The reason we invaded Iraq instead of North Korea is that we'd have had a hell of a time defeating North Korea. Oh, we would win if we fought them, but the cost in lives would be much, much, much higher. What's scary to consider is that the ultimate cost of invading Iraq may reach 2 trillion dollars. If IRAQ cost that much, it's just unfathomable how much a war with North Korea could cost. Of course, we wouldn't really have to occupy North Korea -- the South Koreans could do that better than we ever could.