[cookcounty]

It would be interesting to see how they arrive at these numbers. I know that in 1991, critics included the cost of paying and maintaining active duty personnel, which is a phony valuation because whether or not we go to war, those folks will be paid, fed, clothed and otherwise provided for (unless Dallyin' Daschle doesn't get his butt in gear and pass the Defense Appropriations Bill this week!).

[Dave Olson]

Good point. Plus, for about 12 years afterward, there was the cost of maintaining a military presence in Saudi Arabia and patrolling the "no-fly zones" over Iraq (both now being discontinued).