[crusty old prospector]

Attaboy, Navy. I will sleep better tonight knowing every foreign dictator is put on notice about ever trying to nuke us. But how much did this show of strength cost the American taxpayer? It would have been cheaper to hire a bunch of ambulance chasers to pay off the Bangladeshis when it landed on their chicken coop.

[buccaneer81]

But how much did this show of strength cost the American taxpayer?

10 million. Not much more than a Super Bowl commercial will cost in five years, and well worth the PR and message it sends to our enemies.

[eyedigress]

The cost could have been realised in 10 years if we let it go. Now maybe 30.

[theymakemesick]

But how much did this show of strength cost the American taxpayer?

This is EXACTLY how I want MY tax dollars to be spent. Showing the world not to mess with us and having the means to inflict serious harm to those that would attempt to harm us. Not on Section 8 housing, not on education for illegal aliens, not on ballots in ten different languages, not on politicians dreaming up new ways to steal my freedoms, ad infinitum.

Great job to all the engineers, machinists, designers, floor sweepers, the Navy, Ronald Reagan and everyone else that had a hand in bringing this defensive system to fruition!

[AFPhys]

I understand that the US spends 5B$ - yes, $5,000,000,000 - for Halloween candy every year.

Certainly, it cost less than that.