U.S. cost of war at least $3.7 trillion and counting

[kpete]

Source: Reuters

By Daniel Trotta
NEW YORK | Wed Jun 29, 2011 7:29am EDT
(Reuters) - When President Barack Obama cited cost as a reason to bring troops home from Afghanistan, he referred to a $1 trillion price tag for America's wars.

Staggering as it is, that figure grossly underestimates the total cost of wars in Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan to the U.S. Treasury and ignores more imposing costs yet to come, according to a study released on Wednesday.

The final bill will run at least $3.7 trillion and could reach as high as $4.4 trillion, according to the research project "Costs of War" by Brown University's Watson Institute for International Studies. (www.costsofwar.org)

In the 10 years since U.S. troops went into Afghanistan to root out the al Qaeda leaders behind the September 11, 2001, attacks, spending on the conflicts totaled $2.3 trillion to $2.7 trillion.



Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/06/29/us-usa-war-idUSTRE75S25320110629?feedType=RSS&feedName=topNews

[azul]

1. Where did the 1 trillion figure come from,

the CIA?

He had better get more trustworthy sources of information if he doesn't want to seem incredible.

[sudopod]

32. Iraq supplementals have been on the order of 100 billion each year since 2003.

It isn't rocket science.

[Yon_Yonson]

2. What a disgusting sickening waste of precious lives, resources and $$$$

[newspeak]

31. well, to us maybe, but those war profiteers are rolling in the dough

These wars will cost even more when our soldiers come home-how many are physically and mentally wounded? You're right it is and was "a sickening waste of precious lives, resources and money", that we are paying for while the cost to all americans and our infrastructure will be quite detrimental to our country. OBL wanted to bankrupt america, I wonder why our government was willing to go along with the plan? At least some are making money off of human misery, big time, we are the ones who are paying.

[madrchsod]

3. i think it`s closer to 5 trillion and counting

every dollar invested in the common good generates at least 4-5 dollars. investment in war brings 0 to a negative number.

the cost of maintaining an empire has brought down every empire in history. the grand experiment in democracy has turned into just another failed empire in history.

[azul]

7. Invesment in war is borrowed money. Fricking debt.

Then creditors (China, etc.) get dictate the austerity terms when we default.

[plumbob]

9. Well said. We lost the "war on terror" the moment we declared it.

tunnel vision

[harun]

17. +1

[indepat]

21. The brunt of this cost seemingly will be borne through reneging on obligations to

provide already-paid-for/earned social security and Medicare benefits, rather than asking those who have the most income and own the most wealth to bear an equitable portion of the tax burden which, if materializing, would be one of the most bizarre, mendacious, corrupt, venal, and heartless acts by any government, a government definitely not of, by, and for the people that should be voted out of office in mass. :patriot:

[Hardrada]

25. And without adding in sales tax.

[newspeak]

34. the "owners" don't give a damn

if they bring down this country. As long as they gain, they have no loyalty to any country, just greed and power.

[russspeakeasy]

4. Thanks, kpete...

[Wilms]

5. Well the cost probably is one trillion.

The other 2.7 is the war(s) profiting surcharge.

[No Elephants]

6. I bet that does not include the war on terra as a whole.

FBI, CIA, Homeland Security, etc., etc. ad infinitum.

As if any of that is going to keep anyone from poisoning a reservoir or blowing up a bus.

No wonder Osama laughed on that video about only having to "chatter" to make the U.S. spend billions.

Of course, he isn't laughing now. Then again, I don't laugh when I think of paying taxes to support the carnage, the abolition of Consteitutional rights, and the rest of the cost, tangible and intangible, the insanity.

"In the 10 years since U.S. troops went into Afghanistan to root out the al Qaeda leaders behind the September 11, 2001, attacks,"

Oh, please. Practically as soon as we got there, he escaped at Bora Bora. Word was, even then, that he had donned a burka and crossed the border into Pakistan.

[Bragi]

19. Good points

Imagine what the total cost of "national security" really is?

You add it all up, and the national security industry is likely the largest sector in the U.S.economy.

Just ponder that.

[patrice]

8. Not to mention the fact that it's the biggest CARBON FOOTPRINT ever! nt

[Bragi]

20. That doesn't matter

Climate change comes from god. We can't stop god.

[primavera]

28. Oh right, and aren't we supposed to get raptured soon?

[Blue_Tires]

10. Of course the teabag deficit hawks remain silent on these stories

and no one ever wants to question them...

[Ter]

30. Nah, the neo-cons are silent

Tea Baggers are a little less Hawkish.

[Duppers]

11. This is over 25% of our total National Debt.

and counting.

[go west young man]

12. Joseph Steiglitz called this back in 2004.

[Hubert Flottz]

13. K&R

Fudgy Math!

[jimmil]

14. Why didn't we.....

Why didn't we just give each member of al Qaeda a billion dollars to go away? I would think that would still be cheaper than a war.

[slackmaster]

This...

[classysassy]

15. The evil,insane war profiteers

have bought our congress and the oval office,where can we go from here?Support peace rid this country of the vermin that enable the warmongers to turn our planet into a war zone so they can profit from the misery of others." Oh what fools we mortals be".

[JJW]

16. Don't we deserve a prize

Like say the Noble Peace Prize as war is peace, man. O says so.

[Bragi]

18. Some good news with the bad

The bad news is that the system is so fucked that the U.S will not likely be able to end its wars until it actually goes totally broke.

The good news is that this date isn't far off.

[and-justice-for-all]

22. Sad...nt

[ChrisBorg]

23. Why are they not counting Libya?

[sarcasmo]

24. That would pretty much fix the budget, but oh wait let's raise the social security age.

[Webster Green]

26. K&R!

Kicking this one!

[Rex]

27. Thanks GWB and Cheney.

What a nightmare debt you've left your country. Fucking losers.

[ForeignandDomestic]

37. ....

but.. but.. we voted for "change"!

[ProgressIn2008]

29. Best game in town; warmongers never lack a buck, from presidents on down. nt

[BeFree]

33. Itis a good thing

....that we can afford to spend so much money and accomplish so little.

Otherwise we'd go broke.

[newspeak]

35. didn't poppy bush once say something like "if they knew what

we've done, we'd be run out by the people with pitchforks." I'm wondering how much the * family profited from the fabricated war in Iraq? Don't they sit on the Carlyle board? And we already know about Darth Cheney and his war profiteering buddies.

[sarcasmo]

36. Cuts to Medicare are OK, cuts to War, no way.

[christx30]

38. Good thing they're spending that money

over there killing people, and not spending that money saving the lives of people that have cancer. That would be a horrible waste of resources. :sarcasm: