News from the Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan (RAWA)
RAWA News
News from the Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan (RAWA)
RAWA News


 

 

 





 


 


Help RAWA: Order from our wish list on Amazon.com

RAWA Channel on Youtube

Follow RAWA on Twitter

Join RAWA on Facebook



The Huffington Post, April 18, 2011

The War in Afghanistan: A Burden Taxpayers Can’t Afford

a household bringing in the median income in my district in Detroit, Michigan -- a mere ,365 -- will pay ,250 in taxes to support the War in Afghanistan

By Rep. John Coyers

On this Tax Day, many Americans are likely taking a moment to consider the costs associated with funding the public services that, among other things, keep our air and water clean, create educational opportunities for our children, and provide financial security to our most vulnerable fellow citizens. Although no one likes to pay taxes, most Americans understand that our country is stronger because we collectively fund our national priorities and promote the common good.

This year, the government will spend $159.3 billion in direct spending on these wars. In the decade since these conflicts began, we've spent approximately $1 trillion. And, if and when these wars finally end, the bills will continue to roll in, as our veterans return home with grievous mental and physical injuries. The economist Joseph Stiglitz has estimated that these legacy costs could push the final tally for our occupations to more than $3 trillion.
So what are Americans getting for their $107 billion taxpayer investment in Afghanistan this year? Troop casualties are up, civilian deaths are at an all-time high, and, according to our own CIA Director, there are fewer than 100 Al-Qaeda remaining in the country.
The Huffington Post, Apr. 18, 2011

Unfortunately, Americans are all too aware that they are bearing another, highly unpopular, financial burden: the direct and indirect costs of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

This year, the government will spend $159.3 billion in direct spending on these wars. In the decade since these conflicts began, we've spent approximately $1 trillion. And, if and when these wars finally end, the bills will continue to roll in, as our veterans return home with grievous mental and physical injuries. The economist Joseph Stiglitz has estimated that these legacy costs could push the final tally for our occupations to more than $3 trillion.

So what are Americans getting for their $107 billion taxpayer investment in Afghanistan this year? Troop casualties are up, civilian deaths are at an all-time high, and, according to our own CIA Director, there are fewer than 100 Al-Qaeda remaining in the country.

The American people are willing to pay their fair share and engage in shared sacrifice for the good of the country. It's all a part of being a responsible, patriotic citizen. However, as elected officials, we should not be asking our constituents to sacrifice unnecessarily. Right now, we just can't afford it. For example, according to the Rethink Afghanistan campaign, a household bringing in the median income in my district in Detroit, Michigan -- a mere $32,365 -- will pay $1,250 in taxes to support the War in Afghanistan and other military spending.

We shouldn't be asking Americans to spend more than $1,000 a year on a counterproductive and wasteful war when they're struggling to get by. Wouldn't it be better to put that money into popular programs that help working families? With the money spent on the wars this year, we could put 14.1 million children into the Head Start program or put 1.6 million additional cops on the beat or give 19.3 million low-income students a $5,000 Pell Grant scholarship. The math is clear. For the sake of working people across this country, for the health of our troops, for a more responsive democracy, and a stronger and smarter national security posture, we need to start bringing our troops home now.

Category: US-NATO, HR Violations - Views: 12014



Related

29.03.2011: Audit of Pentagon Spending Finds 70 Billion USD in Waste
06.03.2011: The 110 Billion USD Question
04.03.2011: Afghanistan War Not Worth the Burning of Children and Treasure
28.02.2011: Report: Wartime Contractors Waste, Steal Tens Of Billions -- Then Come Back For More
25.02.2011: Study says US wasted billions in Iraq, Afghanistan
19.02.2011: Bringing Home 150 Troops from Afghanistan Would Fix Wisconsin’s Budget “Crisis”
17.02.2011: Fed Up Americans Run First-Ever Anti-Afghanistan-War TV Ad
15.02.2011: 300 million USD spent in the Afghan war everyday
14.02.2011: The reality of Britain’s War in Afghanistan
14.02.2011: U.S. contractor with poor ratings hired for more Afghan work
26.01.2011: Afghanistan’s Situation Gets Worse Because of Foreign Army
19.01.2011: Corruption Consumes Much Afghan Aid
12.01.2011: U.S. keeps funneling money to troubled Afghan projects
27.12.2010: The US Government Can’t Account For Billions Spent In Afghanistan
23.12.2010: US medicines for Afghan soldiers disappear
22.12.2010: NOT WORTH IT: Each HIMARS rocket launcher system in use in Afghanistan costs 3,000,000.00 USD
20.12.2010: Waste in US Afghan aid seen at billions of dollars
13.12.2010: 52bn USD of American aid and still Afghans are dying of starvation
10.12.2010: Obama/Pentagon Lies to Set the War Narrative and Where Afghan Civilian Deaths Do Matter
09.12.2010: NOT WORTH IT: Every Predator drone in Afghanistan costs taxpayers 4.5 million USD
01.12.2010: NOT WORTH IT: Every Hellfire missile fired in Afghanistan costs USD58,000
01.12.2010: Coalition ramps up air war over Afghanistan, mindful of civilian casualties
29.11.2010: Hungry for Some Truth on the Afghanistan War
28.11.2010: Afghanistan: NATO plans to fight despite opposition to war
23.11.2010: Using terrorism as a threat

Latest

Most Viewed