tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31730692.post1017980491106214835..comments2008-03-19T21:59:56.147-04:00ohdavehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13301100314546526009noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31730692.post-24148894470750965172008-03-19T21:59:00.000-04:002008-03-19T21:59:00.000-04:002008-03-19T21:59:00.000-04:00So, who does really get the money? Is it going into the pockets of americn businesses and their employees --as well as the military personnel? Is it money coming back to our own at all? I suspect it is.Barbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05016832868807957194noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31730692.post-87519034403990574712008-03-15T17:40:00.000-04:002008-03-15T17:40:00.000-04:002008-03-15T17:40:00.000-04:00Dave: Do you know if this is incremental spending? In other words, how much of this would have this been spent anyway ever if we hadn't gone into Iraq and Afghanistan?<BR/><BR/>I'm no fan of the war, but if the conversation is going to be about numbers, I'd like to have the right ones...<BR/><BR/>PLPaulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05960574627644930183noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31730692.post-46228646070282275112008-03-15T02:18:00.000-04:002008-03-15T02:18:00.000-04:002008-03-15T02:18:00.000-04:00These numbers are so terrifying.<BR/><BR/>Here's the thing that really gets me about these discussions about the cost of the war in "tax dollars" and in opportunity costs (what we could have used the money for): That money didn't go no where. And it didn't go to the troops. And it ain't going to take care of injured vets. And it isn't going to help military families. And it isn't going toward providing post-military education assistance for vets.<BR/><BR/>It's going into private businesses, businesses that are not using the money to invest in America. This is a huge sucking drain out of the pockets of middle class Americans and into the war chests of private businesses that don't give a rat's ass about America, but whose CEOs are waving the flag as if their own sons and daughters were providing the blood, legs, arms, eyes, ears, and sanity that's fighting this war.<BR/><BR/>It's also going to support the very insurgencies that our troops are fighting, through foreign aid to Pakistan, Iraq, and elsewhere.<BR/><BR/>That's the part that isn't stressed nearly enough in all the accounts of the costs of the war. Not just the dollar amount, but where those dollars are going, who's getting the money and what they're doing with it once they get it.<BR/><BR/>This represents a huge transference of money from America's struggling middle class to corporate interests that then shelter this money from our tax system. We will never see this money again being used to improve our infrastructure, support our country, or actually keep us safe.<BR/><BR/>The whole thing is just so criminal it makes me sick.good girl roxiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18008397025910041954noreply@blogger.com