http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/04/opinion/04herbert.html?em&ex=1204866000&en=85633a4996272226&ei=5087%0A
I think this article brings up an interesting and overlooked result of the Iraq war. At what point do you sacrifice the health of the Iraqi people for the health of the US Economy? Ok, lets say that this war is not about overthrowing a ruthless dictator but creating a presence in the oil drenched, Israeli inhabited, terrorist safe haven Middle East. At what point does our economy stink so bad that it becomes illogical to sustain?
I don't have the answers to these questions nor am I well informed enough to speculate. However, pertaining to the election I suspect that those lower to middle class Americans who are really starting to get hit will look to the ill-informed/ill-advised decision to invade Iraq and wonder how much that decision has affected their checking account. Or do they really want a military hawk like McCain spending money in Iraq for the next 100 years or for the government to pay their child's college tuition and health care?
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I agree with you that domestic issues will be of utmost importance in the run-up to the November election, and that the looming recession will affect votes quite possibly more than the Iraq War. But in discussing the Iraq War, we must keep in mind that defense spending still only accounts for 4% (estimated) of our GDP while 50% of our budget goes towards entitlement programs. Obama and Clinton have both stated that they will pursue the war on terror in Afghanistan and elsewhere, which will also cost the taxpayers money. So pulling out of Iraq does not equal all those trillions of dollars going to other programs. There will still be a war to finance and veterans to care for.
Now, for Bush and his cronies to cut taxes at a time of war, that is absolutely absent-minded and absurd. There is no doubt about that.
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