Freethought & Rationalism Archive

Jolimont · 03-25-2003, 08:13 AM

As you know Dubya just requested 70 billion to cover immediate Pentagon costs. That's 70 billion THIS FISCAL YEAR, he said nothing about paying for future years of fighting or reconstruction.

So, do you care to take a guess how much the 1990 Gulf War cost? And even better, do you care to guess how much of those costs were paid by the USA? Don't look it up, just take a guess.

I should say I'm no expert on the matter, I'm just relying on numbers NPR has been citing which I hope are accurate. I think some of you will be shocked and that will make my day

Amen-Moses · 03-25-2003, 08:31 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Jolimont
As you know Dubya just requested 70 billion to cover immediate Pentagon costs. That's 70 billion THIS FISCAL YEAR, he said nothing about paying for future years of fighting or reconstruction.

So, do you care to take a guess how much the 1990 Gulf War cost? And even better, do you care to guess how much of those costs were paid by the USA? Don't look it up, just take a guess.

I should say I'm no expert on the matter, I'm just relying on numbers NPR has been citing which I hope are accurate. I think some of you will be shocked and that will make my day

As far as I am aware the costs of GWI were paid by Saudi Arabia and Kuwait.

Amen-Moses

ImGod · 03-25-2003, 08:35 AM

I think think the US found some loose change in the couches at the Pentagon and chipped in $5 billion or so the last time.

seanie · 03-25-2003, 08:37 AM

The Germans and Japs paid quite a lot as well.

They might be less forthcoming this time round.

Bill · 03-25-2003, 09:21 AM

If I recall correctly, CNN reported that the first Gulf War cost about $85 billion, and the USA ended up paying for about $5 to $10 billion of that. Kuwait and Saudi Arabia paid for the bulk of the rest of it, but just about every one of the coalition members (and there were nearly a hundred countries participating) picked up some amount of the cost.

== Bill

Jolimont · 03-25-2003, 04:25 PM

You guys really weren't far off:

Total cost: 62 billion
Paid by USA: 10 billion
I have no break-down as to which countries contributed how much. I'd be interested in that if you know where I can find the data.

Ice · 03-26-2003, 01:03 AM

The figures I got are sometimes a tad conflicting, but you get the general idea...

Germany : $3 billion
Japan : $13 billion.
Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and other Gulf States : $36 billion

(Some services delivered in non-cash terms, eg, transportations and food.)

Source: http://edition.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2001...facts/gulfwar/

Also:

Quote:

The Defense Department estimated that the Gulf War cost slightly more that $54 billion and then revised in 1992 to $61 billion. Most of the bill, $48.2 billion was paid for by the coalition allies and their pledges. The USG has received to date $45 billion of that amount. The Pentagon will require $2.8 billion from Congress. The US received $5.8 billion in fuel and other non-cash support from the allies. The Pentagon wrote off $1.2 billion in military equipment that was lost during the war. (AW&ST, 11 Nov91, pg17)

Source: http://www.sci.fi/~fta/stats.htm

And I found this while I was surfing:

Quote:

The 1991 costs were largely covered by contributions from nations that could not, or would not, contribute a lot of troops. Actually, because of the sensationalistic way "war costs" are calculated, we actually made money on the 1991 Gulf War. What many forget is that the only real cost is the additional cost above what you would be spending on these troops anyway. Even mobilizing reserves is not all that expensive, as thousands are mobilized in a normal year for special training, and these reserve troops are paid on the same wage and benefit scales as the active duty troops. The biggest chunk of additional expense is transportation (mainly air and sea) and temporary housing (mostly tents in the Persian Gulf) for the troops deployed. Ammunition costs are going down, largely because of smart bombs and better methods of using them. Most of the American military activity in the Persian Gulf so far is what would normally be spent on overseas training exercises.

Source: http://www.strategypage.com/dls/articles/20030121.asp

seanie · 03-26-2003, 01:05 AM

This site says;

Total cost = $61 billion

Of which;

Gulf States = $36 billion
Germany and Japan = $17 billion
USA = $7 billion

03-25-2003, 08:13 AM	#1
Jolimont Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: USA expat, now living in France Posts: 1,153	How much did the 1990 Gulf War cost? As you know Dubya just requested 70 billion to cover immediate Pentagon costs. That's 70 billion THIS FISCAL YEAR, he said nothing about paying for future years of fighting or reconstruction. So, do you care to take a guess how much the 1990 Gulf War cost? And even better, do you care to guess how much of those costs were paid by the USA? Don't look it up, just take a guess. I should say I'm no expert on the matter, I'm just relying on numbers NPR has been citing which I hope are accurate. I think some of you will be shocked and that will make my day

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03-25-2003, 08:35 AM	#3
ImGod Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Nebraska Posts: 6,264	I think think the US found some loose change in the couches at the Pentagon and chipped in $5 billion or so the last time.

03-25-2003, 08:37 AM	#4
seanie Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Edinburgh. Scotland Posts: 2,532	The Germans and Japs paid quite a lot as well. They might be less forthcoming this time round.

03-25-2003, 09:21 AM	#5
Bill Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Gatorville, Florida Posts: 4,334	If I recall correctly, CNN reported that the first Gulf War cost about $85 billion, and the USA ended up paying for about $5 to $10 billion of that. Kuwait and Saudi Arabia paid for the bulk of the rest of it, but just about every one of the coalition members (and there were nearly a hundred countries participating) picked up some amount of the cost. == Bill

03-25-2003, 04:25 PM	#6
Jolimont Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: USA expat, now living in France Posts: 1,153	You guys really weren't far off: Total cost: 62 billion Paid by USA: 10 billion I have no break-down as to which countries contributed how much. I'd be interested in that if you know where I can find the data.

03-26-2003, 01:05 AM	#8
seanie Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Edinburgh. Scotland Posts: 2,532	This site says; Total cost = $61 billion Of which; Gulf States = $36 billion Germany and Japan = $17 billion USA = $7 billion

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