Iraq or the Economy?

What is the importance of the war in Iraq relative to other current issues? This is a question I am often asked, especially as Americans continue to become increasingly aware that something is very wrong with the economy. The difficulty with the way the question is often asked relates to the perception that we are somehow able to divide such issues, or to isolate the cost of war into arbitrarily defined areas such as national security or international relations. War is an all-encompassing governmental activity. The impact of war on our ability to defend ourselves from future attack, and upon America ’s standing in the world, is only a mere fraction of the total overall effect that war has on our nation and the policies of its government.

The cost of this particular war is enormous, and therefore its of great importance. There is no single issue that is more important at this particular time. The war has, of course, made us less safe as a nation and damaged our credibility with allies and hostile nations alike. Moreover, years of growing deficits have been spurred on by the high price tag of war, and the decision to pay that price primarily by supplemental spending rather than traditional “on-budget” accounting.

War takes what would otherwise be productive economic capacity and transfers both that capacity, and the wealth it would generate in normal, peaceful, times into far less economically viable activities. It also impacts budget priorities in ways that are detrimental to our nation. I have often pointed to the fact that we are building bridges in the United States.



All war, but most particularly war funded by monetary inflation, bleeds a country in multiple ways. Obviously, many of the young people who are in the military literally give their blood, and sometimes their lives, fighting in wars of this type. Meanwhile, those who do not fight the war, but fund it, are forced to pay both the immediate costs, as well as seeing their long term purchasing power erode, as the twin pillars of debt and inflation are foisted upon the backs of current taxpayers and future generations. Neither conspiracy nor coincidence explains steep increases in the price of gas as the war drags on. No, this is simply a reality of the inflationary policies that, among other things, make this war possible.

As people are continually asked to choose whether our nation’s teetering economy or the failed foreign policy of the past several decades is most important as we look forward, it is well for those of us who understand that these two issues are closely linked, to continue to explain this fact to our fellow citizens. To fix the problem requires a proper diagnosis.
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[size=12]As people are continually asked to choose whether our nation’s teetering economy or the failed foreign policy of the past several decades is most important as we look forward, it is well for those of us who understand that these two issues are closely linked, to continue to explain this fact to our fellow citizens. To fix the problem requires a proper diagnosis.

The Marshall Plan (from its enactment, officially the European Recovery Program, ERP) was the primary plan of the United States for rebuilding and creating a stronger foundation for the allied countries of Europe, and repelling communism after World War II. The initiative was named for Secretary of State George Marshall and was largely the creation of State Department officials, especially William L. Clayton and George F. Kennan.

The reconstruction plan developed at a meeting of the participating European states was established on July 12, 1947. The Marshall Plan offered the same aid to the USSR and its allies, but they did not accept it, fearing that capitalistic governments might "ask" them to change to capitalism. The plan was in operation for four years beginning in July 1947. During that period some USD 13 billion in economic and technical assistance were given to help the recovery of the European countries that had joined in the Organization for European Economic Co-operation.[1]

Country 1948/49 1949/50 1950/51 Cumulative
($ millions) ($ millions) ($ millions) ($ millions)
Austria 232 166 70 468
Belgium and Luxembourg 195 222 360 777
Denmark 103 87 195 385
France 1085 691 520 2296
West Germany 510 438 500 1448
Greece 175 156 45 366
Iceland 6 22 15 43
Ireland 88 45 0 133
Italy and Trieste 594 405 205 1204
Netherlands 471 302 355 1128
Norway 82 90 200 372
Portugal 0 0 70 70
Sweden 39 48 260 347
Switzerland 0 0 250 250
Turkey 28 59 50 137
United Kingdom 1316 921 1060 3297
Totals 4,924 3,652 4,155 12,721 BILLIONS

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marshall_Plan

Aaron wrote:No, I don't deny that Iraq isn't having an effect on our economy which is why I stated they should start reimbursing the US for the upgrades we've made to their infracture. Their entire oil infracture was ignored, well over 30 years old and in horrible condition. We have repaired and replaced most of it. We should be paid for it.

As for our world standing, I was in Europe and heard the anti-American comments in Germany and France personally and knew people who heard it in a dozen other countries. That happened back in 86/87. Everybody hates us until they need us.

Stephanie wrote:

Aaron wrote:No, I don't deny that Iraq isn't having an effect on our economy which is why I stated they should start reimbursing the US for the upgrades we've made to their infracture. Their entire oil infracture was ignored, well over 30 years old and in horrible condition. We have repaired and replaced most of it. We should be paid for it.

As for our world standing, I was in Europe and heard the anti-American comments in Germany and France personally and knew people who heard it in a dozen other countries. That happened back in 86/87. Everybody hates us until they need us.

They should repay us for improvements to their outdated infrastructure? Yes, that's what I"ve said. Twice. Should we be compensating them for the loss of lives and limbs of innocent civilians? NO Should we be paying to reconstruct the homes and the schools we destroyed? We have. What do you think we're spending all of our money on?Should we be paying to resettle all those we displaced? We have.

We should take all those troops that have all that experience and training and employ them here to upgrade our crumbling infrastructure. I'd recommend they begin with water lines and bridges in the USA. They're soldiers, not construction workers.

Perhaps, just maybe, the reason everybody "hates" us is because we refuse to mind our own damn business.Perhaps. Has that thought ever crossed your mind? Actually, what crossed my mind is that when they need us, they manage to get over all that hate and find a way to love us, don't you agree!!!

Aaron wrote:I'm getting my information from being in the service and I know what they can and can't do and what they are and aren't trained for and building roads in infracture in the United States is not it.

And whether they can do it or not is moot as it is not the militaries constitutional duty to build roads and infracture. Hell, how much of it is the governments responsibility constitutionally is questionable.

What you're talking about is nothing more then plain old socialism. You want them home, that's one thing. If you wanting them defending the border, it's questionable whether immigration patrol would be a constitutional duty of the military but in todays society, you could probably make it stick. Building infrastructure. Sorry, I don't think so.

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