Are the Iraq/Afghan wars really partially to blame for S&P downgrade?

Milwaukee Story ^ | 8.7.11 | Shaun Booth

[packback]

It seems like more and more in the GOP are starting to look at the wars as a way to cut spending. And with the tragedy of loosing some of our best soldiers yesterday it doesn't really seem worth it any more to stay over there in Iraq and Afghanistan. Especially given the financial situation we are in. The wars and entitlement spending need to be cut drastically to get us on track to at least sustain our debt, if we don't do that I think things could get even uglier in the short term.

[MNJohnnie]

total Leftwing nonsense. 0 and the Dems spent 6xs what the wars cost in just the last 3 years. If the wars are “partially to blame” the orgy of spending the 0 Democrats have engaged in is WAY MORE to blame.

[MNJohnnie]

I also note the Left Wing clown posse are very very careful not to mention the third war, the one in Libya 0 started, as also being a cost driver.

[whitedog57]

It didn’t help. But entitlement spending forecasts is the killer, combined with wasteful bailouts, stimulus, etc.

Look at this guys charts.

http://confoundedinterest.wordpress.com

Medicaid alone is forecasted to be 239% of current GDP. Medicare is also above 100% of GDP. Along with Social Security, it is a COMBINED 450% of GDP!!!!!!!!!!!!

Tea Party had nothing to do with it. Even the CBO has a “crazy Democrat” scenario where we blow up.

[mylife]

We cant sustain the wars under Obama, he has undermined our resolve.

The people wont tolerate the cost with no goal in mind.
It makes me sick that these men fought for a decade to be thrown under the bus,and we as backers are going to be thrown under the bus as well.

No one can deny that the price has been high and that we are going broke.
Still.
I think GWB had a great goal in Iraq to divide the ME with western style freedom.
That goal was all but accomplished and Obama has squandered our investment.
Obama has upped the monetary cost of the wars and he has left our soldier to twist in the wind.
He has undermined the goal and sowed the seeds of doubt about capitalism in America itself, let alone the ME.

When the people see that there is no benefit and that it is draining our coffers, they will scream.

BTW I thought Obama said he was bringing the boys home in July?
The man is a snake.

[AnotherUnixGeek]

And with the tragedy of loosing some of our best soldiers yesterday it doesn't really seem worth it any more to stay over there in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Leaving Iraq aside, the reason we went into Afghanistan was because the Taliban with the support of the Pakistanis had turned that country into a base camp for Al-Qaida, which then proceeded to kill 3000 Americans on 9/11. If we leave Afghanistan, the Taliban will again take over with Pakistani support and the nation will again turn into a base camp for Islamic terrorism.

Withdrawal from Afghanistan at this point is complete surrender. The only real difference between that and our having done nothing after 9/11 is that 1600 American soldiers would now be alive and the US national debt would be somewhat smaller. And we can look forward to more 9/11 style attacks formulated and planned in Afghanistan.

[mylife]

Medicare is on the line, but it cant be cut.
All they can do is reduce payment to providers., who will quit in droves, and then the Dems will screech that the RICH PRICK doctors failed the needy. NOT the Gov!
Greedy fat cat SOBS! /s

Defense is going to get pounded.
Everyone hates war. especially senseless war, and Obama has made it his goal to remove the goal from the wars in order to turn people against support.

This guy aint stupid.
He’s evil, but he aint stupid.

[Cheetahcat]

Try ,Democrat spending as the Reason!

[GOPJ]

No, it's not the war.

It's dems out of control spending to buy the votes of their victim group members that have caused the country to go broke. Period.

Everything leads back to that reality.

[Meet the New Boss]

To measure the true cost of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, one has to calculate the cost had we NOT taken action.

For example, we are taking no action against Iran, saving money in the short term. In the longer term, how much would nuclear explosions in Tel Aviv and New York City and Europe cost us?

[353FMG]

>>I think GWB had a great goal in Iraq to divide the ME with western style freedom.<<

.
Iraq/ME/Islam/FREEDOM? That last word just made me ROTFL. Where is your sense of history?

Aren’t you comparing apples/oranges/bananas/dates?

[mountainlion]

The Viet Nam war was used as an example of the Guns and Butter principle in my economics class. War does expand the economy and Guns and Butter are both in production and expand the economy. Obama and his clueless team are destructive unless of course they planned the collapse of the economy.

[qaz123]

The US sidled up to Pakistan as a necessary evil to go after the Taliban and its Al Quaeda friends. This was done primarily because of the ability to use Pakistan a as a means to transport materials, fuel and equipment needed for Afghan operations. Its now, blatantly obvious that Pakistan isn’t our friend and never has been. Best thing to prevent them from setting up shop again would be too establish stronger ties with India. That would give Pakistan something to be concerned about, as not many people are aware of the tension that exists between the two countries. That won’t happen now, as the Moron in Chief, stated during a speech in India said that the Indians should embrace Islam. Too stupid to know that they hate each other.

[Mike Darancette]

I’m to the point that I think we should do the following and it has nothing to do with money:

1. Get out of Afghanistan, destroy the poppy fields and put a preditor cap over the country.
2. Get out of Iraq.
3. Get out of Korea.
4. Get out of NATO.