Kirk Watson: “we have spent over $200 billion so far on the war in Iraq. According to the Congressional Budget Office, by 2010, our…”

“we have spent over $200 billion so far on the war in Iraq. According to the Congressional Budget Office, by 2010, our expenses might be as much as $600 billion. The two hundred billion dollars we have spent so far would be enough money to provide health care for the 45 million Americans without health insurance. That two hundred billion dollars would permit us to hire three and a half million elementary school teachers. That two hundred billion dollars for the war in Iraq is going on America's credit card and that goes right to the deficit--a debt to be paid by our children and grandchildren. All this might be worth it if we had something to show for it. I think two hundred billion dollars for peace and democracy is a bargain. But we haven't gotten peace and democracy. That two hundred billion has bought us: over seventeen hundred dead Americans; an unknowable number of Iraqi civilian deaths; a dysfunctional country that cannot move its political process forward; a new haven and proving ground for anti-American extremism; a wellspring of mistrust from longtime friends and allies around the world; and a devastating erosion of American leadership and credibility. So what are we still doing there? The President says we are pursuing our ``ultimate goal of ending tyranny in our world.'' But the President has dragged onto a path that, at best, muddles that message.…”