The Times and Democrat - Iraq is a very dangerous place. Our troops there deserve unqualified support as much now as during the days of fighting the army of Saddam Hussein.

The enemy now is more elusive -- essentially guerrillas and terrorists trying to disrupt the American and British-led transition to civilian government in Iraq. It is a lethal enemy.

The deadly price of the war and its aftermath hit home again in and around The T&D Region when a family in Allendale got official word Monday that Army Spec. Orenthial Javon Smith, 21, was killed Sunday. He was a petroleum supply specialist serving with the Army's 1st Armored Division in Iraq. His convoy that was ambushed by small arms fire.

Smith's death left understandable anguish and anger with this mother, Iratean Smith.

"I feel angry," she told The Associated Press. "They took my son's life. It was a very senseless war."

Smith said she has tried to be positive about U.S. involvement in Iraq, but even her son -- who hoped to make the military his career -- had reservations. "He loved the Army, but he didn't like the war," she said.

She said her son told her, "Bush is trying to say the war is over, but the war is far from over.''

No, the war is not over. And President Bush did not say it was. In announcing an end to organized resistance from Saddam Hussein's army, he acknowledged there is much danger in Iraq and much to be done.

But debating the war in Iraq in terms of useful or not is irrelevant at this point. U.S. and British forces are not leaving until the transition is complete.

What is left for Americans now is to realize that national attention and commitment cannot be diverted -- and that commitment is to stamping out those who would kill our more of our sons and daughters

2nd District Congressman Joe Wilson expressed the sentiments of so many in a statement Wednesday before the U.S. House:

"Mr. Speaker, I rise today in sadness to report the third death that has touched the 2nd District of South Carolina during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Twenty-one year-old Army Specialist Orenthial J. Smith paid the ultimate sacrifice for the War Against Terrorism when he was killed during an ambush on his convoy south of Baghdad on Sunday. He was born in Barnwell, S.C., and lived in nearby Martin in Allendale County.

"O.J. joined the United States Army shortly after graduating from high school, with the intent on making the military his lifelong career. Stationed in Dexheim, Germany, with the 123rd Maintenance Support Battalion, Specialist Smith was a leader with a great potential. While in Germany, he graduated ninth out of 127 from a leadership development course.

"I ask all of my colleagues to join me in extending O.J.'s family our most sincere thanks for their son's sacrifice and commitment to bringing liberty and freedom to the oppressed people of Iraq while protecting the American public in the War Against Terrorism.

"In conclusion, May God bless our troops.''

And their families.