Two point four TRILLION DOLLARS... All because of lies, waste and malfesance

[MrScorpio]

By Ken Dilanian, USA TODAY
WASHINGTON — The cost of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan could total $2.4 trillion through the next decade, or nearly $8,000 per man, woman and child in the country, according to a Congressional Budget Office estimate scheduled for release today.

A previous CBO estimate put the wars' costs at more than $1.6 trillion. This one adds $705 billion in interest, taking into account that the conflicts are being funded with borrowed money.

The new estimate also includes President Bush's request Monday for another $46 billion in war funding, said Rep. John Spratt, D-S.C., budget committee chairman, who provided the CBO's new numbers to USA TODAY.

Assuming that Iraq accounts for about 80% of that total, the Iraq war would cost $1.9 trillion, including $564 million in interest, said Thomas Kahn, Spratt's staff director. The committee holds a hearing on war costs this morning.

"The number is so big, it boggles the mind," said Rep. Rahm Emanuel, D-Ill.

The Rest

My mind has been more than boggled by this group of assholes a long time ago

[MannyGoldstein]

1. The Iraq War Is The Most Expensive Aphrodisiac Ever

All because Bush was embarassed to ask for Viagra.

Thanks God that Emanuel is taking steps to stop it. (What were those steps again? I'm having trouble remembering them...)

[ProdigalJunkMail]

2. yeah...but that's only like 37Euros in the current market

so no biggie...

sP

[Mabus]

3. and that's not all

There will be medical, psychological and a whole lot of other costs that aren't reflected in that total. Not to mention the cost in lives. And I'm not talking about just our soldiers. They've got family members who will and are affected. Remember the story about the guy who came home and his wife claimed their daughter had been kidnapped and then the found the child in the attic? What if he had been home instead of Iraq? I think the chances his daughter would be alive today would have been much better had he not been in Iraq. Then we have the next generation of a lot of families who will grow up with a parent (or parents) who are suffering from PTSD.


We're also fucking up the environment, contaminating the land, water and the people themselves. Not to mention that our actions have already cost the lives and livelihood of the Iraqis. They're going to have medical, psychological and other costs that aren't reflected in that figure either.

Like you, my mind was boggled a long time ago by the people in charge. This estimate, like others before it, is probably a lot lower than it will end up being depending on how long this gets drawn out. And, it isn't reflective of the costs. But then, why count things like lives or other costs (medical, psychological, property, etc.) when we all know that the majority of costs that anyone ever talks about will go to paying Haliburton, Blackwater and other war profiteers.

[Sparkly]

4. It's absolutely staggering.

To think of where we were in 2000 economically, and where we are now... Remember when the GOP warned of the perils of paying down the national debt too quickly?!? It is here to stay now, for generations to come.

[shadowknows69]

5. Remember when we thought Reagans deficit spending was bad?

Ah, the good ole days.

[BB1]

6. I'd sell you my country for that money.

The Netherlands. We'd all pack up and leave, and live in Surinam. Be careful with the neighbors.

[MrScorpio]

7. I'd head back to Amsterdam in a heartbeat

Missing the shoarma, baby

[L. Coyote]

8. Two point four TRILLION DOLLARS... All because they can't steal too much or someone might notice.

[Toots]

9. And a very large portion of that money has simply disappeared

No one knows anything...:shrug:

[davekriss]

10. A crying shame, really

Imagine the security for social security this could have bought; or the universal
healthcare it could have secured, bringing us on par with the rest of the civilized
world. But, no, instead the usurper sitting in the White House has burnt away our
futures in bombs, bullets, and blood in an elective, illegal, and immoral war that
should not have been fought.

And what does our Democratic Congress do about it? Almost censure Stark for telling the truth.