Afghanistan's GDP $11.7 billion .. US Afghan Surge $105 billion!

Steve Clemons, here

" ... That is what the Pentagon seems to be doing by suggesting that each new troop addition that the United States sends to Afghanistan will cost about $500,000. The White House is suggesting the price tag will be double that amount - or $1 million per new soldier per year.

And can I add that these figures do not seem to include the long term health costs that the US commits to with our soldiers -- nor other ongoing benefits.

That means that a surge of 40,000 troops will cost approximately $40 Billion on top of the $65 billion/year the US is currently spending on its military deployments.

$105 billion.

David Obey, Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, has now said that if the administration wants this war, it will have to pay for it -- and will have to impose a "surtax" on US citizens.

The health care bill that is being considered by the Congress now costs approximately $85 billion/year -- just to set some context.

For more context, Afghanistan's nominal GDP was $11.7 billion last year.

That's right. . .$11.7 billion -- and we are considering spending ten times that on this military engagement."