Lives and resources lost in Iraq war are gone for good

[kpete]

Lives and resources lost in Iraq war are gone for good

May 8, 2007
JESSE JACKSON [email protected]

War costs. It costs the lives and the limbs of young men and women sent into battle. Their families, their loved ones, their communities and their nation lose the potential of some of its best citizens. For the Iraq war, that total already exceeds 3,300 dead and nearly 25,000 wounded, with tens of thousands more scarred psychologically, often permanently, from the horrors they witnessed.

War costs. It squanders billions on destruction that might be devoted to construction. Best estimates are the Iraq war -- which has already consumed about $425 billion -- will end costing about $2 trillion when the cost of veterans health care, disability payments, replacing the weapons and rebuilding the military is counted. That's $2 trillion -- largely debt left to our children to pay -- that will not be available to move this nation to energy independence, rebuild our cities, ensure that every child has a healthy start, make our schools the best in the world, keep college affordable, or renovate our collapsing infrastructure in everything from sewers to communications to subways.

War costs. One of its great costs was on display in the presidential debates. War consumes our attention. Each day the papers are filled with reports from the front line. The president, House and Senate focus their attention on the war. The presidential candidates and their debates devote most time to the war. Busy Americans devote a large part of the time they have to talk about national concerns to the war.


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he failed occupation in Iraq is costing this country lives, resources and security. It consumes our attention. Some have and will pay with their lives. The nation will pay for it with our future, with hope deferred and possibility foreclosed. These terrible costs cannot be recovered.

more:
http://www.suntimes.com/news/jackson/374760,CST-EDT-jesse08.article

[Solly Mack]

1. I think about just that when people speak of recovery

America will recover from Bush
Americans will recover from Bush

Must be nice so to be so far removed from the carnage to think in terms of the future

I'm just the wife of a soldier and I can't think of terms of "the future" - I can only think in terms of IF (there is a future) - getting through the day alive is sometimes all we have - ...Now imagine what Iraqis feel? The actual troops? Those who have loved ones that have died? Had their dreams destroyed? Their country demolished?

and that doesn't even address those yet born, who will be born into this future "recovery"