More than three thousand four hundred American soldiers have now died in Iraq. Thousands of young men and women sacrificed. Thousands of families that know the pain.

Retired Lt. Col. Andrew Bacevich is a Vietnam and Gulf War veteran, a West Point grad and professor at Boston University, where On Point is produced. He’s a friend. In October, his son — also Andrew Bacevich — was stationed with the Army in Iraq. Yesterday came news that that son died Sunday in Balad, north of Baghdad.

Andrew Bacevich, Sr. is a man of military bearing, experience, and pride. But early on, he was deeply critical of the war in Iraq. He called President Bush’s policy of preventive war “immoral, illicit and imprudent.” He was critical of what he saw as a growing militarization of American culture, without an attendant seriousness — or willingness to serve.

We feature excerpts from a covenversation we held with him last March.

Guests:

Former Lt Col Andrew Bacevich, speaking with us in March last year. On Sunday, his son, First Lieutenant Andrew J. Bacevich, 27 years old, was killed in an explosion when he stopped a suicide bomber north of Baghdad. His sister Katy told the Boston Globe “he was a born leader.” Today we remember First Lieutenant Andrew J. Bacevich, and all who have given their lives in Iraq.