I'd have to see exactly how the CBO comes up with an annual cost that's twice what we're spending now.

It would be interesting to see how some other government expenses came out over the next ten years if you played the same tricks like including interest. Even without interest, entitlements alone over the same period will run well over $13 trillion. Around $19 trillion if you add the interest at the same rate. And those costs will go on, ever increasing, pretty much forever.

I suspect in ten years we won't be spending much in Iraq. Unlike most government spending, there will at least be an end to this expense, one way or another.