Hey Folks What About The $200 Billion Number ?

[stewert]

Kerry said the Iraq war has cost $200 billion, but the numbers I have seen say it is $140 billion.

What's the story, was Kerry just mistaken or what. Does anyone know why he said $200 billion instead of $140 or $150 billion ?

Is the real cost $200 billion, is that what Kerry was saying ?

Does anyone know if Kerry has clarified that statement, or has he said he was mistaken.

[michigandem2]

1. well I think that was the estimate of what it would cost

i heard it was inflated but does it matter all that much really??? I mean $150B or $140B??? I know 60 billion seems like a lot but still the point is his argument could still be "$150 billion spent on Iraq instead of here at home" I didn't find it to be SO MAJOR...sure it was exaggerated...but so were bush's numbers of Iraqi's being trained...

[MallRat]

2. We've spent $130B up to this point, plus about $60B in a '05 supplemental

The argument is that the $60B hasn't been spent yet, so therefore the price tag isn't $200B... YET.

-MR

[ewagner]

3. Correct

What's been allocated vs what has actually been spent.

[papau]

4. Kerry adds Afghanistan and Iraq, cost through end of current budget

and indeed that is $200 Billion.

The GOP would prefer we focus on the amount charged to budgets through 10-1-04 since some of the 04 cost is being charged to 05.

Besides, who would want to discuss the current $5B a month cost of Bush's distraction? - if we can ignore bodies, we surely can ignore cost.

[stewert]

5. Thanks.......

I was just wondering if Kerry had said he was mistaken, or how he came up with the $200 billion number.

If that is all they can criticize Kerry on after the debate they are desperate.

If you add afghanistan and Iraq I am sure it is $200 billion, if not more.

[genius]

6. Don't forget the extra $87 billion

[lightbulb]

7. If Kerry's numbers were off

It would be up to * to call him on it. He didn't so we can assume either:

a) Kerry's right.
b) * has no idea what the right number is.