Tony Fratto

McClatchy has a piece on a new estimate for the total cost of the war in Iraq,

Coming up on the fifth anniversary of the invasion, a Nobel laureate now estimates that the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are costing America more than $3 trillion......

What does the White House's official spokesman have to say?

"People like Joe Stiglitz lack the courage to consider the cost of doing nothing and the cost of failure. One can't even begin to put a price tag on the cost to this nation of the attacks of 9-11," said White House spokesman Tony Fratto, conceding that the costs of the war on terrorism are high while questioning the premise of Stiglitz's research.

"It is also an investment in the future safety and security of Americans and our vital national interests. $3 trillion? What price does Joe Stiglitz put on attacks on the homeland that have already been prevented? Or doesn't his slide rule work that way?"

Calling an economist a coward is aces. Especially when you've proved your courage by.....?

(And, I'm assuming you're capable of making your own "Iraq had nothing to do with 9-11 and nothing to do with terror" argument.)