ybc, that’s a fair point about the long-term cost, both for veterans’ health and reinvesting in readiness. I am going to disagree with the ‘tens of thousands’ estimate. From what I understand in this chart, there have been just under 14,000 wounded who didn’t require medical air transport. I’m just guessing, but I would think those are likely to be more minor wounds. About 12,500 were wounded or ‘non-hostile injuries’ (which I’m reading as ‘car crash’) that did need medical air. Another 17,500 were diseases requiring medical air. I’m surprised to see it that high, but again I would expect most diseases to be acute not chronic, so once those guys get healed up they’re ok. Certainly tens of thousands injured, and I’m the last person to denigrate any one of the injuries; but from a pure actuarial look at medical expenses, I think ‘tens of thousands seriously maimed’ is probably overstating the case.

As for your closing “we’re definitely following different logic here” – I think that’s the nicest disagreement I’ve ever had on this board. I’m intrigued, though. Tomorrow you’ll have to tell me where you disagree with me. I rarely get the chance to debate with someone who doesn’t lead by telling me Bush sacrifices Iraqi orphans to Satan in pentagrams made of cocaine to raise Halliburton’s stock price.