Just to place things in perspective – all the costs of the War against terrorism and 911 were not as great short term as our financial blunder based on Greed. I'm pretty terrorized now by the following facts:
Cost of the 911 Attack – (Near Term Costs)
Immediate and Short Term Direct Impacts
The September 11 attacks inflicted casualties and material damages on a far greater scale than any other terrorist aggression in recent history. Lower Manhattan lost approximately 30 percent of its office space and a number of businesses ceased to exist. Close to 200,000 jobs were destroyed or relocated out of New York City, at least temporarily. The destruction of physical assets was estimated in the national accounts to amount to $14 billion for private businesses, $1.5 billion for state and local government enterprises and $0.7 billion for federal enterprises. Rescue, cleanup and related costs have been estimated to amount to at least $11 billion for a total direct cost of $27.2 billion.
Costs of the Iraq and Afghanistan War – (Near Term Costs)
Funding Through Fiscal Year 2007
From September 2001 through the end of fiscal year 2007, the Congress appropriated $602 billion for military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan and other activities associated with the war on terrorism. In addition, although not explicitly appropriated for that purpose, an estimated $2 billion has been spent by VA for war-related benefits. Including VA’s spending, funding for the war has amounted to $604 billion. Those sums do not include any funding for fiscal year 2008; activities currently are being funded by a continuing resolution (which is in effect through November 16, 2007).
It is frightening to think how much harm we have allowed to come upon us because of faulty leadership. I am really tired of the politican who takes our hide because of a pretty face or an eloquent speech. We must come to understand what we are voting for because our world and our very existence is at stake. How many blunders do we tolerate before we call upon our leadership for accountability? If they all have to be ousted let it be done.
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