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There is no easier applause line in American politics than to invoke the brave men and women fighting in our behalf.

As for those who've died, they can be used with equal cynicism by the hawks and the doves.

You want to whip up support for the war? It goes something like this: "We owe it to the men and women who have died in the cause of freedom that we complete their mission with honor."

You oppose the war and want to pull the troops out? It's one variation or another of this theme: "Too many brave men and women have already died in a war that never should have been fought in the first place."

Our goal was to elevate the fallen above the politics and the daily journalism, to let their names and faces remind us of what has always been true: When the American people fully understand the cause for which our troops are fighting, and when they accept that it is essential to our national welfare and security, no burden is too heavy, no cost is too high.

It may well be that the war against terrorism, which is all too real, does require that our troops spend many more dangerous years in Iraq. At times, there is no alternative to war.

During World War II, more than 16 million Americans served in uniform; and over 400,000 of those died. Most Americans believed then and believe now that the sacrifice was necessary.

The reading of those 721 names was neither intended to provoke opposition to the war nor was it meant as an endorsement.

Some of you doubt that. You are convinced that I am opposed to the war.

I'm not; but that's beside the point. I am opposed to sustaining the illusion that war can be waged by the sacrifice of a few, without burdening the rest of us in any way. I oppose the notion that to be at war is to forfeit the right to question, criticize or debate our leaders' policies, or, for that matter, the policies of those who would like to become our leaders.

Nightline will continue to do all of those things in the weeks and months to come. But that is not what this broadcast was about.

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