The Reality of Iraq

The figures are spread over a period of more than one year due to the fact that a three-month buildup and three-month withdrawal is required for each deployment.

Historically, the only thing we've been able to accomplish in Iraq in any four-month period of time is to aggravate the situation so it's obvious our four-month scenario would have to be extended to at least a twelve-month deployment.

If it would cost 13 billion to send 20,000 combat troops, plus support troops for a period of four-months, then it should cost 3 times that much to send troops for a full year, but it looks like the CBO is going to give us a long-term discount as it will only cost U.S. taxpayers 27 billion to sustain our 48,000 troops for a full year.

What would $27 billion buy if used in this country?

Although, President Bush's 2007 budget calls for an 8.8 billion dollar increase in Department of Veterans Affairs resources, it also asks for Priority 7 and 8 veterans to pay a $250 annual enrollment fee, in addition to almost doubling pharmacy co-payments from $8 to $15.

Since the VA budet for 2007 is only $80.6 billion, an additional $27 billion dollars would go a long way towards ensuring all veterans receive free health coverage and medications at VA facilities.

When do we take time out to put the needs of the citizens of our country ahead of the needs of others?

 1  |  2