$2.4 trillion would be $8,000 for every man, woman, and child in the U.S. I don't know about you, but I don't have $32,000 lying around to cover this for my wife and two kids. Of course, it has been financed with borrowed money to be repaid by our kids (boy won't they be surprised when some president raises their taxes through the roof to get our Chinese creditors off his back):

 

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=071024145645.mf068wkv&show_article=1

 

I heard a statistic the other day that the Iraq war is costing us $330 million a day. That works out to be about $1 million every 4 minutes. Truly staggering. Medium size (Fortune 200) corporations struggle to earn $1 billion in an entire year--we blow through that in 3 days in Iraq!

 

On a related topic:

 

Bush a bigger spender than LBJ

So, what do you want to do about it?

No doubt that Bush is a big spender. He's definitely not the small government guy he claimed to be.

On a related topic:

 

Bush a bigger spender than LBJ

Everything's bigger in Texas

Wars cost money, perhaps everyone that was so for the war heading into it should've thought about that. I mean really, we have the best technology and equipment in the world, not the cheapest.....

So, what do you want to do about it?

 

Our involvement in Iraq is unsustainable (militarily, fiscally, and strategically). Set a schedule for ending our involvement in Iraq and stick to it. Otherwise, success will always be "right around the corner" and we will never be able to leave. The Iraqis have to see that we aren't going to hold their hands forever with no expectation of progress. We have given them no incentive to fix their country's problems.

Our involvement in Iraq is unsustainable (militarily, fiscally, and strategically). Set a schedule for ending our involvement in Iraq and stick to it. Otherwise, success will always be "right around the corner" and we will never be able to leave. The Iraqis have to see that we aren't going to hold their hands forever with no expectation of progress. We have given them no incentive to fix their country's problems.

I have no problem with that, but when and by how much do we depart? Surely you are not for total withdrawal immediately, so how long should it take IYO? How many troops do we leave long term?

Our involvement in Iraq is unsustainable (militarily, fiscally, and strategically). Set a schedule for ending our involvement in Iraq and stick to it. Otherwise, success will always be "right around the corner" and we will never be able to leave. The Iraqis have to see that we aren't going to hold their hands forever with no expectation of progress. We have given them no incentive to fix their country's problems.

And what do we do when Iran invades from the west and Turkey from the east?

And what do we do when Iran invades from the west and Turkey from the east?

If it were up to me, you would hear an earth shattering KABOOM in that region.

And what do we do when Iran invades from the west and Turkey from the east?

 

I think you just mentioned an enemy that may need to be on the buisness end of total warfare, Iran.

I have no problem with that, but when and by how much do we depart? Surely you are not for total withdrawal immediately, so how long should it take IYO? How many troops do we leave long term?

 

 

Since we're just bantering back and forth on a high school sports website, I'll say within 3 years, we should be completely drawn down to a force level of not more than 10,000 troops on not more than three remote airstrips/bases with generous, uninhabited security perimeters. Mission of the remaining personnel (which would be supported by any airpower resources needed) would be to hunt/kill terrorist training targets.

And what do we do when Iran invades from the west and Turkey from the east?

 

Well, from all appearances, Turkey appears ready to invade right now--what are we prepared to do (besides talk)?

 

I would make it clear to any neighbor that an invasion force would be obliterated by U.S. air power. Our military is not well suited to fighting an insurgency among a large civilian population, but it is perfectly equipped to deal with traditional military assets with brutal efficiency (witness: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Highway_of_Death)

 

Let them send their 70's era Russian junk and poorly trained soldiers in and see what will happen. I don't think the Iranians or the Turkish are that stupid.

And what do we do when Iran invades from the west and Turkey from the east?

 

Put our heads between our legs and pray?

Everything's bigger in Texas

 

 

I believe LBJ was from Texas, too.

Well, from all appearances, Turkey appears ready to invade right now--what are we prepared to do (besides talk)?

 

I would make it clear to any neighbor that an invasion force would be obliterated by U.S. air power. Our military is not well suited to fighting an insurgency among a large civilian population, but it is perfectly equipped to deal with traditional military assets with brutal efficiency (witness: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Highway_of_Death)

 

Let them send their 70's era Russian junk and poorly trained soldiers in and see what will happen. I don't think the Iranians or the Turkish are that stupid.

H, this doesn't happen very often, but I totally agree with you.