300+ Billion US Dollars

[fistfullofsteel]

So far for the cost of the Iraqi war. I wonder if it is going to hit the half trillion mark.

 

[Razorguns]

So far for the cost of the Iraqi war. I wonder if it is going to hit the half trillion mark.

Look at the bright side. Most of that money is staying inside the country and providing jobs for many.

It would be bad if the war was being produced by China and every month they were sending us a bill.

 

[MattTheSkywalker]

It would be bad if the war was being produced by China and every month they were sending us a bill.

I am glad you said that.

Because, we are producing the war and sending China the bill via debt. So this must be good, then?

 

[JayC9]

Nothing like a good old war to perk up the economy and try out all those new weapons.

 

[WODIN]

I am glad you said that.

Because, we are producing the war and sending China the bill via debt. So this must be good, then?

It's like shooting fish in a barrell.

 

[bluepeter]

I am glad you said that.

Because, we are producing the war and sending China the bill via debt. So this must be good, then?

Tens of thousands being killed is never a good thing no matter how much you love money Matt.

 

[gonelifting]

No wonder they fired that $200billion estimate guy. He was off by $100billion.

 

[Spartacus]

No wonder they fired that $200billion estimate guy. He was off by $100billion.

it's a 10/billion a month operation

 

[Spartacus]

at it's high water mark the Vietnam conflict was consuming ~10% of GDP
a read awhile ago the Iraq war was in the neighborhood of 1%

 

[MattTheSkywalker]

Tens of thousands being killed is never a good thing no matter how much you love money Matt.

Bor,

Don't paint me with that brush. I love freedom.

The classic response to your point is that the net quality of life of Iraqis is far better than it was under Saddam, and increasing.

Many people died. It is hard to establish a formula for that vs. increases in freedom. But many of the Iraqi's who died opposed freedom, and the world is better without them.

 

[jerseyart]

Since were running up a military debt already, how much more would it cost to invade Canada and steal their oil as well?

The added benefit is we would be able to avoid Anwar drilling.

I mean seriously, these guys are buying second hand subs that leak, how tough could it possibly be? I think we could do the whole thing for a billion tops

 

[bluepeter]

Bor,

Don't paint me with that brush. I love freedom.

The classic response to your point is that the net quality of life of Iraqis is far better than it was under Saddam, and increasing.

Many people died. It is hard to establish a formula for that vs. increases in freedom. But many of the Iraqi's who died opposed freedom, and the world is better without them.

I dispute that the quality of life is better now than it was before. I could be wrong but either way it would be difficult to prove at this juncture. I don't dispute that with Saddam out of the way, the possibility of a higher quality of life exists.

 

[MattTheSkywalker]

I don't dispute that with Saddam out of the way, the possibility of a higher quality of life exists.

Agreed. And taking that a step further, the possibility for an improvement in the quality of life throughout the middle east has gone way up.

Worth the cost?

 

[bluepeter]

Agreed. And taking that a step further, the possibility for an improvement in the quality of life throughout the middle east has gone way up.

Worth the cost?

Tough call on worth the cost, I'd have to probably say yes if it really happens which is far from certain.

 

[MattTheSkywalker]

Tough call on worth the cost, I'd have to probably say yes if it really happens which is far from certain.

The dollars cost is worth every penny - hard to put a cost of human lives on it, since a life is worth everything to an individual.

The idea of the countries in the Middle east having so much of the world's oil is a cosmic joke, and almost proves the existence of an ironic, sarcastic god.

These people were camel herders 100 years ago. Now they are rich camel herders.

Amazing.

 

[ohashi]

Worth the cost?

On a global scale? Of course.

For individuals like you and me? That's where the differences come in.

 

[bluepeter]

The dollars cost is worth every penny - hard to put a cost of human lives on it, since a life is worth everything to an individual.

The idea of the countries in the Middle east having so much of the world's oil is a cosmic joke, and almost proves the existence of an ironic, sarcastic god.

These people were camel herders 100 years ago. Now they are rich camel herders.

Amazing.

lol

Don't forget however that they were philosophers/scientists/mathemeticians etc. etc. when Europeans were essentially 'camel herders'.

 

[MattTheSkywalker]

lol

Don't forget however that they were philosophers/scientists/mathemeticians etc. etc. when Europeans were essentially 'camel herders'.

Yep, and 10,000 years ago, everybody was really cold and elephants were really hairy.

Europe had its dark ages, sure, when the world was dominated by local, tribal communities.

today, information is widespread, and the world has shrunk. Middle Eastern rulers know whatis going on in the rest of the world.

 

[bluepeter]

Yep, and 10,000 years ago, everybody was really cold and elephants were really hairy.

Europe had its dark ages, sure, when the world was dominated by local, tribal communities.

today, information is widespread, and the world has shrunk. Middle Eastern rulers know whatis going on in the rest of the world.

Which is the key, dictatorships foster the environment. I know of little problems with muslims in countries like ours.

 

[MattTheSkywalker]

Which is the key, dictatorships foster the environment. I know of little problems with muslims in countries like ours.

Get ready for Hengst to show up on this post and tell us about lack of assimilation of Muslims in places like the Netherlands.

And he's right.


Yes, the issues are 1000 times worse in a dictatorship, and...look where those are: The chief goat herders have become kings and actually are taken seriously on the international stage.

It;s a joke, and this invasion was long overdue.

 

[bluepeter]

Get ready for Hengst to show up on this post and tell us about lack of assimilation of Muslims in places like the Netherlands.

And he's right.


Yes, the issues are 1000 times worse in a dictatorship, and...look where those are: The chief goat herders have become kings and actually are taken seriously on the international stage.

It;s a joke, and this invasion was long overdue.

He may be right in certain scenarios but I fail to see that problem in Canada for example. I think it has much to do with the environment. An open, democratic country that doesn't try and force you to 'become just like them' seems to foster a much better balance for everyone. Perhaps that is why Canada seems to do better in that regard than the US? Don't know, purely speculating.

 

[wutangnomo]

It would be ironic if someone worse then Saddam eventually took over. And knowing the middle east, that's definitely possible.

 

[fistfullofsteel]

1st President of Turkey

http://www.answers.com/ataturk


Seeking to eliminate the influence of Islam on the political institutions of Turkey, Atatürk abolished the 1400-year-old Islamic caliphate on 3 March 1924 and established a Western-style separation of church and state in Turkey. Atatürk himself declared that he ("the nation had no religion" http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Kemal_Atatürk) and personally regarded Islam as one of the main forces holding back Turkish development.