Good point.

I wonder how much money would have to be spent on improving conditions for women around the world to make a significant difference to world peace? How far would a few hundred billion dollars go?

To put the figures into context, Dolan offers a summary of what could have been purchased with the Iraq appropriations so far. Purchases could have included, she says, 678,000 new fire trucks, health care coverage for 82 million children, or for 27 million adults, almost 23 million housing vouchers or over 20 million Head Start slots for children. On a global level, the war budget could supply all impoverished people worldwide with sufficient food, childhood immunization, HIV/AIDS medicine and clean water and sanitation for two years, according to U.N. and World Water Council estimates.