"Brothers & Sisters" Iraq storyline hits close to home...

On a day when three U.S. soldiers were reported killed in Iraq (25 killed this month and 2,843 killed since March 2003) and on a day when 159 Iraqis were killed - including 35 men blown apart while waiting to join Iraq's police force - tonight's episode of ABC's "Brothers & Sisters" really packed an emotional punch in the stomach.

Justin Walker (Dave Annable), who served in Afghanistan, receives a registered letter from the military ordering him to report for duty in two weeks for a tour of duty in Iraq. On the news that day (in the episode) there's a report that 12 soldiers had died in Iraq. Justin calls his brother Kevin in a panic: "I can't watch any more people die! I can't go back!"

The episode had some dramatic flashbacks to Sept. 11 when Kitty (Calista Flockhart) was living only six blocks away from the World Trade Center and the anguish the family went through waiting for word that she was all right. Her ordeal led Justin to enlist in the military and when he did so, he agreed to a clause that, in essence, was a backdoor draft. He threatens to flee to Mexico and even tries to buy a fake passport.

By episode's end, Justin was being rushed to the hospital after injesting too many drugs and booze. He REALLY did not want to go back. And who can blame him? It's a good thing President Bush is open to fresh ideas and strategies after his election day "thumping."

Ironically, this episode of the show was titled: "Mistakes Were Made."