Peter, It is not an "either-or" question. The answer is "both". The amount of money geberated by the rebuilding of New Orleans will be staggering, and mostly paid by insurance companies, private companies, etc ...

One area which all states who were hit will likely tap into and hopefully the Feds will follow suit is giving to companies needing to rebuild, and to those looking to expand: Tax Exempt status.

In regards to Iraq, A Freely elected government is in place, as is a constitution. Staying the course will give those people a real opportunity to have a free market driven society, ehich has worked everytime it has been tried.

In 1804, by the way, 28 YEARS after our Declaration, 35% of US citizens wanted to return to British rule.

Freedom is not won, nor understood, in a few years.