Sunday, May 19, 2013

US war in Iraq

Special Inspector General to Congress issue his final report on the war in Iraq and questions whether the effort and cost were "worth the cost".  Stuart Bowen's report says "the US has spent too much money in Iraq for too few results".  It would seem the problem was the "misspending of money" according to PM Nouri al-Maliki.  In March of 2003 "Congress set up a $ 2.4 billion fund to help ease the sting of war for Iraqis.  It aimed to rebuild Iraq's water and electricity systems, provide food, health care and governance for its people; and take care of those who were forced from their homes in the fighting".  Six months after this funding Bush II asked for another $ 20 billion.  To date we have spent "more than $ 60 billion in re-construction grants to help Iraq..."  That's about $ 15 million a day.  Counting all military and diplomatic costs the other aid, the US has spent at least $ 767 billion since the invasion.  A US research group-National Priorities Project-estimates that the cost is $ 811 billion.  A GOP senator-Susan Collins-says Bush II should have given the aid as a "loan instead of an outright gift".
(Source:  "Report: America's time and $ 60 billion wasn't worth it in Iraq" by Lara Jakes of The Associated Press.  In the Virginian Pilot on 3/6/13)

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