Rationalizing war, its financing

[Rose Siding]

Denver Post Washington Bureau Chief

"There is a lot of money to pay for this that doesn't have to be U.S. taxpayer money. ... We are talking about a country that can finance its own reconstruction, and relatively soon." - Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz, testifying before Congress on the potential costs of invading Iraq, March 27, 2003.
...
The Official, an architect of the Iraq policy, demanded the cover of anonymity before offering his insights....
The $80 billion request was expected, if not particularly welcomed, on Capitol Hill, where senators warned that the bill for Iraq might ultimately exceed $400 billion.
...
"There's no question that they are able, with relatively small expenditures, to force us to much more substantial ones. That's true on the damage side; it's also true on the military side," he said. "And yet, the fact is, they are under enormous stress because of our success in Afghanistan; they're under enormous stress because of this war they've declared on us in Iraq."
...
"We're using our equipment at a higher rate ... which is causing some of that equipment to wear out," the Official said. "Many of our Bradley Fighting Vehicles are being driven over 4,000 miles a year, and under extremely difficult conditions, which comes out to about five times their planned usage."

http://www.denverpost.com/Stories/0,1413,36%257E28203%257E2680369,00.html

hmmm..It's interesting that the reporter punctuates his piece with a cited Wolfowitz quote.

[Toots]

1. 4000 miles is five times their planned usage

Imagine that. Our American made war machines are breaking down and falling apart after 4000 miles.(Planned obsolescence anyone) New automobiles aren't even broken in yet at that few miles.:shrug:

[MichiganVote]

2. 400 bill for Iraq + 250 billion for Afghanistan + 2 trillion for SS =

One dead dumb broke country. And lets not forget the interest we're now paying on loans.

[lovuian]

3. Ya this was all Bull

and they used tax payers dollars for this

:argh:

[teryang]

4. That's over $45,000 per alleged Iraqi vote

If they had simply given the money away, the country would have gone any way we wanted naturally. However much of that money is in defense contractor hands or secret government slush funds.