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How much of it is coming back? Many US companies will be participating in the rebuild, some of it goes to our troops, equipment manufacturers, and so on. Plus we will most likely be creating a new market for our products (which can be paid for via oil sales).

Yes it is a load of money, but if considered a long term investment it may not be such a bad deal (not to mention the above, much of it may be being recycled right back into American companies who will providing the services, which could result in some local job creation).

Time will tell the effect it will have and whether or not we come out ahead on the deal.

"How much of it is coming back? Many US companies will be participating in the rebuild, some of it goes to our troops, equipment manufacturers, and so on. Plus we will most likely be creating a new market for our products (which can be paid for via oil sales).

Yes it is a load of money, but if considered a long term investment it may not be such a bad deal (not to mention the above, much of it may be being recycled right back into American companies who will providing the services, which could result in some local job creation).

Time will tell the effect it will have and whether or not we come out ahead on the deal."

I agree with all the points you make here and would like to add that this could end up being a loan. The original plan seemed to be for Iraq oil sales to pay for the rebuilding costs, but that can not happen when the larger pipeline (the one in the north) keeps getting bombed.

You seem to believe that war is good for the economy. Suppose I take money out of your pocket to finance an artillery barrage on Main Street. Downtown is destroyed and will have to be rebuilt. While we're at it we might as well remake it much nicer than it was before - urban renewal. This will of course need more money from your pocket but hey investors in ammunition manufacturing got a big return. Construction is booming. Jobs are created. All is well. But is it?

We won't count the loss of life since the world has plenty of people to spare and as long as it's not me who cares? Let's just count the economic costs. When money comes out of your pocket you don't have the extra finances to take your family on vacation or maybe Junior's college will have to be put off for a few years or those house repairs just won't get done and that worn carpet will have to do for the foreseeable future. Maybe the bank turns down Junior #2's home loan because there isn't enough money to finance both Jr's house and the war and reconstruction. Are you better off? Are the people whose livelihoods depended on your economic activity better off? What about their suppliers?

Wars divert economic activity from productive development which is universally beneficial to society to production that is draining to the larger and beneficial to a smaller segment of society. Never forget that war is the health of the state.