Are you aware of how much the war on terror has cost since 2001?

2016-02-18T22:23:45-05:00

Since 2001, we have been engaged in a "War on terror", this war costs the U.S. taxpayer $8.36 million per hour, this figure includes both Iraq and Afghanistan. When I last checked the amount was $1,670,793,537,424. It's obvious I'm not anti-war. I'm here. I'm wondering how aware everyone is.

Response by MAJ Bryan Zeski made Feb 18 at 2016 10:42 PM

2016-02-18T22:42:15-05:00

So, I *AM* anti-war. I think everyone should be anti-war. I think we engage in warfare much too high on the list of options for a lot of things. That being said, I'm not a conscientious objector because I think there is a time and place for it. But I don't think that means I have to be pro-war.

Our problem with money and war comes directly from the military-industrial complex that Eisenhower warned us about so many years ago.

"In the councils of government, we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the militaryindustrial complex."

"Disarmament, with mutual honor and confidence, is a continuing imperative. Together we must learn how to compose differences, not with arms, but with intellect and decent purpose."

Response by 1SG Jeff Finlay made Feb 18 at 2016 11:20 PM

2016-02-18T23:20:50-05:00

Have you ever figured what the multiplier effect of that money being spent? In economic terms if you receive 100 dollars and spend all 100 dollars how many people benefit from the spending. The grocer, the butcher, the truck driver, the oil man, the mechanic, the insurance agent, the clothing salesman, the shoe store clerk, it just keeps going. War is profitable. Its big business.

Response by Capt Seid Waddell made Feb 19 at 2016 4:29 AM

2016-02-19T04:29:56-05:00

We must also look at the cost of NOT being prepared or not fighting the war on terror. In just one attack on 9/11 our economy was hit harder than the cost of fighting the next15 years. And if we hadn't fought back we would certainly been hit even worse.

"Counting the value of lives lost as well as property damage and lost production of goods and services, losses already exceed $100 billion. Including the loss in stock market wealth -- the market's own estimate arising from expectations of lower corporate profits and higher discount rates for economic volatility -- the price tag approaches $2 trillion."

http://www.iags.org/costof911.html

The Cost of September 11

How much did the September 11 terrorist attack cost America?

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 19 at 2016 9:09 AM

2016-02-19T09:09:34-05:00

CPT Private RallyPoint Member These are interesting statistics. I watched an interview of Michael Morrell in which he called the current wars in Iraq and Afghanistan the "Great Wars of Our Time." The statistics seem to support Morrell's statement.

Response by Capt Tom Brown made Feb 19 at 2016 8:09 PM

2016-02-19T20:09:28-05:00

Some folks have a real problem classifying the American lives and money spent in and on Iraq as being on the 'War on Terror'. The Iraq War is seen by some as a personal war started by Geo Bush 43 based on a huge lie, told to Congress and the American people. (WMD are a slam dunk). The cover story was quickly proven as 'untrue', and the war continued as a personal vendetta against a local petty dictator who, other than terrorizing his own people, posed no threat to anyone and was keeping a lid on the warring factions inside his country. Anything post-Hussain was further rationalized as necessary to try and somehow rebuild the country (nation building) after US had torn it down. That philosophy worked out pretty well in WWII, but not so well in the light of 50 different warring factions in Iraq, each worse than the other. Bush created a monster which the US had to swallow and ended up wasting a lot of money and worse, lost a lot of American lives.