The recent WikiLeaks releases have helped lift the fog of war. Though there has not been anything in the releases that has not already been reported, the releases insure that the military and administration can't issue their normal denials as they have done about previous reports.

President Eisenhower was the last President to stand up to and control the military. As a result, it is imperative that we as citizens know what the military does so that we can hold them accountable.

When I was in Viet Nam, I refused to obey a direct order from my commander. The Lt. Col. went ballistic, but no disciplinary action was taken because I had the facts on my side and was following my oath to defend the constitution. It is unreasonable to expect all those in the military to do the same in today's climate. Psychological studies have shown that the banality of evil empowers individuals to readily do evil deeds when given the power of control over others. It is up to us as citizens to make sure the troops are protected from excessive use of this evil by military leaders. Engaging in these inhumane acts make us all less safe.

The military needs to know that their power is given to them by us. We citizens cannot control them unless we know what they are doing with that power. We need to know what they are doing with the very dear treasures that we give them. As President Eisenhower said in 1953, these treasures are "a theft from those who hunger and are not fed, those who are cold and not clothed. This world in arms is not spending money alone. It is spending the sweat of its laborers, the genius of its scientists, the hopes of its children." The military is also abusing the loved ones that are entrusted in their care. The late Col. David Hackworth(arguably one of the most decorated soldiers ever) said: "We use'em, abuse'em, and loose'em."

Correcting for inflation, the "war on terrorism" is the second most costly war in our history. It is not unreasonable for us to demand to see what we are getting for our expenditures.