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Cost of Libya Ops ~$900 million for Uncle Sucker
The cost of U.S. military intervention in Libya has cost American taxpayers an estimated $896 million through July 31, the Pentagon said today. The price tag includes the amounts for daily military operations, munitions used in the operation and humanitarian assistance for the Libyan people.
| This also includes food, medical supplies, boots, tents, uniforms, and personal protective gear. Wonder if the Libyan rebels are planning to use their new-found oil wealth to pay us for any of this stuff. |
Over the past 12 days, U.S. planes have flown 391 sorties for a total of 5,316 since April 1, according to figures provided by the Defense Department. That total includes 1,210 airstrike missions over the same three and a half month period. The U.S. has also conducted 101 Predator drone strike missions in Libya.
| I bet we did a LOT more drone strikes than are being reported. |
| Nobody is mentioning the lost opportunity cost of concentrating satellite views on Libya instead of Afghanistan/Pakistan or any other places the DoD/CIA could use overhead help... |
A U.S. official credited NATO flight cover over the past many months with allowing the Libyan rebels enough time to eventually regroup and begin their pushes.
One significant offset to the cost of U.S. involvement in the flights worth noting is the sale of military equipment to allies also involved in the cause. Pentagon officials say the sale of ammunition, replacement parts, fuel, and technical assistance to allies since March has totaled $221.9 million.
| Did we get cash up front from the Spanish and Italians? I wouldn't take a note from them. Of course, they shouldn't take one from us... |
Posted by: Steve White 2011-08-23 |
