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Date published: 6/11/2007
Donald Rumsfeld's estimate for the cost of the Iraq war was $50 billion. The actual cost to date is about $450 billion, climbing at the rate of about $275 million a day. These are only the operating costs. They do not reflect the billions more that will be needed after the war ends--billions to re-equip and retrain the military to get readiness back to the pre-war level, higher recruiting costs because large bonuses are necessary to get people to enlist or re-enlist, or interest on the war debt. Long-term medical costs alone could be $400 billion or more--and that amount does not include lifetime disability payments This incomprehensible figure does not reflect the sacrifice borne solely by the million or so families whose children and grandchildren risk becoming the dead and maimed while the rest of us are asked for nothing. It does not reflect the death and misery we have unleashed on the Iraqis, that faceless irrelevance deprived by our government of even the simple dignity of being counted. It does not reflect the loss of American prestige or the instability, chaos, and needless creation of additional enemies. War apologists would have us believe It is moral and political cowardice to allow this travesty to continue and its architects
This 15% is an estimate that comes from our own
intelligence. That we are in a religious civil war is well
known. Al Qaeda was NOT a force in Iraq until we arrived.
As occupiers we are now the hated Christian army. We
don't speak the language and we don't know the culture
very well. The Iraqi's, most Americans, and most folks
world-wide wonder why we are STILL there. No WMD, no
Saddam, right? Most believe that building a huge embassy
in Baghdad is a sign that oil is the reason. Clark and I
served.
As someone who has served in the military I would tell you that you are very lucky that there are people who are willing to defend your right to speak your mind, no matter how ridiculous your message is. It seems like you all believe that we are fighting people who are merely defending their home, this is ludicrous. These are foreign fighters bent on destroying as many Americans as possible, that includes you.
Iraq is too valuable, in the minds of America’s elite and her corporatists, to simply walk away from. It will act as America’s aircraft carrier, the easier to patrol the world’s most strategic region. In time, Iraq will be used to invade, threaten, hold hostage and/or conquer the oil fields of Iran and those of the central Asian basin. Iraq is today the gateway towards attaining the Empire the elite and the delusional have always envisioned. It is the gateway towards power, control and untold wealth.
Thank you Mr. Clark!
Some time ago a helpful person suggested that I make
two lists when faced with a difficult decision. He said to
draw a line down the middle of a sheet of paper and simply
list advantages of continuing and the disadvantages in the
other column. As citizens we can do this.
Mr. Clark has given us an excellant start.
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