$127B more for war-cost likely to top Vietnam War

[babylonsister]

Between the cost in lives and the price, when is enough enough? I know this has been/is being discussed, but that little nugget about VN hit home

http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2006-11-16-iraq-costs_x.htm

Military may ask $127B for wars

By Richard Wolf, USA TODAY
WASHINGTON — The Bush administration is preparing its largest spending request yet for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, a proposal that could make the conflict the most expensive since World War II.

The Pentagon is considering $127 billion to $160 billion in requests from the armed services for the 2007 fiscal year, which began last month, several lawmakers and congressional staff members said. That's on top of $70 billion already approved for 2007.

Since 2001, Congress has approved $502 billion for the war on terror, roughly two-thirds for Iraq. The latest request, due to reach the incoming Democratic-controlled Congress next spring, would make the war on terror more expensive than the Vietnam War.

Sen. Kent Conrad, D-N.D., who will chair the Senate Budget Committee next year, said the amount under consideration is "$127 billion and rising." He said the cost "is going to increasingly become an issue" because it could prevent Congress from addressing domestic priorities, such as expanding Medicare prescription drug coverage.

Rep. Jim Cooper, D-Tenn., who put the expected request at $160 billion, said such a sizable increase still "won't solve the problem" in Iraq.

more...

[madrchsod]

1. vietnam was a "real war"

two major well supplied and disciplined forces facing the us and south vietnam forces. where in god`s name has all the money gone? vietnam had it`s share of corruption but nothing on this scale...

[mike_c]

2. I hope and pray that congressional dems will have the spine...

...to just say no.

[babylonsister]

3. I am of the same opinion; if the money was going directly

towards the welfare of the soldiers, that'd be one thing. But how much money does Halliburton, KBR, et al, need?

[mike_c]

4. the "welfare of the soldiers" is one thing, but I'm more concerned...

...about the welfare of their victims. More than half a million civilians have already been murdered-- every U.S. dollar spent in Iraq is dipped in blood many times over. It's all red in the end, no matter who does the bleeding.

[babylonsister]

5. You're right, mike_c. It's a lose-lose situation that needs to be

stopped.