Scott, I asked serious questions, and everybody else responded in kind. But I'll humor you and respond anyway.

I don't remember anybody saying the post-invasion of Iraq would be easy or cheap.

You must've missed comparisons with the peaceful occupation of Japan, and luminous soft-focus fantasies of the entire population of Iraq dancing for joy in the streets, showering our Humvees with flowers, and installing their first democratic government before year's end.

As for the oil, it came up in the "Meet the Press" interviews. Would it help defray the cost of the occupation? Probably never. Even when the fields are repaired and brought online, the profit (remember that it'll take more billions to rebuild the oil infrastructure, which cost must be subtracted from revenues) might eventually contribute as much as a $1 billion/month at full capacity. And occuation is costing us $4 billion/month.