# Cost of Iraq war counter
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cost-of-iraq-war-counter/192110
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
**Created:** [July 31, 2003, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cost-of-iraq-war-counter/192110 "2003-07-31T12:35:01Z")
**Posts on this page:** 17
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@SkyBum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SkyBum)
#### Post date: [July 31, 2003, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cost-of-iraq-war-counter/192110/1 "2003-07-31T12:35:01Z")
Here is an interesting counter which shows the cost of the war and other things which that money could have done if spent elsewhere. The counter updates in real time, though I have no idea how accurate it is. Interesting none the less.
> **[Cost of National Security](https://www.nationalpriorities.org/cost-of/?redirect=cow)**
>
> What counts as national security depends on your perspective. These embeddable counters track how much the U.S. spends on a variety of programs that protect our future, from military to food assistance. Do our nation's spending choices align with...
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### Author:  [@kputt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kputt)
#### Post date: [July 31, 2003, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cost-of-iraq-war-counter/192110/2 "2003-07-31T13:02:05Z")
fake.
Anyway, they expect that our troops will only be there for a year more.
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### Author:  [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)
#### Post date: [July 31, 2003, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cost-of-iraq-war-counter/192110/3 "2003-07-31T14:07:19Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by kputt \*
> \*\*Anyway, they expect that our troops will only be there for a year more. \*\*
Say, are you interested in a bridge? đ
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### Author:  [@lno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lno)
#### Post date: [July 31, 2003, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cost-of-iraq-war-counter/192110/4 "2003-07-31T14:22:19Z")
Say, howâs that Afghanistan thing going? We certainly donât have any troops over there any more, do we? Itâs been nearly two years, and itâs not even in the news any more.
Those boys must all be home by now, right?
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### Author:  [@SkyBum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SkyBum)
#### Post date: [July 31, 2003, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cost-of-iraq-war-counter/192110/5 "2003-07-31T17:13:53Z")
\*\* kputt\*\*, what the hell? If you want to dismiss it as fake thats just fine, but the least you could do is back up your assertion with a little information on where you draw your conclusions from.
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### Author:  [@Mtgman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mtgman)
#### Post date: [July 31, 2003, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cost-of-iraq-war-counter/192110/6 "2003-07-31T17:38:11Z")
Especially when the site itself gives info on the methods used to set up the counter and the sources for the numbers. I glanced through it and it looked to be on the up and up to me.
Enjoy,
Steven
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### Author:  [@kputt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kputt)
#### Post date: [July 31, 2003, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cost-of-iraq-war-counter/192110/7 "2003-07-31T17:40:55Z")
We have plenty of troops in aghanistan. Just because the media is talking about it doesnât mean it doesnât exist.
Itâs fake because itâs propaganda.
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### Author:  [@SkyBum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SkyBum)
#### Post date: [July 31, 2003, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cost-of-iraq-war-counter/192110/8 "2003-07-31T17:58:20Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by kputt \*
> \*\*We have plenty of troops in aghanistan. Just because the media is talking about it doesnât mean it doesnât exist.
>
> Itâs fake because itâs propaganda. \*\*
âWhat weâve got here, is a failure to communicate.â
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### Author:  [@Emilio\_Lizardo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Emilio_Lizardo)
#### Post date: [July 31, 2003, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cost-of-iraq-war-counter/192110/9 "2003-07-31T18:00:52Z")
> [@](#):
>
> Itâs fake because itâs propaganda
MerriamWebster defines **propaganda** as
> [@](#):
>
> ideas, facts, or allegations spread deliberately to further oneâs cause or to damage an opposing cause
So by that definition, one has to consider all of the White Houseâs posturing about the war to be propaganda, and therefore fake as well, right?
Also, I think **Ino** is saying that the fact that troops are still in Afghanistan 2 years later suggests that we will be in Iraq for more than 1 year as well.
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### Author:  [@casdave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/casdave)
#### Post date: [July 31, 2003, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cost-of-iraq-war-counter/192110/10 "2003-07-31T18:16:41Z")
Since the US has committed to closing itâs large base in Riyadh, why would the US want to take itself completely away from such a strategically important area?
The US will be there in thirty years time, never mind just one.
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### Author:  [@kputt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kputt)
#### Post date: [July 31, 2003, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cost-of-iraq-war-counter/192110/11 "2003-07-31T18:18:01Z")
That website was propaganda. Look!!! Itâs easy to see. They are obviously trying to further their cause of where they think that money should go to.
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### Author:  [@Emilio\_Lizardo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Emilio_Lizardo)
#### Post date: [July 31, 2003, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cost-of-iraq-war-counter/192110/12 "2003-07-31T19:02:45Z")
Quoth **kputt**
> [@](#):
>
> That website was propaganda. Look!!! Itâs easy to see. They are obviously trying to further their cause of where they think that money should go to.
Oh, I quite agree, but that does not detract from the **fact** that the figures for both the cost of the war and the alternate uses to which that money could be put are apparently roughly correct. Which directly counters your assertion that it is âfake,â which Merriam Webster halpfully defines as
> [@](#):
>
> a worthless imitation passed off as genuine
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### Author:  [@kputt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kputt)
#### Post date: [July 31, 2003, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cost-of-iraq-war-counter/192110/13 "2003-07-31T19:14:48Z")
letâs say we used that money on that other stuff. Now, letâs say Saddam started attacking us with his WMDâs. It would cost a lot more money to clean up and in human lives (American lives that is)
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### Author:  [@Emilio\_Lizardo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Emilio_Lizardo)
#### Post date: [July 31, 2003, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cost-of-iraq-war-counter/192110/14 "2003-07-31T19:33:29Z")
Worse yet, he might have attacked us with bombs made from Nigerian uranium! A justification for war based on an extremely unlikely speculative event is a license to invade anyone at any time, which simply wonât wash.
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### Author:  [@kputt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kputt)
#### Post date: [July 31, 2003, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cost-of-iraq-war-counter/192110/15 "2003-07-31T19:36:42Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Emilio Lizardo \*
> \*\*Worse yet, he might have attacked us with bombs made from Nigerian uranium! A justification for war based on an extremely unlikely speculative event is a license to invade anyone at any time, which simply wonât wash. \*\*
That was false, but the other stuff wasnât. As a matter of fact, I heard on CNN today that they found evidence of Iraqi deception (Obviously to the U.N.), but the government wasnât able to reveal it quite yet. Had to study it of course.
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### Author:  [@Mtgman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mtgman)
#### Post date: [July 31, 2003, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cost-of-iraq-war-counter/192110/16 "2003-07-31T19:39:23Z")
Oh? Afeared of big bad Saddam and his WMDâs are ye? Weâll, Iâve got some land where youâd be perfectly safe. Nice, rolling countryside for the most part, but it does have some nice ocean views in some places. Itâs far enough from most big cities that youâd not have to worry about being hit by those big nasties. Nice and warm too. Itâs in a place called âArizonaâ. Special deal, just for you.
Enjoy,
Steven
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### Author:  [@kputt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kputt)
#### Post date: [July 31, 2003, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cost-of-iraq-war-counter/192110/17 "2003-07-31T20:11:32Z")
[Lookâs like whatâshisname was right](http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A8884-2003Jul31.html)
Iraqis are leading us to sites we didnât even know about and they said they have solid evidence of WMDâs.