Iraq war cost ??

[basil]

That Denver Post article about the Iraq war cost was pretty depressing. Two economists said the eventual total cost of the war will be in the $3-$7 trillion range. This is on top of our military budget. Much of the cost is in future health care and rebuilding the military.

There are 160 million adults in the US. $3-$7 trillion comes out to $18,750-$43,750 per adult. True, that's spread out over ~10 years, but it's still a lot. The miltary budget over 10 years will be another $5 billion, so that's another $31,250 per person. Crazy.

It's really sad because we could have spent the money so much better. How about better schools? How about health care? How about research in useful technology, like alternative energy?

How come other western countries get away with spending 1/10th the amount of the US on military? No wonder they have stronger economies.

And don't give me this crap that terrorists attack the US because they hate our freedoms. Or that we have to be the defenders of free world. Europe is no different than us.

[cayo 2]

Alot of it is waste and bogus earmarks.Did anyone else watch David Broncachio last friday evening[maybe it was BilL Moyers],yes YOU PROBABLY HAD MORE FUN OUT On THE TOWN,anyway disgusting pork barrel spending by both parties,millions on shit the military told them was junk,like helmuts with little flip down video screens that distracted the hell out of the soldiers.Even after the military gave negative feedback they ordered more,also highly flamable t-shirts same deal,wtf.

We already out spend all other countries combined,how about a nickel for diplomacy!Eisenhower laid out the number of schools and hospitals each battleship cost us 50 years ago,jeez.

[gh]

Can the oil wells survive a nuclear blast? How much does one of those cost? Lets just take their oil and quit being coy about it.
Yes I am partially kiddling but flame away if it makes you happy, but hey think about it.

[marko]

Thoreau's Civil Disobedience - with annotated text

[blutzski]

Originally Posted by basil

It's really sad because we could have spent the money so much better. How about better schools? How about health care? How about research in useful technology, like alternative energy?

True. The amount spent on the war is outrageous and th amount spent on us policing the world is going to bankrupt us... actually already has we're just too gullible to see it. But how about just letting us keep our money? Why does anyone think our shitty government is a good steward of our tax dollars?

[ngeoym]

The cost of the debt service for our government is more in one year than the entire war. Maybe we should nuke interest payments, or better yet declare bankruptcy on the world.

[Roy]

Originally Posted by ngeoym

The cost of the debt service for our government is more in one year than the entire war. Maybe we should nuke interest payments, or better yet declare bankruptcy on the world.

The only way I can make sense out of current fiscal policy is they're gonna drive the dollar into the dirt and then write a check for 50 trillion to pay it all off when that won't buy a loaf of bread...

[cirque]

The cost may be bullshit, but if we leave you can bet your ass that the Red Chinese and Russians will divy the Middle East quicker than shit. The French only got pissed we were in there because we knocked out all of there contracts they already had with Hussien. it is not a cut and dry situation.

[El Flaco]

Originally Posted by cirque

The cost may be bullshit, but if we leave you can bet your ass that the Red Chinese and Russians will divy the Middle East quicker than shit. The French only got pissed we were in there because we knocked out all of there contracts they already had with Hussien. it is not a cut and dry situation.

I don't think the Russians are going to take another crack at invading a Middle Eastern country again- Afghanistan didn't work out that great for them the first time.

What your argument? That even if it means occupation for decades @ $10B per week, it's worth it because other countries with a weaker economy and certainly inferior militaries might want some of that action?

At least we're in agreement - it IS about oil, and keeping it from our economic enemies....and not some BS spin about 'Freedom'.

[heliodorus04]

As I watch the US economy go into what at least one respected analyst is calling the worst recession in the last 30 years, and I see the US's stupid military expenditures finally tip the scales of the economy to the point that the dollar is a subpar currency in the world, I'm left with the inescapable conclusion that, from a financial standpoint alone, the occupation of Iraq is doing more harm than any good that will be gained by it in the next 20 years. We are losing an economic war of attrition against terrorism. They get stronger, and we're getting weaker.

I don't mean to denegrate our job on the ground militarily, in which we've really never lost a campaign. Economically, it's a losing proposition. It's time to walk away. Enough is enough.