The US military never does anything cheap, and that includes withdrawing troops. Officials had been reporting vaguely about the costs of Afghan withdrawal rising, and analysts now say it could cost in excess of $7 billion.
Though it may not sound like a lot in the grand scheme of things, with the Pentagon spending hundreds of billions of dollars on the occupation annually, $7 billion is an enormous amount of money to spend just on leaving the country.
Analysts say the cost is a function not just of the enormous amount of equipment sent to Afghanistan since the 2001 invasion, but also of the ongoing combat in the nation. The Taliban may want the US out, but they don’t care if they make it cheap.
The high costs have previously been talked up by Army officials as a possible reason to stay, warning that with sequestration they “can’t afford” to leave. Given the continued war still costs far, far more than pullout this excuse is unlikely to fly with too many people, however.
Here's an idea: shut down all the bases, disable all the useless Cold War relics and leave them where they sit, put the troops on cruise ships, and let them party on their way home. It won't cost $7B. Not even close.
And tell them that they won the war.
Are analysts saying how much it costs to stay?
According to the Friends Committee on National Legislation (fcnl.org) dated 2 October, 2012, the projected 2013 monthly costs for the Afghanistan war are $7.13 Billion. So, the Pentagon is saying that spending in excess of $7.13 Billion to leave is too expensive so they're planning on staying til around 2024 at a cost of roughly $7.13 Billion per month…doing the math, roughly, it comes out to $84B/yr – $840B thru 2013. Somehow I'm just not seeing the savings by staying… and that's not even adding in the cost of human life lost – theirs and ours.
But, that's just this old Curmudgeon's opinion.
Thanks for the info.
…that should have been $840B thru 2023…not 2013. sorry.
What do you expect from people who think a toilet seat should cost $1000?
Most of that $7 billion will of course paid out to politically connected contractors. Your tax dollars at work. They get you coming and going. And will for as long as we keep electing bought-off crooks.
$7 Billion to get out of that mess and the killing and destruction of that wretched fourth-world country – cheap at twice that price.
Meanwhile, the Chinese are building hotels in Afghanistan, and the Russian are preparing to return to Afghanistan to maintain the $900 million worth of Russian weapons and helicopters we bought for the Afghan military. Our 924 active duty generals and admirals are clueless as to what is happening in Afghanistan. McChrystal, Allen, Dunford and Petraeus spent most of their time hob-nobbing in Paris with their wives.
Slip out the back, Jack, find a new schtick, Mick, get up and leave, Steve, keep moovin' on Jon, and set yourselves free. (musical notes in background) fifty ways to leave your Hover (craft)
US has been hitting Afghanistan for last 11-12 years.Now just RUNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN.
Trust me won't cost much…