A look at the cost of the major wars the U.S. has been involved in, displayed in today’s dollar. Even more interesting: Look at the interactive map and check out the cost as percentage of GDP, and Iraq and Afghanistan shrink dramatically.

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The Best Links:

1. Military Costs of Major U.S. Wars

POLITICS BUZZ: An inspiring love story ends in divorce. She nursed her injured Marine to health and married him despite the fact that his face was completely disfigured by the blast from a suicide bomber. Now they are getting divorced. Having a national holiday created to honor your love is probably too much pressure for any marriage to bear.

The Best Links:

1. Inspiring Wedding Ends In Divorce
2. Famous Photo of Bridge And Disfigured Groom
3. Via Kottke

CULTURE BUZZ: When the body of the Private First Class was returned to her parents in Missouri from Iraq, LaVena Johnson’s father called bullsh*t on the Army’s claim that her death was the result of a suicide. Footage clearly indicates that, in reality, Johnson was likely beaten, raped and murdered (in fact, a trail of blood was photographed outside her tent). The Army, however, has refused to provide further information regarding the case, proving that, even in an “army of one,” it’s not hard for a soldier to be easily forgotten if she isn’t a white male (or, better yet, a star football player).

The Best Links:

1. LaVena Johnson: Murdered By Her Colleagues, Ignored By The Army
2. The Pfc. LaVena Johnson Petition to Re-Open the Investigation
3. “The Case Was Investigated Thoroughly and There is No Case to Reopen,” Says a Defense Department Spokesman [Also, Johnson’s Genitals Were Allegedly Doused With Acid, So…Yeah, No Evidence Of Foul Play Whatsoever]
4. “When the Coroner Ruled Her Death a Suicide and Failed to Include Any of the Physical Trauma in His Report, Dr. Johnson Told Him, ‘somebody Murdered My Daughter and You Picked the Wrong Person to **** With.’”
5. Even Pat Tillman’s Mother is Suspicious

CELEBRITY BUZZ: Turns out Logan wasn’t just reporting on the news in Baghdad — the Enquirer and the New York Post have the steamy details of her many loves. Hot, incisive reporter and a two-timer. This gives the Post the chance to make “in-bedded” puns.

The Best Links:

1. Lara Logan Pregnant With Contracter’s Baby!
2. Two-Timing in Baghdad!
3. When Reporters Date Reporters Who Date Contracters…
4. It’s A Divorce War
5. With Her Very Own Sex Scandal, Lara Logan is a Bona Fide Celeb

New film exposes a fake Iraq in the Mojave Desert where real solders practice killing fake terrorists. That means the movie is a real documentary on a fictional reality — kinda like The Hills but with more killing.

Watch the Video »

POLITICS BUZZ: The Chief Foreign Correspondent for CBS News who has lived in Baghdad since the beginning of the Iraq War criticizes the media’s lack of coverage on the Daily Show. Oh, and by the way, she’s kind of stunning, and has a South African accent. Meet my new girlcrush, everyone!

The Best Links:

1. Lara Logan Pregnant With Contractor’s Baby! She Says They’re Gonna Get Married, Too
2. Lara Logan At Center Sex Scandal, Divorce War??
3. Not Only Is She an Amazing and Captivating Journalist, She’s Also Just As Beautiful as Any Actress
4. She Courted Two Beaus While She Was in Baghdad
5. Lara Logan: Ass Kicker
6. Beautiful Blonde Shows Us How Journalism Should Be
7. Hot Girl Tears it Up on the Daily Show
8. YouTube - Lara Logan disputes coverage accusations on CNN
9. Lara Logan on Wikipedia
10. Lara Logan’s Page on CBS News
11. The Official Fansite

TV BUZZ: An HBO miniseries brings us a new view of war. It seems like a no-brainer that this will be great: The book it’s based on is one of the best accounts of the early days of the Iraq War, Evan Wright’s “Generation Kill,” and David “I Made the F*cking Wire” Simon is at the helm. The miniseries starts on July 13.

The Best Links:

1. “Generation Kill” Miniseries Trailer
2. Full Scene From “Generation Kill”
3. Early Review Calls It a “Perfect Translation” From Book to Screen
4. Generation Kill Official Site
5. Also! Extended Trailer
6. An Early Look At Generation Kill
7. Jesse Thorn is Terrified of Watching
8. Ziggy’s Back, and Generation Kill Looks Great
9. Interview with “Generation Kill” Author Evan Wright

MOVIE BUZZ: Nick Broomfield’s movie about one corner of the Iraq War finally comes to the U.S. The Haditha killings were one of the worst civilian casualty incidents of the war — 24 men, women and children were killed by a group of Marines after a roadside bombing, though all charges against the soldiers involved were dropped after an investigation. The movie looks at what happened from several different angles.

The Best Links:

1. “Battle For Haditha” Trailer
2. Salon.com: “The Iraq movie we’ve been waiting for”
3. Filmmaker Nick Broomfield’s Homepage
4. The Times: “Will this be Iraq’s Apocalypse Now?”
5. “Haditha Killings Recall Vietnam’s My Lai”
6. Background On the Haditha Killings
7. The Film Doesn’t Blame, But Shows Both Sides
8. Battle for Haditha on IMDB (2007)

POLITICS BUZZ: Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice makes headlines for calling the Iraqi cleric a coward. During a visit to Baghdad, Rice made fun of al-Sadr for comfortably hiding out in Iran while the fighting continues in Iraq, saying, “I guess that’s the message; his followers can go to their deaths and he’s in Iran.” It’s finally her own Bring ‘Em On moment in the sun.

The Best Links:

1. Al-Sadr Threatens All-out War, Rice Calls Him a Coward
2. Is This Rice’s “Bring ‘Em On” Moment?
3. Praise For Maliki, Scorn for Sadr
4. Commenters Mock Rice in Return
5. A War of Insults