DU Economists: Is Iraq\The Iraq War An 'Economic Engine' ???

[WillyT]

The other day as I was rushing out the door, somebody being interviewed on an AAR show was saying that Iraq had become an economic engine for the U.S.

After getting immediately nauseous at the very idea, I wondered about it. I would think that it is no engine, because it does not generate products, goods, services, et. al.

Being an economic idiot myself, I was wondering if any of our nimble minded DU economists could explain what the dude meant.

Is Iraq now propping up our economy? And what would our economy look like if we took Iraq out of the equation???

I always assumed this war would be a drain on our economy.

What gives???

:shrug: