How much is each GI in Iraq costing you as a taxpayer ?

[kentuck]

By my estimates, there are about 140,000 troops in Iraq. Of course, we are paying a good sum for their wages and present support before we add another $66 billion. The Bush Administration is requesting $87 billion total but $66 billion is for the "troops", they tell us. That would calculate out to $10,000 for each $1.4 billion spent. For $66 billion, by my calculations, that would balance out to about $470,000 per GI increase with this request! Does this seem to be a little much to anyone else? How much did we spend in Bosnia? I know the Congress is supposed to be looking after our money, but are these figures correct? Does money really grow on trees...or just taxpayer money?

[Maine-i-acs]

1. Well Halli_burton needs their slice of the pie.

It's certainly not going to the soldiers. If they get wounded, they have to pay for the meals they eat while they recuperate. And if they get who-knows-what ailment from inhaling DU dust (depleted uranium), you can bet that the VA won't get 87 billion worth of health care upgrades. Sad!

Put another way ... the 87 billion is about 300 bucks for every man, woman and child in the country. So when W tells Congress to pony up the ante, you know who's pocket it will come out of.

Our kids and grandkids will have to shovel us out of the deficit mess, once the country wakes up to what's going on. Then like they will have to lift up the international image of the US which has been hijacked by the USGOV.

[kentuck]

2. NO. Halliburton is to get share of the other $20 billion...

The $66 billion is for the "troops" only. That is what they said. And that would be about $470,000 per GI according to my calculations. Perhaps someone else might wish to come up with different numbers?

[Maine-i-acs]

3. Ah! I get it ...

It's all going to 'the Troops' ... all 66 billion. Ri-i-ight. So that's ten years' salary and benefits. Formula for a quagmire.

The Commander-in-chief is one of 'the troops' too right? So's the Sec. of defense... And how about contractors working on behalf of the US military? Can they count as 'troops'?

If a humvee driver swerving to avoid an RPG and crashing can count as a 'non-combat death', I imagine the USGOV can be generous with their definition of who 'the troops' are.