Why can't people realize how much we can't afford these wars right now?

What's that awful smell..... ah......the rotting stench of Climate Change Denial.

Perhaps you should watch this

By the way Global Warming refers to an increase in the Earth's average global temperature. The resulting Climate Change can manifest itself as extreme weather events including -seemingly ironically- localized drops in temperature. If there is one characteristic that is nearly universal to the weather associated with Climate change it it an increase of moisture in the atmosphere. This causes - among other things - hurricanes, monsoons, floods, and you guessed it - Record snowfall,

Politically it was much easier to invade Iraq, (A Muslim Majority nation with a history adversity towards the United States of than to try to dredge a few million barrels of oil from ANRW (which would only benefit the US in the short term)). In any case The Payoff in Iraq was immeasurably Greater. Invading Iraq and setting up a friendly oil policy was a decision that will prove vital to the U.S. longterm strategic Interests as the world faces Peak oil.

So, you're saying we benefit from the war in Iraq, without making it a point to deny that the non-terrorist, non-Saddam-supporting portion of the Iraqi people benefit too? I don't hear that very often. It's pleasantly surprising, though I disagree wholeheartedly that any supposed benefits of taking Iraq could outweigh the benefit of drilling on our own soil. Not just in ANWR, but off our shores as well, and anywhere else we have it.

Drill on our own turf, and we cut down on shipping costs, shipping distance, and the odds of accidental oil spills, plus we create jobs in our own country (a HUGE priority right now).

I'm not sure how much the Iraqi people benefited when you consider that 650,000 - 1,000,000+ of them have died due to the invasion, occupation, civil war and related violence. Several million Iraqis (Many of whom had tenous connections to the old Ba'ath Party) have become political refugees as well. The rates of Leukemia, Bone cancer and other rare cancers have exploded in Iraq in the past ten year, due to the use OF "Depleted" uranium munitions by The occupying forces. By contrast, only 4,704 of the occupiers have died in the conflict. As an added Bonus five western Companies have now secured a deal with the new Iraqi Government on the future of Iraq's Oil production. So I think Its fair to say that the Occupiers have benefitted more the Occupied.