First there was the no progress line. Then progress was made. Then there was the casualty count. Then casualties flew down. Then there was the non-military progress argument, and now groups are allying with the U.S. against al Qaeda. Now it’s the financial argument.

The committee calculated the average cost of both wars for a family of four would be $20,900 from 2002 to 2008. The cost for a family of four would go up to $46,400 from 2002 to 2017, the committee said.

“For every dollar we spend directly in Iraq, we’re going to pay another dollar for the indirect, but immediate, costs of the war,” Sen. Charles Schumer, D-New York, said. “We of the baby boom generation and our children and grandchildren will be paying for this war for a very long time to come.”

“We cannot afford this war — $12 billion dollars a month?” Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nevada, said. “We just can’t. We can’t continue.”

What’s simply amazing is Congress’ selective tight-spending. They’ll spend approximately $10 billion on pork in just one water projects bill, and won’t think twice. But spend $12 billion a month fighting a war, killing al Qaeda, and stabilizing a region? That’s just too much folks. $398 million for a bridge to no where? We’re there! $1 million for a museum dedicated to hippies? $1 million for the The Thomas Daschle Center for Public Service? They’re there. Money for a war? Again, just too much.

By the way:

Office of Budget and Management Director Jim Nussle dismissed the report, saying “the Congressional leadership is attempting to manipulate economic data for public relations purposes.”

“There are several … distortions within the report, such as attempting to tie war costs to overall business investment and the price of oil.”…

“What’s their alternative?” Don Stewart, a McConnell spokesman, asked of the Democrats. “Should we not fund veterans? Should we not send MRAPs [armored personal carriers] to Iraq? Not fund the GI Bill?

“And how much will oil cost if the progress in Iraq is reversed and al Qaeda shuts down the oil deliveries? What will that do to the markets?” Stewart asked.

Republicans were not involved with the preparation of the report.

Incidentally, Schumer is responsible for adding Senate seats for Democrats in 2008.