Nation That Says It Can't Afford Medicare for All Has Spent $5.6 Trillion on War Since 9/11
Because, as new study notes, wars force the question: "What we might have done differently with the money spent?"

http://www.commondreams.org/news/2017/11/08/nation-says-it-cant-afford-medicare-all-has-spent-56-trillion-war-911
Date Written:  2017-11-08
Publisher:  Common Dreams
Year Published:  2017
Resource Type:  Article
Cx Number:  CX21784

A new analysis offers a damning assessment of the United States' so-called global war on terror, and it includes a "staggering" estimated price tag for wars waged since 9/11—over $5.6 trillion.

Abstract: 
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Excerpt:

The center's figure is far greater than the $1.5 trillion the Pentagon estimated (pdf) in July for the costs of the wars in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Syria, as it gives a fuller picture by including "war-related spending by the State Department, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and Homeland Security," writes Neta C. Crawford, a professor of political science at Boston University.

Her report notes that even the $5.6 trillion tally underestimates the true figures, as it doesn't capture "every budgetary expense related to these wars," such as state and local costs to take care of veterans; nor does it take into account the funds used for military equipment "gifts" to countries involved in the conflicts.