Finally, someone istelling the Americantaxpayers just howmuch Bush’smisadventure in Iraqmay cost us.
Just How Much Will Iraq Cost American Taxpayers?By Cliff MontgomeryThat the misadventure of Iraq has cost America dearly in its necessary war against al-Qaeda–a ceding of the moral high ground, a turning of the war from righteous defense to imperial ambition and fruitless nation-building, not to mention the incalculable loss of life to both American soldiers and Iraqi civilians–is already known. But there’s another question which must be answered to correctly judge the misstep of Iraq: what will this unnecessary nation-building finally cost American taxpayers?Rep. John Spratt (D-SC), ranking member of the House Budget Committee, wanted to know exactly that. He sent a request to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) to estimate the funding provided for Iraq operations through 2006.Rep. Spratt also asked CBO to calculate funding requirements “for those operations over the 2007-2016 period under…two scenarios.”This is important; since the re-invigorated Democrats ‘thumped’ the G.O.P. in the November 2006 mid-term elections, they will be taking the reigns of power in both houses of Congress. Rep. Spratt’s second request may therefore provide an early glimpse into the principal scenarios Dems are considering for their planned troop reductions in Iraq.The revelations are sobering. We quote from the CBO paper below:“At the request of the Ranking Member of the House Budget Committee, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) has estimated the funding provided for military and diplomatic operations in Iraq through June 30, 2006, as well as the related costs incurred by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for medical care, disability compensation, and survivor benefits.”CBO has also projected the costs of those activities over the next 10 years under two scenarios specified by the Ranking Member.”The Congress has appropriated $432 billion for military operations and other activities related to the war on terrorism since September 2001. According to CBO’s estimates, from the time U.S. forces invaded Iraq in March 2003, $290 billion has been allocated for activities in Iraq, of which $254 billion has gone to the Department of Defense (DoD) and other defense agencies for military operations.”Approximately $14 billion has been provided to establish, train, and equip Iraqi security forces. Another $22 billion has been appropriated for reconstruction and relief efforts, diplomatic and consular operations, embassy construction, economic support, and foreign aid.”In addition to the amounts specifically appropriated for the war on terrorism, CBO estimates that from 2003 to the end of fiscal year 2006, VA will spend about $1 billion on medical care, disability compensation, and survivor benefits resultingfrom military activities in Iraq.”In the first scenario specified by the Ranking Member of the House Budget Committee, the number of forces deployed in and around Iraq would be reduced from the current level of approximately 190,000 to 140,000 in 2007 and would continueto decline rapidly until all troops were withdrawn from the Iraq theater of operations by the end of calendar year 2009. By CBO’s estimates, that scenario would require additional appropriations totaling $166 billion for military operations over the2007-2016 period.”In the second scenario, the number of troops deployed to the Iraq theater of operations would decline less rapidly, from 170,000 in 2007 to 40,000 by the end of calendar year 2010 and would remain at that lower level through 2016. By CBO’s estimates, that scenario would require the appropriation of $368 billion for military operations over the 2007-2016 period.”Because the costs of establishing Iraqi security forces, conducting diplomatic and consular operations, and providing foreign aid are not directly related to the intensity or duration of military operations, CBO assumes that those costs would be roughly the same under both scenarios.”Funding for security forces and diplomatic operations totaled $6 billion in 2006. Funding for those purposes would continue at that level for several years before declining to approximately $1 billion annually, CBO estimates.”Thus, funding for Iraqi security forces could total approximately $15 billion over the next 10 years, and funding for diplomatic operations and foreign aid could cost another $15 billion over the same period.”Finally, additional costs for VA’s medical care, disability compensation, and survivor benefits over the 2007-2016 period would sum to approximately $6 billion under the first scenario and $8 billion under the second one, CBO estimates. Thus, additional costs over the 2007-2016 period would total an estimated $202 billion under the first scenario and $406 billion under the second one.”
