The Cost of War is Paid at Home

By Joel Lidstrom

Caledonia, MN

Fox News reports that in its first six days, the war with Iran cost us over $11 billion. Fox bases this on Pentagon briefings to Congress, with estimates suggesting that the cost will be at least $1 billion per day going forward.

• That single day’s expenditure equals the cost of one year of enhanced Affordable Care Act health insurance subsidies for millions of Americans.
• One day’s outlay would cover a full year of health coverage for over 100,000 Medicaid enrollees.
• A single week’s expense could fund universal school meals for an entire year.
• Two to four weeks of war expenditure could cover the overhaul of a large share of the 45,000 bridges in urgent need of repairs in the United States.
• And while we Americans are NOT gaining any of these benefits, the war is projected to add upwards of $100 billion  to the U.S. budget deficit – at a time when our deficit already looms large.

As of last month, U.S. intelligence assessments and congressional briefings deemed that Iran did not pose a threat that justified military action. Further, U.S. Intelligence indicated that striking Iran would likely trigger retaliation against U.S. allies and military personnel, particularly in the Gulf. And the threat of Iran’s nuclear capability? It had already been gravely wounded.

We attacked Iran even though it puts our country at great risk. It is possible – perhaps even likely – that our current gratuitous approach, which kills civilians and destroys infrastructure that common people use to live normal, peaceable lives, will radicalize a new generation of Iranians, creating long-term security threats to Americans and our interests both at home and abroad.