The Intercept reports:
The total U.S. budgetary cost of war since 2001 is $4.79 trillion, according to a report [PDF] [...] from Brown University's Watson Institute. That's the highest estimate yet.
Neta Crawford of Boston University, the author of the report, included interest on borrowing, future veterans needs, and the cost of homeland security in her calculations.
The amount of $4.79 trillion, "so large as to be almost incomprehensible", she writes, adds up like this:
- The wars in Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Syria, and other overseas operations already cost $1.7 trillion between 2001 and August 2016 with $103 billion more requested for 2017
- Homeland Security terrorism prevention costs from 2001 to 2016 were $548 billion.
- The estimated DOD base budget was $733 billion and veterans spending was $213 billion.
- Interest incurred on borrowing for wars was $453 billion.
- Estimated future costs for veterans' medical needs until the year 2053 is $1 trillion.
- And the amounts the DOD, State Department, and Homeland Security have requested for 2017 ($103 billion).
Crawford carried out a similar study[PDF] in June 2014 that estimated the cost of war at $4.4 trillion.
(Score: 5, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday October 25 2016, @12:11PM
Just look at how Iraq has improved since Saddam was taken out, and Syria is now pretty much a paradise. The whole of the Middle East is now much more stable thanks to foreign intervention.
The US taxpayer's money has been well spent. The only question is where to intervene next? Many western leaders are desperate to get into a war with Russia. I think a war with Russia would be a good choice because it would improve everyone's life immensely. A few trillion more won't be missed...
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday October 25 2016, @12:26PM
Muammar Gaddafi was the most progressive political leader in the world [googleusercontent.com] (orig) [paulcraigroberts.org]
...until USAian hegemony killed him.
-- OriginalOwner_ [soylentnews.org]
(Score: 4, Informative) by Thexalon on Tuesday October 25 2016, @12:26PM
Funny you mention that: According to a report from a few months ago, the US DoD can't explain what happened to $6.5 trillion [rt.com]. For reference, that's approximately 1/3 of the US national debt. And hardly anyone has taken notice.
The only thing that stops a bad guy with a compiler is a good guy with a compiler.
(Score: 3, Insightful) by Phoenix666 on Tuesday October 25 2016, @01:02PM
That's easy. It's sitting in accounts in the Caymans, and Switzerland, and Luxembourg, and a half-dozen other offshore banks.
Washington DC delenda est.
(Score: 1) by Sarasani on Wednesday October 26 2016, @01:53AM
The black hole of accounting for black ops?
(Score: 2) by FatPhil on Thursday October 27 2016, @07:59AM
Note, however, that they're quite informative when it comes to US stories, as they seem to disagree in almost every possible way with US media like Fox. Which means that it's more likely to be true than Fox is.
Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people; the smallest discuss themselves
(Score: 2) by Thexalon on Thursday October 27 2016, @12:29PM
They are far from the only source of the story. Here's some more:
CNN [cnn.com]
Reuters [reuters.com]
Fiscal Times [thefiscaltimes.com]
These stories are all based on official government documents, which all demonstrate this same staggering amount of missing money.
The only thing that stops a bad guy with a compiler is a good guy with a compiler.
(Score: 3, Funny) by DannyB on Tuesday October 25 2016, @01:51PM
Just google for: damascus before and after
Then click Images.
We should not be spending this much money to inflict this much misery throughout the world.
We need to spend it domestically.
To inflict misery here at home. How about prisons that are run for profit. And an education system that produces a balance of graduates destined to either occupy the for profit prisons, or be worker drones to pay for the for profit prisons. This can replace the military industrial complex. Problem solved. Everyone happy.
People today are educated enough to repeat what they are taught but not to question what they are taught.
(Score: 4, Insightful) by bradley13 on Tuesday October 25 2016, @02:55PM
Reading the link about the accounting problems, it sounds mostly like incompetence. The money was most likely spend correctly, but they made a total muck of the accounting.
The government ought to hold itself to exactly the same accounting standards (GAAP) that it requires of companies. Failure to comply should carry equivalent penalties, up to and including jail time for the top managers.
Everyone is somebody else's weirdo.
(Score: 3, Insightful) by jasassin on Tuesday October 25 2016, @11:23PM
Once in a blue moon there's a post that should be +5 funny, +5 informative, +5 insightful, and +5 touche. I hereby give you an honorary +20 mod.
jasassin@gmail.com GPG Key ID: 0xE6462C68A9A3DB5A