So much has changed in the past four years. When the Iraq War (part deux) was born, I was behind the Preznit. I can still remember when it took its first steps. I can even remember its first words at a mere six weeks old: “Mission Accomplished”.

In all seriousness, I was amazed this morning to actually see news coverage of the international anti-war protests that have been going on to mark the four-year anniversary. It was even on the local news where they marked the “dozens” of protesters in one of the video clips. I guess the local media is still afraid of offending its more hawkish viewership because other coverage more correctly described the anti-war protesters numbering in the thousands.

Among thousands who turned out Sunday in Minneapolis to protest the war in Iraq were Charles and Sigrid Bell of Eden Prairie, who said they were there to represent mainstream America.

“We are busy, we have a lot of things to do, but we feel we have to get out here to represent the mainstream,” said Sigrid Bell.

“The 70 percent of Americans who have figured out how bad this is should be doing something more than yelling at their TV,” said Charles Bell.

Organizers estimated about 4,000 people participated in the antiwar march that began in the Uptown area, continued north on Hennepin Avenue and ended at Loring Park. Police did not respond to a request for a crowd estimate.

WCCO may want to take note of the “70 percent of Americans” part of that before they back out of actual news reporting again because I can think of “dozens” of things to say about half-assed, milquetoast news coverage.

So happy birthday you civil war created by American invasion, you. You don’t look a day over quagmire — really.