just a couple other thoughts to add into the mix...

The reality of the cost of the Iraq war must include the future costs of obligations created by that war. The biggest must be the cost of health care for the people returning from the mentally and physically toxic environment. Add another trillion to todays's ongoing tally of war costs.

After a great deal of search and analysis, I have figured out that the US military uses (sorry for using a technical term) 1.75 shitloads of oil every year, and the price is going up astronomically. Any figures that one searches on and finds are never completely inclusive, since military contractors and US contributions to NATO and other factors are not included. (Some statistics say it is 1.5 to 2% of US consumption, even without the exterior add-ons.) Suffice to say that it alone is the major consumer of oil products on the planet.

Marketplace | Oil makes U.S. military shift priorities

Scott Jagow: Oil companies and countries have one single big customer, and that is the U.S. military. And the U.S. military's bill this year will be a lot higher. Here's Jeremy Hobson.

Jeremy Hobson: A pentagon spokesman says the cost hike will mean an extra $400 million a month, and that commanders will have to quote "reprioritize" daily support activities.

Michael Klare is a professor at Hampshire College who's written extensively on the military's use of oil:

    Michael Klare: The military is coming late to an appreciation of their vulnerability to reliance on petroleum.

Just think of all the planes, ships, humvees and helicopters. So what's likely to be sacrificed to make up for soaring costs?

    Klare: Some of the new generation of weapons that they would like, instead of high hundreds, they're going to get few hundreds.

Well, at least we can see that they are being serious about their responsibilities. At a million dollars a crack for a 'smart' bomb (half are below average IQ), if they only get a few hundred instead of several hundred...like what a cost savings~!

My suggestion: Peak Military Responds to Peak Oil: Closing 800 of the 801 foreign bases (keeping one in England for the marching band that plays with the Queen's Guard), dropping back the fleet to 2 (one little one for each coast), and choosing to keep only one of the following: Pentagon, NSA or CIA.

Never underestimate their intelligence, always underestimate their knowledge.

Frank Delaney ~ Ireland