Look how much money has usa spend on iraq war

www.costofwar.com

bush you bastard

I don't put a price on defending the country.

So I don't care.

Just do whatever it takes to keep the fighting over there and not over here.

Just do whatever it takes to keep the fighting over there and not over here.

Oh, so as long as your safe, you're happy? Please. Not like the millions of Iraqis deserved to have a war fought in their backyard.

Just do whatever it takes to keep the fighting over there and not over here.

Thats some cold stuff.... tsk tsk tsk

Yeh because Iraq was going to attack the USA with sticks and stones...because thats basically all teh united states has found.

Oh, so as long as your safe, you're happy? Please. Not like the millions of Iraqis deserved to have a war fought in their backyard.

Less iraqi's have died in this war than Sadaam's regime.. and Iraqi's on the whole are happy this war is going on becuase 99% of them were unhappy. Of course, this means nothing to you, becuase of who you support in politics.

Yeh because Iraq was going to attack the USA with sticks and stones...because thats basically all teh united states has found.

Once again, forget all the progress thats been made in iraq. forget that sadaam is history and iraqi people are as free as nearly any other nation in the world. America should mind its own business.... UNLESS its a nearly identical situation, and if america doesnt do anything, then they are cold, heartless bastards who dont care.

Damned if you do, damned if you don't...

Less iraqi's have died in this war than Sadaam's regime.. and Iraqi's on the whole are happy this war is going on becuase 99% of them were unhappy. Of course, this means nothing to you, becuase of who you support in politics.

I'm pretty sure more Iraqis have died in a single year under Bush's war than what Saddam was able to produce in any year under his regime. And I don't see proof that 99% of Iraqis were unhappy before. If you could back that up with a source, including whether Iraqis are happier now, then do so.

Once again, forget all the progress thats been made in iraq. forget that sadaam is history and iraqi people are as free as nearly any other nation in the world. America should mind its own business.... UNLESS its a nearly identical situation, and if america doesnt do anything, then they are cold, heartless bastards who dont care.

Damned if you do, damned if you don't...

So invading a country called Iraq over North Korea, Rwanda, and all those other nations under greater oppression for the benefit of what? They pissed on the UN and after that Iraq invasion, there's many people angry at the US. There's no WMDs and the only advantage that I can think of in invading Iraq is for the oil. Really, the invasion caused way more harm than good. Can't forget about the deficit this whole war caused, too. It's ironic what you said, because right now, America's portrayed as cold, heartless bastards who don't care. Maybe America would care if they'd spend a little more time "hunting" for bin Laden.

Yeh, the bush adminstration gave osama bin laden a 2months headstart after september 11. Even then they only had a couple of thousand solidiers there.

But Bush was only looking after his dad's friends, since the saudi's/bin ladens control 7% of the usa total money. 1 trillion dollars in US banks.

Oh, so as long as your safe, you're happy? Please. Not like the millions of Iraqis deserved to have a war fought in their backyard.

Less iraqi's have died in this war than Sadaam's regime.. and Iraqi's on the whole are happy this war is going on becuase 99% of them were unhappy. Of course, this means nothing to you, becuase of who you support in politics.

Yeh because Iraq was going to attack the USA with sticks and stones...because thats basically all teh united states has found.

Once again, forget all the progress thats been made in iraq. forget that sadaam is history and iraqi people are as free as nearly any other nation in the world. America should mind its own business.... UNLESS its a nearly identical situation, and if america doesnt do anything, then they are cold, heartless bastards who dont care.

Damned if you do, damned if you don't...

Could not of said it better myself.

Less iraqi's have died in this war than Sadaam's regime.. and Iraqi's on the whole are happy this war is going on becuase 99% of them were unhappy. Of course, this means nothing to you, becuase of who you support in politics.

Oh so as long as we don't measure up to the terror that Sadaam did, it's fine? Please. That doesn't make it right.

Once again, forget all the progress thats been made in iraq. forget that sadaam is history and iraqi people are as free as nearly any other nation in the world. America should mind its own business.... UNLESS its a nearly identical situation, and if america doesnt do anything, then they are cold, heartless bastards who dont care.

Technically, yes, they are free. But regardless of that, it doesn't change the fact that there's still a war being fought in their backyard. I'll look at all the progress that we've made when this war actually finishes.

Well it is the Army's etc. job to keep us "safe" and "free" from attacks. If they have to go to another country and attack to keep that from happening then so be it. I am not trying to start a fight or talk bad about Iraq people or whatever

Lets say that the UN took a look at the U.S. right now and decided that its leader was killing its own innocent citizens, by sending them into harms way, much like Saddam's indirect killing, and the UN decided to put together an army to invade the U.S. and take out Bush. That way the country will be free and a new government can be installed, and money can be spent in the right places, and no country will ever be raped and murdered for money again.

*sigh* Sites like that annoy me. The US shouldn't be heald responsible for the AIDS epidemic in the world - just the US. They shouldn't be responsible for world hunger - just poverty in the US. The schools and what not, yeah, that stuff needs more money, but it's not like our schools are terrible....yeah, a lot of them are grossly underfunded - well, all of them - but all we need is a good secretary of education or whatever to take care of that. The only thing that I really have a massive problem with, in regards to bush, is his stupidity regarding education (No Child Left Behind) and gay marriages...

I don't like the war, but I don't see anything really wrong with it. Who lives in the US in this discussion, raise your hand. OK, now, if you lived in Iraq and said you didn't like Sadam Hussein, on a public message board, what would happen to you? You think about that as you go to Fahrenheit 911, buy a Rage Against the Machine CD, drive your own car, fill it up with cheap gas, go to the doctor with your good medical insurance, and then go to the mall to go shopping for shit you don't need.

Now, if you lived in Iraq, would you have any of that? I don't think so. You have all the right in the world to bitch, but the reason you have that right is because you are truly free. Don't speak for someone until you experience what they do. People die in revolutions because they want freedom more than life. Americans did it, the French did it (the only war they won was against themselves....well, except that whole Napoleon guy), England did it. People want freedom, and they don't care how much blood is shed.

The insurgents in Iraq are a minority committing terrorist attacks. The majority of the Iraqis like what's happening, or at least as far as I can tell. Our soldiers are volunteers. They're soldiers for christs sake; you can't compare Saddam Hussein hoarding money and starving his citizens, the indirect murder, to someone who signed up for a profession where the likelihood of them dying is high. It's murder to send troops to war? Would you want to go to war then, as opposed to troops? Please.

Americans are spoiled. I drive a BMW, I go to college, I complain about making 9 bucks an hour and 12 grand a year while in college. I have food delivered to my door if I want it to, and I drive everywhere. Americans take all that stuff forgranted. Americans are lazy and money driven. I think other countries don't like Americans - and Americans don't like themselves - because of the greed, sloth, and lack of any real morals. Those who claim they have morals are the ones with fake morals and are just saying that to make it look like they do (yeah, exagerating a lot).

We're the richest and most powerful nation in the world. Countries expect us to bail them out in trouble, but they act like they don't like it. The countries we don't help get pissed because we don't help them. We can't win, like someone said. If we help a country and remove a maniacal dictator, then we're in it for some financial gain. If we don't attack a country with nukes who might use them, we don't have our priorities straight. Here's something else to think about: if we're worried about North Korea using nukes without provocation, don't you think we might be worried they might use them if we attacked?

I'm done for now.....I'm sure I'll be flamed by everyone. *shrug*

That was a great read Shane, some nice points .

I tend to agree with your stance.

Especially the "The US shouldn't be heald responsible for the AIDS epidemic in the world - just the US. They shouldn't be responsible for world hunger - just poverty in the US."

I'm pretty sure more Iraqis have died in a single year under Bush's war than what Saddam was able to produce in any year under his regime. And I don't see proof that 99% of Iraqis were unhappy before. If you could back that up with a source, including whether Iraqis are happier now, then do so.

You obviously are unaware of what sadaam did to the kurds, releasing chemical weapons on them. Look it up, read the atrocitites, eductae yourself, then come back to me.

As for the iraqi's, I base it on several things. The biggest is I have a friend from Iraq, he has told me about what sadaam did to the people there and how hated he is. The other thing is the respected people who have come back and gone on radio here, have been asked what the reaction is of the Iraqi people. They have all said the iraqi's love the fact that the are free and are making steps towards a demoracy. I couldnt be fucked looking it up, but search for abc radio here in australia on yahoo, and go through the archives till your heart is content.

So invading a country called Iraq over North Korea, Rwanda, and all those other nations under greater oppression for the benefit of what? They pissed on the UN and after that Iraq invasion, there's many people angry at the US. There's no WMDs and the only advantage that I can think of in invading Iraq is for the oil. Really, the invasion caused way more harm than good. Can't forget about the deficit this whole war caused, too. It's ironic what you said, because right now, America's portrayed as cold, heartless bastards who don't care. Maybe America would care if they'd spend a little more time "hunting" for bin Laden.

Tell that to the iraqi's who can actually say what they think now. The thing i find most amusing, is that people complain that a nation has been free'd from a dicator, and they say its been harmful?

The insurgents in Iraq are a minority committing terrorist attacks. The majority of the Iraqis like what's happening, or at least as far as I can tell. Our soldiers are volunteers. They're soldiers for christs sake; you can't compare Saddam Hussein hoarding money and starving his citizens, the indirect murder, to someone who signed up for a profession where the likelihood of them dying is high. It's murder to send troops to war? Would you want to go to war then, as opposed to troops? Please.

That is very true.. some people like to (or have to) exagerate in arguements to make it look like it is the same..

Americans are lazy and money driven. I think other countries don't like Americans - and Americans don't like themselves - because of the greed, sloth, and lack of any real morals.

I tend to think that the hate towards america is from jealousy more than anything else. There is no country that isnt selfish, or have selfish people in them. America is held to such a higher standard than any other country, it really doesnt matter what they do, they will get criticised for it.

Here's something else to think about: if we're worried about North Korea using nukes without provocation, don't you think we might be worried they might use them if we attacked?

America looks like they are cleaning out the middle east first, taking out the terrorosists, and they have to protect themselves after 9/11. The countries that have these terrorists cant or wont stop terror, so america has to. North Korea probably wont do anything...

Maybe they should have protected themselves before 9/11.
I think their is way too much talk about protecting the U.S. from countries like North Korea, Iraq and even Iran, countries that have almost nothing left when it comes to weapons or support, yet they've pretty much just given up on hunting bin laden. If a bully beats you up, do you go kick his friends ass?

I don't buy into the notion that all soldiers are volunteers. There are some, but many are out of options and see the military as their only opportunity to make it to college so they don't have to earn minimum wage for the rest of their life. Its just more difficult to do this these days when you are either stationed somewhere for term after term and havent ben home in years, or have been killed in senseless combat. This bullshit is all leaked down from the top. If you take money away from education, and students can't get what they need to find a career, the low class working force is born. When families living in poverty have no other options, its really easy to build an army of lower class people.

I agree that something had to be done in Iraq if as many people were being murdered as reported, but why now? Saddam was in power for 25 years, and his ruthless dictaorship was already well documented, so why did the U.S. choose the time they did to finally overthrow him. And if as many people as some of you have said did not like Saddam (I can't believe it would be 99%) then why was he not overthrown earlier? If 99% of a country wants to take out a selected few in power, it would be like a bear going after a puppy. So instead of going after the source, groups thought they would just try to command their own power by blowing shit up?

Hopefully the U.S. can install their own puppet leader in Iraq and turn it into America Jr. and they can all live in peace, but what is much more likely is that the majority won't support it after the civilian death toll from either "friendly fire" or targert practice by us troops has reached ridiculous levels, and will decide to revolt and blow the new guys up, and we'll have to have this discussion all over again.

I think their is way too much talk about protecting the U.S. from countries like North Korea, Iraq and even Iran, countries that have almost nothing left when it comes to weapons or support, yet they've pretty much just given up on hunting bin laden. If a bully beats you up, do you go kick his friends ass?

Says who they have given up on bin laden? If the Bully's friends assisted him, then yes, you take them out too. I think its amusing that you say "Maybe they should have protected themselves before 9/11. " but when they go into iraq to prevent a possible pre emptive strike (and also rid them of sadaam) you criticise. Which is it?
You criticise them for not preventing an attack,
and then you criticise them for preventing a possible attack.

You cant have it both ways.

I don't buy into the notion that all soldiers are volunteers.

It's their jobs. You could say that not all firemen or police are volunteers, but they are still in a dangerous job where they protect people. Show me one quote of a soldier complaining about the war in iraq, becuase I havent heard one complain yet.

There are some, but many are out of options and see the military as their only opportunity to make it to college so they don't have to earn minimum wage for the rest of their life. Its just more difficult to do this these days when you are either stationed somewhere for term after term and havent ben home in years, or have been killed in senseless combat. This bullshit is all leaked down from the top. If you take money away from education, and students can't get what they need to find a career, the low class working force is born. When families living in poverty have no other options, its really easy to build an army of lower class people.

This is worse than Ben's conspiracy theory regarding the nba not that long ago...

I agree that something had to be done in Iraq if as many people were being murdered as reported, but why now? Saddam was in power for 25 years, and his ruthless dictaorship was already well documented, so why did the U.S. choose the time they did to finally overthrow him. And if as many people as some of you have said did not like Saddam (I can't believe it would be 99%) then why was he not overthrown earlier? If 99% of a country wants to take out a selected few in power, it would be like a bear going after a puppy. So instead of going after the source, groups thought they would just try to command their own power by blowing shit up?

There was the gulf war, which pretty much took apart sadaam in the early 90's. If there was to be an uprising, their people would have been snapped. It's not like america or australia where you can protest. Sadaam had the 4th largets army before the gulf war, along with biological weapons, and those torture champers, if the people had an uprising, they would have been snapped. Its not like there were 20 people with guns there. There was a massive army, with WMD's along with a ruthless dictator. The people had no choice.

Hopefully the U.S. can install their own puppet leader in Iraq and turn it into America Jr. and they can all live in peace, but what is much more likely is that the majority won't support it after the civilian death toll from either "friendly fire" or targert practice by us troops has reached ridiculous levels, and will decide to revolt and blow the new guys up, and we'll have to have this discussion all over again.

See the jealousy..

A manager at the place where I work is in the national guard. My roommate is a sargaent in the army reserve. My girlfriend's sister is going over to Iraq in six days. Her sister WANTS to go. My roommate would go if he had to and he wouldn't have a problem with it, same with Mark, the guy from work. My roommate has the shittiest job, too, drives around in a car with a big radio antenna to call in air strikes....can you say "easy target?"

Soldiers know that there's a chance they might get activated to fight when they sign up. It's not free money...there's a reason for it. And the soldiers get paid very, very well. My roommate was activated a couple years ago...he was just stationed in Indiana, guarding some thing or other. He made something like 30 grand in a year....not bad considering all his food, shelter, clothing, and taxes were already taken care of. Not to mention that because he was activiated, they give him even more aid for college. He came out of it well and he's back in school now. Now, he made that much when he was in Indiana...troops oversea get even more money in overseas pay...and troops in war zones get even more - hazard pay. Add all that stuff up, plus a bunch of other benefits, and being in the military is not a bad deal. You're very well compensated if you have the balls to sign up and possibly fight.

I don't put a price on defending the country.

well there wasn't much defending going on, considering we went over there and took over...

You obviously are unaware of what sadaam did to the kurds, releasing chemical weapons on them. Look it up, read the atrocitites, eductae yourself, then come back to me.

And you are obviously unaware that the US supported Saddam against Iran and the Kurds.

As for the iraqi's, I base it on several things. The biggest is I have a friend from Iraq, he has told me about what sadaam did to the people there and how hated he is. The other thing is the respected people who have come back and gone on radio here, have been asked what the reaction is of the Iraqi people. They have all said the iraqi's love the fact that the are free and are making steps towards a demoracy. I couldnt be fucked looking it up, but search for abc radio here in australia on yahoo, and go through the archives till your heart is content.

They don't represent 99% of Iraq. If your friend from Iraq lives in America, then it's easy for him to say that, because nobody wants to live under a dictatorship. But, if you're still living in Iraq, particularily Fallujah, I've read a lot of stories about the horrors there.

Tell that to the iraqi's who can actually say what they think now. The thing i find most amusing, is that people complain that a nation has been free'd from a dicator, and they say its been harmful?

It's a good thing that they are free from a dictator, but look what they have to live through now. More years of suffering through rebuilding and living without their loved ones that were killed in battle, and there's even a chance that things might not even get better since they're targeted by extremists and potentially harmful neighbours. They are living in a constant fear, very typical of the way America lives, thanks to the media.

America looks like they are cleaning out the middle east first, taking out the terrorosists, and they have to protect themselves after 9/11. The countries that have these terrorists cant or wont stop terror, so america has to. North Korea probably wont do anything...

It's funny how homeland security has barely increased and they have to use all those billions of dollars to wipe out buildings, kill innocent civilians, sacrifice their own soldiers, and manage to capture or kill some "terrorists." North Korea was probably a bigger threat than any other country because they actually have WMDs.

Says who they have given up on bin laden? If the Bully's friends assisted him, then yes, you take them out too. I think its amusing that you say "Maybe they should have protected themselves before 9/11. " but when they go into iraq to prevent a possible pre emptive strike (and also rid them of sadaam) you criticise. Which is it?
You criticise them for not preventing an attack,
and then you criticise them for preventing a possible attack.

You cant have it both ways.

I think Bush made a quote somewhere that goes, "I truly am not that concerned about him." Obviously, Iraq was more important than bin Laden. Iraq, a country that never once attacked American soil. Do you think that Iraq can send missles or terrorist bombers to the US after 9/11? Heck, Cuba's a greater threat than Iraq! I don't know how anyone can buy into the fact that Iraq is a threat to the US when they have absolutely nothing. In 20 long years, Iraq has done nothing. Oh, did I mention the US supported bin Laden in the Soviet-Afghanistan war?

It's their jobs. You could say that not all firemen or police are volunteers, but they are still in a dangerous job where they protect people. Show me one quote of a soldier complaining about the war in iraq, becuase I havent heard one complain yet.

Compare that to a waiter in a restaurant. It's their jobs to serve, and despite the rudeness they may encounter from the customers, they still have to do their jobs. The American soldier is like that: either "brainwashed" with the American dream and filled with patriotism and duty for his/her country, or struggling through the battlefields of death for what purpose? Liberation through death? If a soldier complains, that solider is a traitor to America. Simple as that. Once the war is over and troops return home, I wouldn't be surprised if I start to hear some complaints. Of course, many soldiers would be proud to be part of a war they won in, but not all.

There was the gulf war, which pretty much took apart sadaam in the early 90's. If there was to be an uprising, their people would have been snapped. It's not like america or australia where you can protest. Sadaam had the 4th largets army before the gulf war, along with biological weapons, and those torture champers, if the people had an uprising, they would have been snapped. Its not like there were 20 people with guns there. There was a massive army, with WMD's along with a ruthless dictator. The people had no choice.

It's funny how you said that, because North Korea has the 4th largest army in the world. I agree that Saddam should be removed from power, but the steps the US took to achieve that was ill-timed. They hindered international relations (see: other countries, UN), they lied to the people about claims of WMDs that has yet to be found, and Iraq suddenly as a priority doesn't really make sense at this time.

I tend to think that the hate towards america is from jealousy more than anything else. There is no country that isnt selfish, or have selfish people in them. America is held to such a higher standard than any other country, it really doesnt matter what they do, they will get criticised for it.

Jealousy? I think the main reason the world is pissed at the US is because of their arrogance. And what is there to be jealous about the US? Personally, I'd rather live in Europe or Australia (good thing I live in Canada) before I'd consider the US, no offense.

I am usually spending this amount of money in one day

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/12/03/60minutes/main658994.shtm

It's a sign that the Army needs able, and not so able, bodies very quickly. And many of the men and women being mobilized from the Ready Reserve – approximately 5,000 this year – are not very happy about it.
---
Like many Army officers, Mary signed up for eight years -- four years active duty, and four years in the Ready Reserves. She received her discharge certificate in 1998, but she was called up this past June to serve as a transportation officer.

"I called the Delay and Exemption Board. And the young lady that I talked to said that date [on my contract] meant nothing. That my new date is 2018," says Mary.

"I was in shock. I was like, 'What do you mean? I have a piece of paper that tells me that that's my obligation.' And for them to just send me orders and disrupt my life and pull me back, it's disheartening and I feel betrayed, I guess you could say. … The military is betraying me, because I served my time."

Damned if you do, damned if you don't...

One of the major reasons that the USA is disliked by many nations is about one of the things you guys said earlier; Damned if you do, damned if you don't.... It's not damned if you don't. It just damned if you do what you please... The USA seems to send their major fundings and stuff like that to places that they would gain the most from.

I tend to think that the hate towards america is from jealousy more than anything else. There is no country that isn’t selfish, or have selfish people in them. America is held to such a higher standard than any other country, it really doesnt matter what they do, they will get criticised for it.

That doesn't quite make sence. If they were jealous at the American lifestyle, then why would they try to commit terrorist acts against the country? Would they rather just move there and take a part of the wonderful lifestyle if now that's what they so much long for? It's not jealousy at all; it's more of the arrogance as cyanide said. USA pollute far more than any other nation on earth (I think they stand for 1/5 of all the pollution on earth), yet you refuse to try and improve it (Kyoto treaty especially). They disregard what the UN says (last major offence seen in the Iraq war), and just do what they felt was best, which proved to be wrong, and then not have the decency to at least apologize that their major intention to got to war and disregard the UN's suggestion was false...
Take this for an example; http://www.cndyorks.gn.apc.org/yspace/articles/new_us_spy_sat.htm Read it through and ask yourself why, please. Why would they invest 9.5 Billion dollars on a spy missile when the only threat against them, for a long time, has been small terrorist, so what good is a 9.5 billion spy missile against their enemy?

America looks like they are cleaning out the middle east first, taking out the terrorosists, and they have to protect themselves after 9/11. The countries that have these terrorists cant or wont stop terror, so america has to. North Korea probably wont do anything...

You can't stop terror! No matter how hard the US tries, there will always be people who hate America so much that they'd ram a plane into a skyscraper in satisfaction. If we tried to wipe out every single terrorist within the Middle East, we'd be forced to put up a draft. America doesn't have to stop it, and they can't stop it; they won't stop it, because no matter what, there will be some Muslim extremists with the desire to inflict terror on our people.

Show me one quote of a soldier complaining about the war in iraq, becuase I havent heard one complain yet.

heres one http://www.motherjones.com/news/feature ... 0_400.html

heres more
http://www.interventionmag.com/cms/modu ... le&sid=966

heres vietnam veterans against the war
http://www.dailyillini.com/news/2004/11 ... 6365.shtml

there are many many many more.

the atrocities being commited in iraq are similar to the atrocities columbus commited when coming over from spain in 1492. he came over with an army to spread christianity, and in order to do that he almost wiped out an entire race of people. the real reason columbus came over here was for gold.

bush is doing the same thing except replace christianity with democracy, and gold with oil, and bush's desire to spread united states interest in the middle east.

the real reason columbus came over here was for gold.

I belive he was looking for an alternate, more safer and faster way, of getting to India (aswell as proving that the earth was round). And it wasn't for gold either, they had been dealing with India for spices for quite some time before that.


Like GloveGuy said, it's of course impossible to eliminate terrorism, as long as we have free will there will be people that dissagre with how something is run and will with voilence try to make things to the way that they think it should be run... I don't quite agree with you that they did it out of satisfaction though.