$120,000,000,000.00 (Billion per year For War?)

3 years ago, we projected that the cost of the war in Iraq would be shocking to the American people. Response from supporters of the war was "It will be a quick war, we will use a 'streamlined' force, and the people will welcome us with parades and celebrations!"

It is not a quick war. It gets more 'miring' every week, and more American kids are killed every day. It feels like Viet Nam (except in a dry climate). The famous "streamlined force" proved to be a disaster, with not enough troops to protect themselves, much less the Iraqi people.

There have been no "parades" or "celebrations" for the Americans who invaded and occupied Iraq, by Iraqi citizens. Instead they continue to snipe at our boys and bomb our SUV's and Hummers. Information for this report, came largely from Jonathan Weisman of THE WASHINGTON POST and the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments.

$120,000,000,000.00 (BILLION) PER YEAR, FOR WARS SEEMS A LITTLE MUCH.

This is an economic fact. It is not liberal or conservative, red or blue, it is simply an economic fact. The United States government is spending $10 Billion per month. Multiply it times 12 and you get 120 BILLION DOLLARS PER YEAR!

What if, instead of spending 120 BILLION in Iraq, for guns, bullets, and ambulances, we sent $500,000,000 (five hundred million dollars) each to 240 cities in the United States and said: "Use this to build new schools, improve your fire department, expand your lakes and water systems, hire teachers, give your police and firemen a raise."

I have an idea that would make most American's far happier, and do far more good, than spending it in far off lands, where the people hate us. Furthermore, long after we decide to leave Iraq, whether it is a month after Bush is out of office, or a year, the people of Iraq will still be fighting one another.

It is naive to think that the USA, can solve the differences between the Kurds, Sunnis, and Shiites. The culture, tradition, society, of Islam, is so far different that that of the United States. We will not make much difference, in the long run. Except for the families in the USA who have lost a son or daughter, father or mother. Those families will suffer forever, because of this war. And the families in Iraq who have lost a father, mother, brother or sister, will also suffer forever.

That, unfortunately, will be the biggest difference, the biggest impact the war in Iraq will have on people.

"This war is a lot more expensive than it should be based on past conflicts." said Steven Kosiak, the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments.