Pentagon estimates $527 billion spent on war on terror since 2001

Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell held a press briefing today. Among issues being discussed was the Boeing/Airbus deal. Morrell stated that the Pentagon feels there is no indication that Boeing will protest Airbus’s victory over the contract. He further stated that he believed this to be a fair and transparent deal, and that the war fighters will be getting the best planes available.

Another topic briefly touched upon was the dirty water provided by KBR to US troops. Morrell commented that the bottled water provided had no issues in testing and that the other water may have been solely meant for washing. He also mentioned that there had been no widespread illness amongst the troops, and since 2006, all water has met health standards.

Morrell then proceeded to discuss the situation in Iraq. He stated that Secretary Gates has recommended pausing to determine the impact of the last four surge brigades to identify possible later courses of action. He stated that there has been a line of improvement in security conditions in Iraq.

In answering a question about estimates of the cost of the war, Morrell stated that since September 11, 2001, $527 billion has been spent on the war on terror: $406.2 billion on Operation Iraqi Freedom, 92.9 billion on Operation Enduring Freedom, and 27.8 billion on Noble Eagle, or homeland defense. When told that outside estimates of the cost of the war were $3 trillion, Morrell said that that seems to be way out there, and that the department has tried to be as transparent as possible.

Morrell reported that as we near the fifth anniversary of the beginning of the war in Iraq, 3,974 have regrettably been killed serving the US. In addition to this, there are 16,011 soldiers wounded-in-action whom have returned to duty, and 13,009 soldiers wounded-in-action whom have not returned to duty.

Current and former commdanders give outlook of slow progress in Iraq

Iraq was the topic of the day at the Pentagon, where current and former commanders took time to update the press on operations in Iraq and the outlook for troop levels and military strategy in the future.

Gen. James Dubik, commander of Multi-National Security Transition Command-Iraq, explained about the transfer of power from Coalition to Iraqi security forces. He explained the substantial growth in the forces that has occurred between June and December of 2007. While limited number of Iraqi security units, army and national police, are conducting and, in some cases, leading operations, the coalition, and primarily the United States remains responsible for weapons and logistical support, or what Dubik called enabling forces. He said that the challenge of handing over the capabilities and of speeding up the vetting process for growing the ranks remains.

Another important appearance was made by former second-in-command in Iraq Gen. Ray Odierno. Odierno has been moved out of Iraq and replaced by Gen. Lloyd Austin as Multinational Corps commander. Odierno was able to draw some conclusions for the press corps about the progress in Iraq over his 15 months as a commander. He said that there have been large security gains on account of the surge, though he said that these gains have not reached a point where they are totally irreversible. However he did say that he was comfortable with planned troop reductions and that that point where gains were irreversible did not have to be reached before the troop dawn downs could continue as scheduled. Within the next week the number of brigade combat teams will be reduced to 18 and then down to 15 by July of 2008.

Odierno did take a rare step into politics saying that any presidential candidate should consider the strategy of assessment of all conditions before acting on draw down. Odierno said it was too early to talk about what specific withdrawal plans from the candidates would look like because as he said, "a lot can change in Iraq in 10 months."



Odierno has insight on the subject of Iran, specifically president Ahmadinejad's recent visit to Baghdad. When U.S. visitors have come to Baghdad in the past there is often some kind of security situation, specifically rocket attacks by what Odierno called "Iraninan surrogates." The reason why Ahmadinejad was able to walk around more freely, said Odierno, was because those militant groups were not attacking. He said he hopes that Iraqis will continue to see Iranian meddling and recognized that it is their training and directions to surrogate militant groups that are causing problems for Iraqis.

He said that overall the surge was a success, not only because of the increase in numbers but the change in tactics. He credited the decrease in abilities of al-Qaida in Iraq to the fact that coalition forces were in the neighborhoods and that the Sons of Iraq program had made supporters of coalitions forces more recognizable.

Senate Foreign Relations Committee Hears Testimony from John Negroponte on the Way Forward in Pakistan

The Senate Foreign Relations Committee heard testimony from United States Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte on “U.S. Policy Options in Post-Election Pakistan.”

Chairman Joseph Biden (D-DE) and committee member John Kerry (D-MA) shared their experiences from their recent trip to Pakistan during the election and the mood was one of agreement on the general direction of support for Pakistani democracy, praise for the skill and devotion of our troops in both military and non-military capacities, and focus on the Afghanistan / Pakistan border as a key front in combating regional and global threats.

Biden recommended tripling non-military aid for education and infrastructure, stating that such assistance yields “enormous bang for the buck.” He urged more focus on Afghanistan, stating that resource diversion to Iraq has caused the U.S. to neglect its interests and obligations there.

Negroponte remarked that the February 18 election, in which President Pervez Musharraf’s party suffered striking defeat, showed higher turnout than prior elections despite an increased risk of violence. In light of the election results, he stated that the administration will support the Pakistani people and whatever government arises out of their democratic actions, while recognizing that Musharraf is still in office for the remainder of his term and the U.S. will continue to work with him.

Tension arose over the issue of reimbursement funds that the U.S. provides to Pakistan for its efforts against terrorism. Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) cited a British article claiming that 70% of such funds had been misspent by Pakistan, and quoted Musharraf as saying that his troops are not searching for Osama bin Laden. Boxer also criticized the low priority Negroponte and the administration placed on an independent judiciary for Pakistan in light of considerable emphasis they place on that of Iraq.

Labor, Environment, and Anti-War Groups Demonstrate Against Iraqi Oil Law

Oil Change International, U.S. Labor Against the War, and Iraq Veterans Against the War responded to the call by Iraqi Unions to oppose a U.S.-backed oil law with a press release and demonstration march. Oil barrels were rolled down the street to the White House to protest a law being considered by the Iraqi Parliament that would give foreign corporations extensive access to undiscovered Iraqi oil reserves. Press releases indicated that Iraq holds 10% of the world's proven oil resources and could hold much more in undiscovered deposits. The Iraq Federation of Oil Unions opposes the law as a breach of Iraqi sovereignty. This demonstration was intended to signify solidarity with similar protests by Iraqi unions against the law. Spokespersons from the participating activist groups claimed that the foreign corporations would have no obligation to hire Iraqi workers, often opting instead to import labor from south Asia. They also cited former Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan, who reportedly stated his opinion that the war in Iraq was largely motivated by oil.

The venue for the preceding press release was changed last minute and was held in the headquarters of Oil Change International rather than those of ExxonMobil as previously intended. The march was designed to demonstrate the link between the oil industry and the government by rolling the barrels from ExxonMobil to the White House.

AEI discussion Iranian influence in the Middle East

At the The American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research (AEI) discussion on "Iranian Influence in the Middle East and Beyond," Danielle Pletka of AEI said looking at the Iranian "reach" from the past helps us gets some insight into the regime’s intent in Iraq. There are a lot of telling signs of change, she said, using as an example the economy in Syria, and how Iran is becoming a dominant role there. Iran imports weapons from Russia, and then provides them to Syria, she said. In regards to Iran’s relationship with Hezbollah, they provide diplomatic, military, and economic support. They have taken a ‘very prominent role’ in the re-armament of the Lebanese.

Kimberly Kagan, President of the Institute for the Study of War, said Iran has been a force of instability in Iraq since 2003. Beyond discussion of weapons, she said, there are a lot of other influences, and that the provision of weapons is just one leg of the story. What is surprising in Iranian policy, she said, is the creation of the secret cells which have become an independent entity. The Iranian and Hezbollah Connection to special Groups in Iraq have been reorganized, Kagan said. She said they have been watching more advisers operating across Iraq to keep the militia running.

Frederick Kagan of AEI said one of the things that is an issue is Iranian weapons supplied to Afghanistan. Too often in a discussion, he said, people tend to look at the regime of Iran from their own point of view. A very important issue, he said, is the Afghanistan refugees in Iran. On the one hand, he said, they have let the Afghans move pretty freely and in general terms have treated them very well, but recently have decided that "enough is enough." In April 2007, Iran began a process of rounding up refugees and migrant workers and "dumping them" in Afghanistan without notifying the Afghan government.