Of Hospitals and Bikepaths

According to the New York Times, it costs $8,000,000 to refurbish a hospital in Najaf, Iraq (h/t Andrew Sullivan). According to the highway bill, it will cost $10,000,000 for "transportation improvements" to the Blackstone River Bikeway. Am I the only one who thinks there is something amiss with these relative amounts?

These kind of numbers really have to make you rethink the idea that Iraq is an unprecedented drain on American resources.

To see the complete list of Rhode Island highway bill earmarks, click here.
To see $49,000,000 in earmarked funds suggested for redirection to New Orleans, click here.