Iraq, Afghan wars top $140 billion cost ($1.2 billion per week)

[rainbow4321]

Numbers/stats that we won't hear from chimp's mouth anytime soon...



http://www6.lexisnexis.com/publisher/EndUser?Action=UserDisplayFullDocument&orgId=574&topicId=100007185&docId=l:251477220&start=8


The United States has spent more than $102 billion on military operations in Iraq so far, and over $39.8 billion in Afghanistan, according to the Pentagon. That amounts to $4.8 billion a month, or $1.2 billion a week.

The total is lower than the actual amount spent because it only captured spending up to September 2004, according to Pentagon data.

The Pentagon is preparing a new supplemental appropriation request for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. It has already had three such appropriations totaling more than $140 billion.

The civilian reconstruction account in Iraq is being spent at a far slower rate. Only about $2.2 billion of the $18.6 billion earmarked for major reconstruction projects has been spent so far, according to the Pentagon.

At least 1,351 American troops have been killed in Iraq since March 2003, 1,071 of them in combat. There have been at least 10,372 troops injured, more than half of them seriously.

[burrowowl]

1. This is money that

could have been better spent. Of course Halliburton and their ilk don't think so.

[Minstrel Boy]

2. And can you believe this is accompanied by MASSIVE tax cuts?

They are crashing the system. And they are not so stupid that they could be crashing it without intention.

Why? is a scary question.

[Colorado Blue]

3. They are crashing it because...

They want to own it completely. It's akin, I think, to a real estate "red-line" - when developers deliberately ruin a neighborhood in order to buy it back, then fix it and resell it at an enormous profit.

In our case - we'll all be broke and destitute and scared and then we won't make any more goddam trouble for our betters.

AND,

Workers won't make pesky unions, demand benefits, decent wages or safety standards.

Folks will stop requesting environmental protection and protection for silly irrelevant animals such as bears, mustangs, wolves, eagles, so forth.

Women will sit down, shut up, be pregnant, cook, clean, and die when we get ugly and irrelevant (see above: bears, so forth).

I think that's their idea. 'Course, they're kind of unclear about what THEY are going to eat, breathe, so forth. Hmmmmmmm. Maybe Republicans are immune to pollution? Food shows up on their tables by magic? I wonder!

It sucks to be able to see it coming - it was so clear in November, 2000 - I couldn't believe people didn't absolutely have a FIT.

That's the "rational" side. The irrational side, from what I've read, wants to destroy everything so The Rapture will come sooner.

Oh, AAAARRRRGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHH.

Are there any sane, patriotic Republicans out there? Because if so we need their help - ASAP.

[rainbow4321]

4. I think those repubs are being force fed another dose of the kool aid...

I hear they give the stuff away for free in the re-education camps that will be opening soon... it comes in I.V. form, too, for those of us that won't willingly DRINK it!

[UL_Approved]

5. Word

Taking back the Democratic party is only half the battle. The GOP needs our help too.

The United States is under attack from within. Religious extremists have gained control of the national government. News media is also under their control.

We need to study history more closely and become aware of the happenings of today.

BTW, Welcome to DU! :hi:

[Redstone]

10. Whoa, Colorado Blue...

I think you nailed it. Your post explains pretty much everything.

Good thinking and writing, even though it makes me queasy to know you're most probably right.

Redstone

[rainbow4321]

13. Rapture bumper sticker...

Saw it posted elsewhere on DU: "When the Rapture comes, can I have you car"?

[teryang]

6. Frankly, I don't believe these figures

The costs are much higher. I read one report where the Federal government sold 60 billion in treasury notes or bonds in the last WEEK of the calendar year. The 140 billion figure was reached and surpassed well before the election and a supplemental was passed for fiscal year 2005 months before the November election. We are well over 200 billion at this point. No one is even counting the money anymore, except the money for their own accounts and those of their corporate benefactors.

In any case, defense spending is as high as it was at the height of the Vietnam conflict (even though these conflicts are much smaller) and we all know what kind of economy that led to. It took almost a generation to recover from the stagflation and recessions that followed. The truth is that the lion share of this money is going to corrupt corporate defense contractors and bogus programs like national missile defense, and the greatest military aircraft the world has ever seen at unlimited cost.

[daleo]

7. Even that is probably a lie

I bet they have spend double that. Pentagon accounting is notoriously unreliable. And let's not forget the financial damage to firms and families caused by calling up so many reserves.

[saigon68]

8. Halliburton is making Billions

On its No Bid Contracts.

[MidwestTransplant]

9. It's total BS that they alwasy try to group Afghanistan with Iraq

Aside from the motives and legitimacy of each, the cost of Afghanistan is a pittance compared to Iraq.

[Beetwasher]

11. And It's Still Not Enough For The Greedy Mother Fuckers, They Want SS Too!

All that money they're stealing through the war ain't enough for them, they want to raid SS also...It's mind numbingly appalling...

[BlackCoffeeSound]

12. dont forget

The Inaguration.

[Barkley]

14. Its no wonder Pell Grants for college are being cut back!

All the extra money's going to Iraq and Afghanistan.

We're spending $1.2 billion per month and our troops are digging in landfills for metal to protect their vehicles?

How about bringing the troops home NOW and spending a billion per week to 'fix' Social Security.

If Bush gets an additional supplemental of $100 billion we only have
ourselves to blame for putting him into office.

[struggle4progress]

15. kick