re: Could Cassini have been launched later?
Of course it would cost more to hold it in the cleanroom longer. But, they would have had time to write the science instruments software on the ground and possibly find and correct the Huygen's trajectory error before launch (it might not of even existed anyway with a different trajectory to Saturn).
No matter how you play the game (if you're honest about it) postponement is not cancellation and pointing this out has nothing with politics.