Since then, in addition to the $200 billion thrown away paying for but not achieving the NII goals, we've spent another $500 billion (not including interest) on various foreign adventures intended to make us all feel safer. I just wonder what we could have got for that money, for the full $700 billion, if we'd spent it more thoughtfully, perhaps more as a business might do?

No. Bob Cringely is not my mouthpiece. But I'll definitely buy him a beer the next time I see him.