The Scoop: This is a war our nation can’t afford
We owe, we owe, it’s off to war we go.
As you read this column, the United States is one step closer to shedding its image as an international peacekeeper and drawing first blood by attacking Iraq.
Whether you’re thumping your chest and salivating at the thought of killing people, or protesting such a war by making big signs and walking the streets, there are financial considerations to remember.
Ahhh, yes, the financial considerations. The United States can use its million dollar toys to win a war against Iraq fairly easily (notice there’s not much talk about attacking North Korea which would actually put up a fight), but there’s still going to be a bill to pay.
It’s like enjoying a five-course feast at an elegant restaurant. The food may delight your taste buds, but there will be a time in the not-so-distant future when the waiter hands you the check. That part is not so much fun.
The same can be said about war with Iraq — a war estimated to cost between $6 billion and $9 billion a month. That might seem like petty cash if America was doing the backstroke in a pool of money. However, families are struggling, local governments are desperately seeking money, virtually every state is in the red, and the federal government is the granddaddy of them all. The federal government currently faces a $5.6 trillion deficit.
That deficit is only going to get worse. In fact, $5.6 trillion is the national debt ceiling, meaning the United States is supposed to suspend spending once we reach that limit. Thankfully, Congress is looking out for the best interests of all Americans and is considering raising the debt ceiling. Gee, thanks guys.
So just about every government in the country is battling to break even, the economy has more holes than an aluminum can at a shooting range, and we’re about to start a war we don’t need. For his next trick, George W. Bush will play with matches in a national forest.
Since we’re on the topic of George W. (my favorite person in the whole, wide world), it’s interesting to see his solution to the national deficit — it’s a tax cut. But before you get ready to stick out your hand, the president’s $675 billion tax cut would primarily benefit the richest 5 percent of Americans. This would be so that, in this time of economic duress, they can buy another SUV to drive to the mountain home.
But the question I’m left asking is what happens if everything goes according to President Bush’s grand war plan? The first step of this plan calls for the U.S. to bombard Iraq with 800 cruise missiles during the first two days, or one missile every four minutes.
Let’s say this strategy leads to a fairly easy victory and we kill Saddam Hussein after 45 days of war. Then we’re left to rebuild a country and a government we just destroyed. Remember, after the Gulf War our allies picked up about 90 percent of the tab. This time around, the allies that George W. doesn’t think we need are telling us we’re stupid.
There will be the Iraqi civilians to care for and nurse back to health. After the Gulf War, we killed over 10,000 civilians directly and an estimated 75,000 died in the aftermath because they didn’t have access to medical care, food and water.
If Bush expects us to care for these people — as we rightfully should if we destroy their country — here’s a reminder to the president: We’re in a dogfight to provide health care for Americans.
In Tennessee, we’re tossing people off TennCare because we don’t have the money. I guess those folks can take comfort in knowing their health care dollars will be spent in the Middle East.
If President Bush planned to saddle the nation with insurmountable debt, turn the rest of the world against us, and make the bull’s-eye that’s over the United States even larger, he’s doing a great job.
(James Clark is editor of the Standard. He can be reached at 473-2191 or by e-mail at [email protected].)