and the winners are

Estimated number of U.S.-(taxpayer)-paid private contractors in Iraq: More than 180,000.

Effect of Iraq War spending on the profits of major weapons corporations: Northrop Grumman has just announced a 15% second-quarter increase in sales over 2006 for its information and services division, 7% for its electronics division; General Dynamics' combat systems unit just recorded a 19% rise in sales. Lockheed Martin's profits went up 34% to $778 million.

-- from All-time highs in Iraq (see also Afghanistan and Iraq boost BAE profits)