Obama sees war costs totaling $140 bln this year

[Ghost Dog]

Source: Reuters

Thu Feb 26, 2009 6:00am EST WASHINGTON, Feb 26 (Reuters) - President Barack Obama expects that the cost to the United States of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars will total just over $140 billion this year, according to a senior administration official.

The costs for the two wars will decline to $130 billion in the 2010 fiscal year that begins Oct. 1, said the official, who briefed reporters on Obama's budget, which is due to be released on Thursday.

Annual costs for the war will drop sharply after that, to $50 billion annually beginning in 2011, the budget will show.

Congress has already appropriated about half of the money that the Obama administration says it will need for Iraq and Afghanistan this year.

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/marketsNews/idINN2551944820090226?rpc=44

[dipsydoodle]

1. Just gotta keep the defence contractors happy.

:sarcasm:

[Earth_First]

2. Sure thing...

The last 6 Defense budgets for Iraq & Afghanistan have ALL needed emergency appropriations after their intial budgets had been blown through at record pace.

Remember when the ENTIRE occupation was only going to cost the taxpayer NOTHING? That the oil revenues would pay for the campaign? Remember when Kerry called * out on a $250 billion dollar pricetag and * dismissed it as ludacris?

$250 billion. ...ahhh those were the days!

[unhappycamper]

3. I call bullshit.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=259&topic_id=23780

[Mari333]

4. methinks your call is right. nt