I appreciate that they include interest payments and obligations to veterans. Those costs are rarely considered when "defense" spending is discussed. I was one

I appreciate that they include interest payments and obligations to veterans. Those costs are rarely considered when "defense" spending is discussed. I was one of the many people who protested the Iraq War. In fact, the final protest I attended in February 2003 was the largest single-day protest in American history (though the first Women's March may have beat it). Not that it did any good. Both political parties and every ratings-hungry corner of the media was cheerleading the march to war. CNN must have had staff working overtime to make all those war-themed transition graphics.