Counting the cost

Nine years ago today, the United States and its allied partners invaded Iraq.  Although the last U.S. troops left just before last Christmas, it remains to be seen what trajectory that nation will settle on, post-Saddam.

We can, however, count the cost (right click to download/save/view full-size):

Considering the opportunity costs -- what else could have been done with so much blood and treasure -- I'm not optimistic future generations will consider this to have been a good investment.