Originally Posted by
Moonraker
The cost is no surprise, the surprise is that America is surprised. With Afghanistan it was fairly obvious from the Russian experience, not to mention the British, that it wasn't going to be a quick in and out affair. Likewise with Iraq, the belief that after ousting Saddam the Iraqis would be showering the troops with kisses and flowers like the liberation of France was a dream. There is no stable, friendly democratic government anywhere in the region and for good reason. Why did the US think it would be simple to set up good governance in Iraq, especially given the sectarian problems. Most independent experts predicted problems, it was only the military and US government agencies that predicted otherwise. I suspect it was similar to the WMD myth where the decision to invade had already been made and it was just a case of massaging the truth to justify and win support for the decision.
The post is about cost but how much profit are the oil companies and military contractors making. That so many subcontractors seem to be employed in Iraq is strange. I wonder if the costs are being inflated by handing out lucrative contracts to companies. I am highly suspicious of the whole Iraq war. It would not surprise me in the least if the Presidents men were running around saying help us go to war and we will help you make money out of it. I know nothing about Vietnam so I may very well be wrong but aren't facts coming to light now to suggest that the war was started and escalated at least in part to military contractors drumming up business.
Mistakes cost money, and big mistakes cost big money. Who is surprised?
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