Finding an End to a Costly War

[unhappycamper]

Finding an End to a Costly War
Peter Lems
Program Director, American Friends Service Committee
Posted: November 20, 2009 11:49 AM

President Obama says his decision on a new strategy for Afghanistan will "give clarity to the American people about what we're doing, how we're going to succeed, what's the end game... (and) how much this thing is going to cost."

The cost of war in dollars alone requires a choice not only to stop sending troops but also to withdraw all U.S. military forces and invest in civilian-led development of Afghanistan's devastated communities and for jobs and real security here at home

Consider: It costs $1 billion to send 1,000 U.S. troops to Afghanistan.

That's $1 million per solder for one year, according to the Pentagon. In total, it is millions more than the entire revenue collected last year by the Afghanistan government -- $890 million.

That $890 million is also the cost of providing health care to 550,000 U.S. children or to the cost to keep 16,000 teachers educating the next generation of Americans.


Rest of article about the land of $400 a gallon gas at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/peter-lems/finding-an-end-to-a-costl_b_365355.html

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