200 Billion or 120 Billion

[plcdude]

One of the repub talking points is that JE was not telling the truth about the cost of the Iraq occupation. What is your take on this?

[MercutioATC]

1. $200B includes all monies authorized, including next year's budget for

Iraq, if I'm not mistaken. We haven't "spent" $200B, but we've authorized it.

[BlueEyedSon]

2. $150 allready spent, and what, were just LEAVING Iraq tomorrow?

[veteran_for_peace]

3. It is not 100% accurate

Kerry and Edwards are adding the proposed spending for next year. So you can spin it so that we have spent 200 Billion. I think that they can say 120 or we will hear flip-flop.

[LynnTheDem]

4. My take is just the facts.

But ya know how much RWWs detest and loath and are frightened to death of FACT! :D

It's $120B already spent; a total of $174B already appropriated and will likely be paid out in full by the end of October. With the additional request for Jan 2005 (which will likely be requested Nov 3), we'll be just over the $200 billion mark.

But the fact is, we in reality HAVE TOO already spent that $200 billion. We cannot remove all our troops & equipment from Iraq without using up the balance of the monies appropriated.

If we left Iraq by end of this month, it would still cost us the rest of that entire $200 billion.

So yes, $200 billion is GONE.

Add another $6 billion every single month we're in Iraq beyond December 2004.

[fob]

5. My take is why has it taken them so long to try and figure this out?

Kerry's been using 200 billion for MONTHS, but Edwards says it in one debate and NOW they have a philosophical problem with it?

[Inland]

6. Let them argue its "only" $120 B so far. Then ask amount before its done

and remind its about $1.25 Billion A WEEK!

[TahitiNut]

7. More.

The money has been 'appropriated' - i.e. taken from the taxpayer and earmarked for Iraq. (It can be regarded as a 'reserve.') Thus, the $200B in costs have been levied against the People.

However, since at least 50% of this money has been 'appropriated' through an increased debt (deficit spending), the actual costs must include the total cost of funds. That increases the total cost by about 40% ... or about $280 billion!

[Brotherjohn]

8. My take on this is, we can nitpick about numbers all day. If that's the..

... best they have, they're in trouble.

First, any reasonable estimate is well over a hundred billion, and likely to end up well over 200 billion if you're honest (unless it all stops cold NOW).

Second, even if it were a blatant misrepresantation of widely acknowleged numbers (which it's not), it pales by comparison to at least these two whoppers:

"I have not suggested there is a connection between Iraq and 9/11."

"The first time I ever met you was when you walked on the stage tonight."

Those are two statements that are easily, and indisputably, proven lies.

[cheezus]

9. the response: we're arguing *how many* billion?

You folks at home need to understand just how much money we're talking about.
Most families can't even imagine having one million dollars. a Billion is a THOUSAND millions. 120 billion, 200 billion. Either way it's a ridiculous amount of money that we COULD have spent on more important things.