Author Topic: How much does the US spend on war? (Read 2389 times)

nw_hunter · « **on:** December 24, 2009, 10:58:21 AM »

Something wrong with this picture!

By Sherwood Ross- BLN Contributing Writer

The U.S. spends more for war annually than all state governments combined spend for the health, education, welfare, and safety of 308 million Americans.

Joseph Henchman, director of state projects for the Tax Foundation of Washington, D.C., says the states collected a total of $781 billion in taxes in 2008.

For a rough comparison, according to Wikipedia data, the total budget for what the Pentagon calls "defense" in fiscal year 2010 will be at least $880 billion and could possibly top $1 trillion. That’s more than all the state governments collect.

yellowtail3 · « **Reply #1 on:** January 07, 2010, 11:41:44 AM »

How much do we spend? A fortune. A huge fortune.

And we've been doing it, more or less, since 1942. On near-war footing for over sixty years.

powderman · « **Reply #2 on:** January 07, 2010, 01:48:14 PM »

Making war?

? Or defense?

? POWDERMAN.

Black Eagle · « **Reply #3 on:** January 07, 2010, 01:54:50 PM »

We spend more on defense, by far, than all other countries combined including Russia and China. Our problem is the tremendous amount of waste in our spending.

Yellowtail, I've had that poster hanging in my office for many years.

Cabin4 · « **Reply #4 on:** January 07, 2010, 02:37:29 PM »

Our country has become a "stupid" enterprise run by corrupt politicians and the massive influence of the mega rich. These $$ are unreal and stupid Americans just keep shoveling the same corrupt politicians to Washington so they can rape us all clean with their fake wars and over bloated military and other apparatuses.

rio grande · « **Reply #5 on:** January 07, 2010, 02:42:13 PM »

http://www.newsweek.com/id/229336

$1,000,000 (One Million Dollars) per U.S soldier in Afghanistan.
Insane.

alsaqr · « **Reply #6 on:** January 07, 2010, 03:20:26 PM »

No one will know the real cost of the Iraq and Afghan wars until the last veteran of those wars is dead. Tens of thousands of our fine troops were sickened and wounded fighting in those two wars. The cost of caring for veterans of the Iraq and Afghan wars has been estimated at about two trillion dollars over their lifetimes.

Cabin4 · « **Reply #7 on:** January 07, 2010, 04:38:10 PM »

Perfect. Just perfect.

yellowtail3 · « **Reply #8 on:** January 08, 2010, 03:07:42 AM »

Quote from: TM7 on January 08, 2010, 02:19:51 AM

By some estimates vet deaths now exceed Vietnam era deaths..coming from a VA org....approx 78,000 USA deaths from the ME crusades.

Some estimates? I've never heard those estimates. Who authored them?

magooch · « **Reply #9 on:** January 08, 2010, 04:05:56 AM »

Freedom ain't free. That we know, but it could cost a heck of a lot less if our leaders just had the balls to use those nukes that are sitting there getting old.

I hope you guys aren't suggesting that we shouldn't fight, or kill these terrorists who want us all dead.

magooch · « **Reply #10 on:** January 08, 2010, 04:30:16 AM »

And he who fails to recognize the peril will suffer the ravages. The trick is to get your licks in first and make them final.

Cabin4 · « **Reply #11 on:** January 08, 2010, 06:48:37 AM »

do we really need to drop nukes on terrorist training camps? Seems like well placed conventional weapons would work.

skarke · « **Reply #12 on:** January 08, 2010, 06:53:55 AM »

It is easier to drill through glass than granite

yellowtail3 · « **Reply #13 on:** January 08, 2010, 07:05:57 AM »

Quote from: Cabin4 on January 08, 2010, 06:48:37 AM

do we really need to drop nukes on terrorist training camps? Seems like well placed conventional weapons would work.

conventional weapons don't have quite the same chest-beating satisfaction for certain types, that they enjoy with advocating nuclear weapons.

the same types brag about who they'll kill, how much we need the death penalty, and make jokes about prison rape

Black Eagle · « **Reply #14 on:** January 08, 2010, 07:31:44 AM »

I am a firm believer in killing terrorists but nukes would be a huge mistake. If you look at the kinds of nukes in use today, atmospheric winds, and fallout patterns over a year following a surface or above ground blast, it is one of the worst things that could happen. One or two nuclear blasts in the M.E or Central Asia will not bring radiation levels here to a dangerous level. Several blasts, on the other hand could make the northern hemisphere glow in the dark. That is why virtually all countries went to underground testing. In the event nukes start flying in the M.E or Central Asia, my new mailing address will be, "General Delivery, Patagonia, Argentina."

beerbelly · « **Reply #15 on:** January 08, 2010, 07:53:12 AM »

I suggest you get ready to move. When Iran gets the means they will use them and Israel will retaliate.
Beerbelly

Casull · « **Reply #16 on:** January 08, 2010, 08:09:50 AM »

Quote

73,846 US TROOPS DEAD (near top of page 6)

1,620,906 PERMANENTLY DISABLED (near top of page 7)

Let's see, the entire US military is about 2.3 million (1.45 million regular and .85 million active reserve), and 1.7 million are either dead or permanently disabled, huh?

Brett · « **Reply #17 on:** January 08, 2010, 09:57:01 AM »

You also take into account the flip side of this coin... how much money is made by fighting wars?

C-rats, munitions, computers, clothing, vehicles, ships, weapons systems, small arms, planes, fuels, medical supplies, etc. In short all the 'stuff' needed to fight a war is manufactured, processed or grown by people earning an income in factories or on farms that pay taxes. Yes, we spend an incredible amount of money fighting a war but many of us earn our livings from or in other ways benefit from that expenditure.

Don't misunderstand me... I am in no way condoning war for the sake of making money. However, I do not agree with using the monetary cost of war as a reason not to engage in war if going to war is for a just cause.

magooch · « **Reply #18 on:** January 09, 2010, 03:47:18 AM »

How about just cause they started it? In the case of al Qaeda, that is exactly what happened and it's ours to finish. Where is General Lemay when you need him?

Casull · « **Reply #19 on:** January 09, 2010, 07:02:27 AM »

Quote

Let's see...I believe I filed this under 'things needing a check out'. However if I recall from the article, now expunged apparently, the disability number is the expected number for the entire crusade down the road...that is if it ever ends.
Do you have a total number for miltary enrollments over the last 25 years..?

Oh, TM7, I see. You are going to post the most ridiculous 'statistics' and then try to defend your action by saying "I filed this under 'things needing a check out'". Very nice. And, why are you suddenly asking about the "last 25 years"? If you'll look, this is what you had earlier posted:

Quote

US DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS ISSUES OFFICIAL REPORT CONFIRMING 73,000 U.S. TROOPS KILLED IN IRAQ SAME GOVERNMENT AGENCY REPORT CONFIRMS 1.6 MILLION "DISABLED" BY THE WAR

Nothing about the last 25 years (just those killed and disabled in Iraq. Also, nothing about "expected number for the entire crusade", but rather "confirms 1.6 million 'disable' by the war". Try to keep it straight.

rio grande · « **Reply #20 on:** January 09, 2010, 10:35:26 AM »

The dollar costs of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are unsustainable. Counted in the Trillions. Instead of building our infrastructure and industrial base at home we throw money down a rat-hole in endless unnecessary war.
What will we do when the Chinese get tired of supporting us by buying our governments worthless bonds?

Bin Laden said he would bankrupt us. Looks like he is succeeding.

Cabin4 · « **Reply #21 on:** January 09, 2010, 12:48:20 PM »

Quote from: rio grande on January 09, 2010, 10:35:26 AM

The dollar costs of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are unsustainable. Counted in the Trillions. Instead of building our infrastructure and industrial base at home we throw money down a rat-hole in endless unnecessary war.
What will we do when the Chinese get tired of supporting us by buying our governments worthless bonds?

Bin Laden said he would bankrupt us. Looks like he is succeeding.

How true. The terrorists are winning every time congress passes another 8% increase in our federal budget spending while we continue to lower our interest payment on the national debt. What a fantastic fiscal approach and all the war mongers think its great as the largest off shore transfer of wealth in the history of mankind takes place.

Dee · « **Reply #22 on:** January 09, 2010, 01:07:04 PM »

Well ya always got the "I'd rather fight'e in Iraq, than fight'em here" crowd.

Of course AL Qaeda wasn't in Iraq until we ousted Hussein. He hated them, and they him, and he kept them at bay. But then you also have the one's that ignore the false pretenses THAT WERE PROVEN FALSE, when we went there in the first place. Their still wavin the battle flag. But their not doin any of the battlin. Just the battle flag "wavin".

Redtail1949 · « **Reply #23 on:** January 09, 2010, 02:31:07 PM »

i sat take 1/2 the money obama wants to spend on health care add it to what is out there and go into wherever and kill every last one of those SOB that want to do us harm. while there kill every chicken, mule, duck and dog they have.

Casull · « **Reply #24 on:** January 09, 2010, 06:08:07 PM »

Quote

Oh-oh troll alert, troll alert... incoming...! I see the Casull is on Pa-TROLL again....The link was from the VA as were the stats...you have a problem with them as well I see.....I thought it might be pertinent to the discussion. Maybe you only consider cost in $'s and cents only...I happen to also consider the human costs as well. I reported what I read...am I allowed to qualify if a question arises?....I think so your regency. Frankly, I think those stats freak you out and you're not able to handle it as usual, so you go into troll attack pit bull mode because of your denial and fear of the world not being as you think it is....too bad!!. BTW...Here's what I think of your opinion and derisive comments in effort to break up the converstion

...TM7

Wow, tm, you sure get your panties in a bunch when someone points out the implausibility of one of your posts. So, tell me again how I misread your supposed (since apparently only you saw them) "statistics" about how the Iraq war has killed or permanently disabled 74% of our entire military. Between that and your last post, I be thinkin you are smokin some goooooood stuff.

Casull · « **Reply #25 on:** January 09, 2010, 06:14:30 PM »

Quote

Oh-oh troll alert, troll alert... incoming...! I see the Casull is on Pa-TROLL again....The link was from the VA as were the stats...you have a problem with them as well I see.....I thought it might be pertinent to the discussion. Maybe you only consider cost in $'s and cents only...I happen to also consider the human costs as well. I reported what I read...am I allowed to qualify if a question arises?....I think so your regency. Frankly, I think those stats freak you out and you're not able to handle it as usual, so you go into troll attack pit bull mode because of your denial and fear of the world not being as you think it is....too bad!!. BTW...Here's what I think of your opinion and derisive comments in effort to break up the converstion

...TM7

Wow, tm, you sure get your panties in a bunch when someone points out the implausibility of one of your posts. So, tell me again how I misread your supposed (since apparently only you saw them) "statistics" about how the Iraq war has killed or permanently disabled 74% of our entire military. Between that and your last post, I be thinkin you are smokin some goooooood stuff.

nw_hunter · « **Reply #26 on:** January 09, 2010, 07:30:56 PM »

Quote from: magooch on January 09, 2010, 03:47:18 AM

How about just cause they started it? In the case of al Qaeda, that is exactly what happened and it's ours to finish. Where is General Lemay when you need him?

I must have slept through this war! I didn't know we invaded the nation of Al Qaeda!

Echo4Lima · « **Reply #27 on:** January 09, 2010, 08:02:58 PM »

Lets see, the nukes, seal all the tunnel entrances in Tora Bora, light one off VERY deep in mountains,all caves collapse. Darn those nuke chest pounders anyway...

None of those Al Qeda guys in Iraq before we went there. Hmmn...What was that guy with the one legs name? You know the one I mean! The one in the black outfit n expensive sneakers trying to fire that SAW on the video. The one we bombed...

That training camp in the north east with the airliner body? Must been those peacefull Iranians foolin around...

Oh yeah, those pesky barrels of chemicals and stacks of empty artillary shells those Marines found in a Nasaria warehouses. No WMDs those...

Ya know, the one thing I always wondered was why did that Franks fella invade Iraq with the prevailing winds at his back?

Ahh nevermind. Its misinformation anyway. After all the Bush friendly news people woulda been all over it...

Is Al Qeda next to Hmong?

Casull · « **Reply #28 on:** January 10, 2010, 06:57:21 AM »

Quote

So, The current ME crusades have been ongoing since Reagun years. I asked you how many troops have passed thru the military in the last 40 years. I estimate conservatively 10 million if current forces total 1.6 million....

TM7, you are like a freakin politician (obfiscate and refuse to answer a question or address the point that is made). The quote you made was not about the "ME crusade", as you call it, or about the last 40 years, but about the war in Iraq.

Quote

US DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS ISSUES OFFICIAL REPORT CONFIRMING 73,000 U.S. TROOPS KILLED IN IRAQ SAME GOVERNMENT AGENCY REPORT CONFIRMS 1.6 MILLION "DISABLED" BY THE WAR

Now stop trying to spin it, and tell me again how I misread your supposed (since apparently only you saw them) "statistics" about how the Iraq war has killed or permanently disabled 74% of our entire military.

Casull · « **Reply #29 on:** January 12, 2010, 06:39:50 AM »

Ok, tm, I'm ready (had some adult things to take care of). Interesting report. Did you actually read it? Oh, and reading a blurb on leftwingnutjob.com does not count. BTW, I thought we were talking about the current war in Iraq, while this report deals with the entire period from 1990 through 2007. But, that's ok. First, a few quotes from the report:

"The use of these data to draw conclusions regarding mortality rates will result in inaccurate conclusions." (emphasis added)

"The GWVIS statistical reports, containing death counts, do not constitute a Gulf War Veteran mortality study." (emphasis added)

"Some of the veterans identified in this report had prior active military service. Therefore, not all of the claims counted in this report were incurred during the Gulf War period or deployment to Southwest Asia" (emphasis added)

I really liked this next one:

"Although this study found no real difference between death rates among Gulf War and Non-Gulf War veterans, it found that death rates for both groups were less than half of that found in their civilian counterparts."

Now, for some juicy tidbits. The number of service connected 10% or greater disability pensions granted for those deployed to the Gulf (that is for 1 day or more) was 240,417. This is 10% or greater for the entire time from 1990 to 2007. How can that be? You claimed 1,600,000+ were permanently disabled by the war. Oh, and I forgot to mention, the TOTAL number of service members deployed to the Gulf or Southwest Asia during those 17 years (now remember that is for 1 day or more, and which includes the terms of 3 different Presidents, and all but the last year of Bush's terms) was 1,129,353. Now, wait a second. How can 1,600,000+ service members have been permanently disabled from the war, when only 1,129,353 served 1 day or more there? Exactly how does that math work in looney fringe land? Oh well, is play time over now?