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posted by martyb on Tuesday October 25 2016, @10:49AM   Printer-friendly
from the aggression-is-expensive dept.

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.


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  • (Score: 5, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday October 25 2016, @12:11PM

    by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday October 25 2016, @12:11PM (#418494)

    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...

    Starting Score:    0  points
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    Total Score:   5  
  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday October 25 2016, @12:26PM

    by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday October 25 2016, @12:26PM (#418497)

    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

    by Thexalon (636) on Tuesday October 25 2016, @12:26PM (#418498)

    A few trillion more won't be missed...

    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

      by Phoenix666 (552) on Tuesday October 25 2016, @01:02PM (#418514) Journal

      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

      by Sarasani (3283) on Wednesday October 26 2016, @01:53AM (#418810)

      The black hole of accounting for black ops?

    • (Score: 2) by FatPhil on Thursday October 27 2016, @07:59AM

      by FatPhil (863) <pc-soylentNO@SPAMasdf.fi> on Thursday October 27 2016, @07:59AM (#419321) Homepage
      For reference, RT are not particularly reliable. Their coverage of stories related to Estonia, where I live, has been between state propanda (e.g. regarding hacking and NATO visits) - hardly surprising given that they're a state entity at the bidding of Putin - and downright lies (e.g. regarding the abduction of Kohver) - hardly surprising given that they're a state entity at the bidding of Putin.

      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

        by Thexalon (636) on Thursday October 27 2016, @12:29PM (#419369)

        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

    by DannyB (5839) Subscriber Badge on Tuesday October 25 2016, @01:51PM (#418537) Journal

    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

    by bradley13 (3053) on Tuesday October 25 2016, @02:55PM (#418568) Homepage Journal

    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

    by jasassin (3566) <jasassin@gmail.com> on Tuesday October 25 2016, @11:23PM (#418760) Homepage Journal

    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