Iraq: Decades Of Recovery for the American People

For the last 2 1/2 years I have focused all my passion and energy on ending the war in Iraq. My main argument is that our troops and innocent Iraqi people continue to be killed on a daily basis for reasons we all know never existed to serve as a justification for war. The needless sacrifice of human life will continue to serve as my ultimate motivation for my anti-war efforts; however, up until now, I have not fully addressed the monetary debt that this war has cost the American people.

It is has been widely argued that the war in Iraq will cost American taxpayers over 1 trillion dollars that will take decades to pay off (numerous sources have cited this incredible figure for quite some time now). Some estimates are projected to surpass 2 trillion dollars. All of this money is being carelessly spent on the president's war of choice while he proposes cuts in domestic spending that are beneficial to our people here at home -- probably to a lot of the families of troops currently serving in Iraq.

How could this administration ask so much of our brave men and women in uniform and ask nothing of the wealthiest of Americans? Or any sacrifice from Americans in general? All while we borrow money from China and Saudi Arabia to pay for a war putting us further into debt.

I think the answer is obvious. When President Bush leaves office in January 2009 he will leave the tab for us and future generations to pick up. Does he care? If he did he would have never allowed this to happen.

(Just imagine how that money could have benefited Americans here at home.)

The cost of the war is especially disturbing being that America will likely go into a recession in the very near future if it has not begun already. All while Bush & Cheney are getting ready to live the rest of their lives debt-free while we as a nation pay the debt they will leave for us.

The tremendous setbacks the Bush administration has placed on our nation, whether as a result of their lies or gross incompetence (or both) for their illegal war is unforgivable.

Bush's base has prospered while average middle and working class Americans have suffered and struggled to get by -- rising unemployment, an economy in shambles, tens of millions without health care, increased levels of poverty, etc.

What a tragic time in American history when we seem to have enough money to invade Iraq on a fallacy, enough money to continue the occupation indefinitely, and provide tax cuts for the wealthiest pro-war Americans, while we lack money for American people who go without. How un-American is that?

In closing, I would like to recognize Congressman Jim Moran (D-VA) for his tireless efforts to raise awareness regarding this disaster that the Bush administration has inflicted upon the American people. He has long been an outspoken critic of the war in Iraq and has been exposing the serious debt crisis this nation is facing as a result.

Comments

[Macready]

Thank you for posting . . .

"What a tragic time in American history when we seem to have enough money to invade Iraq on a fallacy, enough money to continue the occupation indefinitely, and provide tax cuts for the wealthiest pro-war Americans, while we lack money for American people who go without. How un-American is that?" and I would add how un-American and un-democratic are our Congressional leaders when pelosi can't even put impeachment on the agenda and when Congress continues to rubber stamp everything the chimp does.

[Cathexis]

Mr Bruhns,

You write: "Bush's base has prospered while average middle and working class Americans have suffered and struggled to get by ..."

I would correct that ever-so slightly: "Bush's *Corporatist* base has propsered ..." Ironically, the other factions of the GOP's unholy coalition -- the Religious Fundamentalists, Social Authoritarisn (Social Conservatives), and Militarists -- have all suffered through Bush's economic catastrophes like the rest of us.

I guess the old saying is true ... "Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, and I must be a 'Social Conservative' republican." ;-)

[Lemeritus]

It's here that I begin to stutter, splutter and hurl invective.

The Republicans who decry "the nanny state" and "government give aways" think nothing of spending hundreds of billions on a war that is immoral, illegal and has not made us one scintilla safer. They blink not an eye while the catalogue of beneficial programs in which that money could have been invested, domestically AND internationally, is pooh-poohed and ignored. We can't even expect our tax-funded agencies (FEMA, of course, but also the SEC) to do the jobs they were chartered to perform. Even as the rich take their severance packages, the malign move their operations abroad, and the administration throws roughly the cost of three trips to the grocery store at the middle class to stimulate the economy, the REAL cost of the war looms large.

Today, Lincoln's vision of government "of the people, by the people, and for the people" seems quaint, a phrase more apropos of niche fashion than what happens in Washington these days. Perhaps it was merely rhetoric even when Lincoln said it but if it was ever true, it is no longer. With impeachment off the table, a rubber-stamp Congree, partisan Supreme Court and corporate controlled media seeming to decide which candidates we can consider, "we the people" lack even a tail with which to flick the blood-sucking flies from the rear-end of the body politic.

[krocklin]

its easy to blame the politicians - they are warmongerers and facilitate the warprofiteers. its easy to blame the public for being susceptible to their propaganda - whether its cooked intelligence or supply side economics -
but where is the media in all this?
they should be the counterweight. despite increasing corporate ownership of the media, there are still commentators who arent knee jerk idealogues - though they are in the minority.
the problem in the media lies in the priorities - once again profit, which is tied to ratings and the need constantly for excitement, titillation, a big story - to the detriment of rational discussion and perception of the issues.
until this changes, or the economy collapses, serious dialogue will continue to be missing in american life.
until the day comes we can only afford to build more sidewalks for the homeless, the poor, the middleclass, this continuous trivialization of the issues before us will prevent solutions.
mccain is still defending the vietnam war, though he seldom has the courage to publicly delve into that other pointless and criminal adventure. it seems his only appeal to people who still are connected to reality is that hes not completely onboard with the lunatic fringe.
but he is still fundamentally far too much aligned with them for my comfort level.

[TantMieux]

It is understandable to feel compassion for the Iraqis who have died, apparently, for no good reason; these sentiments come at a price, specifically, the trillions of dollars the U.S. sunk into its efforts. Money that could have been spent keeping the American standard of life afloat.
Despite America's penchant for aiding others in troubled times, there was marked ambivalence among American citizens this last time around. Although no one denied that Iraq's leader delighted in unconventional methods of governing his people, it would have been just as easy to turn the other way, to worry about Iraq and its shifty, noncompliant tendencies another time. For now, we could have called a summit, reiterated the rules, and then, to prove our words carried weight, dropped some explosives in a safe spot. After that, we might have forgotten about the oppressed country with the malevolent dictator for a few more years.
As it turned out, we were all "Shocked and Awed" by the combination of fire and destruction that woke the residents of Baghdad that morning in March, 2003. We saw innocent women and children die, and we reeled in horror.
Yet the piles of people that Saddam had tossed into mass graves years earlier were all but forgotten amidst our tears of outrage at the sight of American troops slaughtering the innocents at the Bush directive. We watched our soldiers brandish weapons designed to bring bloodshed and destruction yet, somehow, our memories traveled no further than this. We no longer recalled the Iraqi tyrant's fondness for pumping bullets into the heads of citizens, including women, as punishment for breaking his rules.
So America is facing a serious financial situation now. However, despite the unaccountability of the WMD, not all was lost. The madman is dead and the people of Iraq are close to experiencing democracy and freedom. This is to say nothing of the message we're sending Iraq's present and future allies, including Pakistan, Syria, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Russia, China, North Korea, etc.
Do you agree that the price for this achievement is incalculable but invaluable, all the same?

[taikan]

Republicans argue against funding for various social welfare programs by saying that they are merely disguises for the transfer of wealth from the rich to the poor. The irony is that Bush has presided over a transfer of wealth that far surpasses any social welfare program ever enacted by Congress. However, rather than transferring wealth from the rich to the poor, the transfer has been from the rich to the rich, and from individual Americans (most of whom are not rich) to large corporations or government entities most of which are not in the United States.
Unlike investment in capital goods, which can increase productivity and improve the economic well-being of all, investment in war has a net negative impact on the economy. Building something just to blow it up (or to put it in a place where it will be blown up) is not conducive to an overall increase in capital.
It is important to note that the transfer of wealth has not just been a result of our military involvement in Iraq. It also is a result of the Bush administration's resistance to programs designed to reduce our dependence on oil. Thus, each year an ever greater amount is transferred from the bank accounts of individual Americans to the bank accounts of those countries and corporations that control the oil industry.

[theyak]

What is not mentioned in the damage to our military is the loss of faith in the institution. When wounded service members are not paid their signing bonuses because they are unable to serve the full term of their contract, when resrves have their mission orders written up for 1 day less than requireed for much touted education benefits, where are we going to find the young men and women with the character and dedication to serve their nation. When CEO's and public servants that hope to ride the revolving door to lobbying firms rob the taxpayer and shortchange the 'troops' to benefit the shareholders, as a nation we are f**ked. Bring back the Truman Commission, try, sentence and shoot these traitorous vermin.

[ErnestineBass]

John, dear, I was totally with you until that last paragraph.

Rep. Jim Moran may be against the war, son, but he is FAR FROM concerned with the financial well-being of average Americans, or how they are being impacted by the "current debt crisis". If he were, he wouldn't have pushed so hard for passage of the deleterious Bankruptcy Reform Act of 1999.

Jim Moran is a hypocritical, self-serving scallywag, and deserves to be called to account for his actions!

http://www.thebullandbear.com/articles/2002/0902-newlaw.html

[ajax2]

I hope the Iraq government comes together quickly so they can lend us a billion or two.

[deminmo]

One question that has not been answered by any
of the candidates, of either party, is how do
they plan on paying back the "war" debt?
Why is Bush willing to get a $20 billion arms
deal through Congress, when the nation is in
the beginnings of recession?
And judging by recent action by Israel to flex
it's military capability, where are we going to
end up if Israel decides to nuke Iran?

[Rule Of Law]

John, you are Following The Money! The Bush Presidency is about Class War. A long and well thought out attack on what has made this country great. The American working people.

Start with a real shooting war, which as many have already pointed out, is a big money maker. I know Bill Maher doesn't want to hear it, but those 3 buildings fell just as they were intended to. Then go for the oil, control the production, triple the price, and pay for it with the lives of young kids who should be in school, or on dates, or at home with their families. Use this foul and evil invasion to further divide Americans from each other and render their anger and doubt impotent! If were afraid of each other we have no time to look for the real enemy.

Then, begin the real looting of People. Create an artificially low interest rate that destroys the dollar, a runaway illegal mortgage pyramid scheme, and a debt based society that looks like economic growth, but when the shit hits is shown to be just another way to drive home owners into the streets with the returning Vets! Hedge Fund CEO's make $4 Billion in one year, the rest of us, lose our houses and our jobs. While, as you stated, we will be paying it off for generations.

Then,The Economic Rescue: more tax rebates ($300 fills my honda 10 times) with more fiat cash printed by the Fed, and added to OUR debt, again. Do this even though we have the largest Federal debt in history, not enough money to pay for our war, or the social programs working people will need as we head into a Depression, or the crushing debt that 7 years of fascism has produced?

It has never been as simple as just the War itself: That and the mortgage scam have been the economic tools to carve away at our freedoms and independence and reduce the People to the level of serfs. That's the goal! Because wealth really is relative when your power is absolute.

[desmirl]

John,
I noticed that you had a quote from John McCain in one of your replies in which McCain said, "As a Republican, I stand before you embarrassed. Embarrassed that we let that spending get out of control." Here's the question for McCain. Are you speaking of domestic spending, Senator, or are you speaking of military spending? I have an idea what his answer would be. The Neocons controlling the Republican Party have never seen a gun, bomb, or any other weapon they haven't wanted to buy and use. Left unchecked, they would continue to raise the military budget and choke the domestic budget until the middle class became non-existent. And, we both know they could care less about the killed and wounded in Iraq. To the Neocons, our soldiers are no more meaningful than pawns on a chessboard, and just as easily sacrificed for selfish ends. Keep their feet to the fire, my friend. I always look to your column for inspiration.

[image18301]

But people don't you see? None of this would have been possible if it wasn't for us, the voting public, the citizens of this country. We let it happen. And yet there are still people championing for this man and his administration.

[Snoike]

John, I continue to be a fan of your blogs, and rightfully so. You tend to discuss the topics that are important to veterans...especially this one.
I anguish in the fact that this war has cost this country so much money. One Trillion Dollars....that money could have been spent to provide Americans with Gov't sponsered Universal Healthcare (with no out of pocket expenses for citizens), or any other domestic program which would have energized our weak economy. This President has done nothing for Americans since day one in office.
I watched Sicko the other day and I was down-right angry afterwards...not to condone Michael Moore, but he makes some good assessments of American Healthcare.
Although I am no Bill Clinton fanboi, I sure miss his tenure as President, when economic times were good and most Americans prospered. Since Bush has been President, I personally have seen wages go WAY DOWN while the cost of living has gone WAY UP.
Struggling with finances day to day has created a new stress in my life and that of my family. I can only hope that there is an end to this war so that my children will not have to struggle day to day once they're grown and on their own. It's hard to remain optimistic when there's clearly no end in sight.

[Sundialsvc4]

John, ask yourself this...

If America 'spent more than $1 trillion,' where exactly did all that money GO?

I assure you, most of it never left the Beltway.

There's your answer.

Everything that a prior Commander-in-Chief (and General of the Army) Dwight D. Eisenhower accurately predicted, 47 years ago yesterday.

"War is stupendously profitable. So profitable, in fact, that nothing else really matters."

This is what "Ike" warned us about, and this is exactly what happened.