Let's call it what it is: The war in Iraq has nothing to do with 'protecting freedom' or 'fighting terrorism', it's all about about the oil.  Old news, you say. Not quite.

Call it cynical, but the facts speak for themselves, particularly after Andrew Kramer's New York Times article recently quoted U.S. and Iraqi officials, noting that the world's largest oil companies - Exxon Mobil, Shell, Total and BP are likely to awarded 'no-bid' contracts by the Iraqi Oil Ministry to service the country's largest fields.

Call it a slap in the face to the 4,100-plus families and the nearly 17,000  wounded during the war.  Call it another reason why many countries in the world are skeptical of our intentions and critical of our record of sincerity. 

Call it a sweet deal to the oil companies. Why be mad at them? It's what America is all about, right? Why can't Exxon Mobil make an $11 billion profit during the first quarter of 2008. Capitalism... the free enterprise system.  Blow up a country, then extend your hand to help.  Just trying to help out in the name of 'freedom'. 

You can only wonder what history will say about the war in Iraq.  Will it be treated like the Vietnam War where veterans are honored, but the purpose of the U.S. involvement continually questioned or heralded like World War II 'celebrated' as a great triumph over evil?

One thing is for sure:  Those profiting from America's oil business in Iraq will not be looking back at the hypocrisy of their actions today. They'll be praising the President and Congress that put them there.  And this nation, the families who have suffered a horrible loss and the others who may never fully recover will bear the burden of a war built on protecting 'Texas tea, black gold".  That vision is enough to just make you sick to the stomach.