Free Republic

God forbid critics of the war on Iraq should compare it with the war in Vietnam. But perhaps it is worth mentioning that the liberation of Iraq is now costing more each month than the preservation of the Republic of South Vietnam did more than 30 years ago. As the admitted direct cost of the war reached $250 billion last week -- and the White House asked for $120 billion more on Thursday -- new analyses estimate that the invasion of Iraq could end up costing $2 trillion before it is over. If you remember, the White House's own economic...

It was a grueling 11-hour drive to Baghdad from the Kurdish region of Iraq (news - web sites). The aspiring graduate student braved checkpoints, risky roads, and other hurdles for a 15-minute interview for a chance at a Fulbright fellowship that would enable him to study American literature. When the student first sought to go to college, Saddam Hussein (news - web sites)'s regime had summarily rejected him because he was a Kurd. He was able to pursue his studies only after his home region won some autonomy. Neither insurgents nor bandits nor the fear of retribution could stop him...