Iraq
(AP) A US helicopter went down in Diyala killing all 13 on board. "The brief U.S. statement lacked the customary comment that the aircraft was not shot down, indicating it may have come under fire by insurgents."
(McClatchy) Kurdish Iraqi soldiers are deserting to avoid the conflict in Baghdad.
(Newsweek) Bush's surge is opposed by 68%. (Approval 31.)
(NYTimes) Another report that the Iraqi oil law is closer. (I'll believe it when I see it.)
(LATimes) In this article on the coming Iraqi battle over their national budget, there's this little fact. Iraq is budgeting approximately $6.6 billion of Defense and Interior all next year. (The US is spending $8.4 billion a month.)
(On Sunday night, National Geographic Channel is running a special on contractors in Iraq.)
(McClatchy) Kurdish Iraqi soldiers are deserting to avoid the conflict in Baghdad.
(Newsweek) Bush's surge is opposed by 68%. (Approval 31.)
(NYTimes) Another report that the Iraqi oil law is closer. (I'll believe it when I see it.)
(LATimes) In this article on the coming Iraqi battle over their national budget, there's this little fact. Iraq is budgeting approximately $6.6 billion of Defense and Interior all next year. (The US is spending $8.4 billion a month.)
(On Sunday night, National Geographic Channel is running a special on contractors in Iraq.)
posted by mikevotes at
1:52 PM
6 Comments:
That $8.4 billion figure will be more like $10 or $11 billion in 2007, you know, with the surge and all. At least that is what the economists are saying. 1% of GDP.
By
Praguetwin, at 5:26 PM
Sorry, did I say surge? I meant escalation. Also, if you take the government figures on the expected burn rate, the escalation will only last 3 months. Those damn economist using arithmatic to help the terrorists!
By
Praguetwin, at 5:27 PM
Wow. 1% of GDP?
More pertinently, are we trailing the madrassas in basic math skills?
Mike
By
mikevotes, at 9:01 PM
Yes, and apparently.
You might be interested in the source document. It is a little technical, but you get the general drift. Money quote:
As an aside, I must confess I cannot see the logic of how a 15% increase in troop levels will result in only a 6% increase in expenditures (5% if we count the specifically military component), but I am taking the President's numbers at face value for this exercise. One way of thinking about this is that the 5% figure is consistent with an approximate 3 month escalation.
Kind of goes well with the assessment that the surge, er, escalation will be over by summer. I guess if they know it is going to be quick, surge decscribes it pretty well.
By
Praguetwin, at 3:34 AM
Interesting.
Well, Casey was out yesterday saying it would last til "late summer."
Because this isn't actually "new" troops into theater, but instead a manipulation of deployments, I don't think they can extend it more than three months.
Mike
By
mikevotes, at 9:20 AM
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