Civil War will cost everything.

It appears the two warring factions in Iraq are trying their best to throw the country into a civil war. Wednesday's al-Qaeda bombing of a Shiite shrine has thrown the war-torn region into a series of attacks and reprisals that has left all sides wondering what is next. A very sad note to all of this, if a civil war breaks out, al-Qaeda has succeeded in destroying anything we have accomplished. They have also succeeded in stopping all hopes of a troop withdrawal and once again inflame the entire Middle East. Al Qaeda attacks on the oilfields in Saudi Arabia and their subsequent promise of escalated attacks has created a critical escalating military situation there as well.

This sets in motion a series of events that will prove to be a no-win scenario for the United States as well as a critical test for the Iraqi government’s authority. If a civil war breaks out the blame will be placed directly on us. Al-Qaeda planned it this way from the moment American boots touched the ground. Misinformation, planting false information, deceiving intelligence agents is a powerful weapon of any military force. Creating dissention among the populace and distrust of those in charge being their primary goal. Place these tools in the hands of a terrorist operating in their own country and you are faced with a weapon just as strong and capable of killing as a bomb.

Starved for information to feed a hungry public the media plays right into their hands. The terrorists manipulate the media every step of the way, molding it into the story they want to serve to the people of the world. The media not only eats up each and every morsel of misinformation dropped by al-Qaeda, they sit up, tail wagging, begging for more.

Let me point out there are many reporters who stand tall, are loyal to the troops and report the truth to the best of their ability. Michael Yon personifies that fact. Sadly there are a few reporters who have paid the price, some the ultimate. There are many respectable correspondents reporting accurate information on the war. The problem is truthful reporting seldom, if ever makes the evening news. The major news sources prefer sensationalism that makes for better headlines.

Our military is comprised of professional, self-sacrificing men and women; dedicated to their country and the branch they serve. The media and the country need to stand behind it, be proud of it, and support it. The media can accomplish this better than anyone else. They need to report not only the facts, but the good they do, the humanitarian programs they accomplish, then maybe, just maybe disgusting idiots would not be protesting the funerals of those brave fallen souls who have given their all. Maybe people would not be throwing eggs, tomatoes and garbage at our returning troops. Maybe they would actually respect our brothers and sisters in uniform.

Iraq has come a long way since we began. If a civil war breaks out then everything we have done will have been a waste of time.