$40 Billion "Surge"

[sabra]

Source: Wired

The "surge" of increased troops in Iraq could cost as much as $40 billion to maintain, according to the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office.

In testimony today to the House Budget Committee, CBO assistant director Robert Sunshine says keeping the 30,000 - 40,000 extra soldiers and marines in Iraq for two years would take $40 billion; a one-year "surge," $22 billion.

The CBO predicted in February that the announced "surge" of 21,500 troops and $5.6 billion would, in fact, be much larger and much more costly.

Today, the CBO's Sunshine is reporting that operations in Iraq could eventually top $1.6 trillion dollars by 2017. That includes $80 billion to fund local Iraqi forces, $55 billion in foreign aid, and up to $16 billion in veterans' benefits.


Read more: http://blog.wired.com/defense/2007/07/40-billion-surg.html

[underpants]

1. Gotta keep that revenue stream open

Mr.Sunshine is just pointing out the real reason for this surge

[tridim]

2. ..Plus the cost of the rest of Busn's bullshit war.

$40 billion sounds like nothing compared to the total cost. What's it up to now, $750 Billion?

[SpiralHawk]

3. "Hip hip Hoooray" - Republicon Homelander War Profiteering Cronies

[stressfulreality]

4. "NeoCon assholes will bankrupt this country from the inside-out"... nt

[classysassy]

5. Enough already

when are we going to stop the madness?,new leadership is needed in both parties,we sit at home and complain,we need to hit the streets and let the bums know we are tired of their bullshit(greed).