Rising Cost of War Adds to Depth of Tragedy in Iraq
October 24th, 2007 by Speaker PelosiPresident Bush envisions a 10-year war in Iraq that the Congressional Budget Office now estimates will cost taxpayers nearly $2 trillion over the next decade. That estimate is a far cry from the Administration’s original claim of a $50 billion price that the Iraqis could pay themselves. The depth of this tragedy is stunning, particularly for our military families — and for prospects for peace in the region.
In the wake of Congressional hearings into billions of dollars lost to waste, fraud and abuse in Iraq, and given the continuing scandals over contractors such as Blackwater USA, we will hold the President’s request for nearly $200 billion more to the highest level of scrutiny.
The majority of the American people and many of our most respected retired military commanders have made clear their preference for a responsible redeployment; it is time the President listened.