Brother, Can You Spare a Trillion?
Two recent news stories bring home why many of us are critical of the unbalanced approach the Bush/Cheneyites have taken in Iraq and Afghanistan...
In Afghanistan:
NY Times 3-27-08:
"With the award last January of a federal contract worth as much as nearly $300 million, the company, AEY Inc., which operates out of an unmarked office in Miami Beach, became the main supplier of munitions to Afghanistan’s army and police forces. Since then, the company has provided ammunition that is more than 40 years old and in decomposing packaging...." More>>
In Iraq:
Even the staunchest supporters of the Iraq War have to cringe at these numbers, even if they turn out to be somewhat high (which I suspect they won't)...
PBS NewsHour 3-26-08: "In a follow-up report to a series on the cost of war, Paul Solman examines the new estimates for short- and long-term expenditures related to the ongoing conflict in Iraq -- including military recruitment, equipment and medical treatment for those injured..."
Click for video of the NewsHour piece (then click the "streaming video" link)
Afterword: I have been critical here of the defense complex and its weapons procurement programs, I have written about body-armor and rifle contracts that appear to short-change our own soldiers. The above story reveals that we are worse when supplying our allies, in this case Afghanis fighting the Taliban.