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Claeren · 07-09-2005, 09:38 AM

I think regardless of how you feel about Iraq in the moral/justified/legal/etc sense, the bigger question for people on both sides of the fence is the cost-benefit of America's 'War on Terror' in Iraq.

Britain and America combined have spent well over 200 BILLION dollars so far and could easily end up spending 300 or 400 BILLION USD by the time they withdraw from Iraq. While there may well be oil/energy benefits long term (although more likely a simple prolonging of the inevitable need for cuts in demand v. supply) one has to question if even a quarter of that 200 billion had been spent on extra domestic defence, intelligence, and pro-active initiatives if the bombings could have been at least partially prevented, and in the broader sense if each of us would not be that much safer.

You could employ thousands upon thousands of unemployed people to patrol virtually every public space in the first world. You could invest in, develop, and deploy an entire new generation of intelligence technology. And so on.

And incrediably those dollars would be spent at home and not abroad, reducing that 200 billion dollar burden relative to GDP significantly.

Regardless of whether you are for or against it, the war in Iraq is a HUGE waste of time and money. The same time and money that would have gone a long way to preventing this sort of attack.

I do not know the UK's numbers but since 9/11 America has spent
~200 Billion in Iraq
~20 Billion on patrolling airports
~0.25 Billion on patrolling public transit

Guess which more citizens depend on each day, need the most, and use the most by a large (many multipule's daily) margin?

Yet there is a 800:1 ratio in spending?

Guess which has the best lobby groups in Washington and the most connections to federal politicians on both sides:
1) Heavy arms, military support services, industrial complex's, oil companies
2) Airline security guards and concerned citizens
3) Transit users

It is not rocket science.

And it is our lives, normal tax paying citizens, who pay with our lives...

Claeren.

07-09-2005, 09:38 AM	#71
Claeren Franchise Player Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Section 218 Exp:	I think regardless of how you feel about Iraq in the moral/justified/legal/etc sense, the bigger question for people on both sides of the fence is the cost-benefit of America's 'War on Terror' in Iraq. Britain and America combined have spent well over 200 BILLION dollars so far and could easily end up spending 300 or 400 BILLION USD by the time they withdraw from Iraq. While there may well be oil/energy benefits long term (although more likely a simple prolonging of the inevitable need for cuts in demand v. supply) one has to question if even a quarter of that 200 billion had been spent on extra domestic defence, intelligence, and pro-active initiatives if the bombings could have been at least partially prevented, and in the broader sense if each of us would not be that much safer. You could employ thousands upon thousands of unemployed people to patrol virtually every public space in the first world. You could invest in, develop, and deploy an entire new generation of intelligence technology. And so on. And incrediably those dollars would be spent at home and not abroad, reducing that 200 billion dollar burden relative to GDP significantly. Regardless of whether you are for or against it, the war in Iraq is a HUGE waste of time and money. The same time and money that would have gone a long way to preventing this sort of attack. I do not know the UK's numbers but since 9/11 America has spent ~200 Billion in Iraq ~20 Billion on patrolling airports ~0.25 Billion on patrolling public transit Guess which more citizens depend on each day, need the most, and use the most by a large (many multipule's daily) margin? Yet there is a 800:1 ratio in spending? Guess which has the best lobby groups in Washington and the most connections to federal politicians on both sides: 1) Heavy arms, military support services, industrial complex's, oil companies 2) Airline security guards and concerned citizens 3) Transit users It is not rocket science. And it is our lives, normal tax paying citizens, who pay with our lives... Claeren.