The news that the government of Iraq is projected to run a $79 billion surplus—mostly from increased oil revenues—has some in the U.S. licking their chops.

After all, why should the U.S. continue to foot the bill for most of reconstruction of the Iraqi infrastructure when Iraq is in a position to pony up a lot more than they had been paying?

The argument is especially compelling when you look at the source of Iraq’s windfall—oil. U.S. troops have made it safer and easier to pump black gold from the Iraqi fields, therefore increasing Iraq’s wealth.

In the mea...

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