College politico wrote:

Its my opinion of the report... didn't attack anybody. I'm fine with discussing the issue at hand.

I can't help but notice that you ignored my comment about the estimate for the cost of the war, and Ralph's about the estimate of war dead, and took the easy way out of allowing yourself to get embroiled in an attack with Mark.

So, since you purportedly would prefer to discuss the issue at hand:
- what is your estimate of the total cost of the Iraq war to the American taxpayer?
- what is a nonbiased estimate, in your view, of the number of Iraqis killed?

Here's some information from another source on the cost of the Iraq war:

http://www.nationalpriorities.org/costofwar_home

Ralph Deeds wrote:

Here's some information from another source on the cost of the Iraq war:

http://www.nationalpriorities.org/costofwar_home

I don't think even college politico is able to argue that point. But, the fact remains that the powers-that-be feel this is a justifiable expense. Both my country's and yours.

And if you accept that the govs are run as profit making institutions - the real question is - Who is making a profit?

Why do you need to prove a given? Its trillions so what.
Follow  the money. That's where the action is at.

knolyourself wrote:

Why do you need to prove a given? Its trillions so what.

It's not a given; it's contested (or deliberately ignored) by the right-wing.

It's an issue because people might want to know that the Republicans want to continue to spend hundreds of billions, or more, by keeping a presence in Iraq for decades.

Granted.

livelonger wrote:

College politico wrote:

Its my opinion of the report... didn't attack anybody. I'm fine with discussing the issue at hand.

I can't help but notice that you ignored my comment about the estimate for the cost of the war, and Ralph's about the estimate of war dead, and took the easy way out of allowing yourself to get embroiled in an attack with Mark.

So, since you purportedly would prefer to discuss the issue at hand:
- what is your estimate of the total cost of the Iraq war to the American taxpayer?
- what is a nonbiased estimate, in your view, of the number of Iraqis killed?

I'll get back in here and discuss substantive issues with you soon. At the moment I am quite busy here at school.

Oh just some quick points...

1. I don't dispute the current number of US casualties as it is reported by the major news networks.

2. Ralph's site seems to have a better estimate, conducted with better methods, than the original report. Though I do have reservations because of the motivation of the site. I hope you can understand why I say that. I mean would you trust an estimate for gun violence levels from the NRA?

But I go into greater detail on the second point and answer your other questions when I have more time.