Today is the seventh anniversary...

...of the war in Iraq. Remember "shock and awe?"

According to figures compiled by Iraq's Human Rights Ministry and released last fall, 85,694 people were killed from the beginning of 2004 to Oct. 31, 2008 and 147,195 were wounded. The figures include Iraqi civilians, military and police but do not cover U.S. military deaths, insurgents, or foreigners, including contractors. And it did not include the first months of the war after the 2003 U.S.-led invasion.

However, those figure are widely considered a minimum because so many deaths went unreported.

The war in Iraq has cost more than $712 billion, according to the National Priorities Project. (My emphasis.)

According to the CBO, the health care bill will cost $940 billion over ten years, which would be less per year than the war (and cut a trillion dollars off the deficit). Remember that next time you hear someone say the U. S. can't afford universal health care. It's a question of priorities.

By the way, how come you never see any signs at the tea party rallies protesting the war?