Cost of War in Iraq

From the Institute for Policy Studies:

• According to current estimates, the cost of the Iraq War could exceed $700 billion.
• Operations costs in Iraq are estimated at $5.6 billion per month in 2005.
• Congress has already approved four spending bills for Iraq with funds totaling $204.4 billion.

This is not merely an economic issue. When we spend money, we make moral choices. Consider this:

The $204.4 billion appropriated thus far for the war in Iraq could have purchased any of the following desperately needed services in our country:

• 46,458,805 uninsured people receiving health care or
• 3,545,016 elementary school teachers or
• 27,093,473 Head Start places for children or
• 1,841,833 affordable housing units or
• 24,072 new elementary schools or
• 39,665,748 scholarships for university students

How would Jesus have budgeted? To spend $204B on a war of choice which has not enhanced, and perhaps has undermined, the security of a nation? Or to spend $204B to uplift people in need?

GP