The situations in Iraq and Afghanistan have taken a back seat to the search for a plane……a debate on birth certificates and a wealth of spurious conspiracies……but since today is my day to post on war….I will delve into those two wars that people forget…….
Does anyone know what the final cost of the two will be?
The final bill will run at least $3.7 trillion and could reach as high as $4.4 trillion, according to the research project “Costs of War” by Brown University’s Watson Institute for International Studies. (www.costsofwar.org)
In the 10 years since U.S. troops went into Afghanistan to root out the al Qaeda leaders behind the September 11, 2001, attacks, spending on the conflicts totaled $2.3 trillion to $2.7 trillion.
Those numbers will continue to soar when considering often overlooked costs such as long-term obligations to wounded veterans and projected war spending from 2012 through 2020. The estimates do not include at least $1 trillion more in interest payments coming due and many billions more in expenses that cannot be counted, according to the study.
In human terms, 224,000 to 258,000 people have died directly from warfare, including 125,000 civilians in Iraq. Many more have died indirectly, from the loss of clean drinking water, healthcare, and nutrition. An additional 365,000 have been wounded and 7.8 million people — equal to the combined population of Connecticut and Kentucky — have been displaced.
$3.7 trillion? That amount could have gone a long way to solve the $5.1 trillion that Ryan wants to carve out of domestic programs…….don’t you think?
But beyond that there are other costs of war…….
The 2.6 million Americans who volunteered to fight on IED-laden battlefields in Iraq and Afghanistan have returned home with a panoply of problems borne out of their service. Consider the following from a newly released Washington Post-Kaiser Family Foundation survey:
- 18 percent were seriously injured while performing their duties.
- 34 percent say they have a service-connected disability.
- 52 percent say their physical or mental health is worse than it was before the wars.
- 41 percent report experiencing outbursts of anger, at least sometimes.
- 51 percent know a service member who has attempted or committed suicide.
More from the Post-Kaiser survey:
My point is….war is far more expensive than what most people think……who will pay the tab?
It would go farther to make up for the non-existent Democrat budget and Obama’s zero cuts in anything. Lets not forget Chuq, I believe 79 congressional Democrats voted to continue the wars through 2013. Only 23 Senate Democrats voted no to the use of military force in Iraq in 2002. I believe there is enough blame to go around for the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq … on both sides of the isle.
You will get NO argument from me…they are ALL owned by special interests and the military-industrial complex……
Why do we feel that we must protect every country? We have so many problems in this country to take care. Everyone agrees that we need to cut the so called entitlements but those in office don’t have the gonads to do what must be done. They just want to save their own positions. We just keep pushing all this down the road for another generation to try to fix. No guts no glory. Great site chug!
Thanx so much….I appreciate the visits……
My problem is that we basically sign a contract with the state…..and that means that the state has an obligation to its people……like I have said many times…..we need to look for a long term plan….5 or 10 years is NOT a long term plan…..chuq
Long term plans to the govt. is a nano second long. Anything that the govt. does is for political reasons and not for the country as a whole. It is all about the politician covering his butt so they will get reelected. For the first half of their term they have to pay back their backers and the second half of their term is to try to make there base forgot that he sold them down the river.
It comes down to there is no one that has the guts to do what is right and take the heat for it.
You have hit the nail on the head…..liars and cowards every one….
So sad to see that there are so many of them in one place.
I agree and we can blame the voter…..they need to educate themselves not just take some yo-yo’s word for anything….
Voters won’t take the time away from their pleasures to really educate themselves. If it isn’t contained in a 15 sec. commericial or tweet they don’t have the time.
And that is so sad…..but they do know how to bitch when things do not go their way…..they excel in it.
Just think, if we had another 100 Ron Paul’s in congress. You would never of written this story. Think about that for a minute. We would not of spent one dime in the fiasco.
Don’t fret my friends. Hillary will find us some country’s to invade, it is her dna.
I think we are giving Paul too much credit….he may well be the same as the previous ….and yep…Clinton will do her part….
I agree alot with what Ron Paul is all about. I also know that we can’t isolate ourselves from the rest of the world, with that being said we are not the worlds policemen. What recent war came to a conclusion that we in the US turned out great for us?
WW@ only one that comes to mind…..it is not that recent but such is life….
When will we learn from our horrible mistakes? Never
I believe that history is cyclical not linear….so never is a good answer….
@Lobertero
I said Ron, not Rand.
I’m not sold on Rand just yet.
Owen….I figured you were speaking of Dad…..but again…I like some of his positions but still am not convinced that he would do anything differently…..