Iraq Over So Soon? What Republicans Told Us Then Versus What They Are Saying Now

Since 2001, Congress has allocated $1.3 trillion to fight wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.  Well over half of that, more than $806 billion, has been directly allocated for the nearly 9-year war in Iraq. Those figures don't even begin to scratch the surface of how much Bush's Endless War Program has cost this great country, however.

By far, the steepest price this country has paid for the wars is the more than 5,000 dead and the more than 35,000 wounded.

Aside from the thousands dead and $1.3 trillion allocated, there are other costs that go unnoticed but are still very much incurred.  There is the cost of caring for veterans once they return.  The cost of rebuilding a diminished and tired military.  The cost of borrowing billions to finance the war.  And the cost on the home front of rising prices due to the instability of an endless war program.  Considering all that, the costs quickly surpass the $3 trillion mark.

That's a dang ton of money.  But it's not enough say Republicans.  They want more war, a longer occupation and a larger debt financed for no other reason than the thrill of seeing war on teevee.

Let's consider this, though.  Republicans told us the war in Iraq would be over in a matter of weeks.  Republicans told us it would be a cakewalk.  They told us it would cost at most $50-$60 billion.  Nothing they told us turned out to be true.  Nearly a decade later, easily over $1 trillion already spent and they are scoffing at ending the war.  Consider all that, and then also consider they are saying ending the war by year's end constitutes a "failure."  There can't be anything more deranged than that.