Cost of War in Middle east

[Lucky's mum]

If we were not at war in the middle East -how much better off financially would we be? How much is this war costing ?Would Brown reduce the taxes? who is making the ammunition and equipment etc. for all our armed forces to use to fight this war?? I remember being told at school that this country has only ever been 100% employed when we are at war.

[NH]

In the first two years, it appears to have cost �3.1bn:

http://www.financialdirector.co.uk/accountancy age/news/2142580/taxpayers-bear-cost-iraq-war

Which isn't terrible, seeing as the budget tends to be over �500bn a year.

You ask about Gordon Brown cutting taxes. Don't be daft. You're talking about the only Old Labour principle retained by New Labour.

I imagine some private companies are getting lucrative commissions for the equipment, and making a gloriously large amount of gloriously filthy money for their trouble.

[indie1978]

your right war creats econamy the logistics involved in the campaigns then the contracts secured to rebiuld the devastated infastructure once the conflict is over.

[anotheoldgit]

Things just do not alter, before the war in the middle east we were told they couldn't afford this, and they couldn't afford that.
Then when the war started they suddenly could afford the cost for that.
And when the war is over, the savings will suddenly disappear once again. It's always been the same in this country.

[NH]

Our involvement in Iraq hasn't been too great, relatively speaking; we might be the second biggest contributors but this is mainly a US war, and it's seriously hurting them-

http://www.boston.com/news/world/articles/2006 /01/08/economists_say_cost_of_war_could_top_2_ trillion/

$2 trillion, by the way, is about �1.1 trillion, and therefore enough to fund all public services in the UK for 2 years.

[Grunty]

Although the question asks about the costs to the UK, the costs to America make interesting reading.

On 20 April 2006, the San Francisco Chronicle said costs in Iraq and Afghanistan are approaching $10 billion a month. Annual figures are

2003 $48 billion
2004 $59 billion
2005 $81 billion
2006 $94 billion (anticipated)

On 22 September 2006, the Los Angeles Times reported that President Chavez of Venezuela is doubling his aid to America's needy.