I came across a couple of mentions of this yesterday (alas, don't remember where), but Attaturk has as good an assessment as any:
Lawmakers in the United States were scheduled to vote on Monday to approve $45 billion US in additional funding for operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, making the recent Middle East foray more expensive than the entire Korean War.
Since the Sept. 11 attacks, Congress has approved $350 billion, mostly for combat and reconstruction in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The amount, which includes $82 billion approved last month, is equal to the total amount in today's dollars spent on the Korean conflict from 1950-53.
I do believe we are more than half-way to the cost of Vietnam by now.
Yes, I'm correct.
The estimated cost of Vietnam in current dollars was $584 billion, according to the Congressional Research Office. Iraq has already cost more in current dollars than either the Civil War or World War I. It is about to pass the Korean War. We are on pace to pass Vietnam in two or three years.
Link for statistic re: Vietnam. Link for Congressional approval of funds.
Here's what we've won:
23 and a half million fewer open slots for Head Start. Or
100 thousand fewer kids with medical insurance. Or
3 million fewer teachers. Or
8 million fewer 4 year scholarships to public universities. Or
a million and a half fewer public housing units.
And there's more.
We've also managed to win the resentment of most people in the Middle East (which isn't such a good thing, considering that they LIVE there--it would've been better to earn their respect and establish allies instead)--AND virtually the entire world now considers the US an unstable bully. All for only $350 billion dollars ($175 billion actually spent thus far)--and counting.
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