Chicago Trib Op-Ed: $8 Trillion for Iraq and Afghanistan Wars

[annm4peace]

(edited for copyright purposes- proud patriot Moderator Democratic Underground)

http://www.veteransforcommonsense.org/index.php/national-security/1854-steve-chapman

Op-Ed: $8 Trillion for Iraq and Afghanistan Wars

August 5, 2010 (Chicago Tribune) - It's a shame to let accountants spoil the charming romance of war, but sometimes they insist. Recently the Congressional Research Service reported that our military undertakings in Iraq and Afghanistan have marked an important milestone. Together, they have cost more than a trillion dollars.

That doesn't sound like much in the age of TARP, ObamaCare and LeBron James, but it is. Adjusted for inflation, we have spent more on Iraq and Afghanistan than on any war in our history except World War II. They have cost more in real dollars than the Korean and Vietnam wars combined.

But we can only wish we were getting off so lightly. Neither war is over, and neither is going to be soon. The House just approved $37 billion in extra funding to cover this year, and the administration wants another $159 billion for 2011. That won't be the final request.

Worse, the CRS figure is only part of the bill so far. It noted the sum doesn't include the "costs of veterans' benefits, interest on war-related debt or assistance to allies." All of those will go on after these wars are over, which someday they may be.

(snip)

[exboyfil]

1. When the rumbles about invading Iraq began

I told my conservative friends I believed it would cost $1T. They thought I was insane. I just wish that estimate had been correct.

[doc03]

4. We could have built every family in Iraq and Afghanistan

an extravagant home by their standards with that money plus give them a job.

[Blue Owl]

2. It's become an out-of-control disease

$8 trillion is a truly mind-boggling number.

Whatever it is we're getting in return, is it worth $8 TRILLION dollars???

[OHdem10]

3. We were told also that Iraqi oil would pay for that war. We have

spent trillions there building schools , Health Centers,
giving the citizens stipends, . We cannot afford
Health Care in this country. According the Media daily
we hear SS is going to have to be cut. Extending
Unemployment Benefits is like trying to pull "eye" teeth
with a shoestring.

I supported both these wars and our Military from the
beginning. Now I support our overused troops and
am tired. This is cynical. I believe both Iraq and
Afghanistan know a sucker when they see it. They
will never be ready to stand alone as long as the
Neocons and their supporters are there willing and
able with the HANDOUTS. Fox is always calling any
help we give American citizens Handouts. Since they
are the NeoCon Mouthpiece I mention them.

[Poboy]

5. What does 1 trillion look like?

[leftstreet]

7. Hey those look like the pallets of cash that went missing in Iraq

You found them!

:-)

Nice graphic

[Poboy]

9. Thanks. Yeah, paging Mr. Brenner.... -nt

[girl gone mad]

6. Welfare queens.

When are we going to tell them to stop bullying third world peasants and get a real job?

[maryf]

8. from the editted article

"The beauty of the current conflicts, however, is that we can pretend we don't have to pay for them. Unlike past wars, when taxes were raised to defray the cost, these have been financed with the help of borrowed funds. But eventually the astronomical bill will have to be paid."

[DailyGrind51]

10. Bush fired Larry Lindsey when he said publicly that the war would cost $200 billion!

Rumsfeld was talking closer to $50 billion!

[NNN0LHI]

11. As I recall the Chicago Tribune was a big war and Bush supporter

Wonder what happened?

Don