Iraq is the top election issue...

Photo shows Iraqis mourning near a Baghdad hospital Wednesday after an attack Tuesday on a wedding party killed the bride, the groom, 9 children and 12 others.

Statistics issued by Iraqi Interior Ministry put civilian deaths from political violence last month at 1,289, up 18 percent from the 1,089 seen in September, itself a record for this particular series of data.

The good news is that American voters have finally concluded that the Iraq war is an issue that must be addressed. I keep wondering why they could not have reached the same conclusion in 2004. I guess we are a nation of slow learners. Anyway, I hope we, the voters, will send a clear message this coming Tuesday.

(Photo: Ali Abbas / European Pressphoto Agency)