Cost of war in Iraq
The U.S. government is now spending nearly $10 billion a month in Iraq and Afghanistan
Total Cost of war for 2006: $94 billion
A huge chunk of the expenditure is going on maintenance:
Last year, depot workers upgraded 5,000 Humvees with new engines and new transmissions to support ever-heavier armor. This year, they will see close to 9,000. They will also have to patch up 7,000 more machine guns, 5,000 more tank tracks and 100 more M1A1 Abrams tanks.
For all that spending, the US could easily have universal healthcare for all it citizens.
Unforeseen Spending on Materiel Pumps Up Iraq War Bill