Bush's War Is Costing $720 Million Each Day

From The Washington Post, 9/22/07:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/21/AR2007092102074.html?nav=rss_world

War Costing $720 Million Each Day, Group Says

By Kari Lydersen

Washington Post Staff Writer

Saturday, September 22, 2007; Page A11

CHICAGO --

The money spent on one day of the Iraq war could buy homes for almost

6,500 families or health care for 423,529 children, or could outfit

1.27 million homes with renewable electricity, according to the

American Friends Service Committee, which displayed those statistics

on large banners in cities nationwide Thursday and Friday.

The war is costing $720 million a day or $500,000 a minute, according

to the group's analysis of the work of Nobel Prize-winning economist

Joseph E. Stiglitz and Harvard public finance lecturer Linda J.

Bilmes.

The estimates made by the group, which opposes the conflict, include

not only the immediate costs of war but also ongoing factors such as

long-term health care for veterans, interest on debt and replacement

of military hardware.

"The wounded are coming home, and many of them have severe brain and

spinal injuries, which will require round-the-clock care for the rest

of their lives," said Michael McConnell, Great Lakes regional director

of the AFSC, a peace group affiliated with the Quaker church.

The $720 million figure breaks down into $280 million a day from Iraq

war supplementary funding bills passed by Congress, plus $440 million

daily in incurred, but unpaid, long-term costs.

But some supporters of the Bush administration's policy in Iraq say

that even if the war is costly, that fact is essentially immaterial.

"Either you think the war in Iraq supports America's national

security, or not," said Frederick W. Kagan, a resident scholar at the

American Enterprise Institute.

"If you think national security won't be harmed by withdrawing from

Iraq, of course you would want to see that money spent elsewhere. I

myself think that belief, on a certain level, is absurd, so the

question of focusing on how much money we are spending there is

irrelevant."

The war's unpaid long-term costs do not include "macro-economic

consequences" described by Bilmes and Stiglitz, including higher oil

prices, loss of trade because of anti-American sentiments and lost

productivity of killed or injured U.S. soldiers.

In 2006, Bilmes, who was an assistant secretary of commerce under

President Bill Clinton, and Stiglitz, a former chief economist at the

World Bank, placed the total cost of the Iraq war at more than $2.2

trillion, not counting interest.

The American Friends group used cost breakdowns and interest

projections from the Congressional Budget Office to calculate the

daily cost of war emblazoned on the banners flown in Boston, San

Francisco, Philadelphia, Chicago and other cities.

The banners show what this could buy in terms of health care, Head

Start programs, new elementary schools, free school lunches, renewable

energy and hiring new teachers.

Protest organizers say they hope to turn more people against the war

by laying out its true financial impact.

"I think people are becoming more aware of these guns or butter

questions," said Gary Gillespie, director of the group's Baltimore

Urban Peace Program, which displayed the banners in the Baltimore

suburb of Bel Air on Friday.

"But when you talk about $720 million a day, even people who work on

this issue are shocked by the number and shocked by what could have

been done with that money. War has no return -- you're not producing a

product."

_____________________________________________

$720 Million Each Day

Harry

In article <1190512867.158018.235060@w3g2000hsg.googlegroups.com>, spammer

<serebel1@yahoo.com> wrote:

>Then ask for a refund.

As a matter of fact I would settle for the garnishment of post-2008

speaking fees of Bush and his fellow regime slimeballs.

On Sat, 22 Sep 2007 22:04:22 -0500, dennmac@dennmac.net (Dennis M)

wrote:

>In article <1190512867.158018.235060@w3g2000hsg.googlegroups.com>, spammer

><serebel1@yahoo.com> wrote:

>

>>Then ask for a refund.

>

>As a matter of fact I would settle for the garnishment of post-2008

>speaking fees of Bush and his fellow regime slimeballs.

That may not be enough. Cheney's Halliburton and Exxon and other

corporations should help pay the rest.

"spammer" <serebel1@yahoo.com> wrote in message

news:1190512867.158018.235060@w3g2000hsg.googlegroups.com...

> Then ask for a refund.

About as useful as asking Bush to follow the constitution he swore to

defend.

On Sep 22, 7:58 pm, Harry Hope <riv...@ix.netcom.com> wrote:

> From The Washington Post, 9/22/07:http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/21/AR200...

>

> War Costing $720 Million Each Day, Group Says

>

> By Kari Lydersen

> Washington Post Staff Writer

>

> Saturday, September 22, 2007; Page A11

>

> CHICAGO --

>

> The money spent on one day of the Iraq war could buy homes for almost

> 6,500 families or health care for 423,529 children, or could outfit

> 1.27 million homes with renewable electricity, according to the

> American Friends Service Committee, which displayed those statistics

> on large banners in cities nationwide Thursday and Friday.

>

> The war is costing $720 million a day or $500,000 a minute, according

> to the group's analysis of the work of Nobel Prize-winning economist

> Joseph E. Stiglitz and Harvard public finance lecturer Linda J.

> Bilmes.

>

> The estimates made by the group, which opposes the conflict, include

> not only the immediate costs of war but also ongoing factors such as

> long-term health care for veterans, interest on debt and replacement

> of military hardware.

>

> "The wounded are coming home, and many of them have severe brain and

> spinal injuries, which will require round-the-clock care for the rest

> of their lives," said Michael McConnell, Great Lakes regional director

> of the AFSC, a peace group affiliated with the Quaker church.

>

> The $720 million figure breaks down into $280 million a day from Iraq

> war supplementary funding bills passed by Congress, plus $440 million

> daily in incurred, but unpaid, long-term costs.

>

> But some supporters of the Bush administration's policy in Iraq say

> that even if the war is costly, that fact is essentially immaterial.

>

> "Either you think the war in Iraq supports America's national

> security, or not," said Frederick W. Kagan, a resident scholar at the

> American Enterprise Institute.

>

> "If you think national security won't be harmed by withdrawing from

> Iraq, of course you would want to see that money spent elsewhere. I

> myself think that belief, on a certain level, is absurd, so the

> question of focusing on how much money we are spending there is

> irrelevant."

>

> The war's unpaid long-term costs do not include "macro-economic

> consequences" described by Bilmes and Stiglitz, including higher oil

> prices, loss of trade because of anti-American sentiments and lost

> productivity of killed or injured U.S. soldiers.

>

> In 2006, Bilmes, who was an assistant secretary of commerce under

> President Bill Clinton, and Stiglitz, a former chief economist at the

> World Bank, placed the total cost of the Iraq war at more than $2.2

> trillion, not counting interest.

>

> The American Friends group used cost breakdowns and interest

> projections from the Congressional Budget Office to calculate the

> daily cost of war emblazoned on the banners flown in Boston, San

> Francisco, Philadelphia, Chicago and other cities.

>

> The banners show what this could buy in terms of health care, Head

> Start programs, new elementary schools, free school lunches, renewable

> energy and hiring new teachers.

>

> Protest organizers say they hope to turn more people against the war

> by laying out its true financial impact.

>

> "I think people are becoming more aware of these guns or butter

> questions," said Gary Gillespie, director of the group's Baltimore

> Urban Peace Program, which displayed the banners in the Baltimore

> suburb of Bel Air on Friday.

>

> "But when you talk about $720 million a day, even people who work on

> this issue are shocked by the number and shocked by what could have

> been done with that money. War has no return -- you're not producing a

> product."

>

> _____________________________________________

>

> $720 Million Each Day

>

> Harry

Imagine if we spent that much on education; maybe we wouldn't get into

such wars in the first place.

On Sep 23, 3:55 am, "Roger" <roge...@hotmail.com> wrote:

> "spammer" <sereb...@yahoo.com> wrote in message

>

> news:1190512867.158018.235060@w3g2000hsg.googlegroups.com...

>

> > Then ask for a refund.

>

> About as useful as asking Bush to follow the constitution he swore to

> defend.

Actually, the Constitution has nothing to do with the exercise of

power in the current administration.

To illustrate, though the original post refers to "dollars" there have

been no dollars in circulation since 1933.

A federal reserve note (dollar bill) is an obligation of the U.S.

government to pay to the bearer on demand, face value, in lawful

money.

In 1933, Congress repudiated that promise, and ever since, the U.S.

government has operated under a "temporary" state of emergency,

renewed by each sitting president, partisan politics notwithstanding.

The misrepresentation, disinformation, and constructive fraud is so

pervasive that no one bothers to hide the facts available at any

county courthouse law library.

LAWFUL MONEY - "The terms 'lawful money' and 'lawful money of the

United States' shall be construed to mean gold or silver coin of the

United States..."

Title 12 United States Code, Sec. 152.

This complies with the Coinage Act of 1792, and following laws.

What you may not realize is that the national debt is denominated in

REAL dollars,i.e., lawful money, silver or gold coin of the U.S.A.

The current "national debt", as of September 6, 2007, has passed NINE

TRILLIONS.

http://www.brillig.com/debt_clock/

The Outstanding Public Debt as of 06 Sep 2007 at 10:33:32 PM GMT is:

$ 9,007,461,652,329.15

That computes to a LEGAL obligation to pay the creditor

450373082616.46 ounces of gold bullion, or

6755596239246.86 ounces of silver bullion, stamped into coin.

Since there does not exist 450 billion ounces of gold, nor 6.75

trillion ounces of silver available for the debtors to repay said

debt, the contract cannot be legal, enforcible, nor constitutional.

NOW THAT IS ONE HECKUVA CONUNDRUM TO RESOLVE.

One question we might ask - where's the receipt for "dollars" LOANED

to the U.S. government by the Federal Reserve corporation?

By the way, the "Federal Reserve" is NOT a part of the U.S.

government. In fact the Federal Reserve is the fiduciary agent for the

World Bank, the IMF, the U.N., etc,

etc. And the U.S. governor of the World Bank, IMF, etc, etc shall not

be paid by the U.S. government, saith Title 22, USC. But you have to

do a little digging to discover that the U.S. governor of the "Bank"

and "Fund" is none other than the "secretary of treasury" (Not to be

confused with the Treasurer of the United States

). And by law, he shall not be paid by "us", but paid by the Federal

Reserve.

Isn't it a coincidence that the President is guarded by TREASURY

AGENTS?

Why not have him protected by MARINES, whom he is their commander in

chief?

D'Oh!

------------

References:

TITLE 12,CHAPTER 3,SUBCHAPTER XII,sec. 411. Issuance to reserve banks;

nature of obligation; redemption

Federal reserve notes, to be issued at the discretion of the

Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System for the purpose of

making advances to Federal reserve banks through the Federal reserve

agents as hereinafter set forth and for no other purpose, are

authorized. The said notes shall be obligations of the United States

and shall be receivable by all national and member banks and Federal

reserve banks and for all taxes, customs, and other public dues. They

shall be redeemed in LAWFUL MONEY on demand at the Treasury Department

of the United States, in the city of Washington, District of Columbia,

or at any Federal Reserve bank.

"Dollars, or units; each to be of the value of a Spanish milled as the

same is now current, and to contain three hundred and seventy-one

grains and four-sixteenths parts of a grain of pure, or four hundred

and sixteen grains of standard, silver."

--- Sec. 9, Coinage Act of 1792, January 1792

According to Title 31 of the U.S. code, a silver dollar complies with

the original Coinage Act.

31 USC Sec. 5112. Denominations, specifications, and design of coins

(e)(1) ...weight 31.103 grams;

(e)(4) have inscriptions ... 1 Oz. Fine Silver ... One Dollar

"Federal reserve notes are legal tender in absence of objection

thereto."

MacLeod v. Hoover (1925) 159 La 244, 105 So. 305

Article 1, Section 8. U.S. Constitution.

The Congress shall have Power ...To borrow Money on the credit of the

United States; ...To coin Money, regulate the Value thereof, and of

foreign Coin, and fix the Standard of Weights and Measures;

Article 1, Section 10. U.S. Constitution No State shall ... coin

Money; emit Bills of Credit; make any Thing but gold and silver Coin a

Tender in Payment of Debts; pass any ... Law impairing the Obligation

of Contracts, ...

Pesky "contracts" with usurers to repay an impossible national debt

seem to have slipped by the watchful eyes of the public servants.

(sarcasm flag off)

22 USC Sec. 286a Appointments

(a) Governors and executive directors; term of office The President,

by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, shall appoint a

governor of the Fund who shall also serve as a governor of the (World)

Bank, and an executive director of the (International Monetary) Fund

and an executive director of the Bank. ... (d) Compensation for

services (1) No person shall be entitled to receive any salary or

other compensation from the United States for services as a Governor,

executive director, councilor, alternate, or associate. (2) The

United States executive director of the Fund shall not be compensated

by the Fund at a rate in excess of the rate ...

According to page 494 of the U.S. Government Manual, 1993/1994

edition:

"In addition , the Secretary (of Treasury) has many responsibilities

as chief financial officer of the Government. The Secretary serves as

Chairman pro tempore of the Economic Policy council and as _U.S.

Governor_ of the International Monetary Fund, the International Bank

for Reconstruction and Development, the Inter-American Development

Bank, and the African Development Bank."

Bank holiday of 1933. Presidential Proclamation No.2039, issued March

6, 1933, and No. 2040, issued March 9, 1933, temporarily suspended

banking transactions by member banks of the Federal Reserve System.

Normal banking functions were resumed on March 13, subject to certain

restrictions. The first proclamation, it was held, had no authority in

law until the passage on March 9, 1933, of the ratifying act (12

U.S.C.A. Sec. 95b). The present law forbids member banks of the

Federal Reserve System to transact banking business, except under

regulations of the Secretary of the Treasury, during an emergency

proclaimed by the President. 12 U.S.C.A. Sec. 95.

Black's Law Dictionary, Sixth Edition, p. 146

When you opened a bank account, signed the signature card, you agreed

to obey the "rules of the bank". The BANK. Whose U.S. Governor is the

Secretary of Treasury, who shall not be paid by the U.S. government,

but who shall be paid by the FUND, whose fiduciary agent is the

Federal Reserve Corporation.

Remember, no instrumentality of the Federal Reserve banking system

will redeem Federal Reserve notes with LAWFUL MONEY of the United

States of America.

Since 1933, Americans have not paid their debts with lawful money, nor

have they ever paid a dollar in taxes to the bankrupted government. In

law, a repudiated I.O.U. has no par value - worthless.

Who benefits from our collective ignorance?

Who has taken untold wealth from millions?

Who has burdened Americans with monstrous debt?

Who has foisted worthless paper upon us?

WE DID!

We gave our consent, thus we can't object.

That's why the Constitution has nothing to do with it, folks.

You've entered into a compact with the devil, and you have to dance to

his tune.

"jetgraphics" <jetgraphics@gmail.com> wrote in message

news:1190539096.973443.26420@w3g2000hsg.googlegroups.com...

> On Sep 23, 3:55 am, "Roger" <roge...@hotmail.com> wrote:

>> "spammer" <sereb...@yahoo.com> wrote in message

>>

>> news:1190512867.158018.235060@w3g2000hsg.googlegroups.com...

>>

>> > Then ask for a refund.

>>

>> About as useful as asking Bush to follow the constitution he swore to

>> defend.

You're a flake if you believe the below.

Such garbage.

>

> Actually, the Constitution has nothing to do with the exercise of

> power in the current administration.

>

> To illustrate, though the original post refers to "dollars" there have

> been no dollars in circulation since 1933.

>

> A federal reserve note (dollar bill) is an obligation of the U.S.

> government to pay to the bearer on demand, face value, in lawful

> money.

> In 1933, Congress repudiated that promise, and ever since, the U.S.

> government has operated under a "temporary" state of emergency,

> renewed by each sitting president, partisan politics notwithstanding.

>

> The misrepresentation, disinformation, and constructive fraud is so

> pervasive that no one bothers to hide the facts available at any

> county courthouse law library.

>

> LAWFUL MONEY - "The terms 'lawful money' and 'lawful money of the

> United States' shall be construed to mean gold or silver coin of the

> United States..."

> Title 12 United States Code, Sec. 152.

>

> This complies with the Coinage Act of 1792, and following laws.

>

> What you may not realize is that the national debt is denominated in

> REAL dollars,i.e., lawful money, silver or gold coin of the U.S.A.

>

> The current "national debt", as of September 6, 2007, has passed NINE

> TRILLIONS.

> http://www.brillig.com/debt_clock/

> The Outstanding Public Debt as of 06 Sep 2007 at 10:33:32 PM GMT is:

> $ 9,007,461,652,329.15

> That computes to a LEGAL obligation to pay the creditor

> 450373082616.46 ounces of gold bullion, or

> 6755596239246.86 ounces of silver bullion, stamped into coin.

>

> Since there does not exist 450 billion ounces of gold, nor 6.75

> trillion ounces of silver available for the debtors to repay said

> debt, the contract cannot be legal, enforcible, nor constitutional.

>

> NOW THAT IS ONE HECKUVA CONUNDRUM TO RESOLVE.

>

> One question we might ask - where's the receipt for "dollars" LOANED

> to the U.S. government by the Federal Reserve corporation?

>

> By the way, the "Federal Reserve" is NOT a part of the U.S.

> government. In fact the Federal Reserve is the fiduciary agent for the

> World Bank, the IMF, the U.N., etc,

> etc. And the U.S. governor of the World Bank, IMF, etc, etc shall not

> be paid by the U.S. government, saith Title 22, USC. But you have to

> do a little digging to discover that the U.S. governor of the "Bank"

> and "Fund" is none other than the "secretary of treasury" (Not to be

> confused with the Treasurer of the United States

> ). And by law, he shall not be paid by "us", but paid by the Federal

> Reserve.

>

> Isn't it a coincidence that the President is guarded by TREASURY

> AGENTS?

> Why not have him protected by MARINES, whom he is their commander in

> chief?

>

> D'Oh!

>

> ------------

> References:

>

> TITLE 12,CHAPTER 3,SUBCHAPTER XII,sec. 411. Issuance to reserve banks;

> nature of obligation; redemption

>

> Federal reserve notes, to be issued at the discretion of the

> Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System for the purpose of

> making advances to Federal reserve banks through the Federal reserve

> agents as hereinafter set forth and for no other purpose, are

> authorized. The said notes shall be obligations of the United States

> and shall be receivable by all national and member banks and Federal

> reserve banks and for all taxes, customs, and other public dues. They

> shall be redeemed in LAWFUL MONEY on demand at the Treasury Department

> of the United States, in the city of Washington, District of Columbia,

> or at any Federal Reserve bank.

>

> "Dollars, or units; each to be of the value of a Spanish milled as the

> same is now current, and to contain three hundred and seventy-one

> grains and four-sixteenths parts of a grain of pure, or four hundred

> and sixteen grains of standard, silver."

> --- Sec. 9, Coinage Act of 1792, January 1792

>

> According to Title 31 of the U.S. code, a silver dollar complies with

> the original Coinage Act.

> 31 USC Sec. 5112. Denominations, specifications, and design of coins

> (e)(1) ...weight 31.103 grams;

> (e)(4) have inscriptions ... 1 Oz. Fine Silver ... One Dollar

>

> "Federal reserve notes are legal tender in absence of objection

> thereto."

> MacLeod v. Hoover (1925) 159 La 244, 105 So. 305

>

> Article 1, Section 8. U.S. Constitution.

> The Congress shall have Power ...To borrow Money on the credit of the

> United States; ...To coin Money, regulate the Value thereof, and of

> foreign Coin, and fix the Standard of Weights and Measures;

>

> Article 1, Section 10. U.S. Constitution No State shall ... coin

> Money; emit Bills of Credit; make any Thing but gold and silver Coin a

> Tender in Payment of Debts; pass any ... Law impairing the Obligation

> of Contracts, ...

>

> Pesky "contracts" with usurers to repay an impossible national debt

> seem to have slipped by the watchful eyes of the public servants.

> (sarcasm flag off)

>

> 22 USC Sec. 286a Appointments

> (a) Governors and executive directors; term of office The President,

> by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, shall appoint a

> governor of the Fund who shall also serve as a governor of the (World)

> Bank, and an executive director of the (International Monetary) Fund

> and an executive director of the Bank. ... (d) Compensation for

> services (1) No person shall be entitled to receive any salary or

> other compensation from the United States for services as a Governor,

> executive director, councilor, alternate, or associate. (2) The

> United States executive director of the Fund shall not be compensated

> by the Fund at a rate in excess of the rate ...

>

> According to page 494 of the U.S. Government Manual, 1993/1994

> edition:

> "In addition , the Secretary (of Treasury) has many responsibilities

> as chief financial officer of the Government. The Secretary serves as

> Chairman pro tempore of the Economic Policy council and as _U.S.

> Governor_ of the International Monetary Fund, the International Bank

> for Reconstruction and Development, the Inter-American Development

> Bank, and the African Development Bank."

>

> Bank holiday of 1933. Presidential Proclamation No.2039, issued March

> 6, 1933, and No. 2040, issued March 9, 1933, temporarily suspended

> banking transactions by member banks of the Federal Reserve System.

> Normal banking functions were resumed on March 13, subject to certain

> restrictions. The first proclamation, it was held, had no authority in

> law until the passage on March 9, 1933, of the ratifying act (12

> U.S.C.A. Sec. 95b). The present law forbids member banks of the

> Federal Reserve System to transact banking business, except under

> regulations of the Secretary of the Treasury, during an emergency

> proclaimed by the President. 12 U.S.C.A. Sec. 95.

> Black's Law Dictionary, Sixth Edition, p. 146

>

> When you opened a bank account, signed the signature card, you agreed

> to obey the "rules of the bank". The BANK. Whose U.S. Governor is the

> Secretary of Treasury, who shall not be paid by the U.S. government,

> but who shall be paid by the FUND, whose fiduciary agent is the

> Federal Reserve Corporation.

>

> Remember, no instrumentality of the Federal Reserve banking system

> will redeem Federal Reserve notes with LAWFUL MONEY of the United

> States of America.

> Since 1933, Americans have not paid their debts with lawful money, nor

> have they ever paid a dollar in taxes to the bankrupted government. In

> law, a repudiated I.O.U. has no par value - worthless.

>

> Who benefits from our collective ignorance?

> Who has taken untold wealth from millions?

> Who has burdened Americans with monstrous debt?

> Who has foisted worthless paper upon us?

>

> WE DID!

> We gave our consent, thus we can't object.

>

> That's why the Constitution has nothing to do with it, folks.

> You've entered into a compact with the devil, and you have to dance to

> his tune.

>

I think the idiots who say they support the war should be taxed $10,000

a year until the cost of the war is paid - which will take generations.

This way, our polling companies can more accurately gauge if there's

any support for a war that's not costing its supporters anything.

I know that within one day of Congress passing tax increases to pay for

the war, its support will drop to zero. Not even Bush would support tax

increases to pay for his war (which shows how utterly pathetic these

people are).

--

Impeach Bush

http://zzpat.bravehost.com/

Impeach Search Engine:

http://www.google.com/coop/cse?cx=012146513885108216046:rzesyut3kmm

"zzpat" <zzpatrick@gmail.com> wrote in message

news:fd699k9sau@enews4.newsguy.com...

>I think the idiots who say they support the war should be taxed $10,000 a

>year until the cost of the war is paid - which will take generations.

They won't go to war or send their kids, why would they pay?

> This way, our polling companies can more accurately gauge if there's any

> support for a war that's not costing its supporters anything.

>

> I know that within one day of Congress passing tax increases to pay for

> the war, its support will drop to zero. Not even Bush would support tax

> increases to pay for his war (which shows how utterly pathetic these

> people are).

>

> --

> Impeach Bush

> http://zzpat.bravehost.com/

>

> Impeach Search Engine:

> http://www.google.com/coop/cse?cx=012146513885108216046:rzesyut3kmm