If my recollection of the numbers is correct--I think it is--it is costing us as much each year to be at war in Iraq and Afghanistan than all the healthcare reforms being considered right now would add to the federal budget in ten years.

That seems to be a pretty easy choice to me, yet our government isn't even discussing it. If anything, what is being considered is a massive ramp up of the troops in Afghanistan. They're talking about sending as many troops to Afghanistan as we had in Kuwait just before we invaded Iraq. The number of our kids being killed in Afghanistan is growing rapidly. I think a new record--44--were killed last month.

So, if the money--OUR money--could be better spent for the healthcare of American citizens or defending middle eastern countries and re-building them, why is that such a tough decision?

Mrs. Kahuna asked me this morning, "why are we in Afghanistan?" For the life of me, I couldn't answer. The only thing I could think of is that Afghanistan sits between Pakistan and India, mortal enemies who both have nuclear weapons. Are we just playing referee? At the expense of killing some of the best of our younger generation and not being able to afford to take care of our own here at home?

Seems to me that it's a pretty simple choice. Why aren't we making it?