Current wars projected to cost $2.4 trillion

Current wars projected to cost $2.4 trillion
The Associated Press
Posted : Wednesday Oct 24, 2007 15:19:32 EDT

WASHINGTON — Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan could cost as much as $2.4 trillion through the next decade, according to a new analysis Wednesday that the White House brushed off as “speculation.”

The analysis, by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, provides the most comprehensive and far-reaching estimate to date, taking into account costs previously not counted and assuming a large number of forces would remain in the regions.

According to CBO, the U.S. has spent about $600 billion to date on both wars, including $39 billion in diplomatic operations and foreign aid.

If the U.S. cuts the number of troops deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan to 75,000 six years from now, it would cost the U.S. $1 trillion more for military and diplomatic operations and $705 billion in interest payments to pay for the wars through 2017.

Democrats say voters won’t stand for it, and so they would consider paying for the military campaigns in brief installments instead of full one-year terms.

The White House brushed off the estimate as too conditional.


Rest of article at: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2007/10/ap_warcosts_071024/



uhc comment: $1,200,000,000 of the 'diplomatic operations' was paid to DynCorp, for what we're not sure --> http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=389&topic_id=2131492