Iraq's Cost? Well, I... Ummm, Uhh, 9/11.

Defending the Iraq war in a FOX interview, Rummy again falls back on a 9/11 reference-

RUMSFELD: And there’ve always been people who have looked at the problems and they’re real problems, don’t get me wrong. I’m not saying it’s a pretty picture. It isn’t a pretty picture. It’s a tough business, and our guys over there [in Iraq] are doing an absolutely superb job and they’re proud of what they’re doing and they know that they’re making progress and they know they can’t lose over there.

O’REILLY: No, they can’t lose militarily, but it’s cost the United States taxpayer about $400 billion up this point.

RUMSFELD: Think of what 9/11 cost us. Wouldn’t you rather fight those people over there instead of fighting them here?

O’REILLY: Yes.

RUMSFELD: Think of what happened to our economy, think what happened to the stock market.

O’REILLY: Absolutely.

RUMSFELD: Think of what happened to the airlines here after 9/11.

Interesting that the 'cost' that concerns them most is the financial one. How nice.

Meanwhile, despite promises last year of some troop withdrawals, the Defense Department is scaling back its promises. According to the Washington Post, Rumsfeld "said he cannot guarantee that there will be substantial withdrawals of U.S. troops from Iraq this year, and warned instead that leaving that country precipitously could create a sanctuary for al-Qaeda and other terrorists."

Don't worry everyone, I'm sure the next six months will bring the breakthrough we need.

UPDATE: Yes, it appears another one of those breakthroughs is already upon us. The Iraqi parliament has approved a new Cabinet. No doubt we'll hear how this proves imminent victory is right around the corner. But, as the 'six months' link above illustrates, the past few years have been filled with stories supposed to be signs of that (elections, a constitution, etc), but have done nothing to stop the chaos that rules Iraq and the sectarian strife that has prevented the government from being effective. We've been here before.

UPDATE #2: New reports show ethnic cleansing taking hold in Iraq. Yep, totally worth it.





[PS- Meanwhile, back in Afghanistan, it's ummm, not doing much better.]