The Pentagon’s new price tag for the war with Iran is a start, but it’s woefully incomplete – MS NOW

The Pentagon’s new price tag for the war with Iran is a start, but it’s woefully incomplete  MS NOW

Among the many questions surrounding the war with Iran is just how much this disastrous and destabilizing conflict is costing American taxpayers. The answer continues to be a moving target. Last week, for example, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office concluded the war has cost $38 billion so far, but almost immediately, it was clear that total was incomplete: The figure didn’t include, among other things, the costs associated with repairing U.S. military bases hit by Iranian strikes, the cost of replacing munitions stockpiles, the economic costs imposed on the American public or the interest on the national debt. The CBO might’ve come up with a better number, but the office was hampered by the Defense Department’s refusal to provide the it with any information.

Last week, the Pentagon provided a new price estimate of its own. That might seem like an encouraging step, but on further inspection, it wasn’t much of a step at all. Roll Call reported: The Iran war has cost $43.6 billion as of this month, the highest official estimate to date, the Pentagon told Congress’ defense oversight panels this week. […] The Pentagon’s latest figure comprises $11.2 billion already obligated for operating expenses — for fuel, combat pay, aircraft, medical care, parts and the like — plus $32.4 billion in unfunded replacement costs for munitions, damaged