Blowing up stuff and taking over countries sure costs lots of money! No wonder the GOP so wants to cut social spending. It puts a crimp in satisfying their bloodthirsty appetites for conquest. And now after spitting, crapping and stomping all over the UN Rumsfield and the Bushies are crying for it and other countries to clean up their mess.


Rumsfeld Estimates U.S. Monthly Costs in Iraq at $3.9 Billion
By BRIAN KNOWLTON
International Herald Tribune


WASHINGTON, July 9 — Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld estimated today that the cost of United States operations in Iraq were $3.9 billion a month — a figure considerably higher than previous estimates — as he testified today before senators who want other countries to absorb more of the coalition's human and financial costs.

The $3.9 billion monthly figure covers January through September of this year, reflecting an average cost for the final months of military buildup, the Iraq war itself and postwar military costs.

Mr. Rumsfeld agreed with senators that a greater NATO role in Iraq made sense, and said that he would support troop contributions from France and Germany, despite their opposition to the war.

Democratic senators said they were troubled at Mr. Rumsfeld's vagueness on what approaches had been made to NATO.

And General Tommy R. Franks, the outgoing head of the United States Central Command, indicated at the same hearing that he anticipated no reduction in the United States' force level for the foreseeable future.

In addition to the cost figure for Iraq, which Mr. Rumsfeld provided after repeated, pointed requests from members of the Senate Armed Services Committee, the defense secretary said that operations in Afghanistan were costing $900 million to $950 million a month...







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