We're used to that anytime Bush's position on Iraq gets support from those who should know best. Saw it a lot after the January election.

The war costs money
The war cost lives
The war cost political capital
the war cost popularity

All reasons why a poll chaser like Clinton basically ignored the issue and a cautious man like GB senior stopped short of finishing the job. History will decide whether it was the right choice like it has about WW2 despite strong disagreement back then too. The historical perspective will allow comparison of the lives lost and misery prior to the war to the lives lost during and afterwards and whether or not the lives of the Iraqis and possibly many others in the middle east were positively affected. I'm betting history sides with GB2 for the very same reasons it backs US participation in WW2.

The cost of the war is probably too much due to poor tactical decisions by Bush's team just like their domestic economic plans have resulted in a subpar recovery, but I'd rather pay too much than let the cancer in the ME continue.

Regards,
Mark