U.S. Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates talks to Marines deployed to Field Operating Base Bastion, Afghanistan, during a recent trip to southwest Asia, May 7, 2009. DoD photo by U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Jerry MorrisonFrom The Danger Room:
The price tag for running the war in Afghanistan will outstrip the cost of the conflict in Iraq next year, according to budget documents released today by the Pentagon.
Afghanistan, in the words of chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, is now supposed to be the Pentagon’s “main effort” and “strategic focus.” This budget makes it official: The Department is requesting a $130 billion “overseas contingency operations” fund, of which the Afghanistan campaign will receive the largest share.
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My Comment: Afghanistan has the potential to be even more costlier than what Iraq has been in terms of treasure and blood. Afghanistan has more people than Iraq. The population is fiercely religious, and they have a long history and culture of fighting foreigners for decades. A ten or 15 year stay in Afghanistan could cost hundreds of billions of dollars, and cost the lives of thousands of men and women.
I doubt that the American people have the stomach for such a conflict .... but the possibility still exist.