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This weekend alone, eight more American soldiers died in Iraq. According to an Associated Press count, at least 2,391 members of the U.S. military have died since the Iraq war started in March 2003.

So far: 21...18 year olds have died.
149..19 year olds have died.
268..20 year olds have died
315..21 year olds have died
249..22 year olds have died
1/3 of all military deaths in Iraq have been 22 and younger.

Over the weekend the U.S. military said three soldiers died at 11:30 a.m. but did not give the exact location. Five American soldiers died Saturday in bombings in the southern area of Bagdad.

With 90 billion dollars alloted to procurement, why hasn't the military provided our military convoys with more protection? Why are American kids still dying like this?

Here are just a few:
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Spc. Ty J. Johnson
Hometown: Elk Grove, California, U.S.
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Age: 28 years old

Died: April 4, 2006 in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Unit: Army, 2nd Battalion, 320th Field Artillery Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Ky.

Incident: Killed when a makeshift bomb exploded near his Humvee during combat operations in Kirkuk.
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Sgt. Israel Devora Garcia
Hometown: Clint, Texas, U.S.
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Age: 23 years old

Died: April 1, 2006 in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Unit: Army, 2nd Battalion, 6th Infantry, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, Baumholder, Germany.

Incident: Killed when a makeshift bomb exploded while conducting a dismounted patrol in Baghdad.
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Tech Sgt. Walter M. Moss Jr.
Hometown: Houston, Texas, U.S.
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Age: 37 years old

Died: March 29, 2006 in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Unit: Air Force, 366th Civil Engineer Squadron, Mountain Home AFB, Idaho.

Incident: Killed in the explosion of a makeshift bomb while conducting safing operations in the vicinity of Baghdad.
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Sgt. Michael D. Rowe
Hometown: New Port Richey, Florida, U.S.
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Age: 23 years old

Died: March 28, 2006 in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Unit: Army, 46th Engineer Battalion, Warrior Brigade, Fort Polk, La.

Incident: Killed when a makeshift bomb exploded near his Humvee during combat operations in Rutbah.
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Sgt. Amanda N. Pinson
Hometown: St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.
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Age: 21 years old

Died: March 16, 2006 in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Unit: Army, 101st Military Intelligence Detachment, 501st Special Troops Battalion, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Ky.

Incident: Killed when a mortar round exploded in Tikrit.
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Spc. Joshua L. Hill
Hometown: Fairmount, Indiana, U.S.
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Age: 24 years old

Died: March 12, 2006 in Operation Enduring Freedom.

Unit: Army Reserves, 391st Engineer Battalion, U.S. Army Reserve, Asheville, N.C.

Incident: Killed when a makeshift bomb exploded near his Humvee during combat operations west of Asadabad, Afghanistan.
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Lance Cpl. Matthew R. Barnes
Hometown: West Monroe, Louisiana, U.S.
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Age: 20 years old

Died: February 14, 2006 in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Unit: Marines, 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division; 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.

Incident: Killed when a suicide bomber attacked his vehicle near Al Qa'im.
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Petty Officer 3rd Class Nicholas Wilson
Hometown: Newark Valley, New York, U.S.
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Age: 25 years old

Died: February 12, 2006 in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Unit: Navy, Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit Three, San Diego, Calif.

Incident: Died as a result of a makeshift bomb in Anbar Province.
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Sgt. Gordon F. Misner II
Hometown: Sparks, Nevada, U.S.
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Age: 23 years old

Died: February 22, 2006 in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Unit: Army, 1st Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colo.

Incident: Killed when a makeshift bomb exploded near his Bradley Fighting Vehicle near Balad.
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Pfc. Allan A. Morr
Hometown: Shiawassee County, Michigan, U.S.
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Age: 21 years old

Died: February 24, 2006 in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Unit: Army, 1st Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division, Fort Campbell, Ky.

Incident: Killed when a makeshift bomb exploded near his Humvee during patrol operations in Hawijah.
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Spc. Joshua U. Humble
Hometown: Appleton, Maine, U.S.
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Age: 21 years old

Died: February 26, 2006 in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Unit: Army, 1st Squadron, 71st Cavalry, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division of Fort Drum, N.Y.

Incident: Killed when a makeshift bomb exploded near his Humvee during patrol operations in Baghdad.
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I WISH I COULD show all of them. You can see their beautiful faces and those of the other fallen heroes and read their stats at: www.http://projects.washingtonpost.com/fallen/

THEY ARE THE SHINING EXAMPLE OF WHAT IS GOOD AND RIGHT ABOUT OUR COUNTRY.
THEIR LIVES SACRIFICED TOO SOON BECAUSE THEY SERVED.
SOLDIERS PROUD AND HONORABLE.
THE CHILDREN OF OUR LAND.
OUR PRIDE OUR JOY.

Mr. Rumsfeld: If you are going to ask them to fulfill your ambitions then at least protect them with the BEST equipment money can buy. Do EVERYTHING in YOUR power to keep them safe. These are not your children, they are ours. We deserve an accoutability of where the money budgeted for the military is spent. Where does ALL that money go if not to insulate and protect the best of the best that this country has to offer. There HAS to be sensitive equipment available which can "sniff out" these makeshift bombs. If there isn't then there should be.
If they can make a microwave which can "smell" food, then surely there is a device which can "smell" explosives.

As of 11/30/05 $251 billion spent on the Iraqi War

If the money spent on the military is being syphoned off and into the hands of the already wealthy, then all I can ask is that: God have mercy on their souls.