War kills soldiers like a lottery. They hope their number dosen't get called. A step removed, we all face the lottery of when a loved one might be killed.

It was only a matter of time. That time just came for my sister. A neigborhood kid in Pacifica, CA has been killed in Bush's war with Iraq. The local story she sent to me follows:

A young soldier who will be remembered for his kind and gentle manner died last Wednesday in Iraq. Army private first class, Angelo Zawaydeh, 19, died when his traffic control point came under mortar attack during combat operations in Baghdad.

It was with members of the class of 2004 that Angelo made a pact to join the military service. The decision was a response to the events of Septmeber 11. Angelo also felt the service would provide a good background for the career he hoped to pursue, his mom said. "He planned to go to college and then go into law enforcement," she said. "He sounded up all the time".

But then one time he called his family to say that his opinion about America's involvment in Iraq had changed. It's a bitter subject for his dad, a Jordanian-American who's been a US citizen for 30 years. He's feeling frustrated, shocked and in complete disbelief about his son's death. He feels his son was swayed by the Army's $15,000 signing bonus, and likens it to bribery, and by the rosy picture recruiters painted about the importance of defending America. "That's alot of money for an 18 year old. It was his decison to go even though we objected. He received the first $7,000 installment. He has yet to receive the rest. If it's all right for my son to shed his blood, I would like to see a Congressman's son's blood shed in this conflict. When Angelo got to Iraq, his views changed. He said 'This is Iraq's war. Let them fight their own war. They have been at war for thousands of years. The President wanted to remove a dictator, but then he became a dictator. We are shedding the blood of our children for a few of the richest people in the world. It's about where the President wants to put American assets for the next 200 years." Zawayed feels betrayed by a governmental system he says is not working. "I hope to God there are no parents in the world who experience what I'm experiencing today. What does the President mean when he says 'stay the course'? I thought the constitution was different than this. They changed it to their own liking. I'm shocked. I'm asking American people to open their eyes. How could such a President run the country?" he asked.

Cathy Auleb taught Angelo Physcial Education from sixth grade to his senior year. In his senior year he served as her teaching assistant and they developed a good rapport. She is devastated by the loss. "I saw him go from a little boy to a young man. It's heartbreaking. I watched him grow up. He was, in the truest sense, a gentleman. He was quiet, but very quick to smile. He was kind and helpful and just a really sweet kid. He had friends and he loved his skateboarding. As my TA he was always so helpful. I never asked him to do anything he just did it. He was good athlete and just an all around good guy. He was a gentleman and a gentle man. He was very sweet. He never caused any problems. He never got into trouble. He was sweet in sixth grade and sweet when he was a senior. He grew up to be a fine young man. He was good at all sports. You could put him on any team.", she said. Angelo had told Auleb he was going to join the service. "I said, 'Be careful'. It's not my place to give my opinon."

Angelo's mom said she thought her son never hurt anyone, not even the enemy. "They had training, yes, but nothing will prepare you for killing someone or being killed. At least they say, he didn't see it coming, probably didn't feel it either…thank God for that…."