Cost of Iraq war nearly $2b a week (Boston Globe)

[Eugene]

Cost of Iraq war nearly $2b a week

By Bryan Bender, Globe Staff | September 28, 2006

WASHINGTON -- A new congressional analysis shows the Iraq war is now
costing taxpayers almost $2 billion a week -- nearly twice as much as
in the first year of the conflict three years ago and 20 percent more
than last year -- as the Pentagon spends more on establishing regional
bases to support the extended deployment and scrambles to fix or replace
equipment damaged in combat.

The upsurge occurs as the total cost of military operations at home and
abroad since 2001, including the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, will top
half a trillion dollars, according to an internal assessment by the
nonpartisan Congressional Research Service completed last week.

The spike in operating costs -- including a 20 percent increase over last
year in Afghanistan, where the mission now costs about $370 million a week
-- comes even though troop levels in both countries have remained stable.
The reports attribute the rising costs in part to a higher pace of fighting
in both countries, where insurgents and terrorists have increased their
attacks on US and coalition troops and civilians.

Another major factor, however, is "the building of more extensive
infrastructure to support troops and equipment in and around Iraq and
Afghanistan," according to the report. Based on Defense Department data,
the report suggests that the construction of so-called semi-permanent support
bases has picked up in recent months, making it increasingly clear that the
US military will have a presence in both countries for years to come.

-snip-

Full article: http://www.boston.com/news/world/middleeast/articles/2006/09/28/cost_of_iraq_war_nearly_2b_a_week

[HysteryDiagnosis]

1. When Russia tried this we gave stinger missiles to the

Mujahadeen.... along with all sorts of stuff we would bomb them for having today. Interesting twist of fate.

[bronxiteforever]

2. Would this expenditure have helped social security, mass transit, energy

independence projects? Of course it would have-Yet I hear no MSM talk about this on the tube. Turning plowshares into swords for the glory of the Bush family.Kick & R

[RC]

3. Where is this money going?

Our troops levels are short staffed, they are not properly equipped... The problems of any vets lucky enough to return are ignored.

[classysassy]

8. "where is the money going"?

Can you spell Haliburton?,the rich get richer.

[enough]

4. Nice round number. Should be handy for Dem campaign ads.

2 billion a WEEK.

[indepat]

5. Such small price to pay in treasury, lives, and broken bodies to keep us

safe and from having to fight them over here :sarcasm: where the nation's infrastructure is fastly going to hell in a hand-basket as the Congress figuratively jumps through its collective asshole to fund this madness in perpetuity or until others stop funding the madness.

[madmom]

6. And the cost of containment was........

1.5B per year.

[muriel_volestrangler]

7. About $6 per person per week, or $20 per household

If $20 was being stolen every week from your house, you'd be a bit concerned, wouldn't you?