We've heard it for the last 27 months, and we heard it again last night.

"The progress in the past year is significant and we have a clear path forward," President Bush told servicemen, Americans and the globe at large in a speech aimed at promoting the continued American presence in Iraq.

Americans have been told time and time again that progress has been made, that it's only a matter of time before the Iraqi people are capable of governing their own country without the help of Americans or other foreign countries.

Last night, Americans were asked to fly flags, send letters of appreciation and support to servicemen and to visit neighbors who have relatives in Iraq in celebration of the upcoming July 4 holiday.

But in the spirit of independence, and what our founding fathers fought so desperately for more than 200 years ago, shouldn't Americans be encouraged to question our current engagement? Shouldn't we be more inclined to question what our leader is currently doing? In the spirit of independence, shouldn't our leader have a more definitive plan of action and be more forthright regarding the ultimate goal and the most realistic outcome? If progress can be measured in the number of American lives that have been lost, then it's safe to say progress has definitely been made.

"The terrorists can kill the innocent, but they cannot stop the advance of freedom," Bush said. But to serve the American people, a more definitive approach is needed. As someone who purports to embody American ideals and freedom, Bush should be held accountable for his actions. Rhetorical speeches won't sway those who believe we shouldn't be overseas to begin with. Have we or can we ever change the hearts and minds of a few of the Iraqi people to help them understand the so-called benefits of American democracy?

"As the Iraqis stand up, we will stand down," Bush said during his speech yesterday, implying that as they learn how to fight, Americans will begin to pull out and decrease our troops' involvement in Iraq.

"We won't allow our future to be determined by car bombs or assassins," he said. Try telling that to the families who have lost loved ones overseas. Their lives and in some cases, livelihoods have indeed been determined by such people.

"We will stay in Iraq as long as we are needed. And not a day longer," Bush said. But when is that day? A timetable, we have been told, would only encourage the insurgents to continue their activities, knowing that soon the time of their liberation from the Americans will come.

How many American lives will it take before we finally realize the battle we are fighting? We need to know when and how this war will end.