Do you not think that the middle east is an expensive hit to the US tax payer or foreign aid or how about the over 100 million dollars we give in aid to the Russian military every year. At least the 100 million went to pay wages to people in this country and was spread out to the economy. Everybody seems to forget the money drain out of Alaska by any company or people that can extract it and getting some federal money back is not even close to what is stolen from Alaska. You condone this and don't see the big picture? The state Senators of many states vote to help Alaska projects because of the income they receive from businesses with their hand in Alaska's pants. Get real!