to right the ship. We can all look back on this King George's reign and regret we ever voted for him. Another Bush in the White House, I hope never again in my life time. Two were enough.

They kill our troops by IED and Democrats cry cut and run. They just killed 2 by torture, now what leave and be ashamed. Defend our troops, give them the support and America toughen up it's a war not a scorecard.

Known for their dirty tricks I don't believe in the Bush Administration.

I wouldn't put it past Karl Rove to take the original, real documents and reproduce them on a modern computer hand them over to Dan and the moment he showed them on the air have his cadre of evil jump onto the website and denounce the documents as false.

I found it surprising that so many people knew the font on the national guard documents was not in existence at the time when Bush was in the national guard. All the denouncers jump on that at the same time.

Rove could have arranged for the documents to be discredited so if there was evidence that appeared later supporting the validity of Dan's report that too would be discredited.

Discrediting the real documents and an outspoken critic of the Bush Administration in one move. It takes an evil genius. What else is he planning?

Dan, you deserve better.

Brian, we watch your newscasts, and admire you for your kind of news reporting which is very like Dan Rathers, we have watched him report from all over the world. He was always like an old friend on the TV. We are old enough to have watched the Huntley and Brinkley,and Walter Cronkrite. Thanks to all of you, keep telling it like it is in spite of our current administration.

Brian, I also appreciate your words on Dan Rather. Shame on CBS for thinking that the always awesome and talented Katie could take Dan's place! For a man who has served most of his life at one network, it is a shame that the network slapped him not only in the face but in the rear and kicked him out for making a mistake. It was a public and humiliating mistake, yes; but God forbid that journalists make mistakes, I suppose. I hope that Mr. Rather can rise above this and continue his journeys with someone who can appreciate his long legacy.

(And hope that NBC doesn't treat Brian this way one day in the future!)

On a flight about twenty years ago I remember picking up Rather's book and reading that he found it amusing to have been reporting from a place and about a situation about which he knew very little, but was going to wing it anyway--such are the funny things that happen on the job. I never watched him again. All this little man wanted out of life was to be as respected and beloved as Walter Cronkite. Ain't gonna happen, Dan. Something called trust, and you don't earn that with folksy expressions and lazy contempt for the audience.

My heart goes out to the families of the two soldiers lost this week in Iraq. And though it is not enough, I know I speak for many who would like these families to know that we appreciate the fact that those young soldiers were fighting for us and for our freedom. There are no words to say how sorry we are for these young men and for all the others who have lost life and limb in Iraq.

I have long critized our President for taking us into Iraq, but we are there and sadly, I believe, we have little choice but to stay as things now stand.

This is a hard choice to make, and in my mind I hear echos of Viet Nam. Still, the threat of Islam is far more deadly then most of us realize. I fear we must become accustomed to many years of deaths like we have seen this week. There is no solution but to keep on keeping on, winning over terrorists inch by inch and understanding that the fight has just begun.

It's a shame that a career such as Rather's can be "swiftboated" to the extent it was. At least Rather went after the story, was passionate, consistent and maintained his integrity. Where are the Dan Rathers of today and tomorrow--I'm afraid they are a vanishing breed. Rather stayed the same, it's television Journalism as a whole that's lost its integrity. Dan was right, Courage.

Hey Brian, Thanks for your kind words about Dan Rather. I've worked in the media for many years and have had the pleasure of meeting him on a couple of occasions and believe that he deserves a better send off than this. I agree with you: He will report again. It's in his blood.

Thank you, Brian. Dan Rather earned my trust and respect through years of dedicated work. I don't trust much our institutions. however. Without Dan on guard, we've taken one step back in the much needed vigilance by the "4th estate".

For Dan's sake, however, I'm glad to see him going on to greener pastures and look forward to his next body of work.

With all of the coverage of the mistreatment of prisoners at Gitmo what will be said of the way our soldiers and civilians are treated by the murderers in their "holy war" To end the debate on when to pull troops out just show some of the videos of the beheadings. We are fighting animals and they need to be treated as such. You cannot tame a mad dog, you just put them down. I wonder why people are killed when taken prisoner by our forces?

Brian, I truly appreciate your thoughtful reflections about Dan Rather. He was a great news reporter and wow, did he work hard year after year. He deserves America's sincere gratitude and respect for all of the important information he gave us in years past. I'm sure that we will see Mr. Rather on many successful pathways in the news in the years to come.

At least Tom Brokaw's still with us!! Well...at least 3 times a year that is...

This is why an agreement was reached to NOT torture. Bush thinks calling a thumb screw "jewelry" makes it not torture and allows the self-righteous to scream about what barbarians they are. The only difference is we give our torture victims a plane ride before we start crushing bones.

George Bush: you are a fool and a disgrace. Resign.

Dan has been a joke for a long time. His end came when he interviewed Suddam Hassan. Whatever credibility he may have had ended.

Please don't judge a man's honorable career on one mistake. Dan Rather has always been the one, after Walter Cronkite, who could be trusted. Dan did a great job reporting for all Americans. I am proud to have lived in his era of news reporting. Thanks again, Dan.

I just want to say to Dan Rather, God speed in whatever endevor you may take. I have many fond memories of your work, but the one that stands out is your reporting of the day John F. Kennedy was killed. I was at the Tampa airport and will never forget both you & Walter Cronkite's work that day.

Brian, Thanks for your very kind and gracious words about Dan Rather. You are a class act, as they say, and so is he - as well as being so deserving of a rich and grateful tribute. Sorry his time and legacy at CBS ends this way.