THOMPSON: The mind-boggling financial cost of Trump’s war on Iran

The cost of war…any war…is always greater than what those who wage it claim. Of course, the greatest cost in any war is loss of human life…and the debilitating injuries that plague injured survivors…often for life.

When it comes to financial cost – money spent on war – it has become all too common since Vietnam to “hide” how much is really spent…a more political than military move. The George W. Bush Administration put the cost of the Iraq War at $40 Billion in 2003…it was closer to $3 Trillion!

The war in Vietnam from 1965 to 1975 cost $168 Billion in direct military costs…that’s $1 Trillion in today’s dollars. Another $275 Billion – about $1.7 Trillion today – was spent taking care of veterans and surviving families. The last number continues to grow as surviving Vietnam veterans still receive medical treatment and disability payments.

More than 58,000 American military died in Vietnam…another 300,000 were wounded. But the highest death toll was the Vietnamese people – where both military and civilian deaths – exceeded 3.5 Million. More American Vietnam-era veterans committed suicide than were killed in battle during Vietnam…94,497.

Trump’s and Israel’s war with Iran is just one-month old…but the financial costs are incredible. The U.S. has spent $1.3 Million per minute…PER MINUTE…for a month. That’s more than $50 Billion.

The Trump Administration has given a dozen reasons for the war they don’t admit is a war…all of them lacking credible evidence. Do you think Trump and his crew of incompetents might lie about the true costs of an unpopular…and perhaps…un-winnable war?

So what might have been accomplished with the $50 Billion Trump has spent fighting what the majority of Americans consider an illegal war?

Well, how about offering a free college education to every American family earning less than $125,000 a year? That would cost $30 Billion a year…and no one has to die.

For $35 Billion, every three- and four-year-old child in America could benefit from a year in pre-Kindergarten. How about spending what it costs to fight this war for one hour…so that every child in America living in poverty gets three free books?

If America took the money it spent on waging war for 13 hours – $1 Billion – it could screen every uninsured woman in the U.S for cervical cancer….saving hundreds of lives. Remember the healthcare subsidies Trump ended last year, the U.S. could restore those subsidies saving an estimated 8,800 preventable deaths…all for $34 Billion.

Consider that Trump spent more in three-and-a-half days of his war than the U.S. spent on all humanitarian aide to all nations in 2025…$4 Million. And for that same amount…1.5 million children who’ll die from malnutrition…would have lived from the life-saving food and water.

The truth is the real costs will soon mushroom…much higher costs for oil, gasoline, fertilizer, food, travel, construction…an extended war could mean trillions not billions of dollars. If you look at Trump’s decision-making…what has he done right? That alone should scare folks. Let’s see if it frightens Americans enough to turn out in November for mid-term elections. 

More than 10 million Americans protested in thousands of “No Kings” rallies in every state. The tide is turning…and as all sane folks know…you can’t stop a rising tide.