$3 Trillion Is Just a Part of the Cost (Toronto Star)

. . . "There seems to be a political taboo about questioning levels of military spending," says William Hartung, director of the arms and security initiative of the Washington-based New America Foundation.

"The Democrats, who might raise questions, fear that they'll be labelled soft on defence. The Republicans aren't going to ask. And if the candidates don't tackle the military budget before the election race begins, it won't get any easier." . . .

"The U.S. is definitely locked into a war economy," says Hartung, author of How Much Are You Making on the War, Daddy? A Quick and Dirty Guide to War Profiteering in the Bush Administration.

"About two weeks of the war would cost the same as what's spent on fighting global warming. But war spending is a kind of protected portion of the economy. The world could change dramatically, but the budget would be about the same." . . .

"If the war ended tomorrow, there'd be no peace dividend," says Hartung.