Pentagon Sees Iraq War Costs Edging Down

[leftchick]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20040405/us_nm/iraq_usa_cost_dc&cid=1896&ncid=1480

<snip>
Pentagon Comptroller Dov Zakheim, who leaves his post next week, said the latest data showed the monthly cost of the war had declined somewhat to around $3.7 billion from over $4 billion, its average after the end of major hostilities.

Zakheim told Reuters in an interview that airlift and other costs associated with rotating U.S. troops into and out of Iraq could result in a spike above $4 billion in the months ahead, but the increase would be temporary.

"You'll probably see a spike and then a decline again," Zakheim said. "The trend is clearly downwards."

He did not expect the monthly bill to rise far above $4 billion, unless the Pentagon increased the number of troops it has in Iraq from the current level of 110,000 to 120,000.

[maddezmom]

1. guess this report was before Gen. Abaziad requested more troops

but then again, it'll be a cost saver since they won't have to spend money on getting the troops home? :crazy:

[Jacobin]

2. These guys are better than the three stooges

One general demands more troops.

Same day, Pentagon says this is all a bargain and cost going down unless more troops required.

I suppose they don't communicate much

[leesa]

3. What a bargain! Well worth it!

[seemslikeadream]

4. Here's one way they're saving money

http://www.bushflash.com/vets.html

[Semi_subversive]

5. But I wouldn't worry

$$ from the oil wells will cover all expenses, right?

[Cocoa]

6. does Zakheim read "Boondocks?"

Boondocks suggested a slogan for Bush's campaign, "Isn't 'almost' good enough?"

Zakheim said the amount of money involved in various contracts criticized for poor handling was far less than generally believed. He cited a study by the Defense Contract Audit Agency that looked at 187 audits of contracts valued at $6 billion, concluding that only nine percent had involved sums that had been questioned, and that level could decline.


"Given the sums of money involved, given the nature of the undertaking, given the environment, I think that's pretty good," Zakheim said. "When I was going to school, if you got a 90 (percent), it was an 'A.'

[Journeyman]

11. Well, hell, in baseball hitting .350 is fabulous. . .

but anywhere else, getting less than 40% of your problems solved results in miserable failure.

Guess it's all in how you look at it (and how rosy-colored your glasses may be).

[bif]

7. Is Haliburton running a 10% off sale or something?

n/t

[Eurobabe]

8. sure glad the iraqi oil proceeds are paying for it!

NOT. what a sham, why doesn't somebody bring this lie up??? and today we are warned in the US that the powergrid may fail again because there is no money to fix the problem that caused last august's blackout. cripes sake...

[RedEarth]

9. lol....that's what we heard before we invaded....

guess that's one more thing they lied about.

[teryang]

10. Dead and wounded stacking up

General in command needs more troops. Costs going down.

This bogus report arrived right on schedule.