This is related to Robert's post discussing the cost of rebuilding Iraq.

The DOD has released a report on this based on the work of a group that went to Iraq to find out what needs to be done. The recommendations are specific, and most seem to be valid ones. I don't think the original report is on-line yet, but I'm still looking.

Newsmax has an article on this as well.

Bottom line: it's going to cost a lot of money to build a free Iraq, and we damn well better not drop the ball on it. I don't think we have done as well in Afghanistan in this regard as we could have.

When the request for the cash hits Congress, it's going to be instructive to see who is going to make political hay out of this at the expense of Iraq.

And yes, it would be appropriate for the rest of the world to kick in a little here.