A tally of US taxpayers' tab for Iraq

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.csmonitor.com/2003/0825/p16s01-coop.html

The costs of the Iraq war are escalating for the United States.

They are enlarging an already serious federal-budget deficit. The October-through-July deficit hit a record $324 billion, the Treasury reported last week. The Congressional Budget Office projects the red ink will reach $401 billion by the end of September.

Moreover, because restoration of Iraqi oil production has been slowed by sabotage and other problems, US consumers and business are paying probably an extra $100 million a day for gasoline and other petroleum products.

Estimates of the cost of the war are rough. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld has told the Senate the "burn rate" runs about $3.9 billion a month. Afghanistan, together with Noble Eagle, the protective overflights of military jets in the US, costs another $1.1 billion a month.

Members of Congress have asked the Bush administration for a detailed breakout of those costs. They also would like to get a guess on the bill for reconstruction of Iraq. But these numbers have not been forthcoming.

The White House's Office of Management and Budget recently estimated the fiscal 2004 deficit at $475 billion. But that included no money for Iraq.

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[Best_man23]

1. And the numbers won't be coming anytime soon

Because if the American people knew the true cost (so far) of Dumbya's crusade to "Free Iraq," his poll numbers would drop like a stone.

[donco6]

2. Are people beginning to understand?

Bush came into power with a budget surplus, thriving economy, optimistic outlook for the future, and now we have

huge budget deficits, with no end in sight, crappy economy, which is only seeing blips in GNP because of all the money going to Iraq, and everyone fearing for the future on all fronts.

[tlcandie]

3. Probably not ...

Heard some guy who claimed to be average American on FSTV yesterday and going to paraphrase what I recall...

"I just saw your program and where in the hell do you people get off with some of this crap?! 2000 IS OVER...GET OVER IT! You people didn't want Iraq.. GET OVER IT! When will you people wake up?! This is average American speaking here, you people are unbelieveable!"

Something to that affect at any rate. So, with that being said, IF this guy DOES truly represent 'THE AVERAGE (FOX) AMERICAN', I think they will see it as follows:

1) Budget surplus - will accept the HEAVY burden from a JUST war
2) Thriving economy - it was going downhill when Clinton left and * is doing the best he can to get it back from the mess Clinton left us
3) Optimistic outlook for the future - Yes, Bush is in office now and after this war it is bound to get better!

This makes me shudder. Maybe someone can shed a more OPTIMISTIC light over the term 'THE AVERAGE AMERICAN'. :shrug:

[maggrwaggr]

4. cost of war

http://www.costofwar.com