`Peace Dividend` May Be `War Deficit`
CVN News
11-29-2009
Many budget analysts had been expecting cuts in defense spending in Iraq that would help trim the administration`s trillion dollar deficits. However, additional troops and spending in Afghanistan may turn those cuts into increases.
In 2003 Donald Rumsfeld estimated that the Iraq war would cost $60 billion. In fact, it is now closing
in on $600 billion.
Due to the high cost of IED protection and the harsh climates, it costs roughly $1 million per year per soldier,
with costs in Afghanistan on the high end.
The additional troops likely to be deployed will bump up costs an additional $30 to $50 billion.
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