NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - Saddam Hussein's rejection of the president's ultimatum means that we are headed toward war.

It is an appropriate time for all of us to reflect upon the young men and women of our military who will be going into combat. We pray for them, and desperately hope they know how proud and grateful we are for their service to our great country.

Over the past several months there's been spirited, and sometimes furious, debate about the proper course of action on the issue of Iraq, and that debate has stirred occasionally rancorous partisan passions.

But partisanship in this country means a debate between patriots and patriots, not between patriots and those opposed to our national interests.

The debate, no matter which side of the debate you've supported and urged, has strengthened our democracy. And now the debate has ebbed, and we give our full support to the members of the military, who I hope will be proud of how we care for our way of life while they go into harm's way to protect us and this nation.