While I admit this is not a major point USA Today reports on the cost of the Iraq War. The first tallies are now in. Read the whole for some interesting details.

"A short conflict that used fewer missiles, sparked fewer oil field fires and created fewer refugees than anticipated produced a lower-than-expected financial cost for the major combat in Iraq.That means President Bush won’t have to go back to Congress for additional funding this year, a step that could have revived the debate over the war.

A detailed account of expenses won’t be complete for months, but senior administration officials say the cost of deployment and combat will be just less than the $62.6 billion Congress approved in March as emergency funding for Operation Iraqi Freedom. It is the first time officials have offered a tally."