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Tag(s): Earth-Gaia; Iraq War; Veterans
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March 23, 2007 at 23:49:16

$500 Billion and Still Counting....

by Patricia Johnson

www.opednews.com

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By Richard E Walrath and Patricia L Johnson

Lawrence Lindsey, an early economic adviser to Bush, lost his job when he estimated the cost of the war between $100 and $200 billion. The war costs are now over $500 billion and they talk of it as "only" 1% of GDP, and easily affordable. If the United States has $500 billion to waste in Iraq, how come everyone in this country doesn't have health insurance? Why are the schools holding bake sales to raise money?

Sane, The Committee for a Sane Nuclear Policy said it best in a leaflet prepared for their First Annual Pentagon Bake Sale "The ultimate goal of all this, a leaflet says, is to see the day ''our schools get all the money they need and the Air Force has to hold a bake sale to buy a bomber.''

See complete quote: New York Times May 23, 1985

The cost of the war plus the amount in the defense budget is now greater than the amount spent on World War II, adjusted for inflation. The war in Afghanistan could be all over by now. Instead, it is expanding after five years, and there is no end in sight for the Bush war in Iraq.

Since 9/11 Congress has already approved $510 billion dollars for the following operations. These appropriations include funding for military operations, base security, foreign aid, embassy costs and veterans’ health care.

OIF – Operation Iraqi Freedom [Iraq]

OEF – Operation Enduring Freedom [Afghanistan]

ONE – Operation Noble Eagle – [Enhanced military base security]

Although the Department of Defense has not provided Congress with operational costs for previously allocated funds, CRS is estimating 74% for Operation Iraqi Freedom, 19% for Operation Enduring Freedom, 5% for Operation Noble Eagle, and 1% unallocated. CRS goes on to state that generally 90% of funds are for the Department of Defense, 7% for foreign aid and embassy operations, with less than 1% allocated for medical care for veterans.

Columns may not add due to rounding

When we add the 2007 supplemental request to the mix, we’re looking at more than $600 billion in war costs and we don’t even have an exit plan.

Why is there so much money to waste and so little for what we need?

Richard E Walrath and Patricia L Johnson are co-owners of the Articles and Answers News and Information sites. Articles and Answers 2007 and Articles and Answers

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2 comments

Say it ain't so!
TheoSay it ain't so!

That's OIL folks

Maybe they think the end will justify the means. Once Iraq's oil is in US control, it could pay the cost in money for the war. The problem is, it will never be able to pay for the human damage for the countries involved in this mess.

Say it ain't so!

by Theo (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 27 comments) on Saturday, March 24, 2007 at 6:54:08 AM

Richard E Walrath and Patricia L Johnson are co-owners of the Articles and Answers News and Information sites. Articles and Answers 2007 and
Articles and Answers
Patricia L JohnsonRichard E Walrath and Patricia L Johnson are co-owners of the Articles and Answers News and Information sites. Articles and Answers 2007 and
Articles and Answers

"That's OIL folks"

Obviously that's what they thought in the beginning - the end will justify the means. In December of 2002, U.S. oil contracts were up for renewal with Iraq - Saddam Hussein chose not to renew the contracts and instead renewed oil contracts with other countries, while also negotiating deals with several other countries for development of Iraq's oil fields once UN sanctions were lifted. Iraq was a breath away from having UN sanctions lifted, which is apparently the real reason why there was a rush to war.

It is my firm belief that unless the oil is in total control of the people of Iraq, there will be no peace to be had in that country - if the U.S. obtains a portion of oil revenues, the war against oil production in that country will continue. The number of people protecting the pipelines is astronomical and still the insurgents are able to get through and set off bombs stopping the flow.

There is too much as stake for the war in Iraq to end. Once the Iraqi oil fields are developed, Iraq will surpass Saudi Arabia as being the country with the most oil reserves. The fact that Iraq's oil is better quality and cheaper to produce is the reason we've been after their oil since Pappa Bush was in office and sent Donald Rumsfeld over there to secure a pipeline deal with Saddam.

Saddam wouldn't sell out so here we are....

We're involved in a never-ending war that cannot be won and our soldiers are losing their lives every day. We've spent enough money that we could provide free health coverage to every man, woman and child in this country, and all we have to show for all the funds that have been expended is mass corruption and higher prices at the pumps.

by Patricia L Johnson (24 articles, 0 quicklinks, 4 diaries, 32 comments) on Sunday, March 25, 2007 at 11:05:28 AM