Tuesday, November 13, 2007

Price of war

US Democrats say the wars are costing the US too muchThe US wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are costing nearly double the amount previously thought, according to a report .

Democrats say the wars have cost $1.5 trillion - almost twice the requested $804bn (£402bn) - because of "hidden costs".

The report calculates that the campaigns in Iraq and Afghanistan have cost the average US family of four more than $20,000. It adds that the amount could rise to $46,300 over the next decade

Contributing to the higher cost of the conflicts are higher oil costs and payments to war veterans. The costs of treating wounded veterans and mounting interest payments on money borrowed to finance the wars. The committee's Democrats estimate that treating veterans could add more than $30bn to war costs, including disability payments and lost earnings for veterans affected by post-traumatic stress disorder.

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