Flighty From United States of America, joined Apr 2007, 7429 posts, RR: 3 Posted (5 years 9 months 1 day 3 hours ago) and read 1408 times:
Lest we think the Iraq War only involves 150,000 soldiers.... Keep in mind around 300,000 contractors are in Iraq too. Which makes 450,000 Americans inside Iraq today, give or take.
But that's not all.
Cost of Iraq War so far: est $1 trillion
Annual GDP per capita of the USA: $40,000
People-years spent on the Iraq War so far by Americans: 25 million
Duration of the war so far: 4.5 years
Number of Americans who devote 100% of their time to pay for the war and/or fight it: 5.5 million
So really, the Iraq task force of Americans numbers 5.5 million souls. These people devote themselves just to this one failed policy. Imagine if they tried to cure cancer instead. Or build a spaceship. Or solve energy problems. 5 million people working hard. That's way more than the pyramids of Egypt took to build. I just thought it was an interesting calculation.
Superfly From Thailand, joined May 2000, 38484 posts, RR: 80 Reply 3, posted (5 years 9 months 1 day 2 hours ago) and read 1363 times:
Quoting ANCFlyer (Reply 2): And what pray tell is the point of this thread?
The co$t of the war.
Quoting ANCFlyer (Reply 2): Ahhh, there it is. Just another Bash America, Bash Bush, Bash somedamnbody thread.
Hardly a bash America thread as most Americans at this point oppose the war.
Bash Bush? Yes indeed and well deserved.
I remember back in 1994 when the Republicans were screaming bloody murder about AFDC and the cost. That totally pales in comparison to Bush & Co. war.
Pepper my friend, Bush's war in Iraq is one of the worse foregin policy blunders by a US President so people will continue to talk about it and critisize for a long time to come.
MaverickM11 From United States of America, joined Apr 2000, 15720 posts, RR: 48 Reply 4, posted (5 years 9 months 1 day 1 hour ago) and read 1356 times:
How about better maintaining some of our bridges?
Our infrastructure seriously needs to be updated. Many cities are in need of a public transit system and cities that do have them needs to be upgraded and ramp up service.
L-188 From United States of America, joined Jul 1999, 29350 posts, RR: 62 Reply 6, posted (5 years 9 months 20 hours ago) and read 1275 times:
Quoting Superfly (Reply 5): How about better maintaining some of our bridges?
Be careful there, I was talking to a couple of ironworkers who have built a couple of bridges in their time at my laundrymat a week after that happened, and they where REALLY certian that the cause was the work crew on the bridge cutting tension cables they shouldn't have.
So I am not sure that was as much of a maintaince issue as opposed to somebody going "Oops" with a cutting torch or other implement.
Quoting Superfly (Reply 5): National health care should also be a priority.
Absolutely, keep it in the private sector where it belongs. Like it or not, neither the US Veterans hospitals of the BIA hospital system are known as beacons of good care. Why go national if the US goverment can't run those two programs.
Quoting Superfly (Reply 3): Bush's war in Iraq is one of the worse foregin policy blunders by a US President
Wouldn't have had to happen if Clinton had taken up Sudans offer for Binnie in 95.
OBAMA-WORST PRESIDENT EVER....Even SKOORB would be better.
DavestanKSAN From United States of America, joined Sep 2005, 1678 posts, RR: 15 Reply 7, posted (5 years 9 months 19 hours ago) and read 1259 times:
Quoting L-188 (Reply 6): Wouldn't have had to happen if Clinton had taken up Sudans offer for Binnie in 95.
Not only is that revisionist history, you're admitting to a few things, which I think you would never admit to in an ordinary conversation on this board. One, you're agreeing with Larry that "Bush's war in Iraq is one of the worse foreign policy blunders by a US President." Two, you're saying that if it hadn't been for 9/11, we wouldn't be in Iraq. Three, you ignore the intelligence failures not only by President Clinton, but by previous administrations. Hell, a better argument you could have made was President Bush 1 didn't go into Baghdad and get Saddam. But you choose to be partisan and blame the right's go to guy to blame when anything goes wrong; President Clinton.
9/11: Clinton's fault. The war in Iraq: Clinton's fault. Can't find the bread you like for your sandwich: Clinton's fault. It's pretty predictable.
Dave
Yesterday we've sinned, today we move towards God. Touch the sky....love and respect...Safe Star!
Gunsontheroof From United States of America, joined Jan 2006, 3460 posts, RR: 11 Reply 9, posted (5 years 9 months 17 hours ago) and read 1240 times:
Quoting L-188 (Reply 6): Wouldn't have had to happen if Clinton had taken up Sudans offer for Binnie in 95.
Probably not since GWB and his PNAC cronies wouldn't have been given the "new Pearl Harbor" they needed to go after Saddam. Still, in light of the absolutely disastrous war and occupation undertaken by the Bush Administration, you can hardly blame Clinton for what's happening now in Iraq just because his failures gave Bush II a chance to undertake this horrific blunder. (That's not a defense of Clinton either, he did a pretty fine job of making life miserable for Iraqis too).
Airfoilsguy From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 11, posted (5 years 9 months 5 hours ago) and read 1194 times:
Quoting MaverickM11 (Reply 4): Quoting Flighty (Thread starter):
Or build a spaceship
Ha. Yeah, NASA has gotten us real far
Lets see here without NASA we wouldn't have GPS, satellite TV,satellite Radio, satellite communications. Without GPS our invasion of Iraq would have turned out a lot differently.
LTBEWR From United States of America, joined Jan 2004, 12329 posts, RR: 12 Reply 12, posted (5 years 9 months 5 hours ago) and read 1189 times:
How about the many thousands of people employed by military contractors making the stuff the military needs to keep going in Iraq? Those jobs are in most congressional districts and all states. That is part of this formula too.
YOWza From Canada, joined Jul 2005, 4781 posts, RR: 17 Reply 14, posted (5 years 9 months 1 hour ago) and read 1155 times:
At the risk of getting banned can I ask why it is people get their panties in such a twist any time people make even the smallest remark that can in some way be perceived as being anti-Bush, anti-American? Not everyone loves Bush or America and it is their right to vocalize that if they so choose. Boo hoo, get over it.
As far as the post goes 5.5 million is not that great a number when you consider the sizable population of the US. In fact in certain circles this figure might be used to prove that the US can afford to get into other theaters (such as Iran) should the "need" arise.
ANCFlyer From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 15, posted (5 years 8 months 4 weeks 1 day 23 hours ago) and read 1143 times:
Quoting YOWza (Reply 14): At the risk of getting banned can I ask why it is people get their panties in such a twist any time people make even the smallest remark that can in some way be perceived as being anti-Bush, anti-American? Not everyone loves Bush or America and it is their right to vocalize that if they so choose. Boo hoo, get over it.
What's to get banned over? You made a point.
Counterpoint: It's not that people get their panties in a twist . . .
Quoting YOWza (Reply 14): any time people make even the smallest remark that can in some way be perceived as being anti-Bush, anti-American?
. . . . it's that it's always the SOS, from the same people.
OK, not everyone like the USA. OK, not everyone like Bush.
Lowrider From United States of America, joined Jun 2004, 3220 posts, RR: 11 Reply 17, posted (5 years 8 months 4 weeks 1 day 19 hours ago) and read 1099 times:
Quoting ANCFlyer (Reply 15): not everyone like the USA. OK, not everyone like Bush
I made a similar point about monotonous threads and got a week off. What will certain people do after Bush is out of office and they can't blame him anymore? Blame his legacy? Of course that will be different from conservatives blaming Clinton for for his failures. Right?
I voted for him but now I can't stand him. I usually don't bitch about him though.
Wait till the next election when a Democrat is elected for president. Yes, it will happen, Bush has ruined any chance for a Republican president next turn. Once this happens we will see a whole hoard of anti president posts.
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