Lots of people are thinking that maybe the $100,000 death benefit for soldeirs killed in Iraq was a mistake. Reason? All the money comes out of the defense budget. Might explain why so many Pettycrats voted for it. The WSJ (sub only) has a major piece on it today. Also a major piece about corruption in Baghdad where it seems to cost an arm and a leg in bribes to get anything done. Read my piece on Bakshish HERE. This is a millenia old tradition and probably will not die. A real problem and Muslims think nothing of it, in fact they respect it.