Spring Break
Six years later, Iraq war's costs still criticized
TIFFANY STEVENS
Issue date: 3/23/09 Section: News
In the middle of a troubling economy, what could be done with $720 million a day?
The American Friends Service Committee, an anti-war group, said the daily funds for the Iraq war could give Americans 6,482 homes, 1,153,846 school lunches, 84 new elementary schools and provide 163,525 people with health care.
UGA Progressives and Athens for Justice in Palestine hosted a lecture on Friday to discuss the cost of the Iraq War. The lecture was part of a series given by American Friends Service Committee in an effort to inform people about what they believed to be the negative effects of the Iraq War on American life and on Iraq.
"We picked this week to host this tour because this week marks six years since we've been in Iraq," said Tim Franzen, peace building program director of American Friends Service Committee.
Franzen said during a time of economic crisis, America could not afford to be spending $720 million a day on the Iraq war.
"We're really framing this war, and other wars, as a robbery from our communities."
According the American Friends Service Committee, more than $1 trillion has been spent on the Iraq War, causing the government to cut funding for at home programs that benefit the community, such as Head Start, Community Food and affordable housing. National Priorities Project estimates cost of the Iraq War to be more than $606 billion.
"We're in an economic crisis. We're bailing out banks. But we're spending $1 trillion in Iraq?" said Phil Aliff, member of Iraq Veterans Against the War.
Aliff said the war in Iraq was more about retaining global power than defeating terrorist organizations.
"We started the war on terror as 'We need to find Al Qaeda and Bin Laden.' But in reality Al Qaeda tried to turn in Bin Laden several times, and Bush didn't want them to do it," Aliff said. "If you control the world's resources, you control the world economy."
Aliff said the Iraq War was an illegal war and should not be allowed to continue because it violated human rights.
The American Friends Service Committee, an anti-war group, said the daily funds for the Iraq war could give Americans 6,482 homes, 1,153,846 school lunches, 84 new elementary schools and provide 163,525 people with health care.
UGA Progressives and Athens for Justice in Palestine hosted a lecture on Friday to discuss the cost of the Iraq War. The lecture was part of a series given by American Friends Service Committee in an effort to inform people about what they believed to be the negative effects of the Iraq War on American life and on Iraq.
"We picked this week to host this tour because this week marks six years since we've been in Iraq," said Tim Franzen, peace building program director of American Friends Service Committee.
Franzen said during a time of economic crisis, America could not afford to be spending $720 million a day on the Iraq war.
"We're really framing this war, and other wars, as a robbery from our communities."
According the American Friends Service Committee, more than $1 trillion has been spent on the Iraq War, causing the government to cut funding for at home programs that benefit the community, such as Head Start, Community Food and affordable housing. National Priorities Project estimates cost of the Iraq War to be more than $606 billion.
"We're in an economic crisis. We're bailing out banks. But we're spending $1 trillion in Iraq?" said Phil Aliff, member of Iraq Veterans Against the War.
Aliff said the war in Iraq was more about retaining global power than defeating terrorist organizations.
"We started the war on terror as 'We need to find Al Qaeda and Bin Laden.' But in reality Al Qaeda tried to turn in Bin Laden several times, and Bush didn't want them to do it," Aliff said. "If you control the world's resources, you control the world economy."
Aliff said the Iraq War was an illegal war and should not be allowed to continue because it violated human rights.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
Hazman
posted 3/23/09 @ 6:49 PM EST
"But in reality Al Qaeda tried to turn in Bin Laden several times, and Bush didn't want them to do it"
This Quote shows how media coverage can diverge from reality. (Continued…)
Dawood
posted 8/31/09 @ 2:46 PM EST
This war is the second expensive for U.S. after the World War II. Here I've tried to summarize all costs of the Iraq war for Americans:
http://www. (Continued…)
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