Costs of Libya operation already piling up

[The Straight Story]

Costs of Libya operation already piling up

With U.S. and coalition forces bombarding Libya leader Muammer al-Qaddafi's forces from the sea and air, the cost for the first day alone of the operation was well over $100 million with the total price tag expected to grow much higher the longer the strikes continue, analysts said.

Operation Odyssey Dawn appears to be focused on creating a limited no-fly zone mostly targeting Tripoli and other areas along the coast, which will require a wide range of military assets.

With allies expected to shoulder some of the bill, the initial stages of taking out Libya's air defenses could ultimately cost U.S.-led coalition forces between $400 million and $800 million, according to a report released by the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments earlier this month.

These unanticipated costs come at a time when the Pentagon is putting pressure on Capitol Hill to pass a fiscal 2011 defense budget. Continuing to operate under a stopgap continuing resolution through September, senior defense officials argue, would amount to a $23 billion cut to the military's request for the current fiscal year, which began Oct. 1. The Pentagon wants $708.3 billion for this year, including $159.3 billion for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

http://www.govexec.com/story_page.cfm?articleid=47381&oref=todaysnews

[jaxx]

1. How many lives will it save from being mowed down by Libyan planes?

Sometimes money isn't the first priority.

[bluethruandthru]

5. I agree..but I want to hear that same sentiment from our

government when talking about the people of this country. We may not be getting mowed down by planes but we're dying in record numbers due to lack of health care, poverty, etc.

[jaxx]

Yes, I agree.

Meanwhile the teapubs are trying to cut every "entitlement" program so that they can cut taxes for the rich. It's a mess.

[malaise]

2. Fire some more teachers

:sarcasm:

[spanone]

3. there is always plenty of money for war....education, not so.

[CanonRay]

4. Why is there always money for this?

Just asking.

[Marblehead]

11. because the war

machine owns the government and we don't

[NorthCarolina]

13. Because it feeds the Oligarchy. nt

http://www.oligarchyusa.com/

[Atypical Liberal]

14. EXACTLY.

There's always another few hundred million dollars to kill some people, but fund NPR or Planned Parenthood for a tenth of that, nah, fuck man, gotta have priorities!

[howaboutme]

6. This is about keeping a foothold in an oil producing country

The American people are always put on the hook for these operations. It is wishful thinking to believe it is going to end gracefully and without significant loss of Libyan life unless Gaddafi exits. When the rebels enter Tripoli there could be many innocents killed.

[asjr]

7. Now would be a good time to tell the

Republicans their rich buddies need to pay more taxes so we can use the money to free miserable people from dictators like Kadaffi. But they would still find a way to get around it.

[Shagbark Hickory]

8. If this doesn't make you want to join the nutbags then nothing will.

What a waste.

[Upton]

9. No problem..

we'll just cut some more social programs..

[malaise]

10. Tweet on BBC

#
1334: harikunzru tweets:"Turns out UK is mainly blowing up stuff they sold #libya in 1st place. Oh, and #Bahrain is a beacon of democracy."


http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-12776418

[mmonk]

12. It's ok. We can fire some more public employees, cut some from

social security and medicare/medicaid, privatize schools, and still give the billionaires tax cuts (so we can "grow" the economy).

[Urban Prairie]

15. 708 billion for one year, not including the costs of bombing Libya?

Gotta cut or better still, eliminate some more government programs that help the poor and elderly, and cease extending unemployment benefits, after all, everyone should be able to find a job within a month or so after being fired or laid off. If people no longer can be productive and self-sufficient, then they have become a burdensome nuisance upon our capitalist society for the rest of their lives, and they should just go away, and do "so" quietly.



:sarcasm:

[Jamastiene]

16. K&R