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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsGovt Report: We Wasted a Ton of Money in Iraq
LARA JAKES
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In his final report to Congress, Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction Stuart Bowens conclusion was all too clear: Since the invasion a decade ago this month, the U.S. has spent too much money in Iraq...The reconstruction effort grew to a size much larger than was ever anticipated, Bowen told The Associated Press in a preview of his last audit of U.S. funds spent in Iraq, to be released Wednesday. Not enough was accomplished for the size of the funds expended.
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The abysmal Iraq results forecast what could happen in Afghanistan, where U.S. taxpayers have so far spent $90 billion in reconstruction projects during a 12-year military campaign that, for the most part, ends in 2014.
Shortly after the March 2003 invasion, Congress set up a $2.4 billion fund to help ease the sting of war for Iraqis. It aimed to rebuild Iraqs water and electricity systems; provide food, health care and governance for its people; and take care of those who were forced from their homes in the fighting. Fewer than six months later, President George W. Bush asked for $20 billion more to further stabilize Iraq...To date, the U.S. has spent more than $60 billion in reconstruction grants to help Iraq get back on its feet after the country that has been broken by more than two decades of war, sanctions and dictatorship. That works out to about $15 million a day...yet Iraqs government is rife with corruption and infighting. Baghdads streets are still cowed by near-daily deadly bombings. A quarter of the countrys 31 million population lives in poverty, and few have reliable electricity and clean water.
Overall, including all military and diplomatic costs and other aid, the U.S. has spent at least $767 billion since the American-led invasion, according to the Congressional Budget Office. National Priorities Project, a U.S. research group that analyzes federal data, estimated the cost at $811 billion, noting that some funds are still being spent on ongoing projects.
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http://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/report-too-much-money-spent-in-iraq-for-too-few-results.php
spanone
(135,844 posts)it's ok to waste billions if you are a republican in office....democrats, no so much.
bullwinkle428
(20,629 posts)of money since the entire "movement" began.
But they're all about "getting the fiscal house in order!!1!"
Initech
(100,080 posts)Education? Wasteful. Government housing? Wasteful. Medicare and Medicaid? Wasteful.
Anything that is a line item to them is wasteful. They love big ticket items because to them if it has more than seven zeroes in the line, they think it's helping to protect America and to them that ain't wasteful.
slackmaster
(60,567 posts)JaneyVee
(19,877 posts)4Q2u2
(1,406 posts)Like we needed a Government report to tell us that money was wasted in Iraq. All you had to do was ask anyone who was over there, we saw it on a daily basis.
Loudly
(2,436 posts)Powerful imagery which reflected the larger flushing of treasure.
lumberjack_jeff
(33,224 posts)I would like to wring the neck of everyone who whines about the debt and supported the Iraq fiasco.
The Iraq war cost each household in the US about $800.
Whisp
(24,096 posts)Best and legal way to get money out of the system for doing shitty stuff.
talkingmime
(2,173 posts)malaise
(269,045 posts)That is all
ProSense
(116,464 posts)doesn't believe anything on less they see it on paper...long form.
malaise
(269,045 posts)sadbear
(4,340 posts)I could have told them that for free.