Spending on Iraq-Syria operations reaches $2.7 billion for the last 10 months. What is this buying us?

2015-06-15T08:16:39-04:00

The 10-month-old fight against the Islamic State militants in Iraq and Syria has cost the Pentagon at least $2.74 billion, according to newly released Defense Department data.

On average, that's about $9.1 million daily to cover the costs of flying sorties, dropping bombs, gathering intelligence, maintaining a small network of operating bases, providing logistical support and paying thousands of service members who are supporting the mission in Iraq and across the U.S. Central Command region, according to the data released Thursday.

The Air Force accounts for the bulk of that money, about 67 percent. Navy expenses account for about 16 percent of the war's cost, the Army about 10 percent and Special Operations Command about 7 percent.

The Marine Corps was not listed in the cost data, which covers operations from Aug. 8, 2014, when airstrikes began in Iraq, through May 21.

The cost of operations in Iraq and Syria may rise this summer as the U.S. military deploys an additional 450 troops to Iraq. Roughly 3,000 are there now.

Spending on current operations in Iraq is a small fraction of the money that flowed following the initial 2003 U.S. invasion. The cost of those operations peaked during the "surge" in 2008 at about $389 million daily, or about $142.1 billion that year, according to a report from the National Priorities Project.

http://www.militarytimes.com/story/military/pentagon/2015/06/15/iraq-cost-data/71134026/

Spending on Iraq-Syria operations reaches $2.7 billion

The 10-month-old fight against Islamic State militants in Iraq and Syria has cost the Pentagon at least $2.74 billion, according to newly released

Response by TSgt David L. made Jun 15 at 2015 8:59 AM

2015-06-15T08:59:37-04:00

Unfortunately we aren't getting much for our money IMO. We'd be better off sending enough ground troops in to get the job done. Not that I think we will of course.

Response by SrA Daniel Hunter made Jun 15 at 2015 9:26 AM

2015-06-15T09:26:03-04:00

I wonder how much it would cost to have live-fire exercises for that length of time. Which draws me to conclude, what we are getting is practice. Perhaps some small amount of good will which will not amount to anything.

Response by LT Garth Young (Ret) made Jun 15 at 2015 9:41 AM

2015-06-15T09:41:06-04:00

All fun and games til one of our Aircraft go down & a pilot is captured and killed horrifically. I'm not opposed to what we're doing, just not looking forward to that tragic event happening. Because everyone knows what ISIS would do to an American pilot!!!!

Response by SrA Johnathan Kropke made Jun 15 at 2015 10:32 AM

2015-06-15T10:32:53-04:00

Now that sounds like the Air Force. :) We spend a lot and do a lot of drops, awesome!!

Response by SSG Donald Mceuen made Jun 15 at 2015 1:45 PM

2015-06-15T13:45:43-04:00

Respect fromor alies ha ha .
All we are doing is helping them get strong so i a few years they can use it on us.
We just need are troops home borders closed and take care of our own.
They just don't give a shit about us unless we are paying for there wars.

Response by GySgt Jim Bishop made Jul 6 at 2015 11:17 AM

2015-07-06T11:17:45-04:00

As a Marine who's been anywhere would say, "We are Uncle Sam's, redheaded step child, we get the hand me downs!" So it buys US nothing, but look what we can do with nothing