[pumpineemob]

If I received $2,500 for everytime a family member of mine was killed in a terrorist attack, I'd have a lot fewer family members.

[LOVEBoy]

Originally posted by Oerdin
the US government paid the dead person's family $2500 as condolence pay. Just a way to tell the family the US was sorry.

At least there's one thing you got right in Iraq.

[bonyclayd]

How much has the war costed so far? My guess is about 500 billion $.

Iraq had a population of about 28 million in 2003, which has decreased due to deaths and (mostly) emigration. So let's say the current poulation is 25 million to make the numbers nice and round.

This means US has spent 20 000 $ per "liberated" Iraqi. The average family might be 5 persons, since they bare more children than westeners, so thats 100 000 $ spent per family.

I would say 2500 $ for a killed family member is pretty low in comparison.

The above figures are based on educated guesses, someone who has the time and willingness to dig up news articles and statistics will probably correct me, but I'm pretty sure the conclusion would be the same.

[shumozar]

According to the CIA World Factbook there are 4.18 children born/woman so we could estimate a family size at 6. The population is over 26.5 million. Almost $400 billion has been allocated by congress for the war. That would mean around $90,000 per nuclear family, more if you count it as the extended family (grandparents etc), more if you count the other costs of the war (damage to the country etc).

It's good that they're giving the money to the families. It's just that it's not that much money for the US, almost like they're just giving the loose change from their pockets. And of course the families would rather have their relative back.

[TXmjLW9b]

An attempt was made. How soon you forget.

[vNZsk39B]

Originally posted by Richelieu


You got a lot of stuff up that ass man. Well, actually you have a bit less than you did before that post but still... The truth hurts, eh?

See ColdPhoenix post for more exact figures, which shows my guesses were very close.

2500 $ is a large sum for an Iraqi peasant, but it's a pathetic sum compared to what US has the ability to pay.

From CP's figures, US has spent 15 000 per liberated Iraqi. This means that in the hypothetical situation that 100% percent of the population was killed, the damage fee (if someone was still there to recieve it) would be only 1/6 of the money spent on the war.

[d1Bc25UP]

It's a cluster****. Let's leave.

[alecoplesosse]

Businesses were open. Movie theaters were open and people going for the first time in years, and then the police refused to come out and work the streets like, ooooh, I don't know, a policeman?
The effort was made and was on the way, Iraq didn't control their destiny and let a foothold be taken by dissidents. Thats why troops are still there. It's Iraq's fault.

[Liaptoono]

I agree. Tell them how much ever time, 3 months and we're gone.
The latest thing the Iraqis are saying is that they think they could probably handle it themselves, if they had more weapons. This is how it always starts, and then time goes by and some jackass here will say that's what we deserve for giving them weapons; en though right now they'll say yeah, do it. Then they sleep and forget.

[itaspCatCriny]

Originally posted by TCO
It's not our job to stay forever. We have been there too long. It is not our colony. They haven't had a truly functioning civil society since you first got there. At no time has the Iraqi government had anything more than a passing sovereignty over the entire country. When it gets to there you get to declare victory and go home. Anything less is simple pussing out.

[Flankrene]

Yes, I do.

[HottBrorb]

Originally posted by SlowwHand
Yes, I do. If you knew jack cheese about Iraq you'd know that movie theaters are few and far between.

[bp9QxekG]

Time to bring the boys home and let Iraq sort it self out. if it al lgoes Pear shaped then we go back and kick butt again. Pull out and keep repeating the perfromance.

But never fight a guerilla war..

[Fellionas]

How come this thread isn't empty?!



But anyway, its even worse....

So your wife died because of the ''war''?! Here's 2500$, now how about you stfu and forget all about it....

Condolence pay my ass, they just want to prevent a revolt or something, and they think we dont see this...Maybe these stupid tricks work with the US population....

Omg....If they tried this in the US, I hope the population would be outraged. WTF are you supposed to do with 2500$? Buy a rusted piece of shlt car and pay a guy to dig a hole to bury the body?! Who even thought of that?


Spec.

[gIWnXYkw]

Besides invading is more fun than occupying.

[Luisabens]

That's why we should do what is right and not worry so much about the Jewish mothering, what people say.

[MaickiP]

Originally posted by Cranky
"Besides invading is more fun than occupying"

Yeah it satisfies our killer instinct. Policing lawless countries (occupying, creating colonies, nation-building) is both wrong AND inefficient. I am not a bit surprised that the left here prefers this sort of thing to finding and killing enemies. And the right the opposite. But the bottom line is that we lack the patience and the brutality to hold this sort of random hostile territory for diffuse and vague purposes.

Oh...and yes we are such broo-tal thugs. Go and drink some tea, now, whydontcha?

[Rqqneujr]

Originally posted by chegitz guevara


Unless your city is completely destroyed. God, you are a mushy little fellow traveler. Read some Mao. He knew how to kick ass.