The impact of war on US economy
The war in Iraq enters its sixth year this month with death toll of US troops exceeding 4000. The war in Iraq, which began in March 2003, will continue into the foreseeable future if Republican candidate Senator John McCain is elected President in November this year. This is the impression the people in the United States get from the political campaign.
While criticising Democrat Senator Barack Obama for withdrawing troops from Iraq, McCain holds the opinion that "withdrawal of troops would encourage Al-Qaida to declare victory and follow the people in the United States. It is not unreasonable to think that the US will have bases there for some time to come in the way America has long been stationed in Japan and South Korea."
This is what McCain's thought process, which reflects the opinion of the incumbent President George W. Bush. In response, Senator Obama said John McCain took us into a war along with George Bush that should have never been waged. They took their eye off the people who were responsible for 9/11 and that would be Al-Qaeda in Afghanistan that is stronger now than at any time since 9/11.
Senator McCain has been now on a familiarisation tour in Middle East and Europe this month to know more about war in Iraq and what could be the impact if America withdraws troops from Iraq. Iraq is now divided in a sectarian fashion. Iraqi parliament has failed to deliver political goals earmarked by Bush administration to govern the country. The reconciliation among different sects has failed because of boycott by influential Sunni leaders last week.
With the death toll of US troop's exceeding 4000; more than 30,000 have been injured coupled with the death of more than one hundred thousands Iraqis. In spite of making more than two million Iraqis homeless and similar number displaced within Iraq, Senator McCain is determined to remain in Iraq regardless of consequences.
The analogy drawn between Japan and Iraq by McCain is not relevant at all. Historically, Japan was aggressor when she attacked Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. On the other hand, Iraq was invaded and without the backing of the United Nations. Iraq neither posed any threat nor was an aggressor to the United States. US troops remained in Okinawa in Japan with consent of the Japanese Government following the defeat of Japanese Imperial Army during World War II.
The Korean War began because South Korea was attacked by the communist North Korea on June 25, 1950. With the backing of Security Council the United States and other foreign powers assisted South Korea in driving out North Korea to the 38th demilitarised zone with the aim of containing influence of communism whereas Iraq was a secular state in Middle East. Therefore, McCain's analogy is wrong.
Senator McCain is not aware of the implication of continued presence in Iraq when economy in United States has already slid into a recession. Housing market coupled with sub prime mortgage crisis are the catalysts for a major economic doldrums. Unemployment rate is on the rise every month. Prices of food are also increasing.
Furthermore, the budget for 2009 leaves behind one of the largest budget deficits in US history, says Congressman Jim Moran. There will be a $407 billion deficit. That does not include the cost of the war in Iraq.
It is also projected that the national debt will increase to $9.7 trillion by the time President Bush leaves office. The United States issues treasury bonds to cover the deficits and China and other Asian countries buy bonds, which is equivalent of every American borrowing on an average $ 4,000 from China alone over the last ten years.
The implication of war in Iraq is under debate in the Senate. Senator Feingold (D-CA) argues, "The war in Iraq has diverted attention from a growing threat posed by Al-Qaida. We are watching Al-Qaida strengthen and develop its affiliates around the world while we remain bogged down in Iraq. How foolish can we be to allow them to reconstitute all over the world as they watch us unable to extricate ourselves from a mistake of going into Iraq the way we did" while Republican Senator Lindsey Graham did not subscribe to this opinion who termed this idea as absurd, naive and dangerous.
On March 11, a group of ten covering faces in white gauze began raising slogan in the Senate chamber: "stop war in Iraq" and chanted: "I am the ghost of the Iraq war," managed to stand up one after another and disrupt the session of the senate for a while. This trend reflects the feeling of majority people in the United States of America.
Along with falling value of dollar, gas price has been increasing rapidly. Presently gas is sold in the market at $105 a barrel which means car owner pays nearly $4 dollar per gallon. According to the Department of Commerce, price of all imports, including fuel was up to 9.6% from a year earlier.
The middle class families are facing declining wages and rising prices for every thing from health care to gas to college tuition. More than 45 million Americans are without health insurance. New home sales fell to the lowest rate in 12 years, job creation slowed and unemployment rate rose to 5% in December last year from 4.7%.
This economic scenario has arisen due to continuous battle in Afghanistan and Iraq since 2001.There is no sign of abandoning the battle in spite of the fact that winning the war is impossible. By now taxpayers have paid $1.3 trillion dollar to this unproductive war, which cost huge loss of manpower, materials, and destruction of infrastructures in both Afghanistan and Iraq.
According to congressional report, hidden cost of the war could reach $3.5 trillion dollars by 2017. Congressional Research Service has indicated that Congress has provided a total of $655 billion in 2008 to Department of Defense for war. Annual war appropriation has exceeded more than double from $34 billion in 2001-2002 to the current $80 billion.
The debate on war is likely to continue when lawmakers will begin considering Bush Administration's further request for $100 billion for the war in Afghanistan and Iraq. Now congressional democrats have begun focusing attention on the impact the cost of war is having on the domestic issues of importance.
The war in Iraq in particular is drawing attention from democrats and republican presidential hopefuls in the current primary election season because there is growing concern among general Americans on the declining economy as a result of war in Iraq.
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