Ginormous bar graph shows folly of Iraq spending vs energy spending

Deva says:

Wow. Just...wow.

Affinity says:

Keep in mind, to outfit a single soldier takes well over $20,000 American dollars.

It also doesn't state if this is per-day spending or not, which I would assume it is.

duggg says:

This proves Bush is a complete idiot. He couldn't care less what the war costs. Fool.

Marine2171 says:

Im tired of seeing this graph. If you think War is expensive, wait until Hillery Care goes into effect.

CJ says:

Sometimes it takes visual aids to help us realize what we already knew. Imagine what we could have accomplished by now putting that money toward alternative fuels research.

vulcan alex says:

Like the alternatives are spending on one or another???

Bornyo says:

I should hope the US is spending more on waging a war than on researching and developing new products.

Energy is a product, like guns and butter. Granted, it isn't exactly like guns or butter, but it's still a saleable product. The US government is not focused on product development.

It's a stupid, pointless parallel.

Steve says:

You seem to think that equating the war on terrorism with research on energy is a reasonable way to rationalize your stance on issues that are not even remotely related. Using reasonable examples, we could see that World War II was so costly that people sacrificed there very belongings to support the troops and here we are in the comfort of our homes complaining about the cost of a war that some have forgotten why we are there or don't even have a historical background on radical Islam(A religion started by Muhammed, a man who raped and molested many women) The very thought should repulse you. I guess that womans rights in these nations have no bearing either. The Quran is full of excuses for a religion that believes the "Moon God Allah" that was a common practice of Arabic religions before the time of Allah. Muhammed pillaged the Jews and Christians of his time and his motives show through to this day in the very followers that take on the modus operandi written about by him. We sacrifice so little for the cause while the radical Islamist of the day is willing to give his all. What does that say about American superficiality? Take the time and put the effort in to learn some history and you will be amazed at what else you can find.

Ron Paul says:

Why do the whore's in congress let this shit continue?

Kaci says:

Um, I think it's necessary for our soldiers to have equipment and weapons don't you? Remember, everyone voted for this war, and everytime Bush asks for money, Congress gives it so if you're gonna bitch to someone, bitch to Congress.

steve says:

OF COURSE THE NUMBERS LOOK BIG, as Government is not charge primarily with developing new power. That is left to the free market in our economy. Unless you want so other form of government the numbers will always look crazy. Bottom line, you did a bad comparison and that is a fact.

Baldwintm says:

Imagine that, our government spend more on DOING something than it does on THINKING about something...
why is this surprising?

Ian says:

It's still not enough, oh that's right, the life of one member of the US Military is worth less than a lump of burning coal.

Seth says:

I think that the War with Iraq is helping many people even thought it may not seem like it.I also believe that what Ian said is not totaly true.The Armed Forces swear an oath to serve and protect their country even if it kills them. they are protecting the freedoms that we so often forget.

mutha says:

says it all about yankee...short term view in the extreme...

Wintermute says:

What a pathetic waste of time that graphic is. If you click on the image you'll learn that the war in Iraq is costing $120 billion bucks a year, a lot of money, granted, but nowhere near 2 trillion dollars!

The magical way they come up with 2 trillion is by factoring in a bunch of estimated costs that may be off by several orders of magnitude.

And they fail to calculate the benefits of democratizing a terrorist regime, typical.

But while we're contemplating huge expenses, let's consider a real boondoggle:

The cumulative five-year cost of the Kyoto protocol has been estimated at $16 Trillion dollars.

And that buys an estimated temperature reduction by 2050 of 0.07 °C.

Talk about "mis-allocated resources!"

AlR says:

Does that include the interest on the debt to fund the war?

How much is a human life worth?

Jonald says:

Wholly Crap!

purpleOnion says:

The worst foreign policy disaster in United States history is a compliment to the worst failing in national security in U.S. history.

The chart reveals just how ineffective the current administration has been. One could dismiss the error filled history of the administration if it was simply incompetence, but it was a matter of priorities for which it must be faulted.

Dan Harrington says:

Apples and oranges, War expenditures were not shifted from alternate energy funds!
A magazine devoted to science should be able to find a less foolish comparison.
This is more appropriate for the left wing blogs.

Some guy says:

You know, if we took all that money from Iraq and suddenly spent it on research for alternative energy sources, they'd have too much money and wouldn't know what to do with it. In the meantime while we expanded research to account for this sudden influx, we would have to put the money into something else...Hmm, I'm sorely divided between my pocket and national debt--both could take the entire assumed surplus, swallow it, burp, and ask for more.

Will, England says:

This is the most retarded thing I've ever seen.
What kind of a moron would believe this??

Rufus says:

What's really sad is that our country is doing nothing to leave Iraq even though it's been accepted as a universally bad idea to stay

Vi says:

That was a lot of scrolling. Crazy.

Joe says:

and what is the price of freedom?

Kurt says:

If Evil exsists......this is it.

Gail says:

I'm wondering how the scientific community became involved in politics and eco issues. Global warming=nature, it's not man made. Killing terroists that have an intent on murdering innocent Americans, spend the treasury!

high school student says:

If the US didnt spend all this money on military products and just on alteritive fuels other countries would take advantige of that and use all there money for there military and invade us.