Decade-long presence could be more expensive than Iraq, analysts say
By Walter Pincus
Washington Post
As the Obama administration expands U.S. involvement in Afghanistan, military experts are warning that the United States is taking on security and political commitments that will last at least a decade and a cost that will probably eclipse that of the Iraq war.
Since the invasion of Afghanistan eight years ago, the United States has spent $223 billion on war-related funding for that country, according to the Congressional Research Service. Aid expenditures, excluding the cost of combat operations, have grown exponentially, from $982 million in 2003 to $9.3 billion last year.
The costs are almost certain to keep growing. The Obama administration is in the process of overhauling the U.S. approach to Afghanistan, putting its focus on long-term security, economic sustainability and development. That approach is also likely to require deployment of more American military personnel, at the very least to train additional Afghan security forces.
GO HERE to read more.
Where is Charlie Wilson when we need him?
ReplyDeleteI'm all for it, as long as we charge Afghanistan's government for our services.
ReplyDeleteLet's start off with 9.3 billion a year plus 70% markup plus 100 million for each American that loses his life.
The same charges should have been in effect for everything in the past including Vietnam.
If they say yes, let's up the ante in six months. There has to be a point where this BS stops.
Why are we going into debt bailing out these a$$hole countries who have no redeeming social value to ours?
8:09
ReplyDeleteWrong! Wilson got us into this quagmire.
BTW - ever heard of Vietnam?