We just passed the eighth anniversary of the start of the war in Iraq, and here is how much money we thrown down the drain on it:
The Cost of the War in Iraq
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8 Comments
The tax cuts to the rich are costing us 120 billion a year for a 780 billion dollar war. So in seven years we could have Bush’s folly paid off if the tax cuts to the rich are rescinded. Then we could start in on Reagan’s folly: hiring the Arabian Princes as mercenaries during the Russian invasion of Afghanistan during the 1980s. They formed the Taliban who took away the education of the Afghans and the women’s rights. That would be paid off in less time. LET THE TAX CUTS TO THE RICH BE RESCINDED AT THE END OF NEXT YEAR. CONTACT YOUR REPRESENTATIVES.
As I heard Clinton once say: If you think aid and economic support are expensive, try war.
780 Billion over 8 years time? Just about exactly 1/2 of our deficit for this year.
I don’t have an issue with pointing out the dollar cost of the war. I do, very much, take issue with any notion intended or not that it was a wasted effort or more to the point that we have wasted our Soldiers.
The war there is over, yet we maintain 50-85 thousand troops. Bring them home. The war in Afghanistan will go on indefinately lets bring them home. We’ve just started another unjustified war in Libya. What are we doing?
Can someone please tell the President we don’t need a third war
Have you read the book “obama’s wars”? He agreed to more troops to train the Afghans to fight the Taliban. He is going to start bringing them home mid this year. Gates wants to keep a presence there. Obama wants to bring them home.
I don’t hear of more fighting in Iraq. Is there still fighting in Iraq? I thought the remaining 50K were there as peacekeepers (which can mean more fighting)but not making more advances.
Maybe Obama’s thinking that if he starts a war, he’ll get a second term. Worked for Bush. Also for Blair.
Also, Sarkozy’s ratings plummet when he does anything at home. Playing big guy abroad might be good for him.
David Cameron? ditto
Ebdoug – I know what he said and concerning Gates, he said recently anyone who wants to troops on the ground in the mideast ought to have their head examined, or something to that effect. Obama says but doesn’t always do. He alone has the power to stay or go, no matter what Gates or the Generals want. He’ll stay, if reelected, into 2015 and beyond. Because businesses with lots of money will contribute to his reelection to continue the wars. In Iraq we are not on “the offensive”, but the troops I’ve talked to say the only difference when the war was declared “over” last August was just that. The Iraqi’s want all US forces gone, as per their agrement with us, by the end of 2011. I’d bet the farm we are still there after that, and probably for years. Again, there are alot of big businesses making alot of money who contribute to political campaigns serving in Iraq.
In Libya, who’s going to step in when Gadhafi goes? Who’s going to be the peace keepers, police, guardians of the stockpiles of chemical WMDs? Who’s going to pay. Lets wait and see, but I have a hunch…
I can’t help but wonder — what are we going to do with those soldiers when we bring them home — there are no jobs!
Surprisingly, there are many openings in police work, entry level medical, emergency services, even teaching in the more disadvantaged areas. There is a program called troops to teachers that helps vets become qualified and provides them some financial incentive if they go to those areas that have trouble retaining teachers. Of course they are used to a somewhat different teaching approach, but with a little practice and guidance they can soften that gruff direct approach (although a few of these areas could use exactly that). After what many have been through it’s probably a perfect fit for either profession. Also, we won’t stay in this recession forever and when we come out of it there will likely be a mini building boom as well. The rest of the Soldiers may just stay in and do their 20-30 years.
Also, unlike past wars this is an all volunteer military and because of the recession all the branches have been meeting their recruiting goals and raising the standards for entry. In the 90’s we kept lowering the bar to enlistment taking persons with minor criminal histories, etc. The military has not dramatically swelled its ranks with these wars, it has relied on the Guard to rotate its forces. As a former active duty Soldier turned Guardsman I can tell you it won’t bother me a bit when they don’t need to deploy us any more.