The United States military has already spent approximately $1 billion on its first wave of attacks against ISIS because the newest group is now deemed as a significant threat to the entire world.
According to a new report from Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessment (CSBA), those costs could soar to $1.8 billion per month if the U.S. military presence grows to 25,000 ground troops, a possibility that many experts believe will happen.
The think tank did note that if the war is not escalated then it will still cost taxpayers between $200 and $320 million per month just to maintain the current level of operations. It has already been confirmed by the Pentagon (via CNN) that today’s airstrikes against ISIS will persist for a number of years.
Here is the entire “bottom line” from the organization:
“The cost of U.S. military operations against ISIL through September 24 is likely between $780 and $930 million. The cost of future operations depends primarily on how long operations continue, the intensity of air operations, and whether additional ground forces are deployed beyond what is already planned. Assuming a moderate level of air operations and 2,000 deployed ground forces, the costs would likely run between $200 and $320 million per month. If air operations are conducted at a higher pace and 5,000 ground forces are deployed, the costs would be between $350 and $570 million per month. If operations expand significantly to include the deployment of 25,000 U.S. troops on the ground, as some have recommended, costs would likely reach $1.1 to $1.8 billion per month. On an annualized basis, the lower-intensity air operations could cost $2.4 to $3.8 billion per year, the higher-intensity air operations could cost $4.2 to $6.8 billion per year, and deployment of a larger ground contingent could drive annual costs as high as $13 to $22 billion.”
U.S. air strikes were launched against Iraq and Syria in the past month and President Obama has ordered arming and training Syrian rebels, who are also reportedly fighting off ISIS – the group has been renamed by the administration as the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL). There has been bipartisan support in Washington over this new war, much like the same bipartisan support for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Texas Republican Congressman and three-time presidential candidate Ron Paul stated in an interview with Russia Today over the weekend that President Obama has started “immoral and illegal” wars in Iraq and Syria. As Robert Wenzel of Economic Policy Journal wrote, it’s all because of a few adrenaline junky journalists that the U.S. is now engaged in yet another war.
Of course, what a coincidence that the U.S. escalates its involvement after ISIS reportedly “sabotages” oil pipelines.
It should be noted that since winning the Nobel Peace Prize, President Obama has bombed seven Muslim countries throughout his tenure as Commander in Chief.
In the meantime, the Federal Reserve will print more money to finance another war. It’s déjà vu all over again.
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