Cost of a U.S. strike against Syria could top Hagel's estimate

[dipsydoodle]

(Reuters) - Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel told lawmakers a limited military strike to deter Syria from using chemical weapons would likely cost tens of millions of dollars, but if past experience is a guide, the number could be substantially higher than that.

It is not uncommon for U.S. forces to open an assault by launching scores of Tomahawk missiles costing over $1 million apiece and dropping bombs from radar-evading B-2 planes that fly 18 hours each way from their base at a cost of $60,000 an hour.

"I was surprised when I heard him (Hagel) say tens of millions of dollars. That's low-balling it," said Todd Harrison, a defense budget analyst at the Centre for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments.

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Most of the cost of an action against Syria would be for replacing munitions that were used, funds that would not be required until after the 2014 fiscal year begins on October 1.

"If you include the replacement costs of munitions, it (an operation against Syria) could cost half a billion, up to a billion dollars depending on the number of targets they go after," he said.

http://uk.reuters.com/article/2013/09/05/uk-syria-crisis-usa-costs-idUKBRE98415U20130905

[Katashi_itto]

1. When we suddenly have money for Schools, Detroit, Food Stamps, Health Care, Living wage,

Infrastructure, increases in SSA. Will be the moment I will be for attacking Syria. Until then the the govt in general can fuck off.

[xchrom]

2. the cost of tomahawk missiles is in excess of a million bucks.

if they fire 200 of those -- well there you go.