The Globe did a pithy little piece in last week's online edition, titled "What Does $456 billion buy?"That's the cost of the war in Iraq to date.

Some of the examples are sobering ("Medicare benefits for one year"), some are stupid ("The war cost could be enough to have Dice-K mania for another 52,615 years at this year's rate"), and while I think it's a good way to show that Americans have been swindled out of half a trillion dollars over four years, I'd like to see a photo essay on "What $456 billion has bought" in Iraq. 

Don't get me wrong: The Globe has done the requisite reporting on no-bid contractors milking the government and bilking the taxpayers, troops, and the people of Iraq.  But where's the cutesy photo essay?

It might include meals for the troops that Halliburton charged millions for but never delivered.

Pipelines that were never repaired.

General services—potable water, electricity—that have not been restored. 

Schools and clinics that were never built.

Or maybe the $9 billion dollars that went missing during Bremmer's tenure as Director of Reconstruction and Humanitarian Assistance for post-war Iraq, and have to this day not been accounted for.

Hmm.

So, OK, I guess I can see the trouble with a slideshow.