Republicans say they will examine Bush's $87 billion war request closely

[No Passaran]

Republicans say they will try to push President Bush's $87 billion war request rapidly through Congress, but not before lawmakers sensitive to record federal deficits give it a thorough look

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/news/archive/2003/09/17/national0201EDT0433.DTL

[dfong63]

1. they need to examine bush's mental capacity,

and their own, if they approve this.

can anyone find the old pre-war news stories where critics of the war were estimating it'd cost $200 billion or so, while the hawks were pooh-poohing such estimates? it looks like the critics were right. (big surprise)

$87 billion is enough to erase every state budget deficit, enough to give $10,000 to every unemployed person in the country, enough to revive Americorps, No Child Left Behind, Amtrak, as well as Bush's much-ballyhooed but under-funded AIDS initiative... why is there money for Iraq, but no money for teachers, firefighters, health care, housing, etc etc etc...

it's insane and intolerable. the congressional dems should fight this to the bitter end.

[lazarus]

2. here's something close

Some interesting comments in this article:

http://money.cnn.com/2003/02/05/commentary/column_hays/hays/

[Barrett808]

10. Wesley Clark pretty much nailed it

"Those predictions are incredibly overoptimistic," he said. "What we have to be prepared for is an indefinite stay in Iraq, at least 100,000 people there for the first year or two, several billion dollars a month in costs, continuing frictions and problems politically as a result of this, some casualties on a monthly basis coming out as Arab sentiment rises, and a deepening resentment of Americans from this war."

[disgruntella]

3. oooh, THAT was a fun google!

"iraq war" cost march 2003

Amongst the results:
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/middle_east/jan-june03/budget_3-25.html
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/03/25/iraq/main545903.shtml

And this one's really... uh... interesting
Short conflict, less ammo kept war cost down
http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/iraq/2003-06-12-war-costs_x.htm

This was back when the war was "over"
<snip>
A short conflict that used fewer missiles, sparked fewer oil field fires and created fewer refugees than anticipated produced a lower-than-expected financial cost for the major combat in Iraq.
Officials say the war lasted 26 days, from the launching of the first missiles March 19 until mid-April.
That means President Bush won't have to go back to Congress for additional funding this year, a step that could have revived the debate over the war.
</snip>

LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL

[LivingInTheBubble]

11. VERY interesting

"The Persian Gulf War in 1991 cost $76 billion in today's dollars. Though other countries financed 80% of that war, the United States is bearing most of the cost of this conflict."

Amazing how silly that usatoday article looks now.

[dfong63]

4. thanks, lazarus and disgruntella

very interesting links. and Clark's predictions in that cnn-money article were dead on. :(

[snippy]

13. Larry Lindsey was the first to say $200 billion.

He was fired for the crimes of honesty and integrity.

From a February 26, 2003 reprint of an L.A. Times story:

Washington has been abuzz about a war's impact on the federal budget and the economy since last fall, when former White House economic advisor Lawrence B. Lindsey estimated that the conflict's costs could run between $100 billion and $200 billion, and come cheap at that price. Other administration officials rushed to dismiss the estimate and Lindsey was subsequently fired at least in part, many speculate, because of his willingness to put a price tag on the confrontation.

http://www.globalpolicy.org/security/issues/iraq/attack/consequences/2003/0226iraqwarcost.htm


Some good quotes from Congressman McDermott's website (slightly edited to more accurately identify the speakers):

Related Quotes:

Lying Former OMB Director Mitch Daniels:

On September 15th 2002, White House economic advisor Lawrence Lindsay estimated the high limit on the cost to be 1-2% of GNP, or about $100-$200 billion. Mitch Daniels, Director of the Office of Management and Budget subsequently discounted this estimate as “very, very high” and stated that the costs would be between $50-$60 billion (Source: WSJ, “Bush Economic Aide Says Cost Of Iraq War May Top $100 Billion,” Davis 09/16/02; NYT, “Estimated Cost of Iraq War Reduced, Bumiller, 12/31/02; Reuters News, “Daniels sees U.S. Iraq war cost below $200 billion,” 09/18/02)

The United States is committed to helping Iraq recover from the conflict, but Iraq will not require sustained aid.” (Source: Washington Post, 4/21/03)

Lying Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld:

“Well, the Office of Management and Budget, has come up come up with a number that's something under $50 billion for the cost. How much of that would be the U.S. burden, and how much would be other countries, is an open question.” (Source: Media Stakeout, 1/19/03)

“I don’t know that there is much reconstruction to do.” (Source: Reuters, “U.S. Officials Play Down Iraq Reconstruction Needs,” Entous, 4/11/03)

Lying Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz:

“I think it's necessary to preserve some ambiguity of exactly where the numbers are.” (Source: House Budget Committee, 2/27/03)

Lying Budget Director Josh Bolten:

“We don't anticipate requesting anything additional for the balance of this year.” (Source: Congressional Testimony , 7/29/03)

http://www.house.gov/mcdermott/pr030911.html

[RedEarth]

5. Of course repubs will examine the $87 bil closely

They want to make sure it all goes to corporations that are big repub donors.

[leesa]

6. They will examine it closely and pass it without question.

[indepat]

12. They will rubber-stamp it in virtual lockstep,

no?

[rocktivity]

7. Don't forget to get an account of what already been spent

Pelosi said she wanted both before they could get the $87B.


rocknation

[FlemingsGhost]

8. "One for you, one for me. Two for you..."

God Ble$$ America

[veganwitch]

9. yeah... making sure all the zeros are there...

while they sign the check. maybe throwing a few more on, "cause we support halli...troops...yeah.. thats it...the troops."