Speaking of money holes, what's IRaq at now, gotta be over $200 B's down that mideast rathole by now (I know, I know, sacred cow...).
The amount of energy independence that amount could buy is staggering.
Stomping on Al Qaeda to the point they fear to cross us is worth it, when the alternative is vastly worse.
Which would have never happened.
It all would have gone to leftist welfare, social engineering, and energy and research would be exactly as before, with the possible exception of stem cell and aids research..