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Bush Wants $70 Billion More For Iraq/Afghanistan
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Bush Wants $70 Billion More For Iraq/Afghanistan |
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Mistletoe Angel 
since 2000-12-17
Posts 32816Portland, Oregon |
Well, looks like Kerry and Edward's estimates during the debates ($200 billion) may become correct on the war on Iraq (they made a misestimation by claiming before the total cost of the war on Iraq was $200 billion when it was actually just less than $140 billion) Early next year, should Bush be re-elected, his Administration will ask for another $70 billion in "emergency funding" for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. It is possible also that an additional $30 billion will be asked for by the U.S Army for combat activity. This will push the total cost of this war to between $225-255 billion, beating the total cost of Vietnam and continues to rapidly approach the total cost of the U.S involvement in World War II ($341 billion) How much is this, do you ask? Well, consider the $87 billion paid before alone. It’s approximately nine times what the government spends on Special Education. Ten times what the government spends on environmental protections. Seven times what the government spends on Title I for low income schools. Eight times the total given in Pell Grants for college tuition. And...frankly...eighty-seven times what the government spends on after school programs. This war currently has costed our nation approximately $7 million an hour, and the average American family $3,400. Should this hefty $70-100 billion pass, these wars will cost the following: ******************************************* * Between twenty-four to twenty-seven times what the government spends on special education * Between twenty-six to twenty-nine times what the government spends on environmental protections. * Between twenty to twenty-three times what the government spends on Title I for low income schools * Between twenty-two to twenty-five times what the government spends for Pell Grants * Between 225 to 255 times what the government spends on after-school programs ******************************************* And where have these wars gotten us? Thousands are dead. Both Iraq and the United States are polarized. The obvious fact that no WMD's have been found, though three-quarters of Republicans still deny what the evidence and the Duelfer Report say. The original justification the Bush Administration used to going to war has now been proven false, yet Bush still chooses to defend everything about this war in the argument simply that Saddam was a bad man and has suddenly chosen to shift gears in defending the war by using the sole word "intend" from the Duelfer Report, in which was a possible theory that Saddam would have worked back toward weapons programs had the sanctions been lifted after the U.N Food For Oil campaign. Is this albatross of a war really where you want all these billions to go. Billions that could fund thousands of schools, provide health care to the 235,000 veterans who have lost it under this Administration, protect the Sequoia National Forest or the Tongass National Forest or fund stem-cell research? Are all these billions really worth it in a time where over 50% of Americans believe America is heading in the wrong direction, where about half the nation and a majority of the world believe the war is only making the world less safe? For those of you thinking real hard still about how you'll vote November 2nd, let this be a good question to ask yourself if the war is an important issue to you. Sincerely, Noah Eaton "You'll find something that's enough to keep you |
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Huan Yi Member Ascendant
since 2004-10-12
Posts 6688Waukegan |
“We have learned that the president wants an additional $70bn of your money by early next year for Iraq and Afghanistan, bringing the total cost to $225bn," Mr Kerry said. "Mr President, what else are you being silent about? What else are you keeping from the American people? How much more will the American people have to pay?" The non-partisan organisation Factcheck.org says Mr Kerry has consistently overstated the amount actually spent on the Iraq war to date. “ BBC http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/3955151.stm |
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Mistletoe Angel
since 2000-12-17
Posts 32816Portland, Oregon |
 Actually, in the first two debates, Kerry was incorrect that the total cost currently was $200 billion when it was between $137-140 billion. However, in the third debate, Kerry wisened up and corrected the estimate, and if you check FactCheck.org, they even say that Kerry made the correction. Should the $70-100 billion slip through, Kerry will be correct on the $225 billion. That is a fact. Because at the current rate of $7 million an hour, the war will have costed about $150 billion by the time he asks if re-elected. Sincerely, Noah Eaton "You'll find something that's enough to keep you |
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Balladeer
Administrator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-06-05
Posts 25505Ft. Lauderdale, Fl USA |
My memory is a little faulty, Noah. Would you remind me, please, how much 9/11 cost us? |
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Ron
Administrator
Member Rara Avis
since 1999-05-19
Posts 8669Michigan, US |
While you're looking that up, Noah, you can also remind us how much Imelda Marcos typically spent on shoes every year. That doesn't have anything to do with Iraq, of course, but then, neither does Mike's question. Maybe what we should really be asking is how much it costs for surgery. At what point do you tell your doctor a malignant tumor is too expensive to remove? At what point do you start having organs removed just because you're getting a good package deal? I think some things just can't be measured in dollars or justified in cents. |
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Ringo
since 2003-02-20
Posts 3684Saluting with misty eyes |
The actual question that I have, Noah, is why is it that Sen. Kerry made a mis-quote when he lied about the amount, yet Pres. Bush lied about things that he mighthave mis-quoted??? In the wooden chair |
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Mistletoe Angel
since 2000-12-17
Posts 32816Portland, Oregon |
The important point here is, "This is a LOT of money...period" Too much money that millions of Americans would ever dream of having. Approximately a third of American families do not make a living wage. Shouldn't that upset anyone? Numbers are just numbers. But behind these sort of numbers there is sense. Sense of the finer things in life which all this money should be going too. Things which actually benefit the lives of everyday American children, seniors, anyone. Basic American values of health care, education, jobs, etc. Ron, you are absolutely right some things just shouldn't be measured or assumed with a number. Those comparison estimates I made are rough, and that is why I drew a field of "between this and this approximately". The point here is, "This is a ridiculously high amount of money!". I wonder how one is going to answer the question, "How did that $87 billion help Iraq?". Obviously, that new proposed $70 billion proves that Bush is conceding conditions are getting worse in Iraq, clearly in the tone of "emergency funding" and this is like a desperate plea he is making. And Ringo, as far as numbers and statistics and being off on numbers and statistics sre concerned in politics, I wouldn't say either Bush or Kerry in this instance is really "lying". Just faulty research or "fuzzy math" as Bush liked to call it in 2000 on Gore. Sincerely, Noah Eaton "You'll find something that's enough to keep you |
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