The cost of war?

Question

Okay since the dawn of time war has been expensive. But whyin the world did it ever get to this kind of magnitude. Why do we build a aircraft carrier for 4 or 5 BILLION, that costs millions a day to operate, stack it up with 30? aircraft that cost 50? million dollars a piece and cost 40k a hr to operate. Then we drop 900k bombs on a 1986 toyotoa pickup with 3 arab guys in the back carrying ak47's...

Does anyone out there believe that we have priced our selfs out of fighting wars?

Answer 1

America has the best equipped military in the world. We must have these things to protect the US from aggressors.

Don't think for a moment rouge nations would not attack us in a moment if they believe our defense is weak.

Answer 2

You get what you pay for. Pay cheap, get cheap.

If you win, everyone complains about the cost. If you lose, everyone will complain you could have done more.

A 500 lb bomb on a '86 Toyota carrying 3 enemy leaves them very decidedly DEAD. It also denies the enemy the use of the Toyota for future use along with the rifles and any other gear. What would you have? A US soldier taking on the enemy at close range with small arms? Why? If a method to kill the enemy can be used that will minimizes the danger to ground troops, go for it.

I suppose a soldier standing in the middle of the road with an M-16 facing down the on coming enemy truck makes a better action scene in your mind. But war isn't about better action scenes, its about killing the enemy without getting yourself killed.

Answer 3

Sorry, you absolutely can NOT put a price on the safety of our Country. The next war will not be dropping bombs on 1986 toyota pickups.

Answer 4

war always will be expensive whether it is training costs, benefits, or equipment. if you want your country to be secure you must make monetary sacrifices. i would rather expend expensive ammo than the life of one of the finest people that our county has to offer.
no one seems to complain about the billions of dollars that our county WASTES on failed social programs. these are programs that we get zero return on but no-one complains.
then we have people like Jack that answered before me that think that a permanently disabled Marine gives us nothing in return for the 4k a month that he receives in benefits. i suggest that that Marine i worth a lot more than that. i have less problem with that Marine getting that much or more of my tax dollar than i have with all of the welfare recipients and people that have never worked or paid taxes but collect SSI.

Answer 5

Oddly, the current 'enemy' wears street clothes and sandles.....generally they look like refugees from a Salvation Army store and they're mostly armed with cast off second hand weapons and battle field salvage. Yet, our 600 billion borrowed dollar a year military can't seem to get a handle on it. Maybe war has changed. Maybe we're the armored knights and the enemy has discovered gunpowder. It's a thought!

Answer 6

The first rule in never "pricing yourself out of anything in life" is to make good investments.
The most badass military on the face of the planet is the most financially sound investment a nation can make.
Hua!

Answer 7

Over the course of this war we are spending less than 2% of the US GDP per year. It's one of the cheapest wars we've ever fought.

Compare to WWII at over 50% of GDP.

Answer 8

That's a very good question and it emphasizes how important diplomacy can be. War not only costs in dollars, but also in lives. The ability to negotiate and use diplomacy should be one of the paramount things we should look for in our up coming presidential election.
The Soviet Union priced it's self out of existence by spending too much on war and competing in the arms race with the USA. This could happen to the USA also, especially with all it's manufacturing being done in China and other countries.

Answer 9

Wars are great! They make some rich and powerful people even more rich and powerful. Take Halliburton for instance. The revolving door between this fantastically lucrative business opportunity and the government that initiates the wars is the biggest scam in history! They can't lose!

Almost makes me wish I was born into the right families so I could also be part of this scheme to steal billions of dollars from the wealthiest country on earth. No. On second thoughts: I have principles and a soul. I'll leave it to George, Dick, and those other heroes making a killing from other people's death and suffering.

Answer 10

do you like you computer, highways, microwave and oodles and oodles more spin offs from the military to civilian use items. Its better than loosing 1 american soldier that has a million dollar insurance policy.