Iraq, Afghanistan may cost $860B by 2019

[unhappycamper]

Iraq, Afghanistan may cost $860B by 2019
By Leo Shane III, Stars and Stripes
Mideast edition, Thursday, February 5, 2009

WASHINGTON — Ongoing combat operations overseas could cost the United States more than $860 billion over the next 10 years, further ballooning the defense budget, experts told Congress on Wednesday.

That total includes plans to dramatically draw down the number of troops in Iraq in the next few years, according to officials from the Congressional Budget Office.

Even with reducing the number of deployed combat troops to 75,000 worldwide, the CBO estimates that the Defense Department faces recurring personnel costs of at least $69 billion a year, coupled with other equipment repair costs.

Lawmakers on the House Budget Committee said those estimates will only increase the pressure on budget planners to make difficult choices in how to properly fund the department.

"Let there be no mistake: We’ll spend whatever we need to make sure our national security needs are met," said committee Chairman John Spratt Jr., D-S.C. "But now more than ever, with the budget that we have, we must make sure that we so do in a fiscally sound manner."


Rest of article at: http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=60486



uhc comment: And Stars and Stripes reported on 12.17.2008 that " $904 billion spent on wars so far" --> http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=259&topic_id=21504

You guys should really try to get your stories together. :(