Today's Article
Just how much of
this kingly sum goes
to the fruitless
nation-building of
Iraq?
this kingly sum goes
to the fruitless
nation-building of
Iraq?
The American Spark
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War Costs May Surpass $1 Trillion In 10 Years
By Cliff Montgomery - Aug. 15th, 2007
Perhaps no one may accurately gauge the loss of moral ground the Bush Administration's fruitless
nation-building in Iraq has cost America in its "War on Terror". Certainly no one could gauge its terrible cost in
life, limb and mind.
But the monetary cost of military and diplomatic operations in Iraq, Afghanistan and other places around the
globe may well top $1 trillion over the next 10 years, declare Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates
given to the House Budget Committee on July 31st, 2007.
The CBO forecasts largely depend on the number of troops and diplomatic corps stationed in Iraq between
2008 and 2017 however--issues which Deputy Defense Secretary Gordon England told the committee cannot
be accurately predicted.
"That's a long way in the future" to evaluate both cost and group levels, said England.
Perhaps. But the Bush Administration freely predicts decades into the future when it tells us in frightened
tones that Social Security is sure to "go broke" decades from now. Is the Bush Administration claiming it may
correctly verify our nation's economic health--which is the only way to verify the solvency of Social
Security--many decades into the future, but a Congressional office may not perform a much more limited
prediction about the costs of Iraq over a single decade?
Questions of the administration's double standard aside, CBO officials are doing more than making a single
wild prediction in the dark. The budget office apparently made a number of estimates designed to cover what it
considers the most likely scenarios.
The CBO therefore projects that total operational costs will run from $924 billion to a little over $1 trillion if
American forces decrease from their current 210,000 to 75,000 by the year 2013.
But if U.S. forces in Iraq shrink to 30,000 by 2010, war costs should only grow from $481 billion to $603 billion
during the 2008-2017 fiscal period, said the CBO.
Congress has in the last few years appropriated $602 billion for the "War on Terror", which covers costs for the
actions in Afghanistan, several covert operations around the globe and--for some reason--Iraq.
These appropriations averaged to an annual cost of about $93 billion between fiscal years 2003 to 2005, then
jumped to $120 billion for 2006 and $170 billion for 2007.
As perhaps expected, the lion's portion of this kingly ransom--a cool $533 billion--has paid for the various
operations, military and otherwise, of the Pentagon.
The Bush Administration's infamous troop "surge" to Iraq earlier this year will cost American taxpayers $10
billion if this increased effort at fruitless nation-building lasts four months, $22 billion if King George extends it
for a year, and $40 billion if His Majesty wills it for two years, declares the CBO audit.
During the House panel hearing, England admitted that the Pentagon will have to seek continued fiscal 2008
funding to cover the costs of the Iraq "surge". The Bush Administration did not see its way to include any
funding for its "surge", either in its budget for fiscal 2008 or its fiscal 2008 request for supplemental funding.
England refused to comment on how many more taxpayer dollars may be spent on operations in Iraq. But he
did claim it is "physically impossible" to stop the Iraq "surge" of American troops by Oct. 1st, the beginning of
fiscal year 2008. Why this is thought to be impossible was apparently not made clear.
The Defense Department plans to revamp its operations request in September, possibly to coincide with the
scheduled release of the much-awaited Sept. 15th "Iraq progress report".
We shouldn't be surprised by this apparent attempt at drama. The neo-conservatives' past six and a half years
of White House residency has proven one thing: They may not know how to govern, but they do know how to
put on a good show.
Like what you're reading so far? Then why not order a full year (52 issues) of the The American Spark
e-newsletter for only $15? A major article covering an story not being told in the Corporate Press will be
delivered to your email every Monday morning for a full year, for less than 30 cents an issue. Order Now!
By Cliff Montgomery - Aug. 15th, 2007
Perhaps no one may accurately gauge the loss of moral ground the Bush Administration's fruitless
nation-building in Iraq has cost America in its "War on Terror". Certainly no one could gauge its terrible cost in
life, limb and mind.
But the monetary cost of military and diplomatic operations in Iraq, Afghanistan and other places around the
globe may well top $1 trillion over the next 10 years, declare Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates
given to the House Budget Committee on July 31st, 2007.
The CBO forecasts largely depend on the number of troops and diplomatic corps stationed in Iraq between
2008 and 2017 however--issues which Deputy Defense Secretary Gordon England told the committee cannot
be accurately predicted.
"That's a long way in the future" to evaluate both cost and group levels, said England.
Perhaps. But the Bush Administration freely predicts decades into the future when it tells us in frightened
tones that Social Security is sure to "go broke" decades from now. Is the Bush Administration claiming it may
correctly verify our nation's economic health--which is the only way to verify the solvency of Social
Security--many decades into the future, but a Congressional office may not perform a much more limited
prediction about the costs of Iraq over a single decade?
Questions of the administration's double standard aside, CBO officials are doing more than making a single
wild prediction in the dark. The budget office apparently made a number of estimates designed to cover what it
considers the most likely scenarios.
The CBO therefore projects that total operational costs will run from $924 billion to a little over $1 trillion if
American forces decrease from their current 210,000 to 75,000 by the year 2013.
But if U.S. forces in Iraq shrink to 30,000 by 2010, war costs should only grow from $481 billion to $603 billion
during the 2008-2017 fiscal period, said the CBO.
Congress has in the last few years appropriated $602 billion for the "War on Terror", which covers costs for the
actions in Afghanistan, several covert operations around the globe and--for some reason--Iraq.
These appropriations averaged to an annual cost of about $93 billion between fiscal years 2003 to 2005, then
jumped to $120 billion for 2006 and $170 billion for 2007.
As perhaps expected, the lion's portion of this kingly ransom--a cool $533 billion--has paid for the various
operations, military and otherwise, of the Pentagon.
The Bush Administration's infamous troop "surge" to Iraq earlier this year will cost American taxpayers $10
billion if this increased effort at fruitless nation-building lasts four months, $22 billion if King George extends it
for a year, and $40 billion if His Majesty wills it for two years, declares the CBO audit.
During the House panel hearing, England admitted that the Pentagon will have to seek continued fiscal 2008
funding to cover the costs of the Iraq "surge". The Bush Administration did not see its way to include any
funding for its "surge", either in its budget for fiscal 2008 or its fiscal 2008 request for supplemental funding.
England refused to comment on how many more taxpayer dollars may be spent on operations in Iraq. But he
did claim it is "physically impossible" to stop the Iraq "surge" of American troops by Oct. 1st, the beginning of
fiscal year 2008. Why this is thought to be impossible was apparently not made clear.
The Defense Department plans to revamp its operations request in September, possibly to coincide with the
scheduled release of the much-awaited Sept. 15th "Iraq progress report".
We shouldn't be surprised by this apparent attempt at drama. The neo-conservatives' past six and a half years
of White House residency has proven one thing: They may not know how to govern, but they do know how to
put on a good show.
Like what you're reading so far? Then why not order a full year (52 issues) of the The American Spark
e-newsletter for only $15? A major article covering an story not being told in the Corporate Press will be
delivered to your email every Monday morning for a full year, for less than 30 cents an issue. Order Now!