This is an article offering critique to President Obama's oval office remarks on the end of the Iraq War.

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On August 31, 2010, President Obama declared a, "successful end to Iraq". President Obama said, "Like all Americans, I am awed by [US Serviceman and woman] sacrifice, and by the sacrifices of their families."

What were those "sacrifices"?

As I reflect on my time as a Marine in Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom, I cry small tears. I recall, 9 years ago I was in the same places the current fighting forces are at now.

I think about my good friend Jeff Taylor USN (S.E.A.L). We were in Operation Enduring Freedom 2001 together. We were first boots on the ground after 9/11. While deployed, we used to talk about the good life in the US. We used to discuss McDonalds, motorcycles, and our favorite-hobby skydiving. When we returned in 2002 we were glad to return safely, and we were proud of our work. However, Jeff's story did not end like mine.

Today, Jeff rests inside his coffin. He returned to Afghanistan in 2004, and he died in a helicopter crash in Afghanistan 2005.

God Rest his soul, but I want to know how many more will die. How many more brave young people will go to war? How many more of my friends are going to pay the ultimate sacrifice? When will Washington DC be able to prop up a corrupt government resting Kabul Afghanistan.

Afghanistan President Karzai safely sits in Kabul, and President Obama sits in the ivory towers of the Washington-which one of them really cares about my friends? Obama and Karzai cooperate to send thousands of Americans to war, yet they never have to worry about the blood we shed or the scars in our heads. Presidents can send their children to Harvard, Yale, and Stanford while American security rests in the hands in ordinary people like my friends and me. We suffer from PTSD, sleepless nights, and bad memories. Meanwhile the President says, "Thanks, I have a new war for you to go to".

President Obama is moving ahead for more war in Afghanistan. He has a list of reasons why. He has said, "Afghanistan is vital to American security". I wonder, if the war were so necessary, would the President be willing to send his two daughters to Afghanistan? Likewise, if President Bush's daughters were in the military would he have been so willing to send them to Iraq. No one can know the truth, but it is a needed and fair question for the Commander in Chief.

As a Combat Marine of Iraq and Afghanistan, I struggle with President Obama's tribute to us. I do not think he will ever know about our sacrifices unless his own children go to war. President Obama will probably never know about our nightmares and our post war anxiety. President Obama will never remember about the American, British, or Iraqis blood that covered our fighting vehicles. President Obama will never know about our own moral crises and our moral injuries incurred during war. In fact, most Presidents never will.

No one will know about our sacrifices except for those of us who have been in the trenches.

Moving to his speech: President Obama failed to mention the national costs of war. The President indicated he wants more war in Afghanistan, yet he refuses to admit the national social for this war. Indeed, the most damaging costs to Americans at large are the social costs, yet President Obama has not said a word.

Consider the Iraq war,

-- More than 4,500 American soldiers are dead and 40,000 wounded because of the war.

-- The U.S. taxpayers paid above a trillion dollars some estimates into 3 trillion dollars.

--Iran has grown in strength

-- Jihadist terrorist attacks increased around the world seven-to-ten fold in the three years following the 2003 invasion.

-- At least 100,000 Iraqis killed. Some estimates into indicate there are millions dead.

-- 4 million displaced Iraqi refugees

Indeed, Iraq no longer carries extreme-sectarian violence, but there is still no Government. The most recent elections were stole from the Iraqis. Parallel the recent Afghanistan elections governmental corruption is the norm in both locations.

Indeed, the "surge" did not produce what President Bush intended. Many "surge" proponents believed the US could perform counterinsurgency and build an Iraqi government, yet the mission is not accomplished.

Even last night "Pro-Surge" groups like Vets For Freedom indicated, "The Job is not finished, and we need to support the combat Special Forces, and civilians in place."

My prediction: The scariest events are yet to come.

President Obama is using the "surge" strategy of Counter-Insurgency to build Afghanistan. Like a Broadway musical, Counter-Insurgency is the Pentagon's sexy headlining act. The Advertisement sounds good, but those of us who went to war; we know Counter-Insurgency is more war chatter that is counter-productive.

Counter-Insurgency needs another name, "Counterproductive, Expensive, Indeterminate Nation-State building exercises.

2010 is the deadliest year thus far in Afghanistan. How much war chatter do Americans have to endure? How many more will die this year?

President Obama has said, "All U.S. troops will leave [Iraq] by the end of next year, and 2011 will start the draw down of Afghanistan"

Only time will tell, but our nation is at risk. The Afghanistan war has greater risks than Iraq. Obviously, the war costs the soldiers more than any human can know, but the nation has social costs to keep in mind. CBO indicates the US has trillion dollar deficits for years to come. Schools are laying teachers off, health care costs are skyrocketing, and there are no glimpses of hope for Iraq. Why should Americans believe Afghanistan is going to be different from Iraq?

When does the President call it "game over"?

All Americans need to wake up to the giant canard.

Presidents pay nothing for the wars, but the rest of Americans pay for all of it.

The wars are too much money for the nation, they are too much damage to the warrior, and they are too much for the families with dead children.

Who is going to finally end these wars?

Authors Bio:
Jake Diliberto is the Co-Founder of Veterans For Rethinking Afghanistan. He was a Marine Cpl. He served with the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit during Operation Enduring Freedom in 2001 and served on security forces for II MEB in Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003. After serving in the Marines Jake has finished his B.S. in Political Science from Illinois State University, and Fuller Theological Seminary in ethics and religion. Jake has finished his M.A. in Theology & Ethics as of 2009 and is pursuing law school for 2010.