The Cost Of Iraq Military War
The Iraq Military War does not come cheap. Cost estimates may vary, but the latest report the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), a non-partisan unit of the U.S. Congress, shows a 13-figure estimate of expenditures at the expense of U.S. taxpayers. In August 2005, Congress had already approved a total of $204.4 billion and was preparing $45.3 billion in supplemental funding. On a per capita basis, the cost so far at that point was $727 per American - and counting! In the last 60 years, the Iraq War is already the most expensive military campaign.
At that same time, the Congressional Budget Office made projections on how much it would cost to continue the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The cost of the Iraq Military War alone was projected to be well in excess of $700 billion or at least $2,800 per American. In their latest estimate, the Congressional Budget Office looked at the long-term costs of care for Iraq Military War veterans wounded on duty, the cost of aid (military and economic) for the Iraqi government, and the ongoing costs to keep 200,000 soldiers deployed in Iraq. Over a trillion dollars, said the Congressional Budget Office. Not everything is as gloomy as the CBO reports on the Iraq Military War costs to the U.S. economy. A good number of Washington's big defense contractors have recently disclosed rosy profit reports. Their highest growth results came from divisions that have received military contracts in Iraq and Afghanistan. It should be noted that the profit growth by defense contractors accounts for only a small portion of the total spending (actual and projected) attributable to the Iraq Military War. The CBO's recent report projected medical care costs alone will reach at least $9 billion if 30,000 troops remain stationed in Iraq over the next several years, but could increase by about half to $13 billion, if the level reaches 75,000 troops. At least $50 billion will be needed to train police and soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan over the next ten years. That's the military aspect so far. But in the coming months, military spending will expand some more, as the Iraq Military War pursues the "surge" that President Bush has been talking about. This will mean more purchases of armored vehicles and other war materiel, both to equip additional troops and to replace vehicles not fully protected against roadside bombs. U.S. military deaths in the Iraq Military War have already surpassed the number killed in the 9/11 World Trade Center incident. But human costs in the Iraq Military War include deaths among Allies, civilian contractors and journalists. Civilian deaths among Iraqis are much higher. The Iraq Military War also impacts U.S. security in another way. At least one-third of U.S. forces in Iraq are National Guard and Reserve units. These units are actually first responders (police officers, firefighters, emergency medical teams) intended for emergencies at home. Deployment to Iraq has weakened the National Guard's ability to cope with fires and natural disasters. |