When U.S. led forces invaded Iraq on March 20, 2003, the war against Iraq began. On May 1, 2003, the war in Iraq was over. In those 43 days, Saddam Hussein's forces were rounded up and defeated quicker than almost any other U.S. conflict in wartime history. In just a month and a half, Saddam's statues were torn down, top-level members of his regime were arrested each and every day - and thousands of Iraqi citizens cheered our troops on and held up U.S. flags as their town was freed from Hussein's iron grasp.

But since President Bush declared that "major combat in Iraq" was over on May 1st - an alarming total of 390 U.S troops have been killed in Iraq. I thought the war was over?

Just last week, the total number of U.S. troop fatalities reached 32. That recent string of deaths began last Sunday when a surface-to-air missile shot down one of our Chinook helicopters - killing 16 soldiers and wounding 20 more - in what is now known as the worst single attack of the war so far.

I understand the President's position and his need to keep our troops in Iraq to help rebuild the country - although I am having trouble swallowing the $86 billion price tag. What I do not understand is why our troops are being killed left and right now that we have defeated our enemy and established peace?

As I watch the news and see another mother holding a folded, tear-soaked American flag on her lap, I wonder how long our troops will actually be over there, why more are being called into service - and why other countries are not sending troops to aid ours? I am well aware that casualties of war are inevitable on both sides - but how come keeping the peace bears a heavier price than fighting the war itself?

According to recent reports, our troops will remain in Iraq until sometime next summer, and more are being deployed to assist in the "peacekeeping process." But I think the President needs to not only address the issue of fatalities among our troops - but come up with some sort of strategy to combat this alarming rate of soldier deaths before more names of young men and women are added to the list of casualties...

...or another mother weeps over a folded flag.