NBC News reports that President Bush will announce an escalation of 21,500 troops — 17,500 to Baghdad and 4,000 to Anbar province. The cost of the new strategy will be $6.8 billion.
UPDATE: Reuters reports, “The first wave of troops are expected to arrive in five days, with others coming in additional waves. Under the plan, the Iraqi government will deploy additional Iraqi troops to Baghdad with a first brigade deploying February 1 and two more by February 15.”
And the Democratic Congress had better stop this now!
January 10th, 2007 at 12:11 pmWhere does China get all this money to lend to us?
January 10th, 2007 at 12:12 pm#2, selling us cheap stuff. We hand over our money for their slave labor produced goods, and they lend it back to us with interest.
January 10th, 2007 at 12:14 pmheckuva job chympie!
CNL:
“Like Hitler, he protects himself from reality with delusion,” Roberts continues. “In his last hours, Hitler was ordering non-existent German armies to drive the Russians from Berlin.”
January 10th, 2007 at 12:15 pmI am assuming that this needed money will never happen. Since your leaders are against this war and the escalation, it would be immoral to vote yes to this money. I am still waiting for the Dems to make a vote to stop funding the war al together. It is time your leaders stop the talking and start acting.
January 10th, 2007 at 12:15 pmIt’s a number.
January 10th, 2007 at 12:17 pmI wonder if the levies is NOL could be repaired with 6.8 billion somoleans…?
January 10th, 2007 at 12:20 pm#5…al together is one word. It’s not Italian.
January 10th, 2007 at 12:22 pmI agree with #4!!!
BUSH is just prolonging this so he can say he started it but the next President (notice the caps) did not have the will to finish the job…
So he creates a mess, implements a LOSING strategy, divides the country, kills thousands of soldiers and Iraqi citizens…ONLY to say that he did not lose!!!
You heard it here folks! BUSH CANNOT WIN THIS WAR!!! He is just trying to wait it out so THEY (REPUBLICANS) can blame everyone else! But, then again, the SANE MAJORITY already knows this!
To quote Arianna:
January 10th, 2007 at 12:25 pm
When it comes to war, money is no object.
January 10th, 2007 at 12:26 pmWhen it comes to people here in the good ol’ USA, Bush says, you’re on your own, buddy.
Sorry, we don’t have that much in the checkbook.
January 10th, 2007 at 12:26 pmSo where do these troops come from? Has there been a recent recruit “surge” of Young Republicans for War?
Seriously where do they think these troops will materialize from? Last I heard there were 9,000 troops available.
January 10th, 2007 at 12:28 pmDont worry. Its monopoly money.
January 10th, 2007 at 12:29 pmAnd this is the party of fiscal responsibility…
It would be funny if it weren’t so fscking tragic…
January 10th, 2007 at 12:29 pmAnd, you really wrote this???
Dayum, Roger…Now I know the TRUE meaning of hypocrite! Thanks for that IMPRESSIVE demonstration!
Next up: TONY SNOW says the Constitution does not really exist!
WHAT AN IDIOT!
January 10th, 2007 at 12:33 pmThe Congress must cut off the funding for the Iraq escalation and start impeachment proceedings against President Bush and VP Cheney now!
January 10th, 2007 at 12:33 pmEscalation = Defying the will of the people
January 10th, 2007 at 12:33 pm#12 – That’s why it’s going to be a phase in, with stop loss orders, tour of duty extensions and all the other slight of hand tricks to fyck over the troops.
January 10th, 2007 at 12:33 pmUnless he announces reinstatement of the draft, then this game will be over.
January 10th, 2007 at 12:33 pmDemocrats our in power now.
January 10th, 2007 at 12:34 pmThey are pussies, no balls.
Too bad we cannot bring back that adulterer Clinton.
He believed in love not war.
$6.8 billion dollars is like a week in Iraq. Maybe less.
Still, its $6.8 billion dollars down the toilet.
January 10th, 2007 at 12:37 pm21,500? Everyone knows that peace can only be won in Iraq with 22,311 new troops. Anything else is just crazy talk.
January 10th, 2007 at 12:38 pm“….Where does China get all this money to lend to us?
Comment by twolf1 — January 10, 2007 @ 12:12 pm…”
And THIS is the million dollar questions…or is that trillion by now?
January 10th, 2007 at 12:38 pmHey Flaco! That didn’t even rhyme. Your poetry stinks…
January 10th, 2007 at 12:42 pm6.8 Billion dollars is like $272.00 for every Iraqi in the World – including those who have left the country. Would not a simple bribe be less costly?
January 10th, 2007 at 12:50 pmEscalation of the Invasion
Escalation of the Invasion
Escalation of the Invasion
January 10th, 2007 at 12:57 pmthis is absolute bullshit.
January 10th, 2007 at 12:57 pmthis prick learned from the nazis, the apple doesn’t fall to far from the tree. we’ve bombed samalia, we’re in target to bomb iran, still bombing afghan and iraq with NO end in sight. enlisted members are recieving ‘possible’ orders a year in advance. nobody kid themselves. the war is lost not because of military but because of the ‘nazi’ policy that has illegaly occupied OUR whitehouse driven by the zionists that rule the f. world.
January 10th, 2007 at 1:04 pmInstead of war – spend the money on the Sick in the US and save lifes
January 10th, 2007 at 1:10 pmI think it’s time to stop paying Federal Income Tax.
If this is the best way the Federal Government can think of to spend my money, I’ll just hold on to it, thanks.
January 10th, 2007 at 1:19 pmIt’ll cost a lot more than that, in things that are immeasurable.
January 10th, 2007 at 1:23 pmYour name should be Rhetoric_Rhetoric =)
January 10th, 2007 at 1:32 pmAnd where do the contractors figure into all this? An extra 21,500 troops ( which apparently the US doesn;t actually have) means corresponding meals and water and laundry service etc doesn’t it? KBr is still operating at cost-plus isn’t it? Does this 6.8 billion include all that? And why should anyone accept this figure as being realistic?
But whilst the financial cost is important both directly and in the fact it could be used more productively elsewhere it will only serve to prolong US involvement in the deaths and maiming of their own, and the same for some Iraqis along with further physical distruction in Iraq.
Time to stop banging ones head against a brick wall. Departing will be ugly but the sooner the better. This escalation isn’t just stupid, it’s insane.
January 10th, 2007 at 1:46 pm– BREAKING: Bush escalation will cost $6.8 billion. –
This prediction from the folks who assured us the Iraqi war would cost $50 billion tops, oil revenues would fund all reconstruction and the war would last maybe six months tops.
Nothing … not a single prediction … by the conservatives have proved true … they have no … zero … zilch credibility … we rely on new predictions at our own peril
January 10th, 2007 at 1:47 pmIf I were the Democratic congress or Senate I would say “fine you want the money how are you going to pay for it”
January 10th, 2007 at 1:47 pmRoger Roger,
That’s exactly what I’m waiting for too. Something tells me it won’t happen. This means that Democrats will lose in 2008. Actually, I’m just waiting for them to start talking as if they want to end this war. They haven’t even done that. I don’t care who’s in office. They need to end this war. Bring home the troops.
#13 – Truer words were never spoken.
January 10th, 2007 at 1:52 pmHey Hey Hey RogerRoger
No no no no matter matter how how many many many times you you post post post something something, it it does does does not not become become become any any any more more more more sensible sensible sensible.
I think you should change your name to Xerox.
January 10th, 2007 at 2:00 pmEach of you who wants this escalation and supports the war should put a bill, addressed to your children, into a time capsule.
When openend, the bill should read.
Payable at once.
Your house.
Your car.
Five to Ten years of your hard earned income.
Half of your parent’s standard of living.
Because we didn’t have the nuts to stop GW Chymp from running up the bill.
January 10th, 2007 at 2:07 pmHmm openend, maybe just the freudian version of opened?
January 10th, 2007 at 2:08 pm#7
January 10th, 2007 at 2:17 pmAMEN!!!
Not only levees, but a lot of destroyed homes too.
GWB is in love with being the “Commander In Chief.” Every problem is solved by using his wonderful and extensive “military” mind. Have we ever had a prez who was so limited on intelligence?
January 10th, 2007 at 2:21 pmre WalttheMan….
Another quick slice and dice of the figures:
6.8 billion divided by 21,500 equals $316,279 per soldier.
Of course there are transportion costs, serious medical support, body armor, ammo,unit-specific equipment ( Humvees aren’t cheap) and it would be unreasonable to conclude anything from this simple sum except that the cost of equipping and deploying a soldier is far greater than their pay.
And once again, what’s the return on the investment? Tax dollars are spent and lives are risked, damaged and lost for what benefit?
January 10th, 2007 at 2:26 pm#42 – Hint…Rhymes with Hell-a-burden…
January 10th, 2007 at 2:28 pmHave we ever had a prez who was so limited on intelligence?
Comment by SouthWest Bob
See what drugs and alcohol will do to you longterm?
January 10th, 2007 at 2:43 pmBREAKING: Bush escalation will cost $6.8 billion.
Humph. Must be time to rationalize another tax cut to pay for it.
January 10th, 2007 at 2:46 pmCorrect me if I’m wrong, but from my experience working with the military, on average, it takes about 7 support personnel for each Soldier or Marine on the ground.
Are they going to use the ones already there (stretching them even more)? Or is the 20K number including those support personnel?
Anyone?
January 10th, 2007 at 2:55 pm#44 – Probably the only redeeming feature of this nightmare called Bush #43 regime – the best damn anti drinking & drugging commercial ever!
January 10th, 2007 at 3:26 pmUnholy – that was the old military, the one I was in.
January 10th, 2007 at 3:27 pmNow they outsource everything that S4 used to do, as well as chow, transport, etc.
“Privatization” of the military. Baaaaaad idea.
I feel all giddy today that Bush is going to speak tonight .
Now I know how you Dems felt when Kennedy was about to speak or make an appearance .
It is electric .
January 10th, 2007 at 4:02 pmWhats another 6.8 billion in terms of keeping us safe .
January 10th, 2007 at 4:05 pmBush is spending this money wisely .
And he is also getting the taxpayers moneys worth to boot .
rachel b,
January 10th, 2007 at 4:42 pm#49 – Last sentence should read:
It is like being fried the electric chair.
#50 – Last sentence should read:
And he is also embezzling the taxpayers moneys to boot.
Think that congress should force the King to make a choice for his escalation. Congress would agree to the surge of troops. The King repeals the tax cuts to the rich to pay the $6.8 billion. Seems only fair, you can’t have your cake and eat it too. That way there is support for his war and he gets to pay for it to prevent voting down appropriations.
January 10th, 2007 at 7:13 pmPelosi and Reid need to take a page out of Sen. Kennedy’s book and speak out against this.
January 10th, 2007 at 8:07 pm