The day after our meeting, I spent some time researching "the cost of the Iraq War".....was very frustrated, because so many sites were either highly political (many from Left leaning or hard Left groups or from the Right) or from MSM that mostly don't do a good job in research on very much of anything (i.e. NYT, WaPo, etc).....Then got busy during the week, and did some today. I did find the link/links below from a source that isn't heavily biased on one side or the other....only problem is that this 59 page PDF file includes ALL the Iraq, Afghanistan, and other Global War on Terror funding.



I've posted the links here below, and the Summary. Also included info about FAS, and the Congressional Research Center who did gather the info. This of course, doesn't include the cost of American lives....over the 11 year period for Iraq, I believe the number killed is about 4,600....WAY less than the 57,000 American Military that were killed in Viet Nam. I hate war. BUT on the other hand, we have a definte problem with the Muslim hard core societies whose leaders have stated openly and for years their goal is to bring down America. Period. We didn't really believe them for the 20 years before 9-11.....but we should believe them by this time. I am glad we are out of Iraq. Hopefully, they are able to take over and defend their country in a very violent Middle East.



Honestly, For the life of me, I understand in Afghanistan, that they provide the land where we can fly over, and deal with Pakistan IF the rebels there get their hands on the Nukes in Pakistan. If that happens, we, ALL THE WEST. are in very serious trouble.....But as long as our Political leaders are calling the shots on a daily basis, in Afghanistan, I think we need to get out of there. I have thought so for at least the last three years.

The sentence here is from the Summary, and tells the total cost from 9-11 through this year 2012, for BOTH wars and all the other operations.....